Men's Christmas Gift Ideas

Men can be difficult to buy presents for, many will be perfectly happy with chocolates or a CD but it's always nice to treat the men in our life to something special or something different. I've been looking for some ideas and here are some of my favourites buys...

Smorgasboard – the board game for foodies

In the recipe for the perfect Christmas, good food and board games will always rank highly on the list of essential ingredients. And now there’s a way to deliciously combine the two! Smorgasboard is the brand new board game for foodies, in which players compete in a variety of gourmet challenges including guessing missing ingredients, solving culinary anagrams, gastronomic trivia and even a drizzle of art!
Moving around the figure-of-eight board, players answer questions and take part in activities in four food-related categories, in search of gastronomic success to ultimately be the first to graduate from Rick’s Culinary Academy.
Available from www.smorgasboard.ie and John Lewis stores nationwide and independent toy, game and culinary shops in the UK for £24.99
Perfect for: Foodies

Gentlemens Hardware Portable barbecue

Ok I know it's not summer but this barbecue will make a great gift at any time of year. A neat idea that will see you grilling up a feast wherever you may roam, this mini suitcase-style portable barbecue is versatile and lightweight, ideal for camping or festivals alike. It comes boxed in a smart kraft box with vintage design and would make a pretty cool accessory on your next outdoor adventure.
Available from www.bloomsburystore.com for £54.95
Perfect for: Men who love barbecues, campers, festival goers

Grandad's Attic Jigsaw Puzzle

Wentworth Puzzles, one of the leading British wooden jigsaw makers, have a range of jigsaws for every member of the family. Grandad's Attic has all the ingredients for a perfect playtime; a train set, a rocking horse, a guitar, a doll's house and of course some jigsaw puzzles. This high quality, traditional, wooden jigsaw puzzle can be done time and again and its especially themed pieces make it a treat to complete.
Available from Wentworth Puzzles for £25.95
Perfect for: Grandads who enjoy puzzles

Christmas Gift Package from Kinloch Lodge

The Kinloch Lodge cookery workshop provides an exciting insight into a professional kitchen. Prepare items for that day’s menu under the tuition of Michelin starred chef, Marcello Tully, and alongside the brigade. Start the morning with Kinloch’s award winning breakfast and finish with a four-course lunch - enjoying the fruits of your labour. The foodie in your life will love this unique experience and why not make a weekend of it and book the two of you in for a break away? Then you can both enjoy this wonderful gift on the romantic Isle of Skye.
Available at www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk or you can ring Kinloch Lodge on 01471 833333.
Make a weekend of it with the workshop and two nights Dinner B&B from £337.00pp (* based on winter rates, November 1st to March 31st).
The Workshop per person is £99.00.
Perfect for: The foodie in your life who deserves a special break

Bulldog London Dry Gin

Waitrose Cellar describe this gin as "light and perfumed followed by deeper aromas of cassis and coriander. Smooth and creamy, the sweetness of liquorice and white poppy are beautifully accented by the tang of lemon and delicate almond." Couldn't have put it better myself!
Available from www.waitrosecellar.com for £23
Perfect for: Gin drinkers

Standeazy

Phones, tablets and e-readers are probably on a lot of wish lists - so why not complement them with a stand that converts them into hands-free devices and fits in every wallet? Available in different colours, this credit card sized phone stand works with smartphones (even the larger ones) and mini tablets/e-readers. Anyone owning a smartphone will know the abundance of applications from video chat to TV and movie streaming that benefit from hands-free use; let alone all those cooking apps (recipe holder), family apps (baby monitor, alarm clock, contraction counters) and camera apps (with self timer. I think anyone who owns a phone or tablet (i.e. everybody!) will love this little stocking filler.
Available from www.Standeazy.com, DreamGB, Amazon and Etsy from £2.99
Perfect for: Everyone

The Bill’s Bag

The Bill's Bag holds some lovely mouthwatering treats from Bill's restaurants, the recipient will certainly feel spoiled! Included is aromatic Italian coffee, a selection of sweet treats, including White Chocolate Eton Mess, Bill’s robust house red wine and Bill’s hot tomato chutney.
Here's a run down of what you get  -
Bill’s Italian Ground Coffee 250g
Bill’s Dolly mixtures 175g
Bill’s Milk Chocolate 75g
Bill’s White Chocolate Eton Mess 75g
Bill’s House Dressing 750ml
Bill’s House red wine 750ml
Bill’s Chutney 284g
Bill’s Strawberry Jam 340g
Bill’s Oaties Chocolate & Brazil Nut 300g
Available exclusively from John Lewis for £60
Perfect for: Men who love their food

The Beer & Food Companion by Stephen Beaumont

Beer has been drunk with food for thousands of years yet only now is it being appreciated as the perfect companion to food. Tracing the history of beer and food matching, this book educates your palate to recognise the characteristics of a flavoursome beer, with delicious recipes that allow you to cook, pair and appreciate your ale at a whole new level.
Charts for Beer & Food and Food & Beer pairing provide at-a-glance perfect matches for easy reference when you are sourcing beer. With expert knowledge on the art of marrying flavour and cooking with beer, you will quickly come to recognise the rich and rewarding combination of porter and chocolate desserts, the delicate counterbalance of a wheat beer with seafood, or the pleasing combination of a hoppy pale ale with a mild curry.
Available exclusively from Amazon and QuartoKnows from £19.99
Perfect for: Cooks, budding chefs, beer drinkers

Shed Decor, How to decorate and furnish your favourite garden room

Shed Decor is an inspirational guide to decorating and furnishing outdoor rooms and garden sheds to create beautiful and useable living spaces that add space and value to your home. Sally Coulthard shows you how to design, decorate and equip your shed space to make an extra outside room for relaxing, working and playing.
Shed Decor is an indispensable guide to creating the perfect shed interior. Whether you want a cool contemporary space or the mix-and-match charm of vintage living, this book takes you through all the elements you need to bring an outdoor room together with flair.
Available exclusively from Amazon and QuartoKnows from £19.99
Perfect for: Men who love DIY and decorating and men who love their shed!

Wild and Wolf Movie Buff quiz

Time with the family at Christmas means keeping everyone entertained and quiz games are perfect for this. You can pair up into teams to include younger family members who might need a bit of help answering questions and older ones can show off their movie knowledge. Featuring the old classics to modern day blockbusters this movie buff quiz will be a fun way to settle the family down after Christmas dinner and it should keep dad entertained enough to stop him falling asleep on the sofa!
Available exclusively from www.bloomsburystore.com for £7.95
Perfect for: Movie buffs, quiz fans

Ted Baker: Hip flask and cups

Your man can enjoy his favourite tipple in this stylish black hip flask from Ted Baker, it comes with two shot cups so you can enjoy it too! The stainless steel flask will keep him toasty when there's a chill in the air, perfect for a adding a cheeky dash of festivity whatever the occasion.
Available from www.bloomsburystore.com for £39.95
Perfect for: shot drinkers, whisky/brandy drinkers, Ted Baker fans