The 39 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Food Lovers

One of our top picks for Valentine’s Day bonbons comes from the Los Angeles-based Compartés, whose green crocodile-print heart is a welcome alternative from the traditional red and ruffled heart box, and is filled with an assortment of chocolate-dipped fruits, chocolate covered nuts, various cookies, peanut butter cups, marshmallows, and more. 

Love carbs? Invigorated with bottomless curiosity about obscure pasta shapes? A subscription to Sfoglini’s Pasta Club is a slam-dunk gift that includes four quarterly shipments full of fun surprises, but each one is guaranteed to feature six bronze-die cut, slow dried pastas (classics and specialty varieties) as well as six accompanying recipes. Saffron malloreddus in a killer ragu may well be in the future for your lucky recipient.

It’s hard out here sometimes for those of us with a sweet tooth who also have to steer clear of wheat. Thankfully, Baked by Melissa makes highly giftable assortments of its wonderfully tasty mini cupcakes, including flavors like red velvet, cookie dough, and cookies ‘n’ cream.

A mini-smorgasbord of Milk Bar’s greatest hits in one cute tin, including the magical Cornflake cookie, two slices of Milk Bar Pie, and a half-dozen decadent cake truffles.

Listen, we all respect the Drawer O’ Leftover Takeout Chopsticks, and we honor the classic wooden variety for its reliable service. That being said, high-quality utensils really can make even a humble DoorDash meal feel more romantic. Grab two sets so that you can both scarf in style — or all four if you’re feeling fancy.

Did the 12-scoop ice cream sundae in Home Alone rewire their brain? Do they squint at the screen with intense concentration during the breakfast spaghetti scene in Elf? This super-fun cookbook from A24 Films collects and catalogs all of those bizarre pantry recipes from modern movies — think The Breakfast Club’s Pixy Stix sandwich and Kramer vs. Kramer’s “divorced dad French toast” — plus features an introduction by Matty Matheson.

Next to fancy olive oil and local bakery gift cards, smart, self-warming coffee mugs can be such a fail-proof present for boyfriends, girlfriends, they-themfriends, in-laws, emotionally remote uncles, and anyone who drinks hot beverages. As writers who are always glued to their desks, we sure would appreciate the gift of consistently hot coffee without the need to make repeat trips to the microwave.

Six o’clock rolls around, and you start discussing what you should have for dinner. Is it taco night? Or do salmon hand rolls sound better? What about Sichuan? Oh wait, but then there’s Italian… The next thing you know it’s 8:51 PM, you still haven’t made any progress, and you’re losing options by the second. Never again with this handy dice. It’s a cheeky way of helping an indecisive partner be a better dinner companion.

If you haven’t booked a restaurant for the big day, don’t sweat it. What your crush really wants is to be spoon-fed some of New York City’s best borscht on a (faux) bearskin rug at your place. Veselka has been a Ukrainian staple in the East Village 1954 (the new-ish location in Williamsburg is also delightful), and you can order a smorgasbord of pierogi, borscht, stroganoff, and more right to your door. 

From tradwives to Babygirl, it sure has been a big year for Big Dairy. This hand-crafted ceramic jug is begging to be filled with some bovine ambrosia — or, like, almond milk — and it can be used as a cool vase for flowers when your loved one is not hosting.

You see the pure bliss on their face when they take the first sip of an Aviation, or a Cosmo, or a mezcal margarita. Here’s an idea: why not learn how to make your partner’s favorite cocktail, and serve it up in this set of these too-perfect, bow-embellished glass coupes from the comfort of your home? 

Gifting someone personalized, engraved cast iron feels like the cookware equivalent of getting matching tattoos. Perhaps it’s the hardiness and enduring nature of the gift in question — treat your cast iron well, and it can last for generations — but it would make for such a strong declaration of love. Smithey will engrave its cast-iron cookware with the name or message of your choice, and the No. 12 (12-inch) skillet is perfect for the occasion.

Olivieri 1882 took all of the things I love about panettone — namely, the fluffy, easy-to-tear texture and not-too-sweet taste — and channeled them into this heart-shaped panettone batter cake. The cakes are sprinkled with dark chocolate chunks and candied strawberries, and always baked 48 hours before they ship so that they arrive to your beloved’s doorstep extra fresh. And if you’re transporting the cake yourself, it also comes neatly gift wrapped in a tote-able box.

Straight out of Sicily, this traditional cream of pistachio is perfect for enjoying on toast, ice cream, or just out of the jar with a spoon.

Not a day goes by when I don’t think of Puppets and Puppets’ chocolate chip cookie-themed jewelry collection (yet another shout-out is due to the cookie claddagh ring). If you’re someone who loves a baker, this eccentric yet chic take on a classic pendant necklace is perfect. The gold-plated pendant features black rhinestone “chips,” and the 15-inch chain is adjustable.

I’ve recommended gifting Ina gifts from Goldbelly in previous installments of this guide because Ina rules and chances are there’s someone on your gift list who agrees. In her latest drop, there’s a bundle combining her coconut cake and a copy of her memoir (which will for sure be one of the most gifted books of the year). I love combining a book and some on-theme extras for a thoughtful gift. How easy is that?

Tell someone you think they’re hot stuff with some hot stuff — more specifically, this four-pack of Momofuku’s cult-fave chili crunch, which includes hot honey, black truffle-infused, and extra-hot versions of the now-classic condiment.

Are they so clearly wine-related? Maybe not to the naked eye. Look, if you want some novelty wine slippers that say “Wine Time,” they’re out there—knock yourselves out! These are just really good-looking, super-comfortable house shoes from Kolo, and they pair perfectly with a pét-nat enjoyed while loitering over the kitchen island or kicking back on the patio, watching the sunset. Comfy clothes are true romance, baby. (Bonus: They’re unisex.)

Every home cook needs a reliable apron, and this minimalist version from Hedley & Bennett has everything you need: pockets and a lifetime guarantee. The aprons are made in America from 100-percent cotton and come in chic, muted shades of green, blue, black, and more.

Described as a “nonalcoholic aperitif,” Ghia is definitely for grown-ups. The brand’s canned option, Le Spritz, is available in a slew of interesting flavors, including sumac & chili and lime with salt. The classic Ghia soda is a balanced and nuanced combination of flavors like elderflower, lemon balm extract, and riesling grape juice, and the ginger kicks things up with a hint of spicy zing.

Ooni’s pizza ovens are wildly popular for so many reasons — mainly, how quickly they whip up tasty pizzas and flatbreads — but best of all, they’re easy to set up, so they’re ready in minutes to host a pizza party for two, 20, or however big your crew is. These sleek workhorses are multi-fuel so that you can get cooking quickly with wood, charcoal, or gas (and they kind of look like spaceships, too).

It’s a best-seller for a reason: Brightland’s Pizza Oil is a zesty, herby condiment made with oregano, jalapeño, and green pepper for pizza-fying anything your heart desires.

This smoked salmon set comes with Fishwife’s regular smoked salmon and two collaboration tins made in partnership with Fly by Jing: a chile crisp smoked salmon (our personal fave; it’s crazy-good) and a sweet and spicy smoked salmon.

This fun, visually pleasing book makes a great conversation piece but is also encyclopedic in terms of its depth. (It’s 448 pages!) This TASCHEN behemoth is where a love of food intersects with intriguing design and waves of nostalgia for restaurants where we may never get to eat now, but we can at least pretend we’re just trying to pick our entrée.