pineapple slicesWe've spent the last couple of weeks focusing on beautiful, practical, and just-plain-fantastic gifts for cookbook and food lovers, so it might be time to take a look at the flip side of the equation. Epicurious is here to assist us by laying out the presents that you should NOT give to the food obsessed people on your list.

Sam Worley canvassed employees at Epicurious, who came up with many items that they wished people would stop giving them. Heading off the list were flavored salts, oils and vinegars - especially anything labeled with the word 'truffle'. Those products, frequently sighted at discount stores this time of year, often "contain synthetic ingredients that have been the objects of foodie scorn for years and years," according to Worley.

Unitasking gadgets are also high in the 'thanks, but no thanks' department. People who love to cook usually have a well-stocked kitchen, so unless they ask for a particular item, it's best to leave the avocado slicer in the store. This advice goes double for the cute, frilly aprons that often pop up in the kitchenware section of stores. Says Anna Stockwell, "I already have 10 of them, all of them gifts, they don't actually cover much." If you are thinking that these complaints sound a bit petulant, please know that the Epicurious staff also have plenty of positive things to say, especially about  these welcome gifts for food lovers. 

Another guide on what not to give or get (plenty of snark included) can be found in the 2016 Hater's Guide to Williams-Sonoma. There, Drew Magary skewers overpriced and unnecessary gadgets like the $399 Boska "Mr. Big" Fondue Set and the $18.95 Moscow Mule mixes. Of the latter, Magary says: "Nineteen bucks! It doesn't even have the alcohol IN it. A six pack of ginger beer and a lime costs four bucks at the store. Oh, but this mix is hand-crafted. My ass. I wanna see footage of this supposed crafting process." Be warned - the descriptions include a lot more adult language.