The Angel Gift Guide, 2024

Gifts for God-tier mornings, restaurant-level cooking, classy imbibing, and more

You almost thought this gift guide wasn’t coming, right? I know I’m slightly late to the punch this year—although do we really need to be publishing gift guides before Thanksgiving just to feed into Black Friday? The shopping-centric Substacks definitely do, and I get that. Regardless, The Angel Gift Guide is here at last, and there’s still plenty of time to purchase before Chrismukkah arrives. And I do have a deal for you, above the paywall, along with many clever, life-enhancing, and straight-up delicious ideas for presents.

I could not care less about the gift guide onslaught discourse because I love gift guides. I can’t find the time to read every gift guide in my inbox, but I’m still happy they’re there. I also pride myself on being a great giver of gifts, and I promise that this one will be different from the others you’ve read—not to mention The Angel-specific, i.e., rooted in the food world of Los Angeles. So, here are all the things I’m especially into right now or would want to be gifted, and thus recommend wholeheartedly.

1.) A subscription to The Angel, naturally. Throughout the holiday season, in the new year, and beyond, The Angel will remain committed to in-depth reporting and thoughtful writing about the people and places that make Los Angeles the best food city in the world. It’s a joy for David and me to produce The Angel week after week. It’s also a lot of work! So, in 2025, subscriptions will increase from $5/month and $50/year to $6/month and $60/year. In the meantime, I’m offering a discounted annual subscription at just $40/year (a bargain, I must say!), so lock it in now. You have until the last day of Hanukkah (January 2nd) to redeem it. After that, the price of a subscription will go up for everyone.

Buy a subscription for yourself, or gift one to someone who loves food and lives in Los Angeles. Full access to The Angel includes lists (like my triannual My Los Angeles Right Now), travel content, and weekly Plugs from L.A.’s most in-the-know.

2.) The perfect morning (again and again). We purchased the xBloom Studio this year, which has changed my life. I no longer have to wait in line at Maru for an excellent cup of coffee every morning. It’s easy to use—no technique, which I do not have or care to develop, required—and produces brilliant drip. Alternatively, or in addition, a Smeg citrus juicer is a clutch choice for friends who have orange trees in their front or backyards. We live in Los Angeles, after all. Mine is cream-colored, and my oranges are almost ready.

Why not throw in a bag of CAPnola, the best granola I’ve had in a long minute, too? Or, possibly even better, a dozen loosies from Courage to eat fresh or freeze for later.

Two machines for heavenly mornings.