Valentine's gift ideas for the foodie in your life

Valentine's gift ideas for the foodie in your life, why not change things up this year. Instead of flowers and chocolates, give things that will last, from kitchen utensils to home and garden ideas. How about personalized gifts. Nothing says love better than a well thought out present!

[This post is sponsored by  Uncommon Goods. We have been compensated but all opinions are our own.]

Valentine's gift ideas for the foodie in your life. A way to show someone you love, that you respect them for who they are, and celebrate their passions!

 

 

Valentine's gift ideas always involve the mass-produced, normal average chocolates, stuffed animals, roses, etc. This year I am going to do things differently and having come upon a site that offers great gift ideas for any occasion has opened up my gift giving world in a most creative way. Thanks to Uncommon Goods.

I wanted to share a little bit about this company Uncommon Goods. We talk about being Green in our ways but this company strives to do more as they move into the future, from being Sustainable not only in goods but also in the way they treat their employees and customers, with dignity and respect. They are dedicated to offering creative and unique merchandise that is made of recycled materials and made in a socially and environmentally friendly manner. Not hurting people and any animal is of utmost importance, and working with artists and small manufacturers with these beliefs puts out a product that not only says environmentally friendly but exudes that in a very creative way. Uncommon Goods has a catalog, but they try not to print too many and only use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified forests (which harvest only in sustainable practices) for paper. They also use recycled paper. They are a founding member of B Corporation, an organization built to help their customers understand better how their purchases affect the world socially and environmentally, and to belong your company would have to meet criteria from living wage, impact on the environment, to giving back to the community. The founder Dave Bolotsky is dedicated to building this company with these beliefs at the forefront and I believe he has a recipe for great success, after all, you get what you give. If I would sum up Uncommon Goods in one word I would say Sustainability, and I absolutely appreciate a company that puts this kind of effort, time, and economics, in a very tough, competitive market.

Now back to the business of gift giving!

We have chosen six items that we truly would love to have in our kitchen and home. Products that are both useful and unique.

I give you: Valentine's gift ideas for the foodie in your life!

• Personalized Venn Diagram Cutting Board

This is such a great idea. Handmade beautifully by Scott Tincher, using hard cherry wood and personalized laser etching makes this truly unique. Imagine you and your partner's names etched on your cutting board, and every time you are prepping in the kitchen, you are reminded of your loving bond. You could put children's names, or even a business name on it i.e. restaurant, cooking school, food blog! Absolutely wonderful this Personalized Venn Diagram Cutting Board.

• Reclaimed Wine Barrel Serving Tray

I don't know if you ever had the chance to smell the aroma of an old wine barrel. Maybe it is just me because I enjoy making wine. I have to tell you it is fragrant and in combination with the wood produces such a euphoric sweet aroma. Made from up-cycled old wine barrel and created by Lisa Johnson this Reclaimed wine barrel Serving try is warm, inviting and beautiful, perfect for serving your partner a wonderful breakfast in bed.

• Reclaimed Wood Cookbook Stand

Being a food blogger and developing recipes means endless times looking at recipes from cookbooks. The dilemma is getting the book to stay on the page you are looking at and also not having to always refocus attention on a book laying flat on a counter. Stacy Borocz has done an amazing job putting together this Reclaimed Wood Cookbook Stand. With its recycled old European wood, to the aged metal, giving us a most functional and nostalgic piece to have in your kitchen.

•  Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden

So you have a gardener who also loves cooking. You live in a climate zone that has a cold winter season. Here's a gift that can keep your loved ones passions alive. Being able to have fresh herbs on hand is so important to a cook, and the satisfaction of being able to grow your own puts an even more special component to any dish. They are so beautiful suspended or even on that window ledge. Who doesn't love a vintage mason jar and Sarah Burrows and Nick Behr have done an amazing job tinting this Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden.

Check out this and other unique gift ideas in Home & Garden.

•  Berry Buddy

Washing fruit, especially berries, is a very delicate process. You don't want to handle them too much as they bruise very easily. Well,  Brian Kunkelman has done a beautiful job creating this handmade, organic finished, all in one prep essential tool, featuring a built-in drip catcher and spout for easy cleanup. The handspun silhouette gives Berry Buddy a  timeless appearance that would look great in any kitchen!

• Soapstone Pizza Pan with Copper Handle

Who doesn't love pizza, okay there may be a few but by majority vote pizza is in. This is so ingenious, using soapstone for a cooking surface. Hard, smooth and able to keep hot temperatures, makes for a great pizza cooking tool, and encased with a hammered copper handle makes it visually stunning. I don't know about you but I love copper cookware. Beautiful for those oven to table serving styles. The soapstone is odorless and can withstand temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celcius, and so easy to clean. Soapstone Pizza Stone with Copper handles, handmade in Brazil, is definitely a versatile tool to have in your kitchen.

• Earthenware Cooker

I have to confess I am a lover of Japanese art. I love the intricacy and mindfulness that goes into each piece. These Earthenware Cookers hand made by Naoko Takei Moore, utilizing old world techniques, exercises in time and patience, and complex finish practices, leaving us with a beauty that is insurmountably zen. Whether creating wonderful aromatic casseroles, or soulful stews, this cookware will be the topic of much conversation at any dinner table!

You can find these and more ideas in Kitchen Utensils.

• Himalayan Salt BBQ Plank

I was introduced to salt stone cooking very recently and I have to tell you, I love the simplicity of it and how it elevates whatever you cook on it. The salt seems to intensify the characteristics of the individual ingredients giving your taste buds a real delicious experience. Hand carved in India, the Himalayan Salt BBQ Plank offers a beautiful way to cook and present your food, that will delight your family and guests. Able to hold great temperature on your grill, and even chilled as a platter for fresh sushi or sashimi, a diverse tool that we have in our kitchen and one that I enjoy using on those warm summer nights cooking in the outdoors.

Visit Uncommon Goods for more fun entertaining gifts.

These are but a few items from a plethora of amazing and creative products that are offered and ever increasing at Uncommon Goods. One of the things that really stayed with me was that when you went to each unique item, there was a story of the product, its materials, the artist, and demographics. This made it very personal to me, like being invited in and left me with a harmonious feeling of warmth. This company is closing the boundaries between culture, and global vastness. Bringing us handmade artisan goods that today still stand the test of times. If you are looking for Valentine's gift idea for the foodie in your life, or for any gift-giving occasion, including gifts for oneself, check out all the wonderful items at Uncommon Goods, I am sure you won't be disappointed!

Happy Valentine's Day from SugarLoveSpices!

 

Acknowledgement

All photos, (other than the first one, the hanging flower basket, which is ours) are used with permission by Uncommon Goods.

Disclaimer

We have been compensated by Uncommon Goods but all opinions are our own.