A Holiday Guide for Near and Far
A selection of some of my favourites gift ideas, highlighting local Vancouver stockists and small businesses, with a curated few for my friends abroad.
For the IG Food Account Friend
* A gift basket of gourmet French spreads, Maldon salt, local honey, nut butter, and other dried goods from Le Marché St. George
* Flourists' Holiday Cookie Box
* Nakiri knife from Ai & Om or KnifeWear
* Alessi Moka Pot from Inform Interiors
* Naruto hair clip from Woo to See You, so they can match their ramen
* For keeping the neighborhood grocery run cute: Net shoulder bag from Much and Little filled with their favourite snacks
* Tea Gift Box Omakase from Cultivate Tea
* A gift card to one of your favourite local spots like Kin Kao Song
* For hot girls only: Jose Gourmet tinned fish 4 pack decorated with a Tinned Fish Ornament
* Kakomi Donabe from Old Faithful for hot pot season
* The ultimate gift set for those who are dedicated to mise en place: Falcon Prep Set from Good Egg (TO)
* Cabi Original Trio (US only)
* Chinese Herbs Tee from Better Gift Shop (TO)
* Persimmon Jar from Chop Suey Club (NYC)
* Milk BAO candle by Bao Convni (LDN)
* Fake Food Magnets from Fake Food Japan (JPN)
* Sant’ANA CBD Olive Oil to bring some calm to their plate (LA)
* Set of 6 Food containers by Inka (use my link here for 10% off!)
For those with a literary appetite
Text, recipes, photographs, design
* Septime, La Cave, Clamato, D'une Île by Bertrand Grébaut, Théophile Pourriat, Benoit Cohen
* Vietnamese by Uyen Luu
* The Cookbook by Cooking with Scorsese and others
* Home Farm Cooking by John Pawson
* Every Grain of Rice by Fuchsia Dunlop
* The British Cookbook by Ben Mervis
* The Female Chef by Liz Seabrook
* An A-Z of Pasta by Rachel Roddy
* First Generation by Frankie Gaw
* Always Home by Fanny Singer
* Kitchen Living by Gestalten
Literature and Essays
* Women on Food by Charlotte Druckman
* Poetry is Growing in our Garden by Anders Frederik Steen
* The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
* Have you Eaten yet? by Cheuk Kwan
* Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
* A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
Objects and Self Care
“Even the common articles made for daily use become endowed with beauty when they are loved.”
― Soetsu Yanagi, The Beauty of Everyday Things
Objects
* Beautifully made ceramics by haneuhaneu
* Asano Lamp at Old Faithful
* Hasami porcelain available at Old Faithful, Sort
* Toyo Steel Toolboxes available at Old Faithful, Sort
* Marjolein Delhaas 2023 Planner available at Out & About Boutique
* T-lab Polepole animals at Sort
* Shop Copito Candles at Le Marché St. George
* Tang Lady Plate from Wing on Wo & Co (NYC)
* Just about everything from Present and Correct's Holiday Section (LDN)
* Aykasa Mini Crate at Neighbour
* Signature Centre Piece and Coasters from Estudio Niksen (MTL)
* 2022 Calendar from Kind. Print (dm to order!)
Self Care
* Tamanohada Welcome Soap available at Old Faithful
* Kıya Nihonbashi Nail Clippers available at Old Faithful
* Tekla Terry Towel at Neighbour
* Babaghuri Jatamansi Shampoo & Rinse at Itsumo
* Facial at Formula Fig
* Beauty Bundle by Kyth and Kyn
Clothing & accessories
Wearable items
the theme this year is cozy, practical, and neutral.
* Hand Sewn Toque from Lloyd also available at Alterior/A Living Taste
* The Kotn Crew Sock or Silk Cotton Lounge Sock from Old Faithful
* ARQ Crop Tank available locally in Vancouver at One of a Few
* Cross Body City Bag from Estudio Niksen (MTL)
* Convertible gloves from Estudio Niksen (MTL)
* Subu Beige Packable Slippers from SSENSE
* J. Hannah Mini Nail Polish Set from One of a Few also available from Canadian stockist: New Classics
* Tito Scarf by Paloma wool available at New Classics
* Doré Fleece from SCRT (LDN)
Books
Whether it's a–too beautiful to even open–book, an educational read, a cookbook, or just a classic fiction novel, books are collectibles and easy to personalize. Browse in Vancouver from: Massy Books, Pulpfiction Books, Tanglewood Books, The Paper Hound, Hager Books, Spartacus Books, or Indigo
A few books that I think would be a welcome addition to any coffee table or bookshelf:
* Montage by Jeremy Jude Lee (photo book)
* Apartamento Issue 30 available at Old Faithful (magazine)
* Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories (fiction)
* FAR-NEAR Volume Bundle (cross-cultural book series) (NY)
* The Years by Annie Ernaux (essays) (LDN - the Fitzcarraldo edition is beautiful, but it's also available locally at Indigo)
* Hayao Miyazaki by Jessica Niebel (art book, essays)
* Small Things like These by Claire Keegan (historical fiction)
* Pure Colour by Sheila Heti (fiction)
* Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yu (fiction)
* Cafes by Softer Volumes (photo book)
* The Snail by Emily Hughes (illustration)
* How to Make a Japanese House by Cathelijne Nuijsink (architecture)
* The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté (psychology)
