Buying gifts for foodies should be easy. They like food. Buy them something involving food.
Except, of course, they probably already own more cookbooks than they can ever cook from, have very definite opinions about olive oil and possess at least one kitchen gadget nobody else is allowed to touch.
So I rather like the idea of giving a food lover something a little different.
The Colour Palette Company has tea towels, aprons, mugs and fridge magnets inspired by places, food, drink and the stories behind them. They make colourful gifts for home cooks, food lovers and people who simply enjoy spending time in the kitchen.
And three Colour Palettes seem particularly appropriate.
Italian Food Gifts for People Who Love Italy
I spend a lot of time in Italy and, unsurprisingly, quite a lot of that time seems to revolve around deciding what and where to eat.
The Taste of Italy Colour Palette starts with Vino Rosso and takes in Pizza Flame, Espresso Crema, Gelato Vanilla, Sorrento Lemon and Tuscan Olive. In other words, a fairly decent day in Italy.
A Taste of Italy apron or tea towel makes a lovely gift for someone who loves Italian cooking, while a mug provides the necessary espresso break and a fridge magnet adds a little Italian colour to the kitchen.
Pizza Flame feels particularly appropriate when you’re standing in front of an oven wondering whether homemade pizza was really such a good idea.
Paris Gifts for Foodies and French Food Lovers
There are evenings when I’m cooking at home and would much rather imagine I’m in a tiny Parisian bistro.
The Paris Colour Palette helps.
Its six colours include Seine Bleu, Monet Willow, Notre Dame Lime, Éclair Cream, Eiffel Iron and Moulin Rouge.
A Paris tea towel, apron, mug or fridge magnet makes an unusual gift for someone who loves French food, Paris, travelling or simply dreams of disappearing to a little pavement café at the earliest opportunity.
Put some French music on. Open something suitable to drink. Suddenly Tuesday night’s dinner is looking considerably better.
Dublin Food Gifts for Lovers of Irish Cooking
Then there’s Dublin.
The Dublin Colour Palette includes Coddle White, inspired by the city’s hearty one-pot comfort dish, alongside Black Stuff Black, Liffey Water, St Stephen’s Green, Kells Gold and Henrietta Brick.
I love the idea of the Dublin Colour Palette Tea Towel hanging in the kitchen while a big pot of something warming is bubbling away.
Add an apron, mug or fridge magnet and you have a distinctive Dublin gift for a food lover that celebrates considerably more than the usual shamrocks.
Kitchen Gifts for Foodies and Home Cooks
That’s what I like most about these designs. They aren’t simply kitchen accessories.
Every colour has a reason for being there.
So whether you’re looking for gifts for foodies, gifts for home cooks, unusual kitchen gifts, cooking gifts, small gifts for food lovers, housewarming presents or gifts for someone who loves Italy, Paris or Dublin, choose a place they love and give them six stories to go with it.
Preferably accompanied by something good to eat.