Chicago Food Gifts for Chicago Food Lovers, A Holiday Guide

‘Tis the season for dropping cash on those we love. As such, drunk on too much egg nog, I decided to act like a traditional food publication again and publish a holiday gift guide.

Because I’m morally opposed to air-fryers (not really), I decided to skip recs for most of the major gadgets in favor of recommending arty and local goodies or at least fun food-related stuff with a strong Chicago connection. I hope you’ll enjoy some of the unusual and usual suspects I’ve provided here. (All red text below is a direct link to the item)

Lula Café Cookbook – There are restaurants, and then there are restaurants that spark movements, change communities, and inspire the next generation, like say Chez Panisse. Almost every world class city has one. In Chicago, that place is Lula Café.

Even if the recipes in this book were awful, Jason Hammel’s story of a kid who just bought his favorite neighborhood artist-centered café and transformed himself from struggling writer/franchise line cook to a French Laundry-technique studying and local/sustainable committed top-level chef is worth the price alone.  But, the good news is the recipes don’t suck, and in fact reflect how most of us like to or wish to eat on a daily basis.

BIF CHEESE – Jon Bifro, a local foodie, was carrying a jar of giardiniera for making Italian beefs while on vacation in Atlanta. He slipped on an errant puddle of gravy and remnants of the open pepper jar flew in to a bowl of pimento cheese sitting on a nearby table, and the rest is history. 

Just kidding, none of this happened, but Bifro did take the best of Chicago pickled veg and infuse it within the southern staple cheese dip to make something uniquely of our fair city. While the Bears nor the Falcons will be playing in the super bowl, why not buy some at Fresh Marketplace on Western Avenue for holiday appetizers and or your impending Super Bowl party. Available in hot and mild.

Duck Sel dinner – As one of the youngest US chefs to ever garner a Michelin star, Donald Young is not an unknown, but also he’s not yet a household name. After a recent dinner at his pop up Duck Sel, I’m positively convinced he should be.  Treat yourself to a night at his pop-up.

Duck Sel dishes are sexy, photo courtesy of Duck Sel

Modernist Cutlery Quenelle Spoon or Esme Gift Certificate – I know like me, if you really love cooking, you’re convinced you need every single gadget ever made. Like you secretly want a Pacojet, but you can’t convince yourself the cost is worthwhile, so you own three mid-level ice cream makers instead. I see you and I feel you.

Well for those folks, you also know all the fancy chefs quenelle, aka make a cute dollop of sauce or ice cream that looks like a fancy orb that floated down from some design god.  But, you also know that usually takes two spoons and practice to achieve.  What if you could do the whole thing one handed? You can with Jenner Tomaska of Esme’s super cool quenelle spoon. If you’re not a cook, well it’s a sexy cocktail swizzler or soup slurper too. Also, as with Donald Young, I’m convinced Jenner is one of the most creative young chefs in the city, so why not buy your foodie friend dinner at Esme.

Boka Cookbook – Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz changed the hospitality game in Chicago by marrying top experiential design, a desire for luxe hot nightlife, and top chef-driven cuisine. Boka was the place that put them on the map. Part of their success was luring away one of Charlie Trotter’s top lieutenants Giuseppe Tentori who would go on to build his own Boka fiefdom with GT Fish and Oyster and GT Prime.

Tentori was succeeded by Lee Wolen, one of the most talented and underrated chefs in the game. This is the story of his time at Boka. Also, this thing is shot by the golden eye, my friend, Huge Galdones, so even if you can’t read or you don’t like recipes, it will make your coffee table look super smart.

Good Ambler Pastry – I have long been convinced that Meg Galus is one of, if not the best to ever do it in Chicago desserts. I was reminded of this last night as I stopped by her new spot later in the day after the pastry cabinet had been decimated. The only thing left was a couple of chocolate croissants, a macaron, and some cookies. They were all world class, but these croissants, man, like I guarantee there is not only no better one in Chicago, but maybe not in Paris.  Give a gift certificate or pre-order one of the holiday pastry boxes.

Daisies Pasta & Pastry – Speaking of sweets, everyone needs a buche de noel once in their life, and not just a processed shelf-stable one from the Swiss Colony, although there isn’t any shame in that game.  Why not get one from Leigh Omilinsky one of my other favorite pastry mavens?  Also, why not add in fresh pappardelle with mushroom ragu for your Christmas dinner from her partner Chef Joe Frillman.

Orb One Coffeemaker – Technically Martin Kastner, principal of Crucial Detail design, no longer lives in Chicago, but he does have origins here, and a long partnership with Alinea group, so he has Chicago bonafides. He makes lots of stuff including the porthole or cool cocktail tumblers for the mixologists in your world. But if you have a coffee person in your life who is sick of toting around a French press, a drip maker, an espresso machine and just wants one coffee machine that does it all, even while camping on a mountain, check out the Orb One.

Toby Maloney’s Cocktail Classes at Violet Hour – Give the cocktail-obsessed the chance to learn at the foot of one of America’s best bartenders, the guy who put Chicago cocktails on the map, Violet Hour founder Toby Maloney – this one’s an early holiday gift tho and won’t make it under the tree because the classes happen Dec 10 and Dec 17.

Mauro Provisions Prime Beef Kit – Jeff has been a big supporter of mine for a long time. I’d even call him a friend. He once sent me a pack of his giardiniera as a gift. However, I’ve also ordered from him on my own dime many times, because I love the quality of his products, especially the fact that I can score prime harder-to-find cuts like skirt steak and what not.  I like his blend of giardiniera because it contains banana peppers one of my all time favorite peppers.  So why not get both the meats and the giard with this kit?

Chicago Chef Mt. Rushmore Tees – Yes, I am pimping my own designs. This is the privilege of writing a gift guide on your own newsletter. Wear your love for Chicago’s best chefs of all time on your sleeve.  You can choose from the winners of The Hunger’s 70 person poll of all time chefs, the lady chefs, or the OG French chefs.

Mindy Segal’s Hot Chocolate blends - Segal, owner of Mindy’s Bakery, used to have a popular restaurant called Hot Chocolate, so of course her hot chocolate blends beat the sand out of Swiss Miss.

Katherine Anne Confections Truffle Kit - Sure, you could just order truffles from Katherine Anne, but you know you really want to make them for yourself with this DIY truffle kit.

The Hunger Subscription – Chicago food media is struggling. I have always believed a restaurant culture and food community is symbiotic with the quality of the coverage it gets. That’s why I started the Hunger, to tell great local food-related stories in an unconventional way. To make sure The Hunger keeps putting out great stories and thoughtful coverage that celebrates the best of Chicago food, why not share your love of my work with a food loving friend in your life? Click on the link below for a discounted gift sub. If you’re a free subscriber, this discount will work if you want to treat yourself as well.

Josh Moulton’s Manny’s Deli Portrait of Gino – I have loved this print from Josh Moulton forever and I know as a lover of pastrami and latkes, you will too.

Custom Restaurant Facade Potraits from Wonder City Studio - I have long been fans of Phil Thompson and Katie Lauffenberger ever since I saw their work on Instagram and then stumbled in to their booth at a downtown art fair a few years ago. I bought a custom portrait of my house that turned out amazing. They celebrate Chicago building history with clean illustration and super cool ceramic work. While their visuals are usually architectural, they have been hired by clients to do custom portraits of favorite restaurants including one for Le Bouchon.

Original Berf T-Shirt – You love THE BEAR ON FX! No better way to tell people that than by displaying your passion with this example of the special misspelled “collectors item” shirt you know so well from the show.

Tortello Cacio e Pepe sauce – Tortello kept me alive with their amazing pasta during the pandemic.  The restaurant has a whole line of jarred sauces and fresh noodles, so why not keep this beauty on the shelf when you need to save a little time getting dinner on the table.

Kevin Klima Restaurant Photos – Kevin Klima sells hundreds of arty photos of beloved Chicago restaurant signs. I’d probably go with the Graziano, Bavette’s, Harold’s or Manny’s options, but you can get whatever your heart desires.

Chicago Style is Party Cut T-Shirt – Not only do you get to tell the rest of the world what true Chicagoans already know about the TRUE pizza of the Windy City, but you’re also supporting Block Club, the best local journalism in the game.

Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir – The follow up to chef Iliana Regan’s Burn the Place is somehow even more personal, deeper, and thoughtful than her first book, proving that Regan, formerly Chef of the defunct Elizabeth in Logan Square, is as talented on the page as she is in the kitchen.

Tony B’s Sichuan Peppercorn Steak Chips – Tony Balestreri was on the opening team at Kimksi, and when he was the head chef at Marz Community Brewing he developed the steak chip as a snack for diners, eventually serving it with a white remoulade dip at another spot. When the pandemic hit and he needed to figure out something to do, Tony started reimagining his signature dish as a packaged snack. While folks were taking out loans to save their restaurants, Tony was securing loans to build a snack business.

I’d seen these around, but waited way too long to actually try them because my perception is this was just beef jerky. To the letter of the law, I suppose it still is, but the texture, lacy, crisp, striated with buttery fat is like what might happen if a wagyu t-bone and a parmesan frico had a baby. This snack is a cut above jerky. The sichuan peppercorn flavor kissed with lemon featuring a lip-tingling spice will have you crunching through the whole bag in seconds.

Malornament Gift Box – A bottle of Chicago’s favorite liquid eraser fluid plus a bauble for your Christmas tree. What’s not to love?

Pizza for Everyone – Unless you click fast, it’s tough to get one of John Carruthers’ alley pies. The good news is while you hunt down his limited drops you can feast on this fabulous pizza compendium that honors the old school church and community cookbook ethos.

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Italian Seasoning - People who dine in the restaurant have been known to steal the tableside jars of this seasoning blend poured over their “Mediterranean” bread. Now you can just buy it legally. I love to sprinkle this over an antipasto with red wine vinegar and oil dressing.

Disclosures: no one paid me to endorse any of this. I paid for everything here with my own money, except, I received free samples of Tony B’s steak chips.