Lust List: The A+ Holiday Gift Guide

Rooster decanter

“Everyone is on the duck decanter. I want it to be far more direct. Rooster tail, rooster face, madness in the eyes.” – Dan Wilson

Serax Glass Green Grace glasses

“These glasses caught my eye one day browsing around the Hub General Store. The shape and size of them, along with their glowing green hue, immediately saw them added to my wishlist. Special glassware like this makes a brilliant gift, especially in a shape and size that’s so versatile and practical.” – Clementine Day

R+D Lab Rosetta Acqua Glasses from Lee Mathews

“I have been a fan of Milanese design studio, R+D Lab for the longest time. Their homewares are so beautifully made and I am especially fond of their glassware. These would make the most chic drinking glasses but I would most likely use them for layered summer desserts like parfait or my current obsession, Paciugo, a messy fruit and gelato dessert from Portofino.” – Julia Busuttil Nishimura 

Softedge dinner dish 

Clementine Day calls this “the perfect bowl.” All sizes are wonderful, she says, “but the dinner dish makes a perfect gift because it can be easily used as a fruit bowl or serving bowl, as well as a dish to eat your favourite pasta out of.” 

Luca cake stand by Bridget Bodenham

“I have never met a hand-made ceramic platter I didn't love. Or bowl or mug or… you get the drift. I have some pieces by Bridget Bodenham which I adore (including a gold-flecked mug I drink from every day), but what I do not have is one of her cake stands. I think the Luca would be lovely.” – Anthea Loucas Bosha

Fred the wine bottle sock 

Used for blind tasting and fun, Dan Wilson says “I want one for the shop to do a sock wine every Saturday. They used to do it every week at Manfred’s in Copenhagen. Much fun.”

Ned Trewartha chopping board

Tod La Marr doesn’t think we take chopping boards as seriously as we should. “I still can’t believe we’re using plastic coloured chopping boards in kitchens,” he says. “Have you seen close up videos of them? MICRO PLASTICS EVERYWHERE!” Instead, he recommends Nedwood chopping boards made in Tasmania. “I've been lucky enough to use his chopping boards on multiple occasions and they are not only beautiful but functional,” he says. “A great addition to any kitchen professional or for the home. He also makes ukuleles!”

Dan Watson Knife

“Dan's Knives are beautiful. Beautiful to look at, beautiful to hold and use. I don’t own one. I wish I did!” – Tod La Marr

Petley End Grain chopping board 

“Courtney Petley makes the most stunning end grain chopping boards out of reclaimed native New Zealand timber. If you’re looking for something really, really special to gift an avid cook in your life, this would be it. These are family heirloom material, they’ll last for many lifetimes. Courtney also has a range of excellent kitchen utensils if you’re looking for something more affordable, the corner spatula is my personal favourite.” – Clementine Day

Wine openers

Dan Wilson has a couple of wine openers on his list: the Perceval sommelier, he says, are “broadly speaking, some of the best wine openers in the world.” The Durand Vintage Cork Opener is also on his list: “I would want this for home for more delicate bottles as it has the French lean, too.”

Tender Scars Butter Knife

“My friend Jordan has a jewellery design studio under the name Tender Scars. I've been a huge fan of his jewellery for years. About four years ago the universe decided we should be friends and I couldn’t be more thankful. His jewellery aside (do yourself a favour and check it out,) he’s recently been experimenting with butter knives. They’re absolutely beautiful, playful, and I couldn’t think of a better knife to spread my butter with. Like Jordan, everything is considered and true to himself. It really shines throughout his designs.” – Tod La Marr

Crumpler x Hugh Allen knife bag

“I've never found a knife roll I’ve liked. So for years I’ve just used the rattiest tea towel or a cut up apron. It does the job (sort of) but I’ve had some looks. The knife bags from Crumpler x Hugh Allen rule. I can’t wait to store all my Dan Watson knives in one, lol.” – Tod La Marr

(Not exactly a kitchen tool, but:)

CAT stand-in 2 tonne pallet truck

“The gift that would make me happiest of all. Show me zero emissions paired with petite versions of pretty much anything, and I’m on board (quite literally). I’m tired of manoeuvring our janky pallet jack around the T.I.N.A/Assembly workshop. Let a girl cruise.” – Chrissie Trabucco

Klay Floor Cushion 

“Klay make beautiful handmade cushions in New Zealand. Their floor cushions, inspired by traditional Japanese Zabuton, are beautifully crafted from layers of recycled textiles and covered with perfectly simple covers. They release different fabrics from time to time but my favourite are the natural canvas covers. Everyone needs a floor cushion in their life.” – Clementine Day

'Profile' vase by Yuko Kan

“I am always eyeing one, two or twenty of the treasures at The DEA Store. I have a nice collection of Hikari Masuda pieces that the owner Karin has kindly shipped from Sydney to NYC. I am always collecting both Hikari’s work and recently started picking up the work of Yang Qiu. And then recently I saw this amazing vase-slash-sculpture which I’m quite captivated by. This is my current object of affection.” – Hetty McKinnon

Rough Rice x PAM blanket

“I’m obsessed with this blanket, gimme please. I’ve been pining after it since I was lucky enough to do a fermentation workshop with Adam James (Rough Rice) in Lutruwita. Adam has plenty of delicious things on his web store, and I’d be loading up the shopping cart with some of that barrel aged apple and quince vinegar as well.” – Chrissie Trabucco

Tony Assness Taper Candle 

“I love Tony Assness candles. They are hand poured in Bondi with local beeswax and are the perfect candle for any table setting. The taper candles are so beautiful and I like to arrange them in different sizes on the table. As they are made from beeswax, they don’t interfere with the food on the table as they burn, giving off only the most subtle aroma.” – Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Carriere Freres tomato candle

“This is one of those perfect gifts, because it’s so lavish and stupid to spend this much money on a candle and I’d never buy it for myself. But I want it! So bad!” – Besha Rodell

Moya Delany pendant 

“Moya is a Melbourne-based lighting designer and artist and she makes lighting from recycled parachutes. Her pieces are all one-off and can transform a space from simple to memorable. She is also about to start making some smaller wall sconces which I will have my eye on.” – Dom Gattermayr

Meat doll from Nyary  

Dom Gattermayr has one of these, “but my mum has many and they look great all lined up in the kitchen – as you would hang a proper piece of charcuterie.”

Vintage erotic salt and pepper shakers

“The link is for an Ebay auction that’s ended (and which I bid on, and lost), but you get the idea. Naked ladies are great! Use them to salt your eggs!” – Besha Rodell

Mushroom pouf

“It will come as no surprise that I love mushroom-shaped objects. I’ve been eyeing a mushroom-shaped pouf for my apartment and while there are many on the market at various prices, I’m going to go completely aspirational and fantasyland here and offer up this gorgeous red velvet one from a collab between Loro Piano and Forsyth.” – Hetty McKinnon

Mauro Vergano’s Luli 

Dan Wilson calls this “Christmas in a bottle.” The moscato d’asti “has this intoxicating viscosity that softens your taste buds, all candied orange peel and dark chocolate. Fucking incredible.”

Saison Aperitifs’ sweet rhubarb vermouth

“Victoria’s drinks producers are exceptional. We can grow or make almost anything in this state and that includes extraordinary wine, beer, spirits or cider. And vermouth. A bottle of Dave Verhuel’s Saison Aperitifs’ sweet rhubarb vermouth would be a wonderful Christmas gift. I’d serve it over ice or maybe use it in a summery trifle.” – Anthea Loucas Bosha

Fressko reusable cup

“Essential for the early rising caffeinated among us and fits in my tool belt, too, for those cold winter mornings pruning. Indestructible and keeps my black coffee hot!” – Guy Roche

Rough Rice Condiment Collective 

“If there were one gift I’d happily receive for the rest of my life, it would be anything from the GOAT Rough Rice! Adam is a fermentation wizard and one of the most beautiful human beings you’ll meet. The Condiment Collective (available on his website amongst other wonders) is a generous curation of fermentations that will blow your mind. Angasi Oyster Dashi and a shot of Fire Tiger is the best way to start any day. And of course, Mothership will lace my death row meal.” – Tod La Marr

Voucher for Manzé

“I’ve eaten at Manzé countless times (it’s my local) and I never ever get tired of going there. The food is so thoughtful and clever and delicious. I leave feeling nourished and cared for. No doubt I’d be stopping in at their sister venue, Boire, right across the street for a pre-dinner drink and my favourite boiled peanuts and a taro fritter.” – Chrissie Trabucco

Long Lunch at Brea or Tedesca Osteria 

“Spending time with loved ones is precious,” says Anthea Loucas Bosha. “Spending time with loved ones over a long lunch in one of Victoria’s lovely regional restaurants is precious and delicious. So, if I was to receive a gift voucher for lunch at say Brae or Tedesca, not only would I be happy but so would my loved ones. Please make me happy, Santa, and let’s make it a table of four.”

Shan Cha tea

“Even though I have an excessive personal tea collection, this tea from Taiwan is one that I can’t stop (won’t stop) drinking each year. It’s a wild grown mountain tea with fabulous complexity of flavour and great structure. It’s shortbread-y, ripe apricot, woody herbs. Because Shan Cha isn’t cultivated but harvested wild, it’s always in limited supply and no two harvests are the same.” – Chrissie Trabucco

Burberry trench

“I have been lusting after a Burberry trench for a while. I have a Navy Woollen Trench which I got from them at a sample sale over 20 years ago and it’s still like new today. The quality is so high. So I would love a classic trench, probably the Castleford style so it’s nice and oversized.” – Hetty McKinnon

Blundstones

“Supporting Tassie brands since I moved here includes having a pair of hard working boots on hand for the vineyard or even short hikes – these are just a bit more toe saving and harder wearing than the classics.” – Guy Roche

Odd Bird tunic

“I want to serve long lunches by my (imaginary) pool while swanning around in this gauzy cotton tunic. I am manifesting.” – Besha Rodell

S.A.M. sun hat

“Made from recycled nylon, this is a super lightweight legionaries-style hat for all day use in the vineyard and in the water when having a surf after work.” – Guy Roche

We Are Feel Good Inc. zinc stick

“Broad spectrum face shield without the nasties to protect my face from these harsh Tassie ultra violets.” – Guy Roche

ISSEY iPhone pocket

“ISSEY is one of my favourite designers and this feels luxurious but affordable too.” – Hetty McKinnon

Let’s begin this section with a short selection of new books available by the very people featured in this gift guide:

Linger, by Hetty McKinnon, for the salad and vegetable obsessive in your life.

Good Cooking Every Day by Julia Busuttil Nishimura, for those who could use a guide to simple luxury in their cooking life.

Hunger Like a Thirst by Besha Rodell for anyone interested in restaurants, travel, media, motherhood and memoir.

The Talisman of Happiness by Ada Boni

“Known in Italy as Il talismano della felicità which was first published in 1925, this iconic and beloved cookbook is being published for the first time in English. With over 1700 recipes, it is a must have for any Italian food lover and I am personally very excited to devour the pages again, this time in English.” – Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Wild Drinks by Sharon Flynn

“This book is so inspiring – I love Sharon’s approach to the magic of all things fermented. There’s so much information and guidance for anyone interested in making their own living drinks.” – Chrissie Trabucco

Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class by Tony Tan

“This is Tony's most recent book and I have been cooking my way through it over the year. It has such easy-to-follow recipes that he has masterfully tested and written in a way that just makes sense. It's for skilled or unskilled cooks and has some amazing recipes to whip out for an at-home dinner or test over the festive season.” – Dom Gattermayr