A 2024 Gift Directory
From cakes you can set on fire to flowers that won’t quit, bpb’s new gift list is hotter than Adam Brody! Nobody wants this more than you. Download as a PDF here.
From cakes you can set on fire to flowers that won’t quit, bpb’s new gift list is hotter than Adam Brody! Nobody wants this more than you. Download as a PDF here.
Fist-size 3D jelly domes that look like glass snow globes are the hottest edibles to gift this season. Thailand’s beloved pâtissier chef Dej Kewkacha (La Liste’s ‘Pastry Talent of the Year’) teamed up with Sage & Saffron (from the Masque stable) to create these beauties that taste like gardens and rain and blueberries, each containing within them a single giant edible flower, ranging from roses and jasmines to orchids and Sakuras, Forget-Me-Nots and Chrysanthemums. They come in pretty floral boxes, great for gifting. Last day to order is October 23, 2024!
Call 9136012030, Instagram, start at Rs 850 + 500 for a gift box.
If you‘ve been wondering about the resurgence of black forest cake at patisseries and on home baker menus, you can thank Chef Heena Punwani for it, whose Revenge Black Forest Cake has created quite the stir. We peeked into her bakery, Maska’s rolodex to bring you their Dadar market supplier of the best seasonal fruit (contact details below). Here's what we plan to do this Diwali and Christmas: get cute boxes, fill full of cherries / berries, finish with bows and send them to the peaches in our lives
Call Deepak Gupta at 8928529231.
The viral TikTok Burn Away Cakes aren’t just for reels and gender reveals. We looked everywhere and finally found a baker who does them in Bombay. Here’s how it works: the cake of your choice comes topped with a flammable, edible sugar sheet bearing a printed message. Once lit, it burns away to reveal the second bit of your message on the actual cake top. We recommend their pineapple upside down cake and a snarky message for Diwali.
Call 9167234012, Instagram, start at Rs 2,600 for 750 gms.
Our favourite artisanal fresh pasta sellers have a new Bandra pastificio (pasta factory) where you can stop by for pick-ups and soon, even attend workshops. Besides uncooked pasta fresca - menu changes every Monday - Cacio e Pepe also does pantry items (look up their excellent whipped ricotta with confit tomatoes) and sourdough focaccia, all of which can be packed in a gift box with local parmesan cheese and fresh sage. If you’d rather send your darlings some dolci, we recommend their Amaretti al Limone.
Shop at www.cacioepepe.in, 9619403108, Instagram, start at Rs 400.
Confident that your giftee’s sanity will remain intact with another person in their kitchen? Snag snacks from this Shark Tank starrer that make cooking with a plus-one a little less uninspired. The all-vegetarian kits of Gochujang Ramen, Tteokbokki, Sushi, Tacos, Lasagne and more need only veggies and meat from the pantry, and love from you. A great date night aid.
Shop online at www.chefling.in, Instagram, start at Rs 1,299.
Known for her seasonal fresh fruit delights, everyone’s favourite confectioner (even the Ambanis’) Bunty Mahajan is making the most of strawberry season. The fruit of her loom yields her seasonal best in Strawberry Biscoff Cheesecake and the Rich Chocolate Strawberry Cake, made with the freshest of strawberries. The light, fruity Strawberry Almond Gateau deserves a cameo in Emily In Paris. Bunty also celebrated 20 years of baking gourmet goodies by putting roots in Indiranagar, the Bandra of Bengaluru.
Deliciae by Bunty Mahajan, Shop No 11, Gasper Enclave, Pali Road, Bandra West, Shop at https://orders.delcakes.in/, 9029021260, Instagram, start at Rs 400.
How festive it is to gift a friend a chef’s tasting meal for two at Indian Accent! Your giftee can expect seven courses of Indian Accent’s classics, plus if you, the gifter really splurges on the gift card, the menu can be coupled with wine pairings from across the world.
Find us a better coffee shop window in Mumbai; we’ll wait. Nandan Coffee with its estate in Kodaikanal, just opened its first cafe and experience center at Fort that’s sunlit and sexy. Stand at the cute pick up window, and take home prezzies: we love their single serve pour over sachets and their special make your own blend wall. Cool beans.
Shop at www.nandancoffee.com, 9819676550, Instagram, Rs 350 for a pack of 5 Single Serve Pour Over.
It’s no Beckham-made relish but this condiment is built with love by a Papa who is preaching about his new hot sauce via a website made up of cool-kid images and a dad joke generator. The sauce is made with fresh red chillies from the North East + no preservatives; they have just one flavour - Classic Red - which took “seven years, three fist-fights and one small kitchen fire to reach perfection”.
Shop at papapatel.com, Instagram, Rs 375.
We holler at these halwais every festive season, for simple, delicious mithai that’s packaged like a bomb. Our go-to order is their box of kaju katlis, muslin-wrapped with an arty sleeve drawn by Padma Shri awardee Gond artist Bhajju Shyam. Their newest creation is delicate squares of badam barfi topped with 24k vegan gold leaf. Now if that doesn’t spell Diwali.
Shop at pistabarfi.com, 8169973967, Instagram, start at Rs 399 for a box.
Food writer Prerna Makhija’s liquid diet has really blossomed since she got her hands on a bottle of Mogra Sharbat by Sangeeta Pachisia. Sangeeta crafts her homemade syrups in small, meticulous batches, ensuring every bottle is packed with full, real flavour (for instance, a whole kilo of mogra petals yields just 2 litres of product). With a perfume so heady, we’re stocking up the seasonal floral decoction to infuse cocktails for our Diwali party. Pachisia, who learned to make herb and flower-infused blends from an aunt in Kolkata 13 years ago, is also known for her zesty ginger ale, a spicy kairi panna and red and white rose syrups.
Call 9892761056, Rs 220 for 500 ml of mogra sherbet.
An archeologist walks into a bar…well, more like a kitchen and she starts whipping up some of the greatest hits in the Indian culinary world. Excavator and Chef Rhea Dalal is a Bengali cuisine virtuoso but wears many other hats. One of them is running a boutique 40-year old catering service Katy’s Kitchen with her husband Kurush Dalal where traditional Parsi food meets the modern world. Think classics like prawn cocktail and Lancashire hotpot to ceaseless favourites like Patra ni Machchhi, Dhansak, and Lagan nu Custard. Chef has also gained notoriety as the ‘Bundtit’ Queen of Maximum City, baking beautiful Bundt cakes that are easy on the eyes but even better on the taste buds. No matter the shape, size or appetite, there is a bundt, bundtlette or a loaf cake out there for everyone.
Delivering across Mumbai, WhatsApp to order Katy’s Kitchen (Kurush - 9820136511), Bundtit Queen (Rhea - 9820904694).
This gourmet tea brew-tique in Kalaghoda and Bandra lets you taste your tea before you add-to-cart, a tea-licious way to make sure you’re buying the right gifts. Among the 24 collections are assortments like the Maison Du The’ Masala Chai Collection with cardamom, turmeric and original flavours; Tales of Tea Collection that comes with a pocket-sized infuser; The India Expedition Collection featuring tea from four different Indian terroirs; and more that come neatly packaged in elegant boxes. Their festive tea de force is the rambunctiously red box of ‘The Sparkle Collection’ with bestsellers Masala chai, Ashwagandha-powered Indian ginseng tea and a token diya. All online purchases will be accompanied by tea samples and coasters– truly a gift that keeps on giving.
Shop at sanchatea.com, boutiques in Bandra (26400840) & Kala Ghoda (40020852), Instagram, gifts start at Rs 750.
‘Tis the season to gather and bring along the perfect graze to a house party, picnic or just to watch scary movies with friends on a Saturday night. Small Batch’s limited edition hamper, The Gift Of Good Taste, is a chef-crafted ‘swicy’ (sweet and spicy) selection that you’d want to put on everything you bite into. What to expect? Best-selling and delicious Bean-Infused Crispy Chilli Oil to go with dumplings or on some ‘za; new addition Roasted Ghost Chilli Honey (layered with gold edible vark) to drizzle on cut fruits or grilled meats; and hamper-exclusive Sea Salt Caramel Forest Honey to perhaps lick off of the spoon straight up. There are no rules— feel free to get creative. Browse through this and other exclusive hampers curated to gift amateur chefs or folks who have a fondness for swicy things in life.
Shop at smallbatch.co.in, Instagram, hampers start at Rs 2,159.
The Wedding Bartenders are not just for weddings. They may have fuelled some of the we-can’t-watch-anymore Anant-Radhika festivities, but they’re also happy to come service a 10 person Diwali party at home. Say the word, and the cocktail list will turn festive, as marigolds and roses float in boozy coupes and ingredients with an Indian bent are incorporated into the menu. Swagat!
Instagram, approx Rs 20,000 for a 25 person party.
Browse and buy firecracker Diwali boxes and gifts from Maska Bakery; Manam Chocolate; Bombay Sweet Shop; The Flourists; The Flour Girl.
Get your hydration-haunted friend this celebrity-favourite thirst trap, now officially available in India via Foodsquare (Bandra & Worli). The Stanley Cup combines all the best features of a gift: it’s big, it’s coveted and it quenches your thirst for life. Also buy for your own car and use to hydrate while hopping between drunky Diwali parties. PS: it’s double the price here as compared to abroad, so choose your friends wisely.
Outposts at Bandra and Worli, Instagram, Rs 12,500.
Every year, a new object maker comes to town, creating a pot that’s going to bring everyone luck. This year, ex AD stylist Samir Wadekar and Gunjan Gupta work with artisans of Kutch under a new label, Amrai. The result is a cluster of yummy sculptural objects: a red clay, sun-baked tear-drop shaped water carrier object held in a delicate kala cotton braid; a nest of stunning copper and Raku-glazed eggs; a red clay and copper bell Tripod inspired by Kutch kitchens’ prized vessels; and the Thumb vase, made from five clays and pure beaten copper.
Shop at www.amraiindia.com, Instagram, start at Rs 11,000.
While you continue to try (and fail) to book a table at Papa’s, here’s how you can get a little piece of the inside without getting in. Gorgeously detailed knives give Papa’s their edge, and we know where to buy them. Local craftsman Jagdish Sikligar makes these chef Hussain-approved knives under Rare Arts Udaipur, that are pretty enough to gift.
Udaipur, ships across India, call 9799311781, watch here, Rs 2,800.
Professor and Dr Augustinus Bader uses his many degrees and wins - biomedical scientist, physician, expert in the field of stem cell biology & regenerative medicine - to make supremely effective and stunningly expensive skincare. And now, it’s finally available in India via Tira! There’s a sign to buy a super indulgent self-care present. If you want to start small, spend Rs 3,800 on their new Sofia Coppola collaboration lip balm (shea luck!); at the other end of the price spectrum is a 50k serum. Yes, it’s the same bright Bader beloved by Hailey Bieber and Victoria Beckham.
Shop at Tira, start at Rs 3,800.
We haven't managed to convince the Benne Dosa bunch to package and sell their podi (yet), but we did score a very festive Benne hook-up. Co-founder Akhil Iyer's connected us and you to the buzzy dosa venue's Matunga floral artisan who crafts all their leaf decor, including the entrance garlands fashioned to look sometimes like flower vases and sometimes like birds, which would be so lovely for your Diwali home. Discovered for Benne by their interior designer Reshmy Kurien.
Call Kannan at 9892003350, visit Rose Flower Decorator, shop 57, Matunga, open daily from 8 am to 10 pm.
Chanel Beauty recently launched its official India e-store, and we’re lusting after their Beauty Mix bags marked Spa, Red Carpet, Road Trip and Workout, a fun way to group multiple products that fit the bill. Our favourite is the splashy azure Poolside bag with fresh, hydrating, blue-hued make-up and skincare. Also, yummy and luxe for small presents are the candy-like Chanel nail paints; the Premiere Dame delivers Diwali.
Shop at www.chanel.com/in, Rs 3,200 for nail paint.
Call the paparazzi— a star is born! Dab to Fab has bragging rights of representing its most important talent right now– the Peace Host cleanser. Crowned as the best cleanser by Grazia India magazine this year, this potion goes through a metamorphosis of structure. The balm-to-gel-to-light foam cleanser is packed with future-proofing ingredients and keeps the skin microbiome well-fed with only what’s necessary. Sweeten the deal by shopping for the bundle of Recovery and Repair Duo that includes the smooth and effective Spark Change moisturiser and a soft velvety Luxe Pouch.
Buy the bundle at www.dabtofab.co, Instagram, Rs 3,950.
Silver refill baggies of sublime rose water so pure it’s edible, feel both, festive and usable beyond the festive season. We love everything the Dearist makes, and thought that these would be cute to send to a bunch of your girl friends. It comes with a 50ml spray bottle for facial hydration; the dears at Dearist also recommend adding 20 ml daily to drinking water, using it as a cocktail mixer or a flavour enhancer for overnight oats, coconut water, chia seed pudding. Combine with a glinty kansa metal hair comb for a heftier, lovelier present.
Shop at www.thedearist.com, Instagram, start at Rs 850.
With videos of water bodies and bits and bobs of meditation music, Dhyanam’s e-store calms you down even before you light one of their creations. The candles are gorgeous - just-slightly translucent bodies in colours of oak moss, sea dew, lemongrass and deep purple grape - containing a biodegradable soy wax blend and wooden wick. Of course, these are non-toxic, and burn clean and longer.
Shop at www.dhyanamco.com, Instagram, currently on sale at Rs 933.
The Jaipur Watch Company pays homage to stamps, utilising real paper postal stamps from the period of 1937-1947. Here, scalloped metal dials sit on chain or leather straps, bearing stamp designs on its face. Mail us one of these, and we’ll consider it to be that precious handwritten letter that you owe us.
Shop at jaipur.watch, Instagram, start at Rs 20k.
Austrian sisters Julia and Sita took over their mum’s Chennai embroidery atelier in 2012, and have been embroidering for Haute Couture and Interior designers in Italy, France, the U.K. and the US ever since. Lucky for us, they also have a small in-house collection of delightful things: dusty rose velvet mules embroidered with serpents; a sunny side up brooch with appliqued yolk, sequined whites and crispy beaded edges; plus the cutest tree ornaments that say it’s never too early to start shopping for Christmas.
Shop at juliaandsita.com, Instagram, start at Rs 800.
Paper princess Uurmi Bhatia runs this super chic paper floral studio that crafts handmade, zero-guilt, zero-wilt flowers for arrangements, gift packaging, props and decor for high profile events like the recent Ambani wedding, as well as the Elle Beauty awards. Their poppies and hydrangeas are almost prettier than the real thing, and they conduct workshops on how to make paper gulabs.
Shop at www.mooligai.in, Instagram.
Step inside the Cha-lice in wonderland where the rabbit hole will take you on a journey full of quirky surprises. Just like in the novel, this glassware collection is full of unconventional tabletop treasures, although you can spike your tea party glasses with something more festive. Fit for a gathering that needs a tablescape, we love One Of A Kind’s technicolour take on dining and wining, all sourced and made between India and Sri Lanka. We especially heart the PuddiGlass —glassware meant for dessert, dare we say the most important part of a meal. Plus, these goblets will make for a great wine and charcuterie night in.
Shop at www.1ofakind.net.in, 9897033162, Instagram, start at Rs 1,399.
It’s not just part of the scenery - the beautiful bonsai plants in antique pots at the newly renovated Mahendra Doshi store at Walkeshwar are for sale. Plant lads and ladies, also look up Coco Jungle (great collection of cacti) and Thriving Home, whose portfolio includes working on The Table Farm, Soho House and Flyover Farm.
Mahendra Doshi, Walkeshwar, Instagram; www.cocojungle.co, Instagram; Thriving Home, Instagram.
Solving more than your garden variety dress up problems, RATA’s hand-beaded, pastel coloured jewels and hair clips belong in a Matisse landscape. Their gorgeous heart-shaped rings and pendants, rose bud studs, elaborate Garden of Joy necklaces and floral hair pins make for cute gifts; they’re all made by trained artisans who now independently imagine and create baubles on their own, so it makes the trinkets extra special.
Visit www.ratalove.com, DM RATA to shop, start at Rs 900
Everyone’s favourite retro outfit, The Revolver Club that sells LPs and LP players now has a vintage watch arm. Their HMTs, starting at Rs 3,000 make for lovely Secret Santa presents. Other watch brands on offer include Casio, Seiko, Rolex, Tissot, Roymat and more. Hunt and you will be rewarded with a few novelty pieces like a Russian watch pendant with a chain and some cool pocket watches.
Shop at www.therevolverclub.com, Instagram, start at Rs 1,711.
How foreword of us to ask you to a secret meeting in the library, where you will find us surrounded by tall shelves lined with luxury handbags, as we stare dreamily into the distance, scratching ‘I Loewe You’ onto a wooden bench with a sharp compass point. This is Sanktum, a luxury bag rental (and now re-selling) service, that lets you borrow classic and new collections from Prada, YSL, Teflar, Jacquemus, Bottega, Chanel and most recently Hermes, by invite only. “All our bags are authentic and handpicked by us to ensure that the bag bank has a right mix of colourways, occasions, sizes and brands,” they tell us. Exactly what you need to service your multiple party scene this season.
Visit www.sanktum.in, Instagram, price on request.
If Apple built a toothbrush, this would be it: high function hiding inside dazzling design; smooth and minimal; clean lines for clean teeth. In reality, dentist turned entrepreneur Dr Namrata and her co-founder Tanvi have created these beauties. Sold in colours like dusty rose, carbon black, deep sea and lavender, these come in hefty boxes bearing chargers and travel case - super nice for gifting.
Shop at sevenoralcare.com, Instagram, start at Rs 5,999.
How very Lana Del Ray of us to fall in love with a reptile (brooch) this season. The Honeymoon singer recently married an alligator tour guide, an event she might have manifested through these crystal crocodile clips she wore in 2013. Tossido too has a range of cheap-chic brooches shaped like reptiles, and also baby grand pianos, boat helms, swans and a single eye with a crystal tear.
Shop at tossido.in, Instagram, Rs 800.
Don't forget to dip into our archive of super useful bpb Long Lists for recommendations on the best home improvements, the best beauty buys to make, the hottest snaxx for your hunger.
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