Holiday Gift Ideas for Foodies

Foodies don't just love food at in December. Sure, foodies love to try out new spins on traditional Christmas and Chanukah favorites just like the rest of us. But foodies love experimenting with new foods all year long. That's why a monthly club subscription makes a highly desired gift for food enthusiasts. If you don't know what kind of club to sign the foodies on your list up for, try some of these:

Monthly Clubs:
Wine of the month club- Giving the gift of good wine is an ultra sophisticated present. The original Wine of the Month Club sends the subscriber two wines each month, one red wine and one white wine. The club claims to feature bottles from small wineries worldwide. The monthly delivery comes complete with a monthly newsletter, which features information on grapes, cooking tips, and information about the wineries from which the month's wine came. But several other wine of the month clubs exist, such as Amazing Wine Club, Cellars Wine Club, and California Reds Wine of the Month Club, so shop around if you want to find wine clubs featuring wines from a specific region or price range.

Cheese of the month clubs- All Foodies understand the difference cheese makes in a dish. American cheese just doesn't hold a candle to five years aged cheddar or French organic herbed chevre. Cheese of the month clubs are plentiful and easily found online, too, just as the monthly wine clubs are. The Gourmet Cheese of the Month Club's website says that subscribers receive three, half-pound freshly cut blocks of gourmet cheese that come from boutique cheese manufacturers worldwide.

Avocado of the month clubs- If the wine and cheese clubs are too ordinary, this one is surely more unique. Most people are probably unaware that such as thing as the AOTMC even exists, but it does. Not only can you sign up someone for a different variety of California avocados to show up to their door every month, but you can also buy gift baskets, avocado oils, and kitchen gadgets such as avocado slicers, guacamole dips bowls, and more all from one place.

Books
Cookbooks- Even great cooks draw on inspiration from other seasoned chefs. Cookbooks make great holiday presents and with the wealth of topics available on the market today, you can find a cookbook that meets the specific food interests of any cook. Health conscious foodies will love a raw foods or vegan cookbook, such as "Raw: The UNcookbook" by Juliano Brotman. Ethnic food enthusiasts will enjoy African or Thai cookbooks, such as " 'My Cooking' West-African Cookbook" by Dokpe L. Ogunsanya. Or, couple who enjoy cooking together will love "The Seduction Cookbook: Culinary Creations For Lovers" by Diane Brown. From Mediterranean to Japanese to All-American pies, there is definitely a cookbook out there to suit everyone's tastes.

Utensils
Food Network Gear- Foodies watch the food network. Period. It's fun, it's informative, it's appetizing. If a foodie on your Christmas list is obsessed with celebrity chefs, shop online at foodnetwork.com and choose from Rachael Ray's favorite on-air tools, Paula Deen's cookbooks, Ina Garten's DVDs, or Iron Chef's Masaharu Morimoto's aprons. The site makes it easy to shop by show, host, brand, or item. Food Network junkies will be drooling over these fun and useful holiday presents.

Knives- Any amateur or professional cook knows one thing is more important than all others when it comes to kitchen utensils. A sharp knife is a must-have. If you feel weird giving a friend or family member a sharp knife for a Christmas or Chanukah present, don't. If you don't know how to pick one out, ask a sales associate at a specialty kitchen store like William Sonoma. Or go with what the pros use. Remember, Food Network's online store shows you what their celebrity chefs use. If you're still unsure about giving a knife, pair it with a great knife sharpener (William Sonoma sells both manual and electric ones ranging from less than $20 all the way up to over $100) and a magnetic knife storage solution (also available at William Sonoma for just over $20) for the ultimate chef's kitchen gadget dream.