Valentine’s day can easily turn into one of those days that brings about a lot of pressure – being the perfect day, having the perfect dinner and buying the perfect gift. Really, it’s just about showing the people around you that you love them, whether that’s a partner, friend or family member. How better to show them that you care than with a thoughtful foodie gift, chosen just for them? We’ve conjured up a Valentine’s Day gift guide of our favourite foodie gifts that’ll work for anyone in your life; we’re sure they’ll love them.
Grá, with dessert genius Grainne Mullins at the helm, sell handmade artisan chocolates that are almost too good to devour. This Valentine’s Day, Grá have a number of beautiful heart-shaped chocolates for you to impress your loved one, because who doesn’t need a bit of Grá Milis? Choose from their Sweet Love Box, containing 12 hand-painted chocolates with unique flavours like a zesty Fineapple or daring Hot Stuff, to one of their 3 giant chocolate hearts – Simply the Zest, Straight from the Heart or Mo Stóirín. Is milis an saol é.
The Divine Foodie is all about hand-curated grazing boxes perfect for at home dining with your loved one. They also have special valentine’s food hampers in a range of different options. The Valentine’s Graze at Home box would keep you occupied for hours if you’re opting to stay at home this Valentine’s. Sit back on the couch and tuck into a cheeseboard with a bottle of red, and follow it up with some very chocolate brownies and chocolate dipped strawberries – sounds romantic! Some other tempting options include the Valentine’s Hamper range – The Cherub, Valentine’s Dream, and Cupid.
Julianne set up bespoke catering company, BlackSheep Foods, when she moved to Ireland, following a career working as a chef in the US and teaching alongside Clodagh McKenna. She’s created a gorgeous food hamper for Valentine’s Day that sets you up for both breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is set up with granola pots and almond croissants – perfect for breakfast in bed – and dinner has you covered with both a meat and vegetarian option. Dessert is not forgotten, with chocolate pots, chocolate love hearts and a bottle of Gran Cerdo to top it all off. You’re set for a cosy day with your Valentine’s date!
Nobó is known for their unique and tasty plant-based chocolates. If you want to eat chocolate and feel good about it, look no further. Minimally processed and sourced as sustainably as possible, you can guarantee that you’ll enjoy these delicious treats guilt-free. An exciting new addition for Valentine’s Day is Nobó’s Valentine’s Treatbox, full of delectable treats. In this box you’ll get 2 indulgent Chocolate Fudge Brownies topped with Salty Almond Butter, 2 Treathouse Rocky Roads and 2 Carrot and Chai muffins. There’s no better way to say ‘I love you!’. Available for collection only.
Craft Cocktails produce premium bottle cocktails made of 100% natural ingredients, hand mixed by award-winning bartenders in Dublin. Ones to always have you covered no matter the season, Craft Cocktails have conjured up 4 Valentine’s specials that you can purchase individually or as a bundle. Valentine’s related names for each drink, they have Be Mine (Strawberry Daiquiri), Grá mo Chroí (Raspberry Negroni), Kiss Me Quick (Bramble) and True Love (Cosmopolitan). All sound equally delicious and equally lovey-dovey.
The founder, Clo, has been involved in the art of Patisserie and Chocolate Making for years. After leaving France, Clo travelled around the world developing her skills before falling in love with Sligo and opening up her now award-winning Chocolatier. With options ranging from boozy chocolates to unique selections of handmade truffles, your gift recipient will certainly be pleased with the beauty of these chocolates. Choose from a Valentine’s Day Hamper, or some adorable chocolate hearts – either way, they’ll be impressed.
Everyone’s favourite spot in Dublin 8 for delicious food and coffee, Hen’s Teeth sell a curated selection of quirky and cool products. They’ve created a Lover’s Day Gift Box for Valentine’s Day, which channels big Alfalfa energy throughout. The box includes some coffee, the aforementioned Valentine’s Craft Cocktails, candles and gift cards.
If you want to buy your beloved a chocolate that’s good for the planet and for your conscience, Bean and Goose are a brilliant choice. Aiming to raise money for the Chachi families that grow the cocoa beans used for their chocolate, they’re all about ensuring authenticity and honesty throughout their process. For Valentine’s, Bean and Goose have two collections. You have a choice of their Totally Love Collection, which includes their delicious Milk Smoky Salt bar and their Dark Umami Seaweed Bar, or the Crazy in Love Collection Gift Box, which contains the former 2 bars, plus Milk Salty Almonds bar and their Dark Sour Cherry Orchard bar. Unique flavours and authentic sourcing – a match made in heaven.
Born in Clare, Wilde Irish Chocolates are made in small batch quantities to ensure the best chocolate-eating experience, and with 80 different products to choose from, the chocoholic in your life will have an absolute ball. Whether you opt for a White Chocolate Strawberry Champagne heart, or their Dotty About You heart, or simply a pack of their most popular chocolate range, your loved one will adore them – and you. A chocolate lover’s dream.
I’m a Palestinian who grew up in Cyprus and moved to Dublin in 2013, so I’ve had a mishmash of different cultures and cuisines surrounding me my whole life. I’m an avid foodie, and after realising that life as a lawyer was not for me, I studied media and became a radio host for Dublin City FM. I’m now writing for TheTaste full time, but I also have my own food blog where you can find a mixture of restaurant reviews and the occasional recipe. I talk a lot about being Palestinian; to be honest, I talk a lot in general. That’s why I did radio!
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