It’s the season of giving, whether that’s a gift in the traditional sense of the word, a thoughtful donation or just a bit of self-care.
We threw the question of what to gift out to the WAGFG team and some of our favourite food-focused people to give you plenty of festive inspiration.
Georgia Moore, Editor in Chief of WAGFG is all about the edible, as you’d expect, but also food for the soul, good deeds and bringing art, music and design into her festive thinking. For Georgia, a donation to the Foodbank WA Christmas Appeal or Indigenous Foster Care organisation Yorganop is a feel good home-run. For lovers of food and quality ingredients, it’s got to be the gift of Sal’s Pasta with vouchers from Cottesloe favourite Paul Salmeri available now, or the Indigenous Flavours Box from Kakadu Plum Co, and, perfect for those Boxing Day sandwiches (or straight from the jar) Rickles Pickles. For the table, Suzette cheese from Halls Family Dairy. On a different note, Georgia tips art prints from Jordy Hewitt, vinyl from Diabolik, ceramic bowls from Eucalyptus Homewares, and aprons from Pure Linen. If you’re headed to Margaret River, the tip is to gift yourself a massage at MEND, whose mission is to help you recover, recharge and realign. Perfect to head into the new year.
Eucalypt Homewares Ceramic Bowls
Emma Farrelly, our co-chair of the WAGFG Awards and Director of Wine and Beverages at the State Buildings, recommends Saison Spring Rhubarb Vermouth, which she says is a beautiful thing to drink in summer over ice. Mouzon Leroux L’Incandescent Rose NV is an amazing grower champagne to get your hands on, that has enough breadth and complexity to work with all dishes on the Christmas table. And, stunning with an excellent ham sandwich.
Saison Spring Rhubarb Vermouth
Danielle Alvarez, cookbook author, Culinary Director of the Sydney Opera House and a long-time friend of the Guide says that her choice WA tipple this season is from Damaged Goods Distillery in the Swan Valley. Specifically their smashed apple Aperitivo.
Alice Zaslavsky, might be more often found singing the praises of the Victorian food scene but the writer and broadcaster has a soft spot for WA, and especially the South West. Margaret River Chocolate Company’s dark chocolate honey crunch honeycomb gets Alice’s vote as does slopping on WA’s own We Are Feel Good Inc sunscreen, so that she can prolong her veggie box pottering over summer.
We Are Feel Good Inc
Anna Franklyn, Managing Editor at WAGFG is all about gifting locally this season. On her cookbook list are Kate Flower’s A Local Table series, Paul Iskov and Jordan Goetze’s Scale To Tail and Simone Agostino’s Too — showcasing the talents of WA-based writers. She’s also supporting a worthy cause by spending big at Mettle — an organisation employing women impacted by family and domestic violence, and delivering some of the best gift boxes in Perth to boot. Anna’s other top picks include an Old Bridge Cellars’ mystery mixed cube to add some discovery to your day drinking, Mette dip mixes as stocking stuffers (also great to have on hand for entertaining) and Filament drip coffee bags starter bundles — perfect for summer camping holidays. For pure indulgence, it’s got to be a voucher for one of Heartwood’s heavenly facial massages or a bathrobe from Cleverly Textiles. At the very top of her wishlist? The new Spicy Margarita merch from La Cabaña.
A Local Table
Kirsty Marchant of Alberta’s in Busselton is stocking up on non-alcoholic alternatives, and in particular bottles of NON are a favourite. They only get better she says, tipping her friend and ours, Matt Stone who, this year, released his PROGRESS collaboration with NON.
Max Brearley, WAGFG’s Guide Editor, is a habitual giver of cookbooks and tips Alice Zaslavsky’s Salad for Days, a book that he’ll be using to find some balance after review season. Also, on the gift rotation this year is Karkalla at Home from Mindy Woods, Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class, and further afield (and perhaps at polar opposites), Matty Matheson’s Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Nigel Slater’s, A Thousand Feasts. Thinking locally, bouji staples figure heavily, like Fremantle made Get On Top savoury sprinkles (available online or at retailers like Old Bridge Cellars) that play into the narrative of a summer of salad (albeit you can chuck them on eggs, veggies and even your sausage rolls pre-bake). Giving gochu miso from Hound and Hunter in Manjimup is a surefire way to assure your place on next year’s Christmas card list, as is a bottle of Fathoms Cuvee from Glenarty Road; the ocean cellared drop comes in bottles literally adorned by the ocean. What could be more WA?
Get On Top Savoury Spinkles
Paul “Yoda” Iskov of Fervor manages a cheeky self-nom, mentioning that he’s gifting (and also selling) Fervor gift packs that include vouchers, totes, beanies, their first book and more. Yoda says he’ll also be gifting wine from low intervention Margaret River producer Si Vintners this holiday
Melissa Palinkas of East Fremantle’s Young George and Ethos Deli as ever has sustainability in mind, gifting Nakie beach towels made from plastic bottles. Margaritas of all kinds are the order of the day made mostly from the syrups created out of leftover fruits from the restaurants.
Nakie Beach Towels
Brendan Pratt, culinary director at Parker Group is also getting in on making his gifts, telling us that he’s batched his own negronis which he’ll be bottling up to gift to friends. His vermouth of choice? It’s from Margaret River winemaker Nic Peterkin’s LAS Vino label which in turn is made from his “saltwater Vermentino” which is also worth a look if you can get your hands on a bottle or half a dozen.
Need help choosing drinks for the Christmas Table? Head to our best of the year wines, beers and spirits lists.
