Buying Christmas presents is one of those chores when it comes to cooking dinner – both are lovely to hand out, but very stressful to prepare. So if you put it off to the last minute, you won’t be the only one.
But if it’s too late to have a cashmere shawl shipped from Jammu, or if the toy store just came out of this year’s must-have tattoo, don’t worry. There are tons of food subscriptions, regular deliveries of delicious food and drink, which make great gifts. Some offer instant PDF certificates that you can print and give to the lucky recipient, making them one of the few gifts you can buy on Christmas morning, although I’m not suggesting you leave it off for then. Nobody wants to be pounding on a computer keyboard when pre-lunch corks are popping.
Food subscriptions may be an easy fix for holiday shopaholics, but they’re not just an outlet. Rather, they are a gift that is not just for Christmas, but is well distributed throughout the year. Who doesn’t find a packet of goodies cheering up during the dullest months?
Some of the boxes offer enthusiasts the opportunity to explore further: the whiskey regions of the world, for example, or unusual vegan finds. Some have a more practical look: baking kits or cooking lessons for kids. Others only refer to regular deliveries of the best quality meat or coffee, which may be hard to come by or just seem too extravagant to consider buying for yourself.
What they all have in common is that they simplify life, both for the giver and the recipient. Although sadly, they will not cook Christmas dinner.
Best for Experimental Food Lovers
SousChef
Sous Chef is foodies ‘secret source of rare and hard-to-find ingredients, and its monthly subscription is a kitchen explorers’ dream gift. The box includes a mix of intriguing new finds, exotic staples and sandwiches, such as White Mausu’s peanut rayu (a cult ingredient) and Acquerello’s 7-year-old risotto rice. Fundamentally, there is a guide for all of them, with recipes and flavor pairings.
£ 330 for a 12-month subscription, including delivery, or £ 27.50 per month plus £ 3.99 for delivery. souschef.co.uk
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