Gift Guide: Lyn Barnes

Food editor Lyn Barnes on edible treats you can make and buy.

• Buy a basket and fill it with goodies from the market. You’re not only supporting your local growers and producers, but everyone loves handcrafted products and feels good about low food miles.

• Think cheese and beetroot pickle... with all the gorgeous gourmet cheeses out there, and wonderful preserves, this sort of Christmas treat never goes astray.

• Pick a theme... for example, everyone loves lemons. Buy  a ‘kit’ of the new Lemon Fresh products – lemon zest, lemon juice, preserved lemon, lemon and honey – which are beautifully presented so no gift wrapping needed. Lemon Fresh launched on the market in August at the Auckland Food Show and now they’re available in at least 50 outlets. An ideal present for boaties – always have that lemon on hand. You can visit Lemon Fresh at www.lemonfresh.co.nz.

• Go nuts: Fill a vase with nuts – all almonds or layers of different nuts and dried fruit.

• Go herbs: Buy a bay tree, or a selection of freah herbs: a potted chervil, basil and coriander

• Or give a fruit tree – a Meyer lemon is perfect for gardening newbies, but for the serious foodie think a pomegranate, lime, fig, or even a fruit, tea or coffee bush... great in pots to boot.

• Make a pasta parcel: Go gourmet and buy some handmade pasta packs, some good-quality tomato sauce and a wedge of ripe cheese for added panache... perfect for a summer meal for anyone on holiday.

• Teas: Buy a box and add a selection of fruity blends.

• Coffee: Support NZ blends. It wasn’t that long ago that people mocked our mochas but no more. Europeans are blown away with how good our coffee is these days and we have some top blenders. 

• Chocolate: Lindt or go Kiwi and buy Whittaker’s. Make chef Ben Mills’ superb chocolate desserts and pack with instructions for reheating… dessert in a flash.