Welcome to Hotline Rewind, the weekly sequence the place we collect up your questions from the week (and pepper in some from the Hotline archives) a few particular subject. We’re barreling in direction of the vacations and requested our readers for all of their gifting questions.
The Hotline sat down with Jackson Fust, our Senior Director of Merchandising to assist higher reply your questions. Jackson is accountable for doing tons of analysis and testing to make sure that the whole lot offered on the Food52 store is of the very best high quality and feels definitively particular. So principally, he outlets for a residing. And in consequence, he had some extremely useful last-minute purchasing recommendation:
What’s the greatest, last-minute reward for food-focused pals?
I’ll say it—we as a society want to maneuver on from reward playing cards. They’re largely disappointing and lack that private contact. I additionally acknowledge we are able to’t all be good. Enter our subscriptions. Jackson loves our month-to-month grass-fed butter subscriptions, in addition to our salami of the month. Whenever you get them organized via Food52, you additionally get lovely explainer PDFs that you may print and current to your recipient as a substitute of handing them a blurry image from the web.
My chef brother has the whole lot. What’s one thing he gained’t count on?
Jackson was tremendous fast to come back to 2 concepts: first, the the tremendous sturdy/sturdy Excellent Prep Rubber Chopping Board. Rubber reducing boards are a favourite of Japanese cooks for being simple to scrub and actually type to your knives.
He additionally loves Holcomb’s Dripless Stainless-Metal Oil Can. Not solely is it a surprising assertion in your counter, however it’s really dripless. We’ve got examined it for weeks, and it has stored our cooktops clear and oil-free.
What’s one thing folks can go with out shopping for this 12 months?
Jackson and our co-founder, Amanda, agree that the most important factor that’s “out” for the 2024 gifting season is PFA-based non-stick pans. There’s rising proof that PFAs or polyfluoroalkyl substances are unhealthy in your well being and the surroundings.
As a substitute, they suggest getting a seasoned carbon-steel pan or the Our Place Titanium Nonstick All the time Pan Professional for mess-free vacation brunch. Not solely is it attractive, nevertheless it supplies a pure nonstick floor that we imagine in.
What’s the final Food52 stocking stuffer?
Listed here are Jackson’s favourite little extras to offer this 12 months:
I’m over sweets! What are some good shelf-stable, savory treats I may give to my pals?
Individuals beneath estimate the ability of a selfmade cracker! They’ll take a charcuterie board from good to unbelievable. Or grind them all the way down to bread crumbs for topping pasta.
Recommendation on cookbook shopping for?
Stalk their socials and takeout orders to see what your recipient likes to ea.! In the event that they order bibimbap each week, get a Korean cookbook! This 12 months I’m hoping I get Renato Poliafito’s DOLCI! His bakery, Ciao Gloria, is a 10-minute stroll from my place, and I’d say I’m going a minimum of as soon as per week. He has unbelievable takes on basic Italian pastry and sweets. And I used to be in a position to pattern a ton of them at Food52’s most up-to-date cookbook membership occasion, too.
What are the most effective cookies to ship by mail?
Resulting from bumpy transit and unknown route temperatures, you’re going to need a cookie that’s sturdy and straightforward to pack tightly collectively to keep away from crumblage. I would additionally keep away from melty elements (chocolate, glaze, frosting and so forth). Nea’s new Swedish Pecan Pralines are good!
Have extra vacation entertaining questions? Ask away on our Hotline or drop us a line at 1 (877)-52-HOTLINE.
