As the iconic Katherine Hepburn once said, “Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get – only with what you are expecting to give – which is everything.” We think she may have been talking about feelings and stuff, but how we interpret it is that it’s more fun to give than receive. You’ll have to be the judge of that, but when you see his reaction to these Valentine gifts for men, you’ll understand that giving really is everything.
Valentine’s Day Gifts For Foodies
Whether you’re searching for the latest grilling gifts for him or wondering what makes great food gifts for Valentine’s Day, you’ve already realized that food is the way to his…stomach, and by extension, his heart. This Valentine’s Day don’t ponder too deeply what would make him happy. You already know.
Cured Meats
Between curated jerky boxes, paleo-friendly jerky, gourmet bacon gift sets, exotic meat samplers and more, you can find the right flavor and gift for the guy who has it all.
Maybe exotic meats aren’t really your gig. Maybe you prefer a nice juicy chicken breast over, say, alligator jerky. That’s perfectly fine, we understand. But if he has a wild side when it comes to food, then giving him an exotic meat sampler is the way to go. From wild boar and ostrich to elk, venison, and buffalo, new and intriguing flavors are ripe for discovery. Caveman mode activated.
Speaking of cave man, if he has a severe aversion to green, leafy plants that grow out of the ground, and instead relies on the protein punch of his favorite meats, paleo friendly jerky is the perfect snack, whether he’s hitting the links with his buddies or venturing into the woods to hunt with the kids.
If he’s a lover of curated meats, then you really can’t go wrong with beef jerky gifts. Turkey, beef, chicken, bacon…whatever makes his taste buds percolate, you can be sure there’s a jerky to satisfy his appetite. Knock his socks (we’re stopping at socks here, even though it’s Valentine’s Day) off with a heart-shaped box of booze-infused jerky – kind of like Jello shots, but meatier.
Bacon. Just the name makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? You can practically taste the savory smokiness and sweet hints of applewood, cherry, and hickory. Gourmet bacon gift sets come in a wide variety of options, some especially crafted for Valentine’s Day, like a gourmet bacon heart or bouquet of bacon. Toss that bouquet, and you may have a riot on your hands.
Culinary Gift Baskets
From grilling gear and taco essentials to kits for making bacon and hot sauce, we have a heaping helping of great gift ideas for men who like to cook.
Is he just discovering the joys of cooking? The feeling of a perfectly seared steak or a mouthwatering pot roast for a cold winter’s day? Maybe what he lacks is direction, which is where a culinary inspired gift basket or kit comes into play.
Taco Tuesday just got a whole lot more fun with a taco essentials basket, complete with everything he needs to craft gourmet, street-style tacos. Switch it up next Tuesday and give his rebel tendencies a chance to shine when you turn Taco Tuesday into Nacho Tuesday. Now he can pile his nachos as high and as stacked as he desires. Just make sure he doesn’t forget to be generous with the cheese!
Maybe your guy loves experimenting with new recipes and with no recipe at all. Feed his creative side with a kit for making everything from bacon and jerky to hot sauce and seasoning samplers. Just don’t ask for his secret ingredient. You’ll have to try and decipher that on your own.
Grilling Gifts and Kits
You can find him in the kitchen, whipping up tasty meals and crafting his new signature dish filled with whatever he can find around the kitchen and pantry – you know how dads are. But it’s on the grill, manning the tongs and checking to see for the perfect temperature, that he truly shines. After all, you didn’t give him that “Grill Master” apron for nothing.
With a slew of gourmet grilling rubs, sauces, and marinades available, there is always a new favorite to discover. And as a Valentine’s Day gift is the ideal way to give him something he can experiment with, finding new signature flavors for his famous ribs or brisket.
If he’s into smoking (we’re talking meats here, not his lucky pipe), wood chips or pellets make a compelling gift, as they are always needed.
Tired of him flipping burgers and chicken with the same old pair of nasty tongs he’s used since you first met him? We don’t blame you. Sometimes guys get stuck in their old ways, but he will be incredibly happy with a new set of shiny grilling tools, including a spatula, grill scraper, grill fork, and the grilling tongs.
Is he a big DIYer? The kind of guy who likes to build his own tool shed or shelving unit. You can combine his love of grilling and working with his hands with a build-your-own barrel smoker. Now with every delicious bite of smoky goodness, he’ll know it came from his hard work.
What does every griller need? OK, a grill was a great answer. But we were looking for meat…they need meat to grill. They call it the gift that keeps on giving, and he’ll be delighted with a steak or meat subscription that sends him different cuts of meat throughout the year that he can grill to perfection.
We hope this list of grilling gifts and cooking gifts for men makes this Valentine’s Day, and other special occasions, just a bit easier to navigate and less stressful. And the best part of having a foodie to buy for? You get to reap the tasty rewards, too!