Sydney Eat Street: Christmas 2021 foodie gift ideas
Skip the chaos of holiday shopping; these gifts — ranging from sweet treats and hampers to cooking classes — will win the hearts of every foodie on your list.
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Sweet Treats
How sweet it is to be out of lockdown and heading into a fantastically fun Christmas.
The folks at Flour Drum are certainly ready for the festivities.
“In light of this year’s Covid lockdown, we have created a more extensive range of beautifully packaged Christmas Fare, ideal gifts for family and friends,” co-owner and executive chef John Ageletos says.
They have a great selection of gingerbread cookies and houses, award-winning mince pies, and Christmas cakes; they’re as pretty as they are tasty.
Baked by Keiran’s ‘Christmas Cheer’ collection is also a good option. Created by French-trained pastry chef and artisan baker Keiran McKay the 19-piece Christmas hamper includes soft and chewy gingerbread men, mince pies, Christmas pudding (Keiran’s Drunken Pud, best enjoyed warm), Festive Rocky with cranberry nougat and marshmallows), a Yule log, otherwise known as Buche de Noel, A French Christmas cake of light sponge rolled with a praline hazelnut cream, and so much more. (bakedbykeiran.com).
The Sweet Chick has created a clever dessert suited for the centre of the table, single-serve pavlovas in the shape of a wreath (thesweetchick.com.au).
For something that may be unfamiliar to you, but a must on any Christmas table in Portugal, Sweet Belem has the very regal King (Bolo Rei) and Queen (Bolo Rainha) cakes. These fruit cakes are made with sweet dough, lemon zest, and port; the difference is that the King’s cake is topped with crystallised and dry fruit, whereas the Queen’s cake trades the crystallised fruit topping for nuts. (sweetbelem.com.au).
With so many options out there, you’d need only follow the alluring fragrance of freshly baked pastries, and you’re sure to find colourful Christmas treasures.
Cooking classes
This is a different kind of “friends with benefits”. The holiday season, particularly post-lockdown, is the perfect time to catch up with your besties, and there’s no better way than cooking together, says La Favola’s Fabio Stefanelli.
“Cooking can be quite social. It’s a way to spend time in a group, with your partner or with close friends … and then eat good food,” he says.
His gnocchi making masterclass is always a hit, but you can also schedule a private session for you and your entourage.
For those keen to learn more about the ocean’s bounty, Sydney Fish Market’s Seafood School can guide you through the steps to Singapore’s iconic chilli crab, prawns in a Moroccan chermoula marinade, and much more.
There’s the butchery masterclass as Victor Churchill for the carnivore on your list. This Woollahra institution has long been known as a supplier of premium meats and go-to for Australia’s renowned chefs, so you’re sure to get top-quality tutorials.
On the sweet side, The Classic Cupcake Company has a variety of single-serve cake classes, including the popular kids baking and decorating workshops, classic cakepops, and buttercream cupcakes (theccc.com.au) or book in at the Sydney Chocolate School where you’ll learn about tempering, marbling, and just an overall appreciation of all things chocolate.
For those after a tipple, try a cocktail class at one of Greater Sydney’s many distilleries and cocktail bars, including Four Pillars Laboratory, Archie Rose Distillery and Bar, Brix Distillery, and even up in the clouds with a sweeping view of Sydney Harbour, at the Shangri-La’s Blu bar. You name it, someone somewhere is teaching it.
Hampers and gift boxes
A veritable treasure trove of edible goodies, these beautiful baskets and ribbon-adorned boxes are always a win on the gifting front, and not just for the recipient but also for each of the artisan producers whose products are included in the gift.
In a year marked by isolation, these hampers have become a saving grace for small businesses, particularly those in regional areas that previously relied on markets and gourmet shops for their sales.
Fortunately, some figured out a way to lend a hand while starting up their own enterprise, such as Deiniol Berridge, who launched Home Ground Central Coast before lockdown.
“We have so much colour, expression, passion and dedication in our region. We have beaches, bays, national parks, rainforests, acreages and hinterlands, which all provide such a diverse climate for so many different types of small businesses,” Deiniol says, adding that for the holidays, they’ve put together a package that is more reflective of the season such as Adri’s Gingerbread Christmas Cookies and Grandma Bees Christmas Apple Sauce.
Further north, Flavours of Byron Bay is another business that came about during lockdown. Co-owner Andrew Brooking says: “We find one of the best parts of what we do is getting to know our producers and discovering their passion behind their craft. We love the lifestyle in regional NSW. Business relationships feel more like personal relationships.”
Eager to share the area’s bounty, Andrew feels “receiving a gift from here and being able to taste some of the flavours is a way your mind back to that previous holiday”.
“One of the best things to come out of it has been the ability to provide some sort of connection to people’s loved ones when they aren’t able to visit them in person,” he says, noting Christmas is an ideal time to reconnect with their Seasonal Feast that has all your holiday party sorted including Sol Natural Foods’ – Spelt Fruit Mince Tarts. (flavoursofbyronbay.com).
Representing the artisans of the mid-north coast, Hasting’s Hamper’s, Prue Bowman says: “I think the allure in purchasing regional products has stemmed from the fact that we miss our holidays.
“Support local is the very loud and very clear message I get from customers in their reviews. They know that small businesses have struggled with all the events of the last two years, and they want their purchases to be meaningful.
“The main feedback I get is that the recipient was so glad to receive all local products.” (hastingshampers.com.au).
All things considered, hampers truly encapsulate the Christmas spirit.
The Botanist Gin & The Plant Mail
It’s BYO and DIY, which can be shaken and stirred depending on your preference. The Botanist Gin has partnered with Australian plant gifting brand, The Plant Mail to come up with a fabulous “Grow your own garnishes” concept: a 200ml bottle of The Botanist Gin along with a pretty and petite ceramic pot with your own rosemary plant.
With its slightly savoury note, rosemary works well with juniper (a requisite of gin), making it an ideal addition to the classic summertime cocktail, Gin & Tonic.
Hailing from the Isle of Islay in Scotland, The Botanist Gin is a smooth gin well suited for cocktails, but it’s also built on sustainable practices as the 22 botanicals such as berries and bark) are hand-foraged, taking from the land only what is needed and never more.
It’s an ethos that is shared by The Plant Mail as this little plot plant is the gift that keeps on giving … garnishes. (theplantmail.com.au)
Caramel Waffly
This is certainly a box worth cracking open this Christmas because, as Rossy Gutierrez says: “It’s not just a box of homemade Dutch Waffles, it’s an immersive experience.”
Rossy and her sister Judith launched Caramel Waffly early last year at The Rocks Markets and then sold them online during the lockdown.
The DIY kit comes with six waffles, a bag of Belgian chocolate buttons for melting and a choice of six toppings, including marshmallows, M&Ms, and pistachios, plus a serving board, a chef’s hat, wooden paddle, and spoon ($49.90 + delivery).
For the holidays, there’s a special addition to the Caramel Waffly menu: festive toppings, which Rossy explains: “It’s a bag of delicious red and green chocolate Christmas balls to crush up and make into crumbs. We have also included the traditional Christmas Candy Canes to add as a decorative element; this one is from Santa.”
The box comes wrapped in red gift paper as well as satin ribbons and festive gold and silver confetti, all a treat ready for the occasion. Caramel Waffly ships nationwide, or you can pre-order and pick it up at The Rocks Market. Contact them directly via Instagram (@caramelwaffly) or email (order@caramelwaffly.com.au).
MyMilo
There’s no mistaking the emerald-green hue of a Milo tin; its colour alone brings back childhood memories, or for the younger ones, a promise of a delicious malted-milk treat.
To celebrate those moments, give the Milo fan on your list their very own, personalised 460g tin. There are 13 different designs to choose from so hop online to get the personalisation process going ($14 + shipping).
Ume Burger
Sydney foodies have long followed the burger line-up at Ume. From Wagyu mince to Japanese fried-chicken hatted chef Kerby Craig’s creations have garnered quite the following so in the spirit of the season Ume has put together a holiday hamper pack featuring all those flavours that make the menu so more-ish.
Available in three sizes, these Christmas hampers showcase their crispy renkon crisps in a trio of flavours, their custom range of Awa Sodas, Ume’s Umami salt, Special Sauce, and their house curry mayo, plus an Ume T-shirt. As the products are perishable, the hampers are only available for pick-up on December 24 from Barangaroo and Darling Square locations.
— Wulugul Walk, Barangaroo; 1 Little Pier St, Darling Exchange, Haymarket; umeburger.com
Firepop
Shout out to husband-and-wife team, Raymond Hou and Alina Van, co-owners for Firepop, for creating DIY BBQ packs that have it all, quite literally as they include an eco-friendly disposable grill. But the applause goes to their signature meats including New England lamb, Blackmore MBS 9+ Wagyu and Bangalow Sweet Pork prepared with artisanal ingredients such as Olsson’s sea salt used in their housemade seasonings.
Add a side of their red onion and Davidson plum pickles, house-roasted beer peanuts, and a tipple from their selection of boutique beer, wine, and spirits.
BOOZIE GIFTS
Grey Goose Night Vision
When the lights go down the vodka comes out and Grey Goose is leading the way with a limited edition illuminated bottle, Night Vision. Whether you’re imbibing with friends over dinner or gifting it to someone special, the 1-litre matte blue bottle’s subtle glow makes for undeniably elegant present. (RRP $90, available at BSW, Liquorland, and First Choice.)
Patrón X CAPI Paloma pack
Hot weather calls for cold drinks, but rather than go for same-old-same-old mix things up with a one of Mexico’s favourite refreshing bevvie, the tequila-based cocktail, the Paloma.
This summer, the renowned tequila brand, Patron has paired up with grapefruit flavoured soda, CAPI to offer Sydney some sensational opportunities to try it, plus they’ve created a Patrón X CAPI Paloma pack, purchase via delivery services Boozebud and Hairy Dog.
For your first foray, head to Barangaroo House (barangaroohouse.com.au) through December, where there’ll be drink specials across all levels (Smoke Bar, BEA Restaurant, and House Bar).
Bondi hotspot, North Bondi Fish (northbondifish.com.au) have also got some good things going on with a three-way collaboration that include Patrón X CAPI and beachwear brand, Double Rainbouu. In addition to offering Paloma cocktails specials, you can in the draw to win a range of prizes including lunch for six, merchandise, and of course, Patrón cocktails all summer long.
Writer’s Tears
Weep no more as the triple-distilled, award-winning old Irish Pot still Whiskey has landed on Australian shores, delivering a smooth drink with notes of apple, vanilla, honey, ginger, and butterscotch with background notes of toasted oak.
It’s been said that this “champagne of Irish whiskey” was prized so much, particular by such renowned Irish novelist such as Oscar Wilde
W.B. Yeats that would cry Writer’s Tears whiskey. There’ll be no sadness through when you gift a bottle to the whiskey lover on your list. ($79.99 at Dan Murphy’s).
James Squire
Considered the father of beer brewing in Australia, James would be pretty proud of his namesake’s annual limited release small batch, barrel-aged beers, appropriately named the James Squire Pioneers’ Collection.
Revisiting richly hopped English IPAs, the first of collection is matured in single-malt whiskey barrels with macadamia honey, of vanilla and hints of soft spice. Available in 750ml bottles. ($49 from Dan Murphy’s and James Squire Brewhouses.)
Port Macquarie Gin Pack
Hastings Hampers, a champion of Port Macquarie producers has put together the Port Mac Gin Pack, featuring the area’s own Black Duck Distillery’s. The 500ml bottle of The enGINeer small batch gin, comes with CAPI tonic water, and artisanal produce from local producers including The Other Chef’s pickled cucumber, and Black Market Bagel’s bagel chips. Order by December 18 for Christmas delivery. ($100 + delivery)
Feels Botanical
Being able to celebrate holidays with family and friends has never felt so good, particularly when you know that your Christmas cocktails are also supporting environmentally conscious Australian businesses.
Feel Botanical’s Eau De Vie (known as “water of Life” in France) fits the bills with a range of botanically-based spirits, all four of which are available in the Feels Botanical 200ml Gift Box. Using sustainably-sourced and uniquely Australian ingredients, the collection includes Feels Bask made with hemp quandong, and Kakadu plum, Feels Vivify with turmeric, coconut and ginger, Feels Rouse with rose, Davidson plum and horny goat weed, and Feels Revel with ginseng, coffee, and Illawarra plum. ($130; available from their website as well as select independent cellars, and cocktail bars).
Winter warmers to celebrate the season
Everyone is happy to see the sun peeking through the clouds, but winter’s not all bad. Bid farewell to the colder days with one last hurrah of warming fare.
Sniffing out Sydney’s best truffle desserts
Save the best for last. As truffle season comes to a close, be sure to indulge in some sweet treats featuring the annual earthy gem.