Knowing that we’re all spending more time at home cooking and dining around our kitchen tables, the first annual Unpretentious Holiday Wishlist celebrates home cooks and finding the joy at home centered around food. We will release a new category each day this week starting with the kitchen followed by: baking, cookbooks and pantry, beverage, and gifts for hosts and food lovers.

Gifts for Hosts and Food Lovers 

We did less in-person gathering this year, but that didn’t stop us from getting together virtually for happy hours, cooking classes, and celebrations. Hosts were creative in finding new ways to entertain family and friends, often centered around food. Though our traditional holiday parties this year might look different, that shouldn’t stop us from showing our hosts appreciation and thanking them for keeping us connected! The UP team put together a list of gifts for our hosts from locally made products, virtual cooking classes, subscriptions, and gift cards that we think will please any food loving host this season. 

Gift Cards

Restaurant gift cards

Restaurant owners are facing a holiday season — usually a lucrative time of year — with no large events, and instead are fearing a second shutdown. Most places are offering gift card deals, making support local even more of a no-brainer. 

Gift Card, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Charlotte, N.C.

Gift cards to Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen for a cooking class are great for couples, as classes are now sold in pairs. Popular options include Greek cooking, knife skills, holiday classics, and comfort foods.

Class Pack, Sweet Spot Studio
Charlotte, N.C.

Gift your aspiring baker lessons to help them become even better. Sweet Spot Studio’s class packs include credits for four classes, which don’t expire and include classes at any price point. 

Gift Certificate, The Foodie School
Fort Mill, S.C.

The Foodie School offers the unique experience of creating your favorite dishes while having fun with friends, family, or loved ones while chefs guide you through every step of the way. The most popular classes are standard and date night. 

Entertaining 

Leather Coasters, ColsenKeane
Charlotte, N.C. 

This is the place we go when we need a gift, but aren’t sure what to get someone. The leather coasters are rustic and durable, and are made in ColsenKeane’s Elizabeth workshop.

Charlotte Map Wine Glass, Moxie Mercantile
Charlotte & Davidson, N.C.

Toast to your city with these stemless wine glasses, which are etched with the streets and neighborhoods of Charlotte. 

Gold & White Cracker Tray, Abode
Charlotte, N.C. 

Abode, owned local interior designer Mary Tobias Miller, curates a selection of home decor and serveware that are great for gifts to give to the home entertainers in our lives. Supperland’s Jamie Brown suggests this cracker tray, but there are many great ideas at Abode for any host. 

Subscriptions  

Cookie Club, Sweet Spot Studio
Charlotte, N.C. 

The Sweet Spot Cookie Club delivers comprehensive cookie decorating courses to your doorstep, providing all of the materials you need. No experience required, Sweet Spot will explain each step at your own pace. Choose from single month, 3 month, or 6 month subscriptions.

Wine Club, Foxcroft Wine Co.
Multiple Locations

This monthly wine club includes two bottles each month, as well as a 15 percent case discount, early access to events, and access to special pricing on a monthly four-pack of bottles exploring a new wine region.

Cheese of the Month Club, Orrman’s Cheese Shop
Charlotte, N.C.

For the friend who loves to try new things, Orrman’s Cheese Shop delivers three cheeses to their door each month. Subscriptions come in 3-month increments. 

Annual Subscription, Unpretentious Palate
Charlotte, N.C.

Give the gift of good eats this holiday season. Gift a one-year subscription to Unpretentious Palate and give a loved one access to the most in-depth food coverage in town, plus restaurant reviews, recipes, event invites, and more.

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