Epicurean delights that satisfy all taste buds

Installment 1 of the female-founded holiday gift guide series

This post officially kicks off my series of 4 holiday gift guides filled exclusively with female-founded picks. I genuinely hope you enjoy discovering the brands I’ve curated just for you and are able to consciously give at least one gift this season that supports women entrepreneurs.

Gifting epicurean delights is an easy way to ensure your gesture will certainly be consumed. I often find that friends and family are hesitant to splurge on a gourmet bite for themselves, so these are sure to be a treat.

Brightland Olive Oil - founded by Aishwarya Iyer in 2018. Listen to the inspiring founder interview with Hillary Kerr on Second Life to learn more. The focus of Brightland has been to reinvigorate the olive and agricultural industries of California by supporting local makers and emphasizing fresh, high-quality products. My husband and I are huge fans of Brightland’s products. We were fortunate enough to receive two bottles last year and excitedly conducted the taste comparison test of Brightland vs. the elevated options at our local gourmet grocers. Brightland won hands down and it is the consistent drizzle we add to recipes when we want to really taste the fresh flavor. We’re always sure to have this stocked. This set of 2 oils, 1 balsamic vinegar, and 1 champagne vinegar is great for gifting. The champagne vinegar in particular is amazing on salads. If you want to go a bit bigger, the bestsellers capsule is perfect.

Levain Bakery Cookies - founded by Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald in 1995. The friends were competitive swimmers and triathletes who first opened a bakery for bread and then ventured into cookies once their “test” ultimate chocolate chip walnut cookie was a hit. These treats have since become famous nationwide with lines winding down the block at their expanding list of locations. Their fall cookie assortment is particularly mouth-watering. This gift is an instant pleaser.

Botanica - founded by Emily Feiffer and Heather Sperling in 2017. My love for Botanica runs deep as evidence by this post. Anytime we’ve brought family and friends to the restaurant, they rave about their experience for years to come. For those not in LA, Botanica posts recipes in their journal online, and the market that occupies the front of the restaurant space ships nationally. The Women-Made Bounty Box is a great gifting option, as is their Botanica Pantry Box.

Omsom - founded by sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham in 2018. For those who love gourmet flavors but find themselves in a time crunch for lunch or dinner, the brand’s Try ‘Em All Set may be just the solution. The diverse combination of noodles and sauce packets create a multitude of meals that will excite your taste buds and promise to never feel boring or repetitive. Within the sets section of their website, they include different sampler options and account for various dietary restrictions.

Here Here Market Female Founders Food Collection Gift Basket - founded by Disha Gulati in 2019; what originally started as an online food marketplace for restaurants ultimately pivoted into a consumer-facing platform. The Female Founders basket includes 8 items all created by notable women culinary leaders. From pasta to granola to jam, there’s something in here for everyone.

Supernatural - founded by Carmel Hagen in 2015. For those who love holiday baking, but cringe at the unfortunate ingredients (many of which were recently banned in the state of CA) then Supernatural is for you. The Deluxe Christmas Gingerbread Kit, Dye-Free Christmas Cookie Kit, and the more general Big Holiday Baking Bundle - great for those who like to make cookies from scratch - are sure winners.

Clevr - founded by Hannah Mendoza in 2016. Clevr’s superfood latte mixes were born from Hannah’s small scale adaptogenic coffee bar that started on the coast in California. As the brand has scaled, it has been steadfast in remaining true to its core values. The Tasting Flight gift set includes 4 of their most popular latte blends, plus a scoop and frother. Oprah is a big fan, so with her stamp of approval you can’t go wrong.

Ghia - founded by Melanie Masarin in 2019, launching right before the pandemic. Ghia is our non-alcoholic aperitif of choice. We’ve tried every flavor and are especially fans of Ginger, though you really can’t go wrong. The flavor is intentionally a bit bitter, inspired by the spritzes you order in Italy or the South of France. The bottle of the Aperitif is a beautiful gifting option. Of all the non-alcoholic drink choices on the market, this one has the lowest amount of sugar and the white riesling grape and yuzu base paired with the mix of herbs is just lovely.

Salad Freak cookbook - I previously featured Jess Damuck’s recipes back in August after I spent most of the summer flipping through the inspiring pages before a trip to the grocery store. Even if I’m not following a recipe to a tee, the book remains a source for fresh ideas. When it comes to winter, it’s easy to reach for heavier comfort foods, but Jess’ recipes are so delicious that they bring a level of comfort through their dynamic flavor - despite leaning toward produce.

Moon Juice - founded by Amanda Chantal Bacon in 2011. While Moon Juice’s products fit more of the wellness category vs. gourmet bites and sips, if you haven’t tried their adaptogenic hot chocolate mix, which is referred to as Cosmic Cocoa, then you’re missing out. This mix is delicious and healthy, unlike so many options on the market that are packed with sugar. The ingredients provide a mid-day pick me up. Pair with a holiday movie and scented candle when gifting - and you can even incorporate these gourmet marshmallows created by Alexx Shuman. My other Moon Juice favorite is the Magnesi-Om, which I drink before bed - especially after days that have been more stressful.

Happy gifting - to others, or to yourself.

Do you have additional female-founded nibbles and sips you’d like to share? Please comment below.

x jz

Images | 1 | @b.g.mckay, styled by me | 2 | Brightland | 3 | Levain | 4 | Botanica | 5 | Omsom | 6 | Here Here | 7 | Supernatural | 8 | Clevr | 9 | Ghia | 10 | Amazon | 11 | Moon Juice

This post contains 1 Amazon affiliate link. Outside of this link, I do not get paid for nor make money off of this post. All opinions are my own.