8 Great Local Gifts Ideas for Your Favorite Foodie

There's still plenty of time to get some shopping done for Hanukkah and Christmas, and we've curated a bundle of goodies for the food-lover on your list. From host gifts to stocking stuffers and big ticket items, we've got you covered. Here favorites available around town.

Emily McDowell Mugs, Totes, And Gift Tags: Local artist Emily McDowell spent the better part of a decade as an advertising art director, writer and creative director, and decided to quit her full time agency job to pursue her love of illustration. In last year's gift guide, we loved her L.A.-inspired tea towels, and her playful sense of humor and unique lettering still have us swooning. This season she has an even larger line of great items for food lovers including mugs, canvas tote bags, grocery list notepads, and darling gift tags to wrap it all up. They are hosting a studio sale on the site on December 14, so you can get them at a great price. But be sure to make your orders by the 15 for delivery by Christmas. You can find out more info here.

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Photo of Will's cutting boards by Krista Simmons/LAist
Live Edge Cutting Boards From Will Leather Goods: Pretty much everything that Will Leather's shop on Abbot Kinney sells we're into, but of the utmost interest this holiday season is their new line of home wares, more specifically their live edge cutting boards. Made from reclaimed wood from the Pacific Northwest, their leather-wrapped cutting boards are hand-carved from oak, maple, walnut, ash, or purple heart trees. Each piece is unique, and can be used as a cutting board, serving tray, or cheese platter. They do make traditional square and rectangle-shaped boards too, but our hearts belong to the natural, live edge boards that reflect the shape of the tree. They are spendy at $168-298 depending on the size, but they're definitely an heirloom showpiece. You can find out more info here.

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Photo courtesy of Sriracha To Go
Sriracha Keychains: The cock sauce has moved from cult status to hot news item this year, with the controversy surrounding the Los Angeles-based company's factory closure and eventual reopening making headlines. Thankfully Srirachapocalypse never really happened, meaning that we can still consume our favorite hot sauce on just about everything. And now, you can do so just about everywhere, with these super cool Sriracha To Go keychains. For $7, your giftee can bring their favorite seasoning anywhere. They'd make the perfect stocking stuffer or add on to any present, and also come in bulk so you can have one too. You can purchase them here.

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Photo courtesy of Hedley & Bennett
Hedley & Bennett aprons and potholders: Many servers and chefs in some of the country's top restaurants are sporting similar gear these days, courtesy of LA-based apron company Hedley & Bennett. The craftswoman behind the simply beautiful American canvas designs is a former chef herself. Ellen Bennett and hear team make the darling colorful aprons in their Downtown L.A. studio, as well as cool potholders and linen napkins with the similar hipster flare. Prices range from $58-$90, and they can be purchased on their website.

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Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
Loft & Bear Vodka: This new distiller based in the Arts District is producing some fantastic small batch vodka with character. Their spirits are crafted with soft winter wheat and pure California mountain spring water, giving it plenty of character and a smooth finish. It's great for mixing holiday cocktails, and certainly a refined addition to your loved one's bar cart. (It truly is a gift you'll benefit from too.) You can find out more regarding distributors and store locations here.

Eatz Cooking Classes: Whether the person you're gifting to is a whiz in the kitchen or totally intimidated, the classes at Eatz are a blast. There are a variety of internationally-themed classes available—from sushi-making to vegan cuisine and Indian cooking—offered on a weekly basis. You can buy a gift certificate easily on their site for $125, and add an apron into the mix for an extra $25. Find out more info here.

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Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
Soma Water Filter From Beautiful Things LA: If there's one way to mess up the jive of your fabulously-designed small space, it's by having a clunky Brita filter on your countertop. Enter Soma, a sleek, modern water filter that looks quite a bit like a Chemex, but has the power to turn L.A.'s notoriously gross tap water into a some high quality H2O using nothing more than coconut husks. The lovely folks at the new Beautiful Things L.A. pop-up fashion and design bus carry them, as well as plenty of other keenly curated gifting items including jewelry, clothing, and accessories—all produced sustainably and stylishly by crafters around the world. The filter goes for $50. You can find out more about their whereaboutshere.

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Photo by Krista Simmons/LAist
Bo Nuage Cakes: If you want to know what it tastes like to bite into a cloud, Bo Nuage is about as close as you're going to get. These Parisian sweets are made by sandwiching fluffy whipped cream in between delicate meringues, then coating them with chocolate and a variety of toppings. What's more is that many of the flavors are either dairy or gluten free, meaning everyone at the party can enjoy them. They come in tres chic black hat boxes that'll set your gift aside from the rest. Warning: they do need to be refrigerated, but they do make an excellent host gift. Each cake is $6. You can find out more info on ordering here.