Christmas gift idea for a Millennial that I don't know well

I suggest Oaktown Spice Shop. They are such a great company. They are very knowledgeable and their spices are fresh. They have fun combinations of spices that are packaged as gifts. Highly recommend!!

If she likes to cook, spices from Oaktown Spice could be great. They're very knowledgeable and can help you put together a gift box. I'm sure a gift certificate to a nice restaurant would also be appreciated. I'm a millennial woman whose parents often give my husband and me a gift certificate to The Marshall Store on Tomales Bay. We love their oysters, and it's an incentive to go on a fun day trip. Also, as cliche as it sounds, it is the thought that counts :) I'm sure she'll be touched that you considered her!

An idea I had is a collection of cookbooks from local chefs'restaurants. E.g., Chez Panisse (Alice Waters), Tartine, Zuni Cafe, etc. You can find lists of them online.

It is so sweet of you to be trying so hard to get her a gift she will like.  A few offhand suggestions:

• High-End Olive Oil or Vinegar Set: A nicely packaged set of gourmet olive oils or balsamic vinegars, ideally from a California producer.  I recently got a set from Stonehouse as a housewarming gift that got good reviews. 
• Cookbook: Consider something focused on California cuisine if she is a foodie who likes cooking.  Tartine is a great option for someone who likes baking.
• Cooking Class or Food Experience: A gift card for a cooking class or a local food tour could be fun.  I have heard good things about Kitchen on Fire in Berkeley (if she likes cooking).
• Cheese and Charcuterie Set: Pair some California cheeses with a cheese board or a serving set.  Cowgirl Creamery is my personal favorite.
• Luxury Home Items with a Foodie Twist: Think stylish kitchen accessories like an engraved cutting board, an apron, or a set of artisan salt and pepper grinders.
• California-Themed Gift Basket: Fill a basket with local treats like wine, chocolates, almonds, or dried fruit for a personal touch.

Add a heartfelt note wishing her a happy holiday season and mentioning how much you appreciate her being part of your son’s life. Good LUCK!

I would recommend checking out Market Hall Foods in Rockridge. They have all kinds of fantastic food from all over the world.  They also have a wonderful cheese counter and fresh pasta.  I like to make up food gift baskets from there. If you didn’t feel confident about what she would like, you could always give her a gift certificate. 

Hi there! I love gift giving! By foodie, does that mean she loves good, interesting food from a dining standpoint, or she loves to cook, or both? A few ideas...

Find out what town she is from in NJ and google whether there is an established old bakery or other food business that's been around approximately as long as she has. Get a gift box of their signature items shipped to her. Or, if there's a restaurant that's a town institution that has a cookbook - send her that. There is a chocolate shop in my hometown that does not make the best chocolates in the world, but my whole family loves them because they are familiar old favorites. I love when my parents bring me a box. 

Where does she live in CA? Cities often have great local foods markets (like Market Hall in Oakland) and you could get her a token pretty gift (tin of cookies, etc.) and include a gift certificate to one of the businesses in the food hall. 

A gift certificate to a restaurant she and your son particularly like is a way of showing approval for their relationship as well as giving an experience rather than a thing. You could do a few if there are smaller spots like coffee shops, boba shops, a cheesemonger, or other specialty stores etc.

Sur La Table has cooking classes and you could sign your son and his girlfriend up for one near where they live. Again, a sign of approval of their relationship. Make sure it's for both of them to participate so it doesn't get read like you are encouraging her to be a better cook (for your son). 

And finally, gift giving is emotional labor. Tell your son that and get him involved so you don't have to bear this weight alone. It will make her like him more if he figures out how to shoulder some of that labor sooner than later. 

Happy Holidaze!

It's really sweet you're thinking of her. As a millennial foodie, here are things I've received and loved:

• A gift card (or two) to local restaurants-- lots of great places in the East Bay
• High quality coffee/tea, jams, chocolate (e.g., Casa De Chocolates in Berkeley)
• If she likes to cook and has a favorite restaurant, see if they have published their own cookbook (e.g., Burma Superstar has a cookbook, this collection of East Bay restaurant recipes).
• If she likes to cook, fun kitchen gadgets or spice mixes (e.g., Diaspora Co. has gift boxes, as does Fly By Jing). 
• I know giving cash or a Visa gift card might feel weird, but that's also an option. She might prefer that over a gift she doesn't like or have space/a use for.

Maybe you can run these (and any other) ideas by your son and see if there are 1-2 she'd really like?

How about something related to her love of food? For example, a sampler from one of our local specialty food providers like Oaktown Spice, Inna Jam or TCHO; or a cooking class at someplace like Kitchen on Fire (or whatever her local equivalent is if she's not in the Bay Area); or a food walking tour of her city or someplace she'll be visiting. We've really enjoyed getting to know places through food by doing tours and tastings. And I always prefer to get intangible or consumable gifts, especially from people who don't know me well.

How lovely that you are giving this such thought. If she's a young foodie, the possibilities are endless! How about a nice knife? Young people (especially not yet married / post-wedding registry) probably don't have quality knives yet in their kitchen arsenal, but they make all the difference. A classic 6-inch Wusthof chef's knife is currently $98 at Williams Sonoma, or my personal favorite, a 4 inch paring knife (Zwilling/Henckles) which is even cheaper but so so useful. Pair that with some quality local California olive oil, a couple new kitchen towels and voila! Or another local fave: a beautiful bowl from Heath ceramics?

So sweet that you are being thoughtful about this. What about a gift certificate to Snail Bar in Oakland, or Lulu in Berkeley, or maybe brunch at The Cultured Pickle? Can you ask your son what else she might be into? A day trip to some saunas (the Good Hot in Richmond) or hot springs (Orr hot springs) - could also be a fun way to enjoy California. I am definitely team experience, rather than team stuff!

If she is local (?) and is a foodie there are so many gift certificates you could by for her- a class at Preserved, a walking food tour of SF, a gift certificate to dozens of fine restaurants!

Being a millennial foodie myself, I would suggest a visit to Oaktown Spice Shop. They have lots of great gift boxes, excellent cookbooks, yummy treats. And if that's too much to choose from, a gift card there would surely go to good use! Good luck. :) 

AMPHORA. Across the street from the Claremont Hotel. A store full of vinaigretts and olive oils. The Black Mission Fig and the Pomergranate are so delicious you can literally drink them.  This store changed the way I cook and eat. They allow you to taste everything. Your senses will thank you and your son's partners taste buds will do a happy dance.