A gift guide for mom, dad, and grad
Spicy sauces, elevated kitchen staples, and plenty more
May is almost here (ahem, tomorrow), which means celebration season is coming. While I themed this gift guide for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Graduation, this is an all-purpose gift list. Spring birthdays, summer weddings, upcoming anniversaries, housewarmings — there are plenty of ideas here that will fit the bill. I didn’t include kid gifts this time, but if readers tell me they want a dedicated summer-themed kids gift guide, I can make it happen!
I’d love to hear from you: What are you celebrating this summer? Any great gift ideas to share?
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Some moms like it hot, and if the mom on your list does, too, treat her to a covetable box of indie hot sauces immaculately curated by Big Night. If she prefers spices over sauces, opt for this three-pack of chilli flakes from around the world from Spicewalla. Either option would be especially cute paired with a “hot mama” letterpress card by Chicago-based Steel Petal Press.
The theme for this year’s Mother’s Day book gift list is delight. Snacking Dinners by Georgia Freedman (who writes a newsletter by the same name) is all about creating desire-centered dinners by treating snacks as meal worthy. This book is perfect for any mom who believes in the glory of Adult Dinner and has been wanting to cook more for (her own) pleasure. For fiction, consider Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, if she doesn’t already have it queued on her e-reader. Henry is one of the rom-com mega-stars thanks to her sharp banter, kick-your-feet romance, and just a bit of spice.
Customized jewelry always feels special for Mother’s Day — and you can go with her child’s details, her own, or both. Initial necklaces are especially great for new moms, and this one from Thatch feels fresh thanks to its bold, clean font (and also comes in full 14K gold if you’re looking for more of a splurge). I also love these sweet and stackable mother-child birthstone rings that come in gold, silver, and rose gold by Caitlyn Minimalist, or if mom is more into astrology, this Zoe Lev zodiac bracelet is a pretty option.
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For the dad who loves being in the kitchen, Father’s Day is a great excuse to gift him some upgrades. A beautiful new cutting board, like this one from J.A. Henckels; a coordinated set of stacking stainless steel mixing bowls, like these from Crate & Barrel which have useful silicone bases and lids; a fresh stack of kitchen towels, ideally these restaurant-kitchen-style Zeppoli classic towels. Any (all!) of these will bring more of a luxe feel to his workspace.
If he’s got young kids, preorder Dad, What’s for Dinner? by Bay Area chef David Nayfeld, which will hit shelves in late May. Nayfeld is behind acclaimed San Francisco restaurant Che Fico, and the book features recipes that kids and adults will love, from fast and easy meals like 10-minute tomato soup and 20-minute smothered Italian sausage to projects like making your own pasta and pizza doughs. (Subscribers, stay tuned: We’ll have a recipe and a cookbook giveaway for this one in a few weeks!) A book like this would pair great with a grownup-and-me Mickey Mouse apron bundle from Hedley & Bennett.
I asked my husband, a real-life dad who neither golfs nor grills, what gift he most valued recently and he said the family membership to Descanso Gardens, a gorgeous botanical garden in Pasadena. He said he loves that he has such a lovely place to bring our daughter, but also a place he can go by himself and just be somewhere so beautiful when his schedule allows. Descanso Gardens is truly wonderful for my fellow LA residents, but if you’re buying for a New Yorker, consider a Brooklyn Botanic Garden membership. The takeaway: Find a garden or arboretum close to where you live, and get dad a family membership.
My advice for someone who is just getting started in the kitchen is to get an air fryer, so they are a perfect grad gift. It’s easy to cook for one with an air fryer — and they are so much better at dealing with frozen foods and leftovers than microwaves. Air fryers are also a great summertime gift, since they help keep small apartment kitchens cool (no need to turn the oven on to make dinner). If an appliance doesn’t feel right, try a set of starter knives. I’ve recommended Material’s knives in the newsletter before and so I wasn’t surprised when I found myself impressed with the set of steak knives they sent me recently. Either set (or both!) would make a wonderful gift for anyone who’s just getting started on their cooking journey. If grad’s style is a bit more vintage or romantic, opt for classic Laguiole steak knives. Being properly equipped makes cooking (or even just eating takeout off a plate instead of a container) easier, and gives any kitchen a more grownup feeling.
Cookbooks are a great gift for a new grad who is adjusting to life after dining halls. Consider Air Fry Every Day by Ben Mims or Dinner in an Instant by Melissa Clark to help a new grad make the most out of two appliances they might be relying on a lot in the coming years — especially if you were already planning on giving an air fryer (see above!) or an Instant Pot.
When it comes to gifting home decor to graduates, I like to find things that can also work to spruce up a bedroom, since that might be their only private space in a shared apartment. A sophisticated Addison Ross picture frame fits that bill, as dos a lovely vase like this minimalist option from Myrth, or a chic catchall tray from Jenni Kayne.
Want more ideas?
Head to my storefront for these links and more gift ideas — including the gift I’m getting on Mother’s Day! (We’re a “Would you love something like this?” family!)
Gift Guide | For Kids & Adults
The 2024 holiday gift guide has plenty of ideas that would work for mom, dad, and grad!
Still stumped? Sound off in the comments or in Table Chat to get advice from me and The New Family Table community.
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Such great ideas!
No one you’d rather have in your corner going into a big gift season.