Alex O’Neill’s Irish-made Christmas gift guide for the foodies in your life
Whether it be for the home cook or collector, the chef or tablescaper, Alex O’Neill has pulled together some of the best bits and pieces to treat a loved one to this Christmas. The best part? They’re all from Irish businesses, big and small.
Table linen
Conscious Convert is all about creating beautiful, eco-friendly home essentials that don’t leave a mark on the environment and the communities who produce them. Founder Zelia travelled the world with her career, and witnessed first-hand the effects of mass production and fast fashion on people and the environment. Determined to make better choices, she decided to create her own home linens that were people-kind, eco-kind and beautiful — and Conscious Convert was born. Each piece—from linen tableware and soft bed linens to cosy furnishings—is designed in Ireland, hypoallergenic, and sustainably crafted from start to finish.
Irish ceramics
This set is just so gorgeous, and a perfect present to go with a book, a chance to check in for a chat and a cuppa, and looks gorgeous on display or in your cupboard. My nana, who loved to read IMAGE, loved her blue china tea cups, so this reminds me of her. Ardmore Pottery & Gallery was opened in 1983 by Mary Lincoln, with a credit union loan and a prayer. From the beginning, the pottery studio was the heart of the place, and it’s there she designed the unique Ardmore Pottery range. She now runs the studio with her equally talented daughter Sarah.
Coffee cups
I am a divil for a good coffee cup. There are so many beautiful Irish ceramic houses making their own offerings, but these three are my favourites. Emily Dillon‘s pieces are simply stunningly beautiful. I don’t know why mugs make me feel this way, but they do. I got this mug as a gift last year, but it’s on my list again as my boyfriend dropped it just as he handed it over to me!
Gilly Bean Pottery is a Belfast based ceramics house founded by lockdown potter Gillian. These terrazzo cups are absolutely gorgeous, now you just need the matching floor. Potadoir is a family pottery brand based in Clare. They make bespoke and small batch handmade ceramics, and also teach pottery at morning and evening weekly classes and occasional weekend intensives.
Potadóir says it’s a “passion project that’s turned into a business, and we keep that energy at the heart of everything we do.” I am obsessed with these handless mugs inspired by the West of Ireland landscape.
For the home cook…
Graham Heterich’s debut book Bake took over when it came out, and I believe was one of the first hits of the Irish cookbook revolution of recent years, and his follow up Cook is going to continue this success. It’s all about the Irish home kitchen, the food we have always loved, and the food we’ve loved to discover.
I can’t make my Christmas list, without including my very own offering. My very first cookbook, Masarap, that I wrote with my partner in life and business Richie Castillo, came out late last year and I have it on very good authority that it is a fantastic Christmas gift. I myself covered my whole Christmas list last year with this little book of Filipino recipes, stories and history.
If you’re feeling extra generous, you can purchase a whole annual Blasta set, which comes with four books. There’s 12 to collect, with four new titles just announced in time for Christmas preorders! It really is the gift that keeps giving, as a book will arrive at your door every three months as they’re published.
We all love a good notebook, whether it’s writing out ideas, recipes or intrusive thoughts, you’ll never be sad to have another gorgeous little notebook. Badly Made Books is an Irish book factory and print studio in Cork city who specialise in producing high quality, low impact recycled paper notebooks.
Hampers, subscriptions, and advent calendars…
I became obsessed with Grá Chocolate’s hot chocolate last Christmas, and I aim to devote myself even more to the cause this Christmas season with their 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar, and the Limited Edition Gingerbread Hot Chocolate. This set is a perfect advent gift.
Olly’s Farm is an award-winning honey maker, based in Dublin. Founder Olly is a beekeeper and smallholder in the Dublin mountains producing some of the country’s best raw Irish honey. He does many seasonal varieties, and his bumper box hampers are great ways to try some of the best of the season. Perfect for Christmas veggies, cheese plates, hot drinks, or eating straight from the jar.
McNallys is a family farm based in North Dublin, and one of the most well known organic veg producers, providing their produce to many of the country’s best restaurants and cafés. My best friend got me their box last Christmas and what a treat it was. Their butterscotch sauce is to literally die for. My high cholesterol concurs.
Café Izz is a Palestinian owned restaurant in Cork. If you’re lucky enough to be close by, head in for some food and check out their shop in the corner of their restaurant. Their website has different bundles of Palestinian owned business, coffee and food products, and I love the Mouneh Box.
Roisin Culligan has been pulling incredible coffee since college, where she studied law, and not content with one incredible career path, she also founded Ireland’s first coffee subscription box in 2018. Brew Box has been growing ever since, and showcases independent, many female owned roasters and producers in its monthly subscription box, and is even doing a coffee advent calendar this year. This is an amazing gift for the home coffee expert, but also serves the nespresso pod lovers and filter coffee fiends.
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