A counterpoint to avoiding "basic" sauces like yum yum or things available at Target is that a new cook may not yet have a good enough feel for flavors/ingredients to confidently try random sauces without a recipe.

So 1) this is a recommendation for including a simple but good recipe for each basket component so the new cook can get some reps and 2) it's a great idea to include basics along w/exotics.

In such a basket, I'd include: fish sauce, XO sauce, rice wine vinegar, sriracha, oyster sauce, penzey's vietnamese cinnamon, red curry, toasted sesame oil.

Mala Market for the best Sichuan sauces, spices, pastes and condiments one can buy in this country.

Mambo sauce!

Chili crisp or gochujang, a high-end balsamic, some nice vanilla (or maybe even one of the Penzey's gift boxes), pomegranate molasses, squeeze tubes of white miso and tomato paste.

I agree that some really nice spices or spice blends might be more interesting than jarred sauces (unless they are small brand, local type stuff). I think you can throw in more stuff but maybe you have that covered? Can't have too many wooden spoons or spatulas, a nice apron and/or potholder, maybe some fancy dishsoap and hand lotion for by the sink. I think this is one of the best and easiest types of themed gift baskets to do!

Anonymous wrote:I would stay away from things that they could find in the grocery store and focus on local and/or unique sauces like from a farmer's market or international brands.

Try local brands like the Spice Suite which has a bunch of vinaigrettes, hot sauces, bbq sauces, etc

I agree with this. The Yum Yum sauce and Soyaki type sauces can be had cheaply at Target so she can get those herself (and, you know, they aren’t very good). Sauces or shelf stable ingredients from HMart and some interesting spices from Penzeys would be good. Even basic stuff like cinnamon at Penzeys can be a revelation for someone who hasn’t cooked or food shopped a lot. Oh and Hmart has a lot of cute kitchen and housewares too.

On the basket I'd also include a really cute set of knives something like this: https://www.macys.com/shop/product/cuisinart-10-pc.-animal-print-cutlery-set?ID=12180151

I have these and they're like $15/$20 for the whole set

I would stay away from things that they could find in the grocery store and focus on local and/or unique sauces like from a farmer's market or international brands.

Try local brands like the Spice Suite which has a bunch of vinaigrettes, hot sauces, bbq sauces, etc

Jamaican jerk
Chipotle in adobo

Anonymous wrote:Mirin
Sesame oil
Rice vinegar
Kewpie
Sriracha
Shoyu

I’ve never heard of 2 of these and bought mirin for the first time ever last year. Maybe I need to ask for this basket.

And “ready made” sauces that you’d recommend?

Mirin
Sesame oil
Rice vinegar
Kewpie
Sriracha
Shoyu

Green or red curry paste would be good too

And Korean BBQ marinade?

Rao’s

Peri Peri
Yum yum
Sriracha

I would also get a spice sampler from Trader Joe’s.

For the new apartment, new cook who likes all types of food (but hasn't really cooked for herself much).
Yum yum?
veri veri teriyaki?
aloie of some kind?
I'm really at a loss. thanks