The Feel-Good Holiday Gift Guide
There is nothing better than the feeling of giving the perfect gift, except maybe the feeling of receiving one. Below are our favorite feelings to give and receive, and a few different ways to give them to the ones you love.
THE GIFT OF GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL
Travel is the heart of Secret Supper. We all have our favorite travel tricks — Danielle always brings the fixings for an Aperol Spritz so that she can enter vacation mode anytime. Jacob packs his own wineglasses in case the Airbnb doesn’t have any. Ariel has developed the perfect carry-on bag packing system so that she always knows exactly where her e-reader is if the flight gets delayed. A sense of exploration is the only real prerequisite for an incredible adventure, but a few creature comforts can help you appreciate the moment.
Give an unforgettable holiday for the holidays! Join us in the hills of Umbria and Tuscany to start your summer, explore Paris and Champagne amidst a riot of spring blooms, or head to Piedmont just in time for truffle season.
Culinary Pursuits are designed to offer you a delightful, luxury vacation full of surprises. We plan every detail so that you can simply enjoy the moment.
Hinoki in Common | No. 5 Carryall Tote - This handmade tote is thoughtfully designed for carrying-on everything you need for a quick getaway; bringing a picnic to the beach; or packing your snacks, water bottle, and a change of clothes on event day ;). It’s stylish enough to carry to work and sturdy enough to travel the world.
Kloveo | Champagne stopper - Danielle packs this Champagne stopper and a pack of glass straws for every vacation, so that she’s spritz-ready any time. It wonderfully preserves that super-special sparkling wine from the shop you discovered down the street from your hotel, makes it that much easier to move the party to a second location during celebration season, or keep the bubbles fresh between Christmas morning mimosas and a toast that evening.
THE GIFT OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL (AND USEFUL)
We believe in buying from small makers and craftspeople during the giving season (and all year round), so we are always looking for beautiful pieces that carry the mark of their makers. These folks also just happen to be near our hometown of Portland, Maine.
Ceramica - From a set of perfect pasta bowls to a whimsical cup for your morning coffee, Scarborough, Maine based ceramicist Hannah Hazel creates beautiful, functional pieces to brighten up your every day. We’re coveting quite a few of them, and we think there’s probably something there for anyone on your list who enjoys eating.
The Cultivated Thread | Handwoven Towels
Farmer-turned-weaver Hilary Crowell creates gorgeous tea towels and throws inspired by the colors and rhythms of nature. Each piece from her seaside studio in Midcoast Maine is made with utility in mind, designed to stand the test of time, and adds a touch of natural artistry to your home.
THE GIFT OF COOKING (AND EATING) TOGETHER
A well stocked kitchen is a joy in itself, but it’s also a tool for more effortless gatherings. When you have a full pantry and the tools to utilize it, it becomes that much easier to bring people together around the table.
Grating cheese, zesting citrus, making ginger tea — a microplane is an essential kitchen tool missing from a lot of home cooks’ toolboxes.
Our favorite version comes in a variety of colors, so that you can match your loved-one’s decor and tastes.
We’ve upgraded our grilling game by bringing Big Green Eggs to certain Suppers, and we’ve been endlessly impressed by their versatility. Cooking over live fire adds so much to depth to any dish, from proteins to vegetables to homemade flatbread. Gift the grill-master or adventurous cook in your life an Egg, and get ready to reap the delicious benefits.
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If you have a landlocked seafood lover on your list, family-owned Sena Sea’s sustainably sourced seafood is caught by small fishermen in Alaska and shipped right to you. It is a wonderful way to give the gift of good food you can feel good about, in every way.
The Burundian coffee and Tanzanian chocolate from Baobab Fare have become pantry staples for the Secret Supper team. Their gift boxes are lovely hostess gifts, while the Pili hot sauce makes a wonderful stocking stuffer. Just make sure to order two of everything — you’re going to want to keep one for yourself!
THE GIFT OF TSUNDOKU
Danielle recently gave Ariel the most amazing sweatshirt from Bitter Southerner (a great place for gifts for the Southerner, reader, or honestly anyone in your life), which introduced us to the Japanese word for a universal phenomenon — the act of buying more books just to add to a stack of unread books at home. For the reader in your life, we’ve chosen a few of our favorite books of the moment to add to their stack.
The Book of Delights | Ross Gay - Ross Gay spent a year noticing and recording his delights. The result is a master class in intentional living, presented in bite-sized, delectable prose you can snack on bits at a time or devour all at once.
Foodin’ with Fernando | Jarrett Stieber
We had so much fun working with Chef Jarrett in Atlanta this year, and have developed a robust online dog-picture-sharing relationship since. He publishes a monthly online travel guide/interview series (named for his late dog, Fernando) that will introduce you to the food and beverage insiders of new cities, including a map of recommendations to take with you on your travels.
Le Sud | Rebekah Peppler
We’ve long loved Rebekah Peppler’s cookbooks, and her newest doesn’t disappoint. The aspirational photography will have you dreaming of life in Southern France while her charming, voicey writing will have you wishing you were on the list for her next dinner party in Paris. Of course, at the core of it all are her simple, seasonal recipes that feel simultaneously homey and transporting.
THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK
The gifting season is about spreading joy, which means more than just presents under the tree. Whether you choose one of our favorite projects or an organization close to home, we encourage you to give back this season, as well and giving to those you know and love.
Feeding America - Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and local meal programs. They are meeting our current moment by working to support organizations working on the ground to provide food to over 47 million Americans facing hunger.
Food for Soul - We’ve joyfully supported Food for Soul with a portion of our Supper proceeds throughout the years. Massimo Bottura’s non-profit works with chefs around the world to rescue surplus food and transform it into delicious meals served with dignity in their Refettorios, beautiful hospitality spaces that serve free meals to anyone in need.
Organized by Cultivate NH and co-founded by a Chef David Vargas, the fest includes cultural celebrations and performances from local artists and musicians, but above all, it’s a food festival — because food is the best way to connect across cultures. By gathering joyfully, BIPOC fest unites a wide array of community members to enjoy some of the foods, art & music that highlight the rich and diverse histories that make up New England, while illuminating the persisting economic injustices that Black and brown people continue to face in this country.
GOOD GIFT WRAPPING
Of course, we’re always thinking about presentation.
Add a little bit more to present your beautiful things more beautifully.
Boston General Store | Handmade Steel Fish Clip
We love these sweet little clips for sealing gift bags (or clipping menus to the table for your Feast of Seven Fishes maybe?). Be sure to peruse Boston General Store’s many other beautiful offerings for stocking stuffers and intentional gifts galore.
Pomegranate | Holiday Greetings Napkins - These adorable napkins serve as sweet little greeting cards. Use one as perfect gift wrapping for a candle, or use all four — each around one of a set of vintage glassware — to help complete your host’s next tablescape.