The Since No One Asked Gift Guide

Actually good gifts

As ever, this by no means exhaustive list is pretty much what I would want to be given if I wasn’t the type of person to treat myself to things throughout the year. The fact that I’m posting this on one of the my capitalistic weekends of the year is not lost on me: so goes the algorithm. A little bit of capitalism is necessary, especially when championing brilliant independent makers and brands who have enough integrity (and not enough margin) to forgo discounts and deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I love each and every one of these brands and objects and while I wholeheartedly believe that you can gift much cheaper, homemade, if not virtually free things, if you were looking to spend a bit of money, this is a great list.

Food + Drink

1. I’ve just officially accepted a Head Of Brand role at Mother Root so of course I’m going to take the opportunity to plug them as THE drink of the season. There’s no way you’re not going to indulge in a glass of wine or ten, but whenever you want a feel good non-alc spritz, I reach for Mother Root ginger with a splash of tonic water. We’ve still got some limited edition artists series bottles so grab them before they’re gone (at the end of this year).

   £55.90 for the duo; or £27.95 for one bottle which gives you 20 servings

2. For any beer lovers, I think Macintosh do the best ales in London and I always appreciate a brewery that makes the decision easy: choose from either a pale ale or a bitter.

   £36 for six bottles of each

3. My go-to every Christmas is a sexy little hamper curated by Lucy Mee of On The Table. So many of these types of hampers get half-used but her selection is so brilliant your gift-receiver will be looking up every single product to order again!
   From £65

4. Ok for some killer wines.

   • For red-lovers get the Sylvain Bock Justine Goutte which is peppery and bright (Syrah + Grenache Noir from the Ardeche region).

     £26

   • For those who prefer to get white-girl wasted, my favourite from this year was this briny Californian number by Lieu Dit (Melon de Bourgogne grown in Santa Barbara).

     £23

5. My wonderful friend Sal’s Pakistani condiments are currently sold out (no surprises) right now but just always want to shout her out for making THE most delicious jars in the business. Keep an eye out for her next batch on Delli!

Objects For The Home

1. A sneak peek at just one set of 1:1.1, the first edition of my side project Kettle Objects. Made in partnership with my wonderful friend and ceramicist, Alex Millar, this is a set of two vessels made from 100% reclaimed clay. Used together it’s the exact ratio of rice (little one) to water (up to the glaze line of the big one) to make a perfect pot. Pre-order begins 9th December, so be sure to check out Kettle’s IG page. Only 50 sets available!

   £65 per set

2. A set of Wax Atelier candles is possibly the chicest thing you could give a perennial dinner party host/homebird who refuses to leave their house past 4pm in winter (me).

   From £24

3. Lucy Page is a sculptural wizard and I love every single thing she makes. Her Knife + Fork tile is sat above my stove and I feel so happy whenever I see it!
   £55

4. I would be absolutely CHUFFED if someone got me a glass from Clare Walsh’s debut collection. A martini in this blue number? God yes.
   £80

Apparel + Accessories

1. Amelia of Darn Studio is so brilliant at capturing the universe of play we all dream of living in (but sometimes can’t quite get to). Her silk and cotton headscarves are so chic and iconic. I’m particularly partial to this one, named after our dear friend Tor (pictured, what a babe!), especially as she’s just had a little baby boy in Berlin and we’re yet to see her!

   £79

2. Anything from Francli Craftwear would be a delight to receive, but I’m particularly fond of their rope lanyards for anyone who has a tendency to misplace their keys. I have one from almost a decade ago and it’s still in great shape.

   £65

3. Meg is one of those annoyingly talented friends who says they’re going to start a silversmithing course and within weeks is creating the most beautiful pieces and starting a brand on the side. Stock up on curious sterling silver shapes by Saddle – I am constantly asked about my lava-like pendant that hangs so perfectly on a silver chain.
   From £70

Books + Bits

1. Two wonderful people – Mehlaqa and Nour – curated and edited this collection of stories written by powerful Palestinian women. The collection is called Waatan. I believe you can get in touch with Mehlaqa on IG to find out how to get your hands on a copy. All proceeds will be donated to a Palestinian charity.

   £18

2. I’ve absolutely devoured Hugh Corcoran’s Two Dozen Eggs, which blurs the boundaries between food essay and short story collection. Great for foodie friends who loved books like In The Kitchen and Midnight Chicken.

3. A bigger fan of London-based artist Lucie Gray doesn’t exist. I’m so obsessed with the characters she creates and the funny kitchen situations they find themselves in. DM her on Instagram for prints and maybe even a cheeky original (my 2025 gift to myself).

   

4. Perhaps you would like to gift a friend a subscription to my newsletter?! There’s no way to not make this seem like a shameless sales plug. So here’s the elevator pitch: I write three newsletters a week, sending out recipes, recommendations and essays through the lens of food. I often write about love and heartbreak and the romance of a slab of butter or a steaming bowl of white rice. I love doing it and did it for free for years – but if you’d like to support my work and words, I’d be so grateful!