The Rocketeer’s Gift Guide
- 25 NOV 2020
- By Rocket Food
- In ROCKETEER
So here we are again with festivities nearly upon us. This year’s version of the party season is so far away from the Christmas we usually thrive off, we can hardly believe it’s almost time to open advent calendars and put trees up. While we can’t show our affections quite so freely with exceptional hospitality, we’re turning these tricky circumstances into an opportunity to perfect the art of Christmas gifting. There could be no better time to put a little extra thought in than after the rollercoaster this year has been.
Our team of creatives (whether a chef or party planner) all possess, we are delighted to say, very good taste. So the Rocket Gift Guide is our way of bringing a touch of magic to your loved ones in the form of unusual and luxurious presents. The Rocketeers have been warehouse elves in their own right at HQ, filling the lovely boxes for our lockdown brainchild A Cook’s Tour, as well as sending off hampers packed with delicious treats for clients. We interrupted the flurry of packing to steal the team’s top gifting picks, so we hope you are inspired to gift something a little different this Christmas. After all, 2020 has been the epitome of unpredictable.
Charlie’s pick:
Drinks Fusion Nordic Negroni set
Credit: Drinks Fusion
P.S We particularly love the classic old-fashioned tumblers too. Might as well gift the whole experience…
Rachel’s picks
These lovely pieces are inspired by the spirit of adventure, something we have all missed this year and could do with a lot more of. This collaboration between stylist to the stars, Angie Smith and jeweller Kirstie Le Marque, brings together eight pieces which fall under the five pillars of: Protect Me, Guide Me, Free Me, Ground Me, Anchor Me. A beautiful present both sentimentally and aesthetically.
Credit: in the making
Designed to counter our busy digital lives and create physical focal points to encourage reconnection, reflection, and happiness. Sounds good, right? These beautiful abstract mobiles not only make the perfect interior decoration to someone’s home but are known to bring a level of wellness to your mind and body. We could probably all do with a few of these in our lives.
Lottie’s picks
Think you know your stuff about wine? Forget it all. The duo behind Noble Rot magazine and restaurant give the definitive guide to tasting, ordering in restaurants, talking about wine (without sounding like a wine bore) and building your own collection. Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew really take you to vinous places you’ve never been before while keeping good humour and fun along the way. Really there’s no better gift for the wine lover in your life.
Cred: Lisa Valentine
We all know someone (quite likely, ourselves) who simply can’t start the day without coffee. Add to that the more discerning palate which prefers whole bean or freshly ground, it’s likely they have a serious supply of coffee beans lurking in their fridge. Enter this adorable scoop and clip, a 2 in 1 device that is not only practical but looks gorgeous too. Stainless steel with a brass finish, it’s a brilliant stocking filler at only £10 and a rather glamorous household staple.
P.S Sign up to their email list to get 10% off
Little People, Big Dreams books
Are there more poignantly thought-out children’s books as these? You’re never too young to hear the wise words of Sir David Attenborough or Martin Luther King Jr, and we just adore The Little People, Big Dreams series for their stylish, quirky illustrations that tell the stories of a diverse set of iconic people. What better way to inspire your little ones than with the lives of athletes, scientists, artists and more?
Michael’s pick
Shane Connolly’s online floristry course
Credit: learningwithexperts
Flowers bring us joy; they brighten up any room and can restore those happy memories of past special occasions. While this year has taken away the physical experience of floristry and creativity within the events industry, we are delighted to see Shane Connolly launching his own online course ‘The Art of Environmental Floristry’ for us to all learn the craft from home. Passionate about British flowers and foliage, Shane holds Royal Warrants of Appointment to both HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales. But he is perhaps best known for designing the beautiful wedding flowers for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011. Taking his course practically makes you a royal florist by proxy, no?!
Ryan’s pick
This is a special book for the foodies in your life. Razzak Mirjan and his family set up Beder, a charity in honour of his younger brother who sadly took his own life at the age of 18 in 2017, to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.
This autumn they launched their first cookbook, From Beder’s Kitchen, a collection of recipes and stories from amazing foodies around the world, including head and executive chefs at some of the UK’s leading restaurants, TV chefs, best-selling authors, newspaper journalists and mental health advocates.
There are 90 contributors in all, including our Executive Chef, Ryan Stafford. They have all donated recipes and shared their personal experiences and words of advice about looking after their mental health and how food has played a part in that. The discussion around mental health feels especially poignant this year and this book contributes to the conversation excellently.
That’s all for our Gift Guide 2020, a selection of unique and interesting suggestions (most of which will make a real difference by supporting small independent businesses!) for all sorts of special people in your life. We hope you feel inspired, festive and positive about the season upon us and of course, the New Year.
We wish you all health and happiness and a Christmas filled with love and joy.
See you on the other side!
The Rocketeers
