Gift-giving hints for the culinarily challenged

‘Tis the season to be ... hungry! If you’ve got a faithful foodie in your life (and really now, who doesn’t?!), make the season even more special with something he or she will truly love. Foodies don’t need ties or scarves – they’ll just end up splattering ‘em with mustard. And foodies tend to vary in size throughout the year, so please, no shirts or pants. Take it from a veteran fresser: Your foodie friends and family want something they can sink their teeth into.

Kitchen & Company near Lewes is a home cook’s amusement park. If your personal chef likes to entertain, spark his or her creativity with a variety of sheet pans. These kitchen staples come in a selection of sizes, and the small ones make for clever serving plates. No sheet pan is complete without a couple of Silpat nonstick silicone mats. Trust me; your happy recipient will know exactly what they are for. If nonstick is how they roll, present them with a set of colorful “soft” cooking utensils to protect their go-to skillet.

While you’re in and around Lewes, I suggest two gift-laden spots. First, caffeine lovers will be stimulated by an assortment of La Colombe coffees from Kaisy’s Delights. Pick up a French press while you’re at it and make your gift the best part of waking up. The second don’t-miss in Lewes is Patty’s Carryout in the Hazzard auto complex by the train tracks on Savannah Road. Yes, we all love her homemade salads and creative sandwiches, but upon closer inspection, you’ll find an assortment of jams, jellies, mustards, spices and marinades.

Speaking of spices, just east of Blackwall at the Beach near the Rehoboth Boardwalk is the Spice & Tea Exchange. Owner Joy Quinn Whalen and her team are experts on all they purvey. From pretty much every spice known to man (buy as little or as much as you want), to infused salts and sugars, from high-end cooking accessories (your foodie will love a Himalayan salt block for tableside sautéing or chilling) to pre-mixed seasonings, it’s all there. Scoop up the combo pack of custom blends, each in its own grinder bottle. They’re the perfect stocking stuffers. Rehoboth Foodie pick hits in that department include the Pirate’s Bite hot ‘n’ spicy blend, the Steakhouse blend for the carnivore in your life, the Italian Street Fare blend and the Kahuna Garlic Salt blend. The last two make for excellent garlic bread.

Speaking of garlic bread, last year I had the pleasure of hosting award-winning chef Hari Cameron on my radio show. One of the goodies he brought was a bottle of Corto Truly Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I’ve been buying it ever since. Beware the cheap “olive oils” in the grocery store. They are always a mixture of who-knows-what. You can buy the Corto stuff online and the taste will wow you. (No, this is not a commercial for that oil. I’ve got two bottles in my pantry even as we speak. Serious cooks will love the stuff.)

The Bronx-imported ingredients at Touch of Italy are so popular, they created a marketplace section in all the restaurants so you can take home imported pastas, handmade mozzarella, fresh Italian breads, condiments and more. They can also help you create a (refrigerated) gift basket with TOI’s legendary main dishes – and don’t forget the mouthwatering Italian cookies and pastries.

One-of-a-kind experiences make great gifts. Rich Steele’s reservations-only Paella Feast at Café Azafran on the ocean block of Baltimore Avenue is a dining experience that will make any foodie salivate. They are few and far between in the off-season, but snap up a gift card from the restaurant and your recipient can use it for the paella experience, minus gratuity and alcohol. The reservations-only event is offered weekly in-season.

Is the target of your affections a BBQ lover? Create a potpourri of smoky taste with custom-made sauces and spice rubs available at Bethany Blues. These locally conceived condiments are beautifully labeled and would look great in a gift basket. Throw in one of Blues’ cute T-shirts while you’re at it.

Of course there’s the gift that keeps on giving: A subscription to the Cape Gazette! My weekly column (you’re reading it now ...) is tucked in every Friday. I’ll fill your significant foodie in on a bit of Rehoboth restaurant history and human-interest stories centered on our vibrant culinary landscape. Add to the fun by grabbing a copy of the Beach Paper every Thursday in season for my Steppin’ Up to the Plate column. Your preferred gastronome will be on the leading edge of everything food & drink in the Cape Region. A perfectly tasteful way to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. (Yes, that one is a commercial for Cape Gazette!)