2021 Holiday Gift Guide
This is the first time we shared a holiday gift guide. We just want to share some products we discovered this year as well as some that we have enjoyed using for several years. Have fun shopping! Let’s hope 2022 will finally be a good year :).
I know I should have posted the list earlier, but there’s still time to order and get these items before Christmas. I hope you will find something you like for your family and friends.
Hario Cold Brew Pot
Hario cold brew pot is an item we bought earlier this year and fell in love with it quickly (and we now have two pots). Cold brewed coffee or tea tastes much smoother than the hot brewed counterpart. The cold brew pot is very easy to use and it takes just a few minutes to prepare up to a liter (4 cups) of coffee (or tea) that will last for several days.
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Tableware
Royal Copenhagen porcelain, even just one piece, makes a wonderful gift. Their high quality porcelain products range from plates and bowls to mugs and vases. I love their classic blue patterns, but their Christmas product line also includes many beautiful pieces. Visiting their flagship store in Copenhagen is always one of our favorite things to do whenever we are in Denmark. If you browse our recipes, you will see we use Royal Copenhagen plates and bowls quite often ;).
The Food of Sichuan Cookbook
This latest cookbook of Fuchsia Dunlop was actually released a couple of years ago, but we still cook something from it every month. The book includes a comprehensive overview of Sichuan’s cuisine and tasty recipes with detailed instructions. Some dishes are in our dinner rotation, such as pork and cucumber in garlicky sauce, crispy duck, and gong bao shrimp.
Fine Teas
Everyone loves a hot cup of tea on a cold winter day, so high quality loose leaf tea is a great holiday gift. I always have several tins of Twinings and Kusmi teas on hand. This Kusmi assorted tea gift set looks lovely. If you want something really special, you can choose tea from Dammann Freres or Mariage Freres. I think we will forever be a fan of Mariage Freres Marco Polo tea.
Houseplants
I enjoy gifting friends houseplants. Some don’t require much care such as snake plants and ZZ plants. I have two ZZ plants which grow pretty big with me doing nothing besides watering them once every 1-2 weeks. Some other beautiful houseplants I like are schefflera and stromanthe triostar. When buying houseplants as gifts, it’s best if you can go to your local nurseries to choose ones that look healthy and pest-free.
It Takes Two
It Takes Two is an amazing couch co-op Playstation/Xbox game that will take the players on a crazy journey as a clashing couple. My husband and I had so much fun playing this game. Each chapter introduces new beautiful environments, creative mechanisms and unique puzzles, keeping the gameplay fresh until the end. This game is very enjoyable even for non-gamers.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Another fun couch co-op game our family enjoyed playing this year. Friends can also play this game together online, which we did with our friends during the tough lockdown in Vietnam and we laughed so much.
Where Should We Begin Board Game
This is an interesting game we played at our friend’s house recently. Players will pick up story cards and decide which one to use to tell their story. It can be a fun and silly story, or something deeper than usual daily conversations. This is a great gift for those who like to invite people over.
Global Bread Knife
Global bread knife is balanced and very sharp, resulting in nice clean cuts. This is the only new knife we added to our collection this year and we loved it.
Staub Grill Pan
This grill pan will last for many years. Ours was bought 4 years ago and shows no signs of wear and tear. The grill pan allowed us to make grilled food indoor during cold weather.
Waterpik
I don’t know what else to say besides I can’t live without this water flosser. I gifted it to my parents and relatives, and they all loved it.
La Mer Hand Cream
This was the only hand cream that saved my hands from the dryness of Illinois winter. Maybe a bit pricey but worked beautifully. The cream is actually lightweight and sinks in really fast. As we need to use hand sanitizers so often these days, I think a quality hand cream is a very thoughtful gift.
