Obviously, holiday shopping can get expensive quickly, so setting yourself a specific budget and looking for gifts under $100 is a good idea. To help you achieve this, we present a list of gifts for chefs and food lovers, all under $100. Of course, everyone has a different definition of an affordable gift, so we also have great gift ideas for under $50 or even $25.
But for the ones you love who truly deserve some goodies this holiday season—whether it’s your best friend who you’d never spend money on yourself or your roommate who always makes dinner for you—below The gift is your best choice. Read on to see our picks for gifts under $100, including statement fruit bowls, truly beautiful baskets and super stylish aprons. We guarantee your holiday shopping will be a whole lot easier.
Jump straight to shopping for the best gifts under $100
For the new grad in your family
If you only have one piece of cookware, choose a carbon steel skillet. You said it’s not cast iron? Isn’t it stainless steel? Carbon steel cookware has the searing power of cast iron and the weight of stainless steel, and this one from Made In looks stylish. The 8-inch skillet is perfect for one person cooking clafoutis or frying proteins. If you’re looking for a bigger gift, perhaps for a recent college grad or someone building their first home, there are also options for gifting our favorite nonstick pans to make it a complete set cooking utensils.
Dedicated to your super tasteful brother
If you have someone on your list who loves tasting ingredients like olive oil or chocolate and writing notes in their notebooks like “green banana” and “gasoline,” then buy this gift set from Brightland. The set includes a pepper-infused olive oil, notably, Ardor. There is also a garlic olive oil called Rosette, a lemon olive oil called Lucid and a basil olive oil called Arise. The ceramic bottles are designed to keep the oils fresh, and they’re also beautiful, with artwork from artists in New York, California, and Amsterdam. If your gift recipient’s tastes are more sweet than savory, choose a classic chocolate gift set.
For your fellow coffee snobs
Does your partner take 20 minutes every morning to shower you with love? That’s great, we’re really happy for you and you should lock this relationship in. However, it’s okay to secretly wish the coffee had come out sooner. Enter the Braun Brewsense, which after years of testing we think is the most economical automatic coffee maker (you can set a timer so you’ll have freshly brewed coffee every morning). Give this coffee maker away and call it a day or, avoid it altogether Clash, buy a set of beautiful Hasami porcelain mugs from Japanese manufacturer Jinen, a coffee subscription so you always have fresh coffee beans, or a stylish carafe that looks beautiful on your coffee table, And it keeps your coffee warm.
Dedicated to your roommate who makes a perfect dinner party host
For those of you who are always entertaining guests, consider one of the beautiful trays below. Better yet, take a page from the dim sum playbook: Increase the accessibility of your favorite host-table dishes with Lazy Susan. These below are much more stylish than the lazy susan holding your baking supplies at your grandma’s house. You can also place your most commonly used spices, oils and condiments on this convenient rotating tray and place it next to the cooking surface for easy access.
For your uncle, Kondo convert
Handmade by master craftsmen in Northern Ghana, these Pakurigo Wave Baskets are woven from durable vetiver. Their undulating, organic shapes—each basket is unique—remind us of mollusk shells, or perhaps crazy little pumpkins. We can’t think of a better holiday gift for the compulsive organizer in your life, and she’ll find the 12-inch basket size perfect for storing winter scarves (only those that bring her joy!) Or display clementines.
Dedicated to Francophile friends
If you always have someone on your list that starts with “France is good”… I wish you the best of luck in getting through this in your life. But we also have the perfect gift, or as they say in our homeland “le cadeau parfait”. Choose from a sample of the best French cheeses from Murray’s Cheese – your gift recipient can pretend they’re having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower while eating it. Plus, for those obsessed with all things French, here are a few ideas: a set of silicone madeleine molds fit for a Proustian moment, luxurious salt flowers harvested from real French seasides, and a collection of specially made shipping and Striped linen bag for storing French bread. (We also have a complete gift guide just for the French that you should check out.)
For parents obsessed with outdoor cooking year round
You can use this message to anyone on your list who enjoys camping but at least 30% of it is craft beer: Cooler backpacks have become very trendy and very convenient in the past few years. This backpack from Eddie Bauer has the brand’s classic sports/outdoor look and essentially functions as a regular backpack. Stuffed with cold cans, it’s still cold at the top of the mountain. Also: You might think Solo Stoves wouldn’t set a price cutoff for a $100 gift guide, but the brand actually makes a small tabletop fire pit that you can buy full price for $100 (it’s currently on sale for $80, though) , so shop early!
For the golden boy of the family
It’s no secret that at BA we are advocates for high-quality metal measuring cups and believe they are an essential addition to any kitchen. But gifting your little sister $12 of practical cookware doesn’t mean “holiday!” The holidays call for excess, glam and gold, so get her these gold-plated ones. This best-selling heavyweight set includes gold-plated stainless steel cups and spoons, engraved with US and metric measurement markings. They’re durable and gorgeous, and she’ll be happy to find any excuse to use them.
For your best friend who loves to adopt any TikTok home decor trend
There are new aesthetic trends popping up online every day, and everything from gangster wives to coquettish to kids to demure might give you a headache—until you realize that all of them are just clever names used to promote the same set of products. This year, we continue to see bows everywhere. We embraced the retro vibe with hand-painted fruit garnishes and a ’70s color scheme on the dishes. The decorations below pay homage to these trends, but they also feel fresh and don’t feel like the same set of gifts we’ve seen over and over again online. For those of you who have been online for a long time, if they are stuck in the Willy Wonka immersive experience, for a creative idea, some Wonka-esque napkin rings can be the cure, because they are absolutely Be cute, not scary.
Provide hosts with the best playlists for every occasion
There are plenty of gadgets that can make your time in the kitchen easier, but how many can make it happier? The Best Tech Gift for Cooking Lovers: This portable wireless Bluetooth speaker from Anker ticks all the boxes, making it the perfect gift for the dinner party host. It’s surprisingly durable and can withstand a little water (or lime juice, oat milk, and pancake batter). Finally, it’s lightweight and has up to 24 hours of battery life, so your favorite hosts can keep the music (and the mood) going throughout the entire process of prep, cooking, and serving.
For the homebody who always wants comfort
The lingering smell of last night’s pasta with 20 cloves of garlic is no match for Diptyque’s Gingembre Room Spray, which instantly eliminates unwanted odors with just a few small pumps while still smelling like a cozy vacation Same as the house, but in a refined way. Unlike other air fresheners that fill a room with cloying artificial vanilla or sugar scents, this high-end spray actually smells good fresh– Like freshly cut ginger root. Plus, the formula is fabric-safe, so you can spray some on your couch or even your pillow cases before bed. This bottle is so chic that it deserves to be on your coffee table rather than stored in a cabinet. Plus, there are some ideas for the homebody in your life, including a candle to create the perfect hygge vibe; spicy, warm drinks; and mini pots of French onion soup.
Dedicated to the aunt who loves health and pays attention to hydration
She once told you that her secret to beautiful skin was drinking two liters of water a day—and you assumed she kept a goblet next to her bed. The Maison Balzac J’ai Soif Water Bottle Set is a sophisticated update that looks equally good on your bedside table as it does on your dining room table. It comes with a decanter and glass, both made from mouth-blown borosilicate glass. You can find the set in a variety of colors, including green and amber. Of course, if she doesn’t already have one, you can also opt for one of those giant insulated water cups that everyone knows so well.
For Designer Jeans Lovers
Ulrich “Ubi” Simpson has been designing for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Pepe Jeans for 25 years, but until his daughter was born, he didn’t spend much time in the kitchen. That’s when he saw a need for durable, protective aprons, oven mitts and potholders, and Mi Cocina was born. His pieces are made from hard-wearing denim that only gets better with age. This classic apron comes in four different washes, features adjustable cross straps and all the pockets your Re/Done-loving bro could need.
Dedicated to my mother-in-law who loves personalized items
We love marble – who doesn’t love marble? A good choice is onyx, a type of quartz that, according to the ancient Greeks, was formed from the nail clippings of the goddess Venus. We’re going to take this origin story seriously, but these gorgeous centerpieces will please even the hardest-to-please in-laws.
Your cousin’s funky mug collection is never too big for him
Ceramist Lalese Stamps There’s a feeling of being trapped. “I was making the same pieces over and over again—pieces that people actually wanted to buy—but I wasn’t challenging myself,” she recalls. To break the mold, Stamps set a goal to make a different cup every day for 100 days. She chose smooth black clay for the project and made different handles for each clay. One of them resembles the rings of Saturn, another resembles a small steering wheel, and the third is Bowser Koopa’s sneaker spikes. Fun and modern, they’re like the little black dress for your coffee mug.
Dedicated to my sister who pays attention to form and Function
Is it a necklace or a tripod? This trivet set is made from solid brass and comes in three different sizes to accommodate the smallest pots to the largest casserole dishes. The organic lines are reminiscent of puddles, clouds, or a variety of potatoes, but regardless of your Rorschach test results, your picky sister will think they’re pretty enough to stay on any table 24/7.
Looking for more great gift ideas? See our Bon Appétit gift guide below:
- Food, drink and entertainment gifts under $50
- The Best BBQ Gifts for Cooks Who Play with Fire
- 21 Gifts for Puzzle Lovers (Who Also Love Food)
- Sustainable gifts for the ultra-green cook in your life
- 6 Food Subscriptions That Make Great Gifts
- When you really need to impress, give your host a luxurious gift
