Food May Be The Perfect Gift

Many wonder if food is too impersonal to give as a gift. Just the opposite is true if you consider your audience and buy accordingly. Food gift baskets are great gifts for the winter holidays, birthdays, house warmings, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. They are always an excellent choice for corporate gifts. Who should you buy food gifts for?

Customers:

Food that can be shared is always appropriate for your customers. Many organizations have policies that state gifts may not be taken unless they are under a certain dollar amount or can be shared. It’s also difficult to know what personal gift to buy someone unless you know them well. So, in this case, choose food items that can be shared and that appeal to the masses. A mixture of savory and sweets are ideal. Nuts, fruits, cookies and candies, perhaps cheeses, hard meats and crackers are great options.

Foodies:

If you have someone on your list that enjoys good food or loves to cook, you can’t go wrong with a food basket. The trick is to figure out what they like. Are they breakfast fanatics? How about a basket filled with baked goods, pancake mix, maple syrup, jams and their favorite coffee or tea? Add some farm-fresh eggs and bacon if you are hand delivering. Maybe they are big fans of Italian or Indian food. A basket full of spices, a cook book, sauces, etc. is sure to be a hit. Or if they just like gourmet treats, there is an extensive list of items you could fill a basket with; from pickled veggies, to gourmet cheeses and assorted nuts, to luxurious chocolates.

Wine Drinkers:

If you are a wine drinker, doing some palate exploration is always fun. Is your friend a fan of red or white? Sign them up for a wine-of-the-month club. Or pick up some bottles from your favorite winery to share with them. They’ll be excited to try something new.

Coffee Drinkers:

Coffee is an acquired taste and many die-hard coffee drinkers have their favorites. Some manage their coffee drinking to just one cup in the morning and others drink it all day. Here is another chance to go exploring to see what your local roasters are selling. You will need to know what kind of coffee maker your gift recipient has before you choose the coffee you buy. If they just have a Keurig type machine, getting them, a bag of beans may not be your best option. You will also need to consider whether they have a grinder. Generally, ground coffee is your safest option. A couple of bags of unique coffee or their favorite, a coffee mug that speaks to their personality and perhaps some tasty cookies or baked goods would make a fantastic gift.

Snackers:

Snackers love to have a variety of things to munch on throughout the day. Why not get them a selection of nuts, popcorn, dried fruits, chips, cookies, and chocolates to satiate their cravings all day long?

Those you don’t know well:

It may be generic, but a fancy gift basket of food is memorable. Choose your favorite basket maker and pick a design full of items that everyone should like. This may not be the best time for that smoked salmon. Even if they don’t like everything in it, they’ll happily share it with others.

Food and beverage gifts work for most people. Some of the best treats come from independent and small-batch/craft companies that your gift recipient isn’t likely to find on their own. Consider buying from local vendors to make your baskets. Check out your farmers market, visit the local chocolate shop, coffee roaster or winery. Remember something you had on a trip that was out of this world, and see if they ship or even do their own gift baskets. Or, work with a reputable company that specializes in designing gift baskets.

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.