This Needs Hot Sauce 2024 Gift Guide

We're back with gifts for your people and yourself

Nov 16, 2024

It’s time (sung in the key of Mariah Carey)!! Gift guides have evolved so much since I first shared mine in 2020 and start earlier every year. I got this one out as soon as I could (November has been a lot) and I hope it’s helpful. My north star with these guides is to share gifts I’ve vetted personally with a bias towards small businesses (I collect items for inclusion all year). I also got some A+ suggestions from friends with very good taste:

Elissa Suh

, Cristina Suarez Krumsick, Lissette Calviero,

Eden

, and

Chrissy Hennessey

(thank you so much for being part of the gift guide).

This is your space to find gifts for your loved ones and for yourself for all sorts of occasions, traditional or not. A few reminders worth repeating: you should not go into debt to buy gifts, secondhand, local, and homemade gifts are wonderful though hard to link, and a sincere note makes every gift better. Shopping does not fix everything, but it’s very satisfying to gift a well chosen token of your love.

How it works:

I don’t recommend anything sight unseen. That is very important to me and will always be the case. Make sure to click “View Entire Message” to see the whole thing or open in your browser.

This Needs Hot Sauce is a reader-supported publication. To receive more recommendations all year and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

None of these are affiliate links, I’ve disclosed if anyone is a client, and prices are accurate at the time of publication. Lots of these items will probably go on sale at some point. If you find the guide helpful, please tap the heart icon at the top or share it with a friend! It helps a lot. Happy gifting and let me know what you’re buying in the comments or on Instagram!

Now, let’s dive in.

Food/Kitchen/Home:

Vintage Candleholders (starts at $38) and taper candles ($8) from Golden Rule Gallery: I found Golden Rule Gallery last year while trying to track down a sold out Baggu for my sister (remember their astrology collection?). Golden Rule Gallery, a store in Minnesot,a had it in stock alongside a great collection of jewelry, homegoods and vintage stuff. I recommend gifting their candleholders alongside tapers and have to shout out their customer service—when I ordered a candleholder for Tilden, they kindly emailed me to let me know that the candles I had ordered with it were the wrong size and swapped them seamlessly. You can easily go down a candle rabbithole here and I recommend it.

Fiore Savory Gift Set ($30): I visited Fiore in Bar Harbor with Tilden and her aunt and it was full of great gifts and fancy pantry items—the owners have direct relationships with producers and have been importing the best since 2009. The set includes Basil Olive Oil, Herbs de Provence Olive Oil, a Single Varietal EVOO, Balsamic of Modena I.G.P., and Siracusa Lemon White Balsamic and it is such a great host gift (pair it with some local sourdough or a baguette). The flavored balsamics they sell are really nice—the fig one is delicious with cheese. Consumables are the way with host gifts!

Moon Juice Magnesi-OM ($49): We had drinks with Natalie and Andy in August and they were raving about this supplement and the sleep it provided (this is not medical advice). I ordered a mixed flavor pack and really like it for those nights you need a good night’s sleep. Take it about an hour before you get into bed and you’ll feel more relaxed and tired, primed for a solid sleep—unlike a sleeping pill, it doesn’t make you comatose or give you weird dreams. The blue lemon is my favorite flavor and you can get a big jar instead of the packets if you prefer.

The Mug from East Fork Pottery ($44) : East Fork Pottery was on last year’s gift guide but it earned a repeat spot since 1) I use their mugs daily and 2) Shopping there is a great way to support Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene (5% of all sales go to relief efforts) and you can also donate directly on their site. The mug is the perfect size, holds up well in the dishwasher, and feels really good in your hand.

Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender ($49.95): My mom got me an older model of this immersion blender at an estate sale and it works perfectly. I’m a gadget skeptic but I’ve really fallen for this one—it allowed me to make near daily smoothies in the summer and so many quick sauces. And of course, she’s ready for soup season. I was always someone who hesitated to make a recipe if it called for a blender or food processer and this has changed me.

An Office Water Bottle: Simple Modern 24 oz Stainless Steel Classic Tumbler ($21.99) or Brumate Era Tumbler 30 oz ($39.99): This January, I bought myself an office water bottle and it’s been a game changer. I leave it in the fridge and can hydrate throughout the day without lugging water on my walking commute. I can’t recommend this enough. My current bottle is the Simple Modern Tumbler (mine is black and my coworker, Angela has a lavender one) and I really like it. It’s easy to clean and a great size. The only drawback is that it’s not leakproof for travel, which has me drawn to the Brumate Tumbler, which Isa swears by (I’ve seen her use it on trains, in parks, and generally on the go and it will be my next water bottle purchase).

DS and Durga Spirit Lamp Candle ($70): I know this is a very expensive candle but it’s a gift (Oset gave it to me for my birthday and she has immaculate taste)! So far, it has a 100% success rate of people asking “What’s that candle? It smells so good” when they come over. The ginger and musk notes make it perfect for cooler weather and it burns very evenly.

Select Aperitif ($36) & Ghia’s Le Fizz ($20/bottle): I went to a media dinner with Amaro Montenegro in February and we got to take home a gift bag with Select Apertif, which became my go to for spritzes all summer long (ask if a bar has it, a lot do). It’s less sweet than Aperol, but hits a lot of the same notes and is from Venice (if you ever see a Venetian spritz on a menu, this is what’s in it). On the NA front, I love Ghia (client) and their latest, Le Fizz is delicious sipped next to a fireplace (or a cheesy holiday movie). I brought it to a dinner party recently and we all drank it between bottles of natural wine, where it fit in seamlessly and looked great to boot. Throw in a very cute bottle opener and you have a great gift!

Dusen Dusen Martine Stripe Bathrobe ($138): Most pajamas are ugly or just very boring (I don’t want to wear pastels at any time, sleeping or not). This means I mostly wear old oversized tshirts to sleep, which is not the most chic. However, one bright spot in the sleep/leisure landscape is Dusen Dusen. I stayed at the Penny Hotel for a few days this year and lived in their Dusen Dusen bathrobe. It wasn’t too hot, it was interesting to look at and I didn’t want to take it off. Also a plus, this bathrobe actually comes in a wide range of sizes instead of being one size fits most, which is not a thing.

Prepared Hero Fire Blanket ($29.99): My mom gifted my sister and I these blankets and while I have thankfully not had to use it, I feel glad to have it below my sink. The blankets are great for kitchen fires, resusable, and folds up small. It’s a great gift for anyone who has recently moved or anyone with anxiety.

Quince Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket ($149.50): This year, the podcast ads got me and I ordered some things from Quince. There have been hits (navy linen pajamas and fun earrings) and misses, like a dress that gave prairie and a shirt that pilled way too quickly. Oset introduced me to their home stuff and this blanket is incredible. I rarely nap and almost never fall asleep on the couch but I took a three hour nap under this blanket recently. It’s perfect for the winter and for soothing anxious thoughts.

Personal Care/Fashion:

Experiment World Super Saturated Serum ($28): When it gets cold out, it’s time to step up the skincare. I got a facial at Silver Mirror in September and my esthetician kindly said I needed to hydrate my skin a lot more. After a bit of research, I chose this serum and I love it. Experiment World has fun futuristic branding (I also have their reusable face mask that I got in a gift bag, but I honestly almost never use it) and the real part that matters is that my skin felt and looked more hydrated after just a few days. They sell refills too, which is the way of the future.

Alo Muse Hoodie ($108 and Sweatpants ($108): Amy calls this sweatsuit her flight suit because it is the perfect thing to wear on a plane. I got it in January and cannot count how many times I’ve worn it since. It’s extremely comfortable—the hoodie is cropped and looks good with everything and it washes well so you can wear it all the time. I have the navy blue, which is currently 30% off, so buy this on sale and don’t look back. I can’t recommend it enough and always get compliments for wearing what feels like pajamas in public.

Gao Hand Refresher ($10): I picked this up at Credo before heading to germ filled Expo West and have repurchased it multiple times since (they have a refill option). It smells so good and does not dry out your skin, what more do you need? This would be a great gift for coworkers alongside baked goods or a giftcard to the local coffeeshop.

SOMO Sleep Fitness Mask in Luxe ($60): Lissette recommended this mask last year and it went right on my personal list. A year later, I can confirm it’s worth the hype. It’s slightly weighted so you get some light acupressure as you fall asleep and so comfortable. It also comes with a nice bag for traveling or washing. I’ve been sleeping in an eye mask since college and have never had brand loyalty until now.

Plucky Lock Necklace from ille Lan ($115): I bought a very similar necklace (that’s no longer in stock) at Wolf and Badger as a birthday present for myself and I have worn it so many times since. It’s a statement piece for girls who mostly wear neutrals and can make a very simple outfit a bit more special. Especially during sweater season, a chunky interesting necklace adds the perfect spark of fun. ille Lan is a Korean brand that makes such interesting and reasonably priced stuff—no one I follow follows them on Instagram so consider this a hot tip.

Jeffery Campbell Sherpal Bootie in Brown ($189.50): I find online shopping for shoes so difficult. I have narrow feet and there’s nothing better than trying something on in person. With that in mind, I took myself to Nordstrom one Saturday with a goal of finding fall boots. I succeeded and found these, which garner compliments from strangers every time I wear them (someone stopped me at the Sally Rooney book party to ask where they were from). Despite the heel, they’re pretty comfortable and work with pants or dresses (I wouldn’t walk 10K steps in them but you can def do 6K). Size up: I’m usually a 7.5 and I took an 8. And always order shoes from Nordstrom because their return policy is the best.

Aesop Goodies (starts at $19): I still get excited every time I go into a bathroom and see Aesop hand soap (unless I can tell that it’s been refilled with something pink), so I recommend the hand wash (get this one, which is slightly exfoliating). A less popular Aesop product is their travel body wash and hand balm, which make travel so nice. Really fancy hotels have good toiletries but many good to nice hotels have bad toiletries or very small sizes! Don’t chance it and come prepared (this kit has body wash, balm, shampoo and conditioner). You can order Aesop online, but I like going to the store because sometimes they will give you free samples and you can wash your hands at the big fancy sink.

Reading Material:

Order these from a local bookstore or Bookshop.org!

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang ($18.99): Two people from the same hometown wind up as colleagues in a writers room together (and they have a lot of baggage, check triggers). I loved this romance with depth, set between LA and the New Jersey Suburbs, and the debut author has written the screenplays for several Emily Henry adaptations, so she’s a pro.

What to Cook When You Don’t feel like Cooking by Caroline Chambers ($35): This book’s appearance here will surprise no one. Since I got my copy in August, I have cooked so many recipes, all of which have turned out. Caroline is a mom of three (and substack queen, she writes

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking

) and her recipes live up to their promise: they’re fast (there’s a chapter with 15 minute recipes), they’re complete meals, and they don’t have unnecessary steps. Some favorite recipes so far: Melty Mexican Cauliflower, Dilly Chopped Salad (you use potato chips as croutons), and Creamless Tomato soup with honey cheese toasts.

Tenderheart: A Cookbook about Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds by Hetty Lui McKinnon ($40): I got my own copy of this after gifting it a few times and have cooked from it so much. It’s a hefty vegetarian cookbook divided by vegetable and it’s gorgeous—Hetty did the photography as well as the recipes (she also contributes to NYT Cooking and her recipes work). Some favorites: spicy crispy potato tacos, cauliflower pasta salad (that I make with broccoli), and the kale and orzo skillet.

Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten ($34): Seeing Ina Garten on her book tour was worth the trip to Philly, which was also a great excuse to see friends. Her memoir is more honest than most and covers her childhood, meeting Jeffrey and building multiple businesses. I love her frankness and creativity and while I’m reading this in print, I’ve also heard great things about the audio, which Ina reads. The further I get into this book, the more I think about Young and Restless, Mattie Kahn’s book from last year’s gift guide, which talked about girls having dreams for their future beyond marriage, which is something that took Ina some time to do. Autonomy is such a gift.

Before I Let Go ($18.99) and This Could be Us ($17.99) by Kennedy Ryan: Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland Series is set in Atlanta. It follows a trio of friends through family struggles, career twists and turns and of course, romance. They’re quite steamy, rooted in real issues (like mental health struggles, racism, illness), and impossible to put down. Two out of the three books are out now and the next one comes out in the spring. These would be super fun to read in a book club or alongside friends.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong ($29) : I love a multigenerational novel and this one was so satisfying to read. It follows a young women working in media during Y2K and 9/11, her son growing up in the Pacific Northwest in the 2020s, and her mother growing up in China as Mao rises to power. They all cope with different things and yet are more similar than they think. I hope HBO makes this a mini series asap and in the meantime, I’m casting it in my head. I have Eric Dane in mind for one of the characters.

Between Two Moons by Aisha Abdel Gawad ($17): This novel follows two Egyptian American sisters living in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in the years following 9/11. Told over one Ramadan after high school graduation, the sisters navigate coming of age, Islamophobia, family dynamics, with so much love and tension. It’s a book that feels remarkably relevant to this current moment and it’s a great story—I always love reading about sibling dynamics.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles ($18): I read this back list book on vacation in Jamaica (thanks for lending it to me, Alyssa) and enjoyed it so much. It’s a tale of a girl from Brooklyn who meets a wealthy man on the last night of 1937. There are serious Gatsby vibes here and every character is on a journey to reinvent themselves, in true or more embellished ways. There are cinematic party scenes and so many martinis.

Experiences:

Print Your Own Stationery Workshop at Bowne & Co ($100): I took this class in October and it was one of the most interesting things I did all year. You learn about the history of printing in New York City and make a completely custom set of stationery, with handset type, hand mixed ink, etc. I later found out from my grandma that my grandpa used to work with Bowne Print Co. as a young lawyer working on new issues of stocks, which involved many late nights at the press. Very full circle! The classes are small (there’s a cap of 6) and the instructor is beyond knowledgable—they’re offered once a month so plan ahead.

Tickets: The best money I spent this year was on experiences, from the Eras tour to flights. There’s no better gift than texting someone and saying I’m getting tickets to [something you love], want to come? I’ve battled Ticketmaster (and lost), set alarms to buy tickets to the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, traveled to Philly to see Ina Garten and I would do it all again. Tickets can be arena tours or they can be for your favorite podcast, comedian or cookbook author. Going to things and getting out of the house is life affimring.

Gift Cards to Your Local: There are many downsides to social media but one upside is that it’s easier than ever to find out your friends’ favorite spots, even when you don’t live in the same city. I’ve shopped a lot of wedding and baby registries over the past few years and the one thing I feel okay going off registry with is a giftcard to spot I know someone loves—it will get used. For a wedding gift, it’s a promise of future date nights and for a family welcoming a baby, it’s an excuse to get out of the house and get some coffee and a treat during those newborn days.

Guest Recs:

Katie Stone, wellness + beauty brand consultant, freelance writer, and creator of

Plant Based

: I think more people need to be shopping at CAP Beauty (for so many reasons), and I think a DIY bundle of their best picks is the perfect gift. Their CAPnola is hands down the best granola I've ever had — it's not too sweet, and somehow chunky and flaky at the same time. SO GOOD. Throw in their Pancake Mix, the Matcha, and maybe even the Pink Mountain Salt or the Coconut Butter (see what I mean by DIY?) and you have a delightful care package of a gift.

Andrea Aliseda, Food and culture and recipe developer, and author of forthcoming Mexican plant-based cookbook set to release in spring 2025!: This is a high ticket gift pick, but as I was recently gifted one and felt immensely giddy receiving it, I feel compelled to pass it on! The Staub Cocotte dutch oven is the new crowning piece of my cookery collection, and the cherry on (my stove) top––especially given its beautiful deep cherry color. A gorgeously crafted dutch oven is such a sweet gift, made personalized by the choice of color, and ornamental but entirely practical (such a workhorse, actually!). Not to mention, it's perfect for fall and wintertime recipes, thus super timely for the food-obsessed person in your life this holiday season. Of course, it doesn't have to be a Staub –– though they're currently on sale at the time of writing this at Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, and Crate and Barrel –– but it is certainly sure to be a show-stopping way to say "I love you"!

Eden Seiferheld, Urban explorer, flavor seeker, and storyteller—uncovering NYC’s stories, one adventure at a time at

Big City, Little Friend

: I don't like having too many things (I live in a tiny NYC apartment, after all) so I really enjoy gifting people experiences - like a walking tour around NYC. It's a great way to spend time with your friends and loved ones and I guarantee that you'll learn something cool or end up in a new corner of the city worth exploring. If you can, try taking a tour at a non-peak time; some of my best tour experiences were when I was the youngest by at least 40 years and the older attendees shared fascinating firsthand anecdotes. I once attended a tour of World's Fair relics in Corona Park and one person was able to share their experience actually *attending* the 1964 fair as a kid! Some of my favorite tour providers are MAS NYC, Untapped NYC, and Keith Taillon of Keith York City.

Lissette Calveiro, Content Creator, Speaker and Founder of Influence With Impact: I love gifting plants as it’s something universally loved, but this is a special kind — herbs, veggies, flowers and more grown right inside your home with the touch of a button! The Click & Grow indoor gardens are super easy to use and cares for itself which is perfect for even the least experienced grower. You just add water to the reservoir and their biodegradable pods which already come with the nutrients needed to grow what’s on the label. It’s a meaningful gift that will keep on giving year round, and this one is under $100 which makes for a special gift without totally breaking the bank.

Lindsey Stanberry, Founder of

The Purse

, a newsletter about women and money: This year, I'm all about gifts that bring people together, get us off our phones, and give us something to do other than worry about the state of the world. The game NOTTA WORD checks all those boxes. It was created by my brilliant friend Denise, and it's fun and funny. It's really nice to gather with friends and do something creative and silly.

Elissa Suh, film critic and culture writer, and author of

MOVIEPUDDING

: Gift vintage animal shaped salt cellars from Big Night, plus a tiny tin of of Jacobsen's sea salt. The best gifts are the ones you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself. This is equal parts practical and impractical, a beautiful nice-to-have. A Jacobsen gift-bundle alone is just as exciting, too.

Cristina Suarez Krumsick, Mama to Matias, Delilah & Isetta: A Counterpart charger! Disclaimer: This is a new client of ours but I find myself thinking of it for every person I need to gift who is impossible to gift (i.e. tween nieces and mother in law!). They are soft to touch, easy on the eyes universal chargers you'll actually be proud to display vs. hide before guests come over. Fits in the palm of your hand (so great for travel) and visually reminiscent of cinnamon pinwheel :) The retractable cord has a very satisfying ASMR click working for it + it comes in such fun colors. My favorite is the Heaven, a baby blue "inspired by the otherworldliness of the Internet & the Windows backgrounds that marked the early aughts and are branded in our minds forever." Love the idea of everyday necessities being not only cute, but joyful and maybe even a lil goofy.

Irina Groushevaia, Very online food and drink guy: Okay, listen up decaf baddies or anyone who needs an afternoon pick-me up and can't handle caffeine after 11am, this naturally caffeine-free Rooibos Masala Chai is so delicious and addictive. It comes in a powder that you can immediately mix with hot or cold water and milk. It's fragrant, comforting and so delicious. It's the perfect stocking stuffer or holiday gift alongside a seasonal mug. 'Tis the season!

Chrissy Hennessey, writer

So Relatable

, snacker extraordinaire: If you're looking for a unique, off-the-wall gift that keeps on giving, I recommend a Zine-O-Matic subscription. Each month, your lucky giftee will receive a carefully curated sleeve of wild and wonderful zines, handmade, handcrafted, and handpicked for their enjoyment. (I signed up a few months ago and have found some real gems.) This is a great gift for quirky artists, DIY enthusiasts, anti-capitalists, and anyone who appreciates the weirder side of life. (Ed. note: Chrissy also wrote a Zine this year and it’s great).

Abena Anim-Somuah, Writer Your Friend in Food: The Art of Simple Food II by Alice Waters is one of my favourite books to gift friends, whether they are beginners in the kitchen or serious home cooks. Alice Waters does a masterful job of showcasing how easy it is to enjoy vegetables throughout the year. It's more than a cookbook, there are recipes, stories about how she fell in love with gardening, and notes of inspiration on how to feed yourself through the seasons. It's one of those gifts that will be treasured for a lifetime.

If you made it this far, you’re a real one! Thank you for reading this year’s gift guide! Happy shopping and remember to heart this, share it with a friend, and tell me what you’re buying over on Instagram.

xo, Abigail

Need more ideas (somehow)? I’ve got so many ideas below!