What gift would a gift guide picker choose if guided to choose a gift from a list of other gift pickers? It may be hard to ask that question out loud (wait for it) , it’s not difficult to answer. That’s all kinds of gifts, goodies, gadgets, and gear organized around the theme that this year, our elf scribe collective celebrates all that Los Angeles has to offer (and the entire Golden State, too). Because after you’ve finished sourcing, we asked you to take a final look at the fruits of each other’s efforts and choose a few new-found holiday wonders that you’re likely to gift this year, or that you’d be happy to be gifted. .
The first-ever list curated by curators offers suggestions for tasty treats (think mole boxes, maple syrup bottles, and pasta filling boxes), wishing dolls, and lucky beans (no cow trade-in required). You can find it. ), herb seeds (both for growing mind-altering greens and not), and even some local places you can go and browse the shelves yourself. That’s just the beginning.
Check out other gifts LA Times gift pickers (and some editors) have chosen to give.
(Jason Almond/Los Angeles Times)
Destroyer Vanilla Tonka Bean Maple Syrup
I have a friend who is obsessed with maple syrup. “Real maple syrup with no additives!” As he says. He carried a small flask of it in his men’s purse to drip into his restaurant meals. I’ve been giving him different types of maple syrup for the holidays for years. Some years it’s golden yellow, other years it’s dark. But I stopped doing that. Because it’s predictable. Thanks to the LA Times food team for telling me about the Vanilla Tonka Bean Maple Syrup available at Destroyer. This year, we’re bringing back our holiday tradition – and we might even be gifting a bottle of it over Strawberry French Toast at Culver City Cafe. — Deborah Vankin
(Allen J. Scherben/Los Angeles Times)
Goods
How do Southern California retailers survive with a $25 price cap, especially when their homewares (made of stone, ceramic, glass, and textiles) are so stylish? ? Despite there being five Goodies stores in LA and Orange County, I had never come across one until this week (Lisa Boone’s amazingly thorough guide to 90 local gift shops) when they showed me understanding). Well, with holidays and birthdays coming up, I’m out checking out mugs, spoons, plates, bookends, coasters, vases, etc. at the Goody’s store in Atwater Village. — Christopher Reynolds
Guerraguezza mall gift box
My longtime best friend Laura is a former Californian who is a great cook and misses Mexican food, but Christmas isn’t Christmas without tamales. So this year, we’re sending her a Guerraguezza mall jar gift box from a selection of gift boxes chosen by our food staff. This includes 12-ounce jars of Mole Negro, Rojo, and Coloradito, wrapped in cute Oaxaca tea towels. Now she can recreate the banana leaf-wrapped mole tamales that made the James Beard Award winner a hit in time for the holidays. Unfortunately, I won’t be tasting it with her. — Lisa Boone
(Taylor Arthur/Los Angeles Times)
Pasta Club Gift Box or Bucatini 3 Month Subscription
In my opinion, the best gifts are edible, so this year’s gift guide was full of temptations (salsa matcha, pizza, coffee beans, oh my!). I’m not saying I won’t buy more. . But Bucatini’s Holiday Gift Boxes don’t even need to be wrapped, as they contain classic pasta for a festive feel. My Italian mother would be thrilled…well, I guess I’ll have to keep it to myself. (Plus, there’s a subscription to Pasta Club, where one lucky recipient will receive two bags of pasta and other goodies for three consecutive months. It’s literally the holiday gift that keeps on giving.) — Jen Doll
Knotwork LA Mini Daruma Wishes Doll
I’m not a superstitious person. But the stresses of modern life – the economy, work, vet visits, news, making time for so-called “self-care” – sometimes make me want to believe that there are other forces at work in this universe. There is. And I love good accessories, especially ones that can double as works of art. So I was immediately drawn to these little amulets made by potter Linda Hsiao, mostly as a $30 treat to myself. Inspired by the Japanese traditional Daruma doll, these Altadena-made beauties come in a range of soothing colors and their smooth, handcrafted faces seem to be cheering us on. And they’re kind of interactive. When making a wish, color one eye. And when that wish comes true, I love that sense of optimism, but the other eye lights up with color. If not, consider it a reminder to never stop dreaming. — Todd Martens
rancho gordo black eyed peas
Rancho Gordo’s black-eyed peas helped preserve a family tradition. When we bought The Joy of Cooking in the 1980s, my late husband insisted I try the black-eyed pea recipe (aka Hoppin’ John) for good luck in the new year. To my surprise, I discovered that when I cooked those hard, weird-looking nuggets, they turned into a delicious, creamy dish filled with pork fat. The problem was that the dried beans in supermarkets were often old and hard, and took an enormous amount of time to prepare. Then my husband bought a can of black-eyed peas, which took very little preparation. His recipe was so popular that our friends started making it too, but one of them accidentally poisoned us and the rest of our dinner party by using a damaged can. Ta. After 72 hours of severe illness, it took a long time before we were willing to eat canned food, but I missed the New Year’s tradition, especially after my husband became a vegetarian. Contains dried beans from Rancho Gordo! It’s so fresh that every batch stays juicy without soaking or animal fat. My husband made a meatless version with whole tomatoes, olive oil, onions, bay leaves, and lots of garlic, and it was just as delicious as his old recipe. This is the dish I’m making today, and at $6.25 a bag, I can afford to give a pound of good fortune from a dearly departed family chef to a friend or family member. — Janet Marantos
(Lisa Boone/Los Angeles Times)
Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
I’m looking for a unique Christmas present for my 8 year old niece who lives in Oklahoma. Thanks to my colleague Lisa Boone’s list of 90 special shops in LA, I found Leanna Lynn’s wonderland of choices. Should I buy my niece a stamp engraving kit? She loves Pusheen, the little round cat, so I was able to buy her one of several stuffed animals. Some of them had a strawberry scent. It’s kind of magic! Or you can choose one of several surprise boxes and fill it with as many silly cat-themed toys as you like. While browsing, I also found gifts for other people on my list. That includes our butter-loving friend Bob, who will be thrilled with a sock celebrating his favorite condiment. I’m so happy to be able to find quality souvenirs locally! — Jaclyn Cosgrove
(The Plant Good Seed Co., Ltd.)
Culinary Basil Seed Collection by Plant Good Seed Co.
If I am intended to be the beneficiary, is it considered a gift? I have several gardeners in my family who also happen to be good cooks, and this year I bought 6 varieties from Plant Good Seed Company. I am planning to receive an assortment of basil seeds. Now, if that basil turns into pesto, it’s up to them whether they invite me over for dinner or a capri salad. I’m looking forward to it here. — Philip Gray
Di An: Salty, Sour, Sweet and Spicy Flavors of Vietnamese Cuisine by TwayDaBae
My best friend Neoma has recently started cooking. Many of her recent updates include her stories of baking her first rotisserie chicken and mastering other restaurant-worthy dishes. So, in the spirit of trying new cuisines, and thanks to Bethanne Patrick’s recommendation, I gifted her with TwayDaBae’s book “Di An: The Salty, Sour, Sweet and Spicy Flavors of Vietnamese Cooking With TwayDaBae” I am strongly considering doing so. Not only is this cookbook packed with pages of delicious recipes, but the hardcover book will look great in Neoma’s colorful kitchen. I also enjoy being an unashamed taste tester. — Kailyn Brown
(Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)
Try tacos and nutty chichi at Tonga Hut
In this age of materialism, there’s something about gifting experiences rather than things that really appeals to me this gift-giving season. That’s why I took the advice of my colleague Christopher Reynolds and spent a night at North Hollywood’s Tonga Hut (Los Angeles’ oldest tiki bar) for a food and food adventure, and included a special gift card for a couple of rounds. I’m thinking of surprising people. A tiki drink and a few Durango tacos. And as a self-confessed tikiphile, it would be kind of a win-win for me. Another experiential gift on my nice list radar is Fig Earth Supply’s Cannabis Gardening Bundle. It’s among the products featured in Janet Marantos’ gift roundup for LA gardeners and plant parents. This includes two classes scheduled for February, a packet of seeds, and a copy of Penny Barthel’s book “The Cannabis Gardener.” I took both classes, grew seeds, and read the books. We had everything we needed to go from nervous beginner to confident ganja green thumb. And who wouldn’t want to be inspired and gifted with that kind of confidence? And finally, if I wanted to stuff something into someone’s stocking, it would probably be a pair of Vermont-made Darn Tough socks like those recommended on my trail hikes, wilderness rides (stuffing stockings in stockings is very It will be a pair of meta). My colleague Jaclyn Cosgrove, a wanderer and coyote sufferer, is a full supporter of the Coolmax Hiker Boot mid-weight hiking socks. I don’t know anything about hiking, but I love everything about this hometown brand’s foot-cushioned, well-worn-looking steel socks. It means that the friend I gift it to (and their feet) will love it too. — Adam Chorun
