Gifts for Pasta Girlfriends, 2024 Edition

24 items for the cooks, dinner party hosts, and pasta enthusiasts

Dec 10, 2024

I was halfway through writing an “under $25” gift guide over the weekend when I started to see a theme: Most of my suggestions were edible, or edible-adjacent. With the exception of a pair of socks or a great lip balm here and there, the assortment was looking like a shopping list for a pasta dinner—a really good one, mind you—so I decided to shift gears and lean all the way in.

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Before I get into it, I should admit that I’m sort of lukewarm when it comes to cutesy, novelty pasta-shaped stuff for my own home. It’s ironic because I run an entire pasta-themed Instagram account, but I don’t know what to tell you; aside from something that’s best when corny, like an ornament or a magnet, you’re probably not going to find novelty items in my house or on my body. (It’s these types of things that make me famously difficult to shop for, and for this I apologize to my friends and family.) Substack said my gift guides are best for “stylish Amazonphobes” in their newsletter last week, which I take as a massive compliment, and I’m holding myself to that standard.

Below, 24 items for the home cook, your friend who always hosts, or your favorite person to share a single noodle with.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Galantino, $62 — There are a lot of wonderful olive oils out there, but this one is my favorite to gift thanks to its pretty ceramic vessel. For $62 you’re not only giving someone olive oil made from centuries-old olive groves in Puglia but also a hand-painted vase.
Red Carnations Napkin Set, Block Shop, $70 for 4 — Some of my favorite table linens are from Block Shop, an LA-based brand known for their block printing. If you’re in LA, stop into their stunning store in Atwater Village—they just released pajamas and they’re so, so cute.
Stainless Steel Pasta Plate, Service Projects, $60 for 2 — I’ve never really considered stainless steel for dinnerware, but somehow this photo of pasta looks so appealing on that shiny reflective surface and now I’m sold. I think they’d be pretty styled on sort of fussy linens, like Battenburg lace placemats.
A Diary of Culinary Episodes by Christoph Radl, Cabana, $65 — In addition to their magazine, Cabana has been publishing some interesting books lately, including this one by their creative director Christoph Radl. The food is all styled on Ginori tableware and the photography is gorgeous, but the book also promises to be useful, focusing on recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. (I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, but if you have a friend going to Milan or London soon, another great gift would be one of Cabana’s city guides, which they make in partnership with Ralph Lauren. I have them both and they’re great.)
Spaghetti Spoon, Sabre Paris, $61 — The ultimate tool in the pasta lover’s kit: the spaghetti spoon. Everyone has one of these things, but not everyone has one this beautiful. (Mine is black plastic and is probably slowly poisoning me.)
Tomato Candle, Carrière Frères, $69 — Some of my favorite scents ever are from Carrière Frères, a French brand known for their layered, thoughtful scents. I love their spearmint candle, too.

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Minimaliste Duo Placemat, Oeuvres Sensibles, 136€ — I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a two-person placemat like this, and I think it’s really clever!
Mini Bobbin Mill, Addison Ross, $57 — The Addison Ross Bobbin Mill comes in a million colors, making it a fun but useful thing for your favorite home cook to unwrap.
Fish Place Cards, Il Papiro, 33€ for 24 — As a host myself, I’ve found that I can never have too many place cards, thank you notes, or taper candles. These place cards by Italian papermaker Il Papiro are perfect for your next seafood pasta night.
A Pasta Club Subscription, Pasta Girlfriend x Bucatini, $130 for 3 months — I couldn’t not plug myself, right? I’ve partnered with Bucatini (again!) to host another round of Pasta Club, our 3-month subscription program that delivers monthly pasta to your doorstep. It’s not a recurring thing so you won’t get stuck in the club for too long, but it makes for a pleasant surprise once the holidays are over. And you can gift it to someone else!
Tomato Tomahto Puzzle, Piecework Puzzles, $40 — One area I do love a novelty moment: puzzles. Piecework makes my favorite thanks to their maximally styled photography and juicy color palettes.
Extra Long Spaghetti, Big Night, $15 — Extra long spaghetti is not something I’d buy myself, but I’d be absolutely delighted to receive some as a gift.

Sottsass Parmesan Cheese Cellar, Houses & Parties, $216 — For the very serious pasta girlfriend in your life—one who appreciates good design—might I suggest a parmesan server designed by the iconic Ettore Sottsass? If I ever get married (undecided) this will be at the top of my registry.
Farfalle Bag Charm, Panache, $39 — I’m not a bag charm girl myself (seriously, I’m no fun) but I do love this little farfalle charm and its freshwater pearl accoutrement. It says not to use it as a keychain but… I’d use it as a keychain.
Raffia Crochet Placemat, House of Quintana, $17 — House of Quintana is a home brand from the founders of Quintana Partners, a Spain-based interior design firm known for their beautiful hospitality projects. I love these sort-of-misshapen raffia placemats—they’d bring a nice texture to the table and would look cool layered over a patterned tablecloth.
Pasta Sampler Tin, Rubirosa, $49 — My grandparents always seemed to have one of those popcorn samplers at their house, so this tin makes me a bit nostalgic. It’s a perfectly executed concept.
Box Basket, +COOP, $75 — Woven market totes are a dime a dozen out there, but I really love the shape of this tall one, which is perfect for picking up dried spaghetti and a bouquet of flowers from the market.
Stainless Steel Cheese Grater, Nickey Kehoe, $40 — I am a staunch advocate of the microplane when it comes to grating parmesan cheese, but I wince every time a recipe calls for more than a quarter cup of it because it takes forever. Enter this rotary grater, the perfect little contraption for grating parm without developing carpal tunnel.

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Multi-Pocket Canvas Grocery Tote, CapaBunga, $75 — When I visualize my future, I see myself puttering around the farmers market each week with this tote on my shoulder. It has separate compartments for wine, eggs, and produce, and a perfect solve for cracked shells and bruised fruit. I think this would be a great gift for a mother-in-law.
LIGURIA: Recipes & Wanderings Along the Italian Riviera by Apartamento and Belmond, $65 — This book is as much coffee table book as it is cookbook—the recipes look delicious, but the photography is just as appetizing.
Marinara Red Blend, Wonderwerk, $27 — My pals at Wonderwerk made this red blend in 2023 and it’s one of my favorite wines to pop open with a box of pizza or red sauce pasta. I have one bottle left in my collection and I need to stock up before it goes away forever.
Recipe Card No. 1 Set, Jaymes Paper, $24 for 12 — I’m sure most of us don’t write all of our recipes down on physical paper anymore, but I love a classic recipe card when it comes to gifting. Include your grandma’s go-to tomato sauce recipe in a basket of ingredients or your favorite cocktail recipe with a bottle of something fun.
Footed Salt Cellar with Spoon, Match Pewter, $111 — The day I obtain an Ettore Sotsass parmesan container will also be the day I allow myself to buy a pewter salt cellar.
20 oz. Flaky Sea Salt Bucket, Maldon, $16 — In the meantime, I will continue to treat myself to giant buckets of Maldon at a time, which I go through surprisingly quickly.