Food kits to one-up the usual Christmas food basket

You might have heard this before, but food is a fail-safe gift idea. At this point, you probably have a trusty supplier for your annual hamper gift guide, and as much as we love food baskets with Toblerone and macaroni, there’s just something extra exciting about all the food kits that popped up during the quarantine.

Yes, when it comes to these do-it-yourself boxes, you’re not just giving food. You’re giving an experience. 

Bad Bowl Mongolian Rice Kit

Instagram @bad.bowl

Mongolian rice bowls are always mouthwatering, and you can easily make your own thanks to Chef Mikel Zaguirre’s Bad Bowl, which, since the quarantine, has been churning out giant boxes full of all the good things you need to make the perfect rice bowl.

Each pack comes with a range of meats (unless you get the no-meat variety), vegetables, sauces, oils, and even rice. There are instructions as well as a QR code to assist you in the kitchen, but it’s only as difficult as throwing stuff into a (giant) pan. Each box feeds about two to three. 

Go! Salads Smoothies Kit

gosalads.ph

A toast to health after 2020! Go! Salads’ entire smoothie line is available in kit form, the perfect gift for health buffs, veggie lovers—and generally, anyone who appreciates a good, refreshing drink.

Each kit comes with leafy greens, soy milk, and other ingredients to complete the experience. Making your own green smoothie is as easy as three steps—the last one being “enjoy!”

Test Kitchen Ribeye Kit

For order call/text +639772885751

The appeal of restaurants like Test Kitchen was the chef experience: Chef Josh Boutwood right in front of you, discussing the ingredients, the meal, life. This is hardly the case.

Here, you get a QR code that links to a video featuring the talented chef talking about how best to replicate the feeling of being in a restaurant back at home and let you marvel at how you can be Boutwood-esque for the few minutes you’ll take reheating his dishes. The ribeye kit, which comes vacuum-packed creamed spinach and mashed potato, is an easy favorite, but there’s also pork neck steak and black truffle roast chicken. Definitely a must for Zoom Christmas gatherings.

Ramen Ron Ramen Kit

Instagram @ramenron.ph

Gone are the days when ramen places would turn up their noses at takeout or, heaven forbid, delivery. The OG ramen master in the Philippines Tamura-san is back and this time, he has partnered with Margarita and Amado Forés to bring his equally legendary ramen to your homes via a complete kit.

Available are miso chasu, shoyu chasu, and the revered tantanmen. 

Bar Pinxtos Tapas Kit

Instagram @barpintxos

Truly an ideal gift, Bar Pintxos’ box for one is the perfect Zoom party token. If you use your imagination just right, it’ll almost be like you’re all in one big tapas party. Each kit includes a 300-ml bottle of sangria, pan con tomate, tortilla with chorizo, 90 grams of Tierra cold cuts, a jar of jamon aioli, and bread — all for P750.

Tsuke-Men

Instagram @tsukemenph

Here’s another cool ramen kit to give. Tsuke-Men’s dipping ramen will be a surefire hit. There are so many elements—sheets of laver, ramen noodles, broth, barbecued pork, narutomaki—but it’s surprisingly easy to assemble. Going off carbs? A DIY chicken karaage kit is also available (and just as easy!). 

Shake Shack Burger Kit

Instagram @shakeshackph

Shake Shack at home? That is always a good idea. While you can get ShackBurgers for delivery, there’s no doubt that a freshly cooked one is always better. This burger kit is a comprehensive box, which includes greens, cheeses, buns, and sauces. 

Bad Bird Umami Fried Chicken Kit

Instagram: @bitebadbird

Who doesn’t love this sinful fried chicken? From marveling at the assembly line in the restaurant, you can now make this beloved fried chicken at home. Each kit comes with six pieces of fried chicken plus the sauce plus those deliciously addictive powders they throw on top. Many items from Bad Bird’s menu are actually available for DIY-ing at home, including the crispy wings, torched corn, honey butter sweet potato, and gravy.

Pho 24

Instagram: @pho24philippines

No one to hug you this Christmas season? A nice bowl of warm pho will fill the hole in your heart. Pho 24 is guaranteeing you get only the best and freshest pho with their DIY kits.

It’s so convenient to make, that we daresay it’s akin to cooking instant noodles. Each box comes with a ready broth, noodles, beef, sriracha and soy sauces, lime, and herbs. 

Meat Depot

Instagram @meatdepotph

A classic steak meal never fails, whether it’s a Saturday night or Christmas dinner. This is what Meat Depot addresses in their setup of meat (a variety of pre-rubbed cuts are available), mashed potatoes, and a corresponding sauce.

For the ultimate carnivore, Meat Depot even has curated packs of their various products, including sets for shabu-shabu or samgyeopsal.

Raging Bull Burgers’ Trufflemaker DIY Kit

www.ragingburgers-fort.com

Cited by many as one of the top burger joints in Metro Manila, Shangri-La at the Fort’s Raging Bull makes it easy to enjoy their delicious burgers via a kit. More than that, however, the luxury hotel manages to encapsulate its lifestyle in a box: the Trufflemaker DIY Kit comes with the appropriately opulent burger plus a bottle of Moët.

Your Local’s Home Bun Kit

Instagram @yourlocalph

These babies may look simple, but they’re pretty delicious and absolutely filling. Your Local gives you the option of two home kits: the iconic Beef Rendang Buns (with beef rendang filling, smoked aioli, tonkatsu sauce, pickled cucumbers, cilantro, togarashi, sesame seeds) and Chili Crab Buns (chili crab filling, leeks, cucumber, cilantro). Both come with four mantou buns and the required spices and accouterments.

Babu’s Take Home Kit

Instagram @babu_ph

Available in Laksa, Seafood Laksa, or Satay, give the explosive flavors of Babu to family and friends this Christmas. Make sure to order their signature iced teas, while you’re at it, in case their taste buds need a cool down. 

Ding Tai Fung’s Cook-to-Eat Holiday Bundles

www. dtfmomentfood.com

Replicate the Michelin-starred talents of Din Tai Fung. Whether the xlb is a gift for yourself or for your closest friends, these bundles come with frozen versions of the signature pork steamed buns, crispy beef strips, shrimp and pork wontons, and the chocolate lava xiao long bao. Choose your own Din Tai Fung adventure from six types of bundles.

Cookielicous Ginger Bread Kit

Instagram @cookielicious.ph

Who says kids can’t enjoy a good DIY food kit? This P1,200 bundle will make the holidays extra festive. Each pack contains sheets of gingerbread (already cut to size and primed for assembly), candy canes, icing bags, and sprinkles. It also comes with a box (to safely house your delicious architecture) as well as video instructions. – Rappler.com