An All-consuming Desire for Gourmet Gift Baskets

You probably know of at least one other friend who is one or you might even be one yourself. Yes, we are talking about the chow-related ‘disorder’ that is sweeping through most developed nations blessed with more than our fair share of good food—the rise of Generation F. ‘F’ for Foodie, that is. Unsure if you are afflicted? There are quizzes you can take to figure it out but why go to all that trouble? The Oxford Dictionary defines a foodie as being ‘a person who is very interested in cooking and eating different kinds of food.’ With the key phrase here being ‘very interested’. So, if you find yourself exhibiting one or more of the following general symptoms, it is very likely that you are suffering (albeit willingly so) from foodie-ism after all.

Firstly, check yourself the next time you get together with friends. Do most of your conversations center around food? For instance, the latest food review you read, recipe you tried or the newest Italian joint in town? Do you take great delight in sharing over and over again how your Aunt Mae discovered the best meals while on a road trip to nowhere and often dream aloud about how wonderful it would be to follow in her footsteps? When in a new restaurant, do you find yourself wishing that you had the digestive system of a cow so that you would be able to try all the very many dishes available on the menu seeing as how you cannot very well make up your mind?

While the last sentence may be a clue that hints at sheer gluttony as well, you can rest assure that if you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, you are a certified foodie or at least a certified foodie in the making. So, okay, now that we have that settled, let us get on with our next order of business, shall we? You may be wondering, “What has any of this got to do with gift shopping for my pals?” Well, legend has it (and science proves it) that birds of a feather really do flock together. Hence, if YOU are a foodie, chances are, so are your pals. And that makes gift shopping for them so much more interesting does it not?

You will have to try and restrain yourself from partaking of the gift goodies midway of course, but think of the all-round pleasure that comes from shopping for someone with taste buds as easily tantalised as yours! All you need is a reason to celebrate and off you can head to the shops on a culinary gift trail. So, go on and think about any special occasion coming up soon—someone or other is always having a birthday or an anniversary. In a worst-case scenario, you could even justify procuring a little something for a holiday celebration—Christmas? Thanksgiving? And if you are desperate enough, Labour Day!

Next, head out to the retailers or the e-tailers and have yourself a field day sniffing out the various culinary delights obtainable.  When it comes to picking out a gift for your foodie friends, nothing says “Eat Me” as well as a gift basket filled to the brim with their best-loved edibles. For friends who are inclined to succumb to midnight snack attacks, snack gift baskets are a great choice. These come in various combinations that range from sweet to savoury snacks. But if you find your ordinarily razor-sharp decision-making skills turning all fuzzy at the thought of having to choose between baskets filled with equally delectable munchies, just take the easy way out and settle for the jumbo or premium deluxe versions. These usually come with a wide selection of items to satisfy every craving.

And for your foodie pals whose preferences lean towards gourmet pickings, you can always look at gift baskets that are made up of specialty food items. Whether it be luxurious dips and spreads, handmade chocolates or fine wines, you can be certain that the gourmet gift baskets of today will leave a lovely impression long after the items are safely tucked away in the recesses of their tummies! For friends into more unusual tastes such as that of wild boar bacon, smoked pheasant and goat cheese, more and more e-tailers these days are offering meat and cheese gift baskets that delight even the most exotic of palates.

Question: what do you do if your close pal practices Judaism but is a closet foodie at the same time? Answer: Why, get him a kosher gift basket of course! Kosher food items are such a big market these days that you can be sure to find an appropriate gift basket, be it for Purim or in remembrance of the Passover.

Once all that offline and online shopping is done and the gift baskets are safely on their way to the recipients, just sit back, relax and wait for that all-important “thank you” phone call. And after all this, surely there is no need to tell you that it is only good foodie manners to reply in the affirmative when they invite you over for a sampling of the contents! Ah, yes…Generation F lives on.