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Gifts for the Gourmet.

Gift ideas for the foodie in your life!  I love to cook and I love good packaging too!  I've rounded up some of my favorite food and kitchen related gifts!

Poschiavo spaghetti from South End Formaggio in Boston!

I love the packaging on this pasta so much I wouldn't want to open it up!  Toss one of these in a stocking!

My favorite Olive Oil - made in California by Pasolivo.

I would like to try the Meyer Lemon version.

How about a bunch of striped paper straws!  I love drinking from straws and these actually look like a classic straw.  I would love to set these out with an array of drinks at a party!

Beautiful honey in a beautiful jar!

This tree trunk mug from Anthropologie is just too cute!  I have a soft spot for anything faux bois and I think this could fall into that category!

If you haven't cooked in a Le Creuset pot you are missing out!  I have an oval pot like this and use it for everything!  They work on the stove and in the oven!  Most importantly they are so easy to clean!  I would love a large round one like this beauty!

For the lucky ones who live in the UK - how about a jar of Jamie Oliver's Lemon Curd!  I love Lemon Curd, but truthfully I think it always tastes best when you make it yourself.  I just love the label!  The red lid looks pretty great next to the yellow curd too!

The Rosemary Sea Salt has me intrigued too!

This colorful bird tray from Ikea had me at hello!  The birds are so Charley Harper!  You can never have too many trays around the house - can you?

I am still loving these Ikat bowls from Anthropologie!  They are a great size and shape!

This is one of our favorites!  Trader Joe's Vintage Ale!  Don't let the $4.99 price tag fool you!  If you are a fan of belgian beer, this does not dissapoint!  It is brewed by Unibroue, the same brewery in Quebec that makes Maudite - another excellent brew!  If you like Ommegang or Chimay you will love this!  Rach always makes fun of me because I drink beer super slow (I drink everything super slow) and I'm usually still on my first while she's on her second, but I still love a good beer!  The Vintage Ale is only around for the holidays so stock up and bring a bottle to all of your holiday parties!  Feel free to drop a case under my tree too!

While your at Trader Joe's loading your car with a couple cases of Vintage Ale, pick up a box of Brandy Beans!  I love these too!  When we were kids, our dad used to take a class of students to Europe every summer and bring home all of these chocolate bars from different countries that were filled with various liquers.  I always felt like such a grown-up when he let me try a piece!  These Brandy Beans remind me of that!  The box looks like an homage to the 70's!  If you stop into your local Goodwill there is probably a couple of Brandy glasses on the shelf that you could pair with this box of chocolates!  Another fun hostess gift for $2.99!