Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

FEASTING: The Epicure Gift Guide

By

Feasting is our new column dedicated to cooking, grilling, eating and discovering what’s on the menu across America and the world.

We all have that one friend (or five) who loves to eat more than anything. So what to buy someone who’s tried anything and everything? From a crunchy, spicy Chinese condiment to some of the best meat in the country, our epicure gift guide has something to satisfy everyone on your list. Check it out below and start your shopping early, or stock up to make holiday entertaining a breeze.

Recommended Videos

Crunch DynastyCrunch Dynasty
When Crunch Dynasty founder John Mills met his wife in 1998, his idea of fine cuisine was corn dogs and beef jerky. Luckily, she introduced him to some of the best food in NYC, including her mother’s extraordinary Chinese. Every home cooked meal was accompanied by a bowl of a crunchy, spicy condiment that John spent 10 years trying to recreate. Finally his mother-in-law taught him how to make it, and the mastered recipe is now known as Crunch Dynasty. We’ve sprinkled it on everything from ramen to peanut butter and jelly toast and seriously can’t get enough. crunchdynasty.com

Related: 
Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

Schermer PecansSchermer Pecans
These farm fresh pecans are harvested from the Georgia orchard that has been in the Schermer family for more than 65 years. They are always hand selected and freshly shelled for some of the best pecans you’ll ever have. Go for raw, roasted and salted or one of the many delicious candied varieties, perfect for holiday gifting and entertaining. schermerpecans.com

Carnivore ClubCarnivore Club
Don’t forget the charcuterie lover. Carnivore Club is the first curated cured meat of the month club, featuring handcrafted charcuterie from artisans around the world. Each month, a box filled with 4-6 different types of ethically-sourced meat arrives, centered around themes like Italian Salumi and Artisanal Jerky. You can choose to send a subscription anywhere from one month to 12, so it’s truly the gift that keeps giving. carnivoreclub.co

King Bean Coffee RoastersKing Bean Coffee Roasters
When Kurt Weinberger founded King Bean Coffee Roasters 20 years ago in his parents’ South Carolina garage, the coffee scene was exploding in the Pacific Northwest but hadn’t made it to the South yet. So he bought his first roaster and started selling to Charleston’s high-end restaurants. Now you can buy their hand-packed coffee in a variety of flavors from a classic French Roast to Southern Pecan. kingbean.com

Olive & Sinclair Duck Fat CaramelsOlive & Sinclair Duck Fat Caramels
There’s a reason these won Garden & Gun’s Made In The South 2014 award because they’re outrageously good. Made in Olive & Sinclair’s Nashville, TN workshop from caramelized cane sugar and rich duck fat, each caramel is the perfect salty-sweet bite. oliveandsinclair.com

Rocky Mountain Organic MeatsRocky Mountain Organic Meats
If you’re looking to impress your meat loving friends, Rocky Mountain Organic Meat is our go-to for some of the best-tasting beef in the country. They raise their grass-fed cattle the old-fashioned way, without steroids or growth hormones. Go there for everything else too like offal and pasture-raised lamb. rockymtncuts.com

Amanda Gabriele
Amanda Gabriele
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without…
Topics
This historic US winery can legally call its wine champagne
Dive into the 150-year old history of this unique south jersey spot
Renault Winery

I lived in South Jersey for most of my life, yet I was completely unaware that such a popular winery with a rich history was right here in my backyard. The Renault Winery's story dates back nearly 156 years, when Louis Nicholas Renault left his hometown in France to set sail for California and later settled in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. Since then, the winery has changed hands a few times but still retains one unique trait that sets it apart from other wineries.

While most wineries in the U.S. are not allowed to call their sparkling wine champagne, Renault Winery has a notable historical exception. This historical privilege dates back to when Louis Renault requested a special permit from French authorities in the 1870s that allowed his wines to be labeled as champagne. Since the winery is grandfathered in, it can still safely call its blueberry sparkling wine "Blueberry Champagne", unlike other companies in the U.S. that must refer to it as a sparkling wine. Today, visitors can take a walking tour of Renault Winery and experience a wine tasting, diving into the history of this special winery.

Read more
Aquavit: the centuries-old spirit that’s more than just “black death”
What exaclty is aquavit?
Alcohol tasting: Aquavit, Bitter orange snaps, Bask, Arrack punsch

If you’ve ever been to Iceland, there’s a chance a local tour guide has offered you a chance to partake in a less-than-appealing local rite of passage. I’m talking about eating fermented shark followed by a shot of Brennivin. I, like many travelers to Iceland, have taken part in this life-changing experience. I can tell you that the shark is the biggest acquired taste I’ve ever been a part of.

The Brennivin, on the other hand, was actually memorable in a good way. Even though it’s referred to as “black death,” this strong Icelandic spirit is a neutral spirit made from potatoes. It gets its unique flavor from the use of caraway seeds. It’s the country’s main type of Aquavit and it's the national drink. But it’s definitely not the only country that makes this unique spirit. You might be wondering what Aquavit is.

Read more
Oskar Blues dresses up its beer in denim for the summer
A timeless look for some classic ales
Dale's Denim Pale.

Colorado brewery Oskar Blues is bringing back a limited-time favorite with the return of the Denim Dale's line. The release features a couple of flagship beers treated to cans inspired by your favorite pair of jeans. The light summer beers are available now through Labor Day Weekend.

"Last year’s denim beer case was a statement of rebellious independence – and people got it. This year, we wanted to take it even further,” says Aaron Baker, Oskar Blues brand director. “So we wrapped the can itself in denim. It’s a celebration of individuality, utility, and American grit – all things denim and Dale’s share at their core. Whether you’re cracking one open at a dive bar or tossing it in your cooler for a weekend outside, this is a beer that wears its character on its sleeve – or in this case, its can.”

Read more