Eater’s under-$25 holiday gift guide is, unabashedly, one of my favorites to curate during gift guide season — both as a shopping writer and a writer who lives, laughs, loves to shop. I live for the thrill of a thrifty find; that rush of finding the perfect gift that somehow comes in way under budget is a sensation I first experienced while thrifting with my mom as a kid, when I was taught to sniff out authentic English ironstone bowls like an Antiques Roadshow bloodhound. I have been John Wick-training for this moment.
The best gifts under $25 for the true food freaks in your life (including yourself) should speak to their specific culinary obsessions, tastebuds, and cult-fave restaurants. Keep an eye out for those limited-edition holiday gifts that are going to sell out soon, and, when you see a potential present, ask yourself: does it inspire whimsy? Why should I settle for a toothpick dispenser that isn’t shaped like a bird? Move those mugs and snacks from heritage and indie brands to the front of the line, and maybe even click add-to-cart twice so that you, too, can experience the magic of Spaghetti Dust.
Whether you’re looking for a White Elephant present or an offering to impress your in-laws, let’s shop for the best food- and drink-related gifts under $25.
This cult-fave tube of seasoning for spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino
The wonder elicited from this traveling tube of “Spaghetti Dust” — aka ready-to-sprinkle dried garlic, Calabrian chile flakes, parsley, and sea salt — with its groovy graphics and gift-ready packaging, makes it one of the coolest food-themed presents that’s sure to sell out this holiday season. Just add olive oil and al dente pasta, and you’re ready to eat a delicious meal.
A Le Creuset stoneware mug for Mom’s collection
There’s something so comforting about a stoneware mug — holding one makes me feel instantly more cozy and learned, like a Nancy Meyers character rediscovering joy in an English countryside cottage. The ceramic material makes stoneware a great insulator when it comes to heat retention (without burning your hands), and this rustic, 12-ounce sipper from heritage brandLe Creuset will forever be in style.
For the Kewpie mayo devotee
Your giftee has all the deep-cut Kewpie mayonnaise flavors. They might even own the Kewpie cookbook. Now, give them the gift of a Kewpie mayo ornament to solidify their fealty to the Japanese mayo brand.
Make Phoenicia Diner’s buttermilk pancakes at home
I have a theory that every New Yorker City-dweller’s situationship must pass the “Upstate test”: the inevitable moment when you do (or don’t) get into your feelings under a Louise Bourgeois spider at DIA Beacon, or gush about them over pancakes at the iconic Phoenicia Diner (yes, the same place where they filmed Severance scenes). This picturesque Catskills diner’s buttermilk pancakes have earned a cult-fave following for their fluffy texture and subtly caramelized flavor (the secret ingredient: malted milk powder). Now, your beloved-ish can make the flapjacks from home with the diner’s handsomely packaged pancake mix (those cloth string ties = a classy touch).
Truffles that look like works of art
Every Topogato chocolate in this luxe curation looks like a work of art, which is exactly what you want to aim for with a holiday gift. The gold-embossed box is filled with six different truffles, and you can personalize the selection to meet your giftee’s dietary needs (including vegan, alcohol-free, and gluten-free options).
Take Eater to Paris with you
From traditional, sprawling brasseries to the incoming wave of Parisian global gastronomy, Eater has you covered for dining out in the City of Lights with The Eater Guide to Paris. Whether your giftee is planning an upcoming trip to Paris or an aspirational one, this trusty tome is filled with vetted Eater favorites for every kind of hungry traveler.
This designer toothpick dispenser packs a great party trick
As a general rule, if a toothpick dispenser is in the MoMA gift shop, it’s going to have some kind of design clout. This little feathered dispenser is a riff on the novelty bird toothpick dispensers of the 1950s, and it’s a very charming way to close out a dinner party.
Because you love making (or just eating) sushi at home
This gift is great because it’s a present (novelty! whimsy!) and a hint (do the dishes!).
“If tang yuan and peanut butter had a baby”
In the words of indie pantry brand Rooted Fare, this crunchy black sesame butter is “like if tang yuan and peanut butter had a baby.” Creamy and nutty, it’s the ideal spread for the friend with a semi-sweet tooth.
This dupe for Le Labo Santal 33 hand soap
If someone you love loves to cook, it’s likely that they also love nice kitchen hand soaps. This Method soap has been a staple by my own kitchen sink for years, because it’s a wildly affordable dupe for Le Labo’s Santal 33 hand soap, and the aluminum bottle makes it feel fancy. Just add a chocolate-colored ribbon and voila.
For the person who’s always making incredible salads
When designer Marta Cornwell invented this kale razor, she gave us the power to tame one of nature’s heartiest, most annoying versatile superfoods from the garden.
For the Wicked-obsessed kid in your life: Emerald City rock candy
A lot of blockbuster movie merchandise feels like landfill fodder these days, but this Emerald City-inspired rock candy sent my heart back to the glory days of movie-food-merch (remember those McDonald’s Happy Meal Space Jam toys?) with its blend of whimsy and genuine aesthetic appeal; it even comes with a little wooden mallet to crack open the apple flavored-candy and reveal even more pink sugar candies. https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/wicked-x-williams-sonoma-breakable/
Placemats they’ll leave out all year long
Artist Lorien Stern’s graphic home good designs bring the kind of chipper, serotonin-boosting jolts of color to the table that are welcome all year long; I also love that these garden-themed placemats can grow into a verdant collection or stand on their own as a table centerpiece with a bowl of fruit or a fancy candle.
A pasta-lover’s dream spoon rest
Weary spoons, whisks, and every other utensil under the Sun can find its throne upon this giant ceramic spoon rest shaped like ravioli. (As a perpetual splasher of sauce, the extra surface area is also appreciated.)
For the Ina to your Jeffrey
Ah, our patron saint of al fresco dining, roasted chicken, and “quarantinis”: the Barefoot Contessa herself. The handmade element of this Ina Garten ornament makes it perfect for your loved one’s shrine tree.
