Small bites of Genoa under the Christmas Tree
How to bring Liguria in your holiday celebrations with some very very local gifts, some menu ideas and a proposal to cook together just before Christmas.
Are you still looking for thoughtful, authentic Christmas gifts?
Then let me pop into your mailbox (since a long time) with my curated guide to “small bites of Genova” that you can give as a present to your beloved ones (or to yourself)!
Genoa indeed with its rich culinary traditions and artistic heritage, offers an array of small things that will delight palate and sight of anyone passionate about cooking, eating and Italy.
Let’s start from the more intriguing! [tap the headings to get to the on-line shops]
Gifts to eat
Romanengo Candied Fruits
Since 1780, Pietro Romanengo, the oldest confectioner shop in Italy, has been hand crafting exquisite whole candied fruits looking like precious gemms. They come in a super elegant wood box decorated with Genoese historical sightseen. Don’t forget to have a look at the rest of Romanengo site though, they create sweet miracles!
Chocolates from Romeo Viganotti
Step into Genoa’s oldest chocolate factory, Romeo Viganotti, for handcrafted chocolates that blend tradition with innovation. If I had to make the hard choice for you, I would go for a box of Boeri, their signature chocolates with a cherry liquor inside.
Pandolce is the Genoa’s quintessential Christmas cake. It’s a fragrant, fruit-filled sweet bread steeped in tradition. If you are not baking yours (perhaps with the recipe on my ) I highly recommend the one produced by the historic pastry shop Tagliafico
A selection of Ligurian foods from my new Liguria Grocery Online!
Yes! I’m excited to share that my very own online grocery shop is now live!In collaboration with my friend Roberto Panizza and Palatifini.it, I’ve curated a selection of 100% Ligurian products—the same ones I trust and use in my own kitchen.There you can find:
The perfect ingredients for authentic Genovese pesto (yes, even fresh Genovese basil)
Fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables
Wines, olive oils, liqueurs, and traditional sweets (all these perfect to become a foodie Christmas gift box)
We ship all over Italy and Europe!
And there is a Special gift for you! You can enjoy a 5% discount on all the products in my shop and in general on Palatifini.it store using the code SMALLKIT5.
In particular, if you have no time to create your own gift box, have a look at the wonderful Christmas boxes already available in the shop (like the one below)!
Gifts to house decor
A “Mezzaro Genovese”
A mezzzaro is a large cotton cloth richly decorated with colorful floral patterns, often featuring the “Tree of Life” motif. In 18th-century Genoa, ladies would wrap themselves in the mezzaro to go out, and it became a symbol of Genoese women’s clothing. Today, you can use it as a tablecloth (as I do especially during cooking classes), bedspread, sofa cover, or even as a wall hanging. Check all the different colors and design on the website of the historical textile shop Giovanni Rivara fu Luigi
The ‘Ragno Genovese” literally Genovese spider is an ancient decoration used to embellish the tableware of wealthy families. In ancient times it was handmade on Ligurian ceramics using, strictly, blue on a white background. Perfect for table settings or home décor. Browse the collection of Radif.
A Stamp of Genoa from the Genoaser
For those who love stationery or artistic touches, a collection of stamps featuring fake magazine covers capture the essence of Genoa. Check it out at Genoaser. (below just a small example of the many available)
Gifts To cook
For making basil pesto the original way! Yes, yes, the blender is ok for your every day pesto, but if you want to make pesto an experience for your guests’ tastebuds, you have to make it with the original marble mortar. Need the recipe? Here my complete guide to basil pesto!
A traditional copper pan called “testo”
In Genova, especially in all the historical bakeries and eateries, farinata (but also savory pies, polpettone and focaccia) are baked in shallow low-edges copper pans called “testo”. This is a cook-ware that cannot miss in your toolbox if you want to bake the traditional Ligurian way - and it doubles as chic kitchen décor when hung on the wall.
For the perfect farinata recipe, btw, have a look at the farinata recipe on my blog!
My Ligurian Online Cooking Course on demand
Treat your loved ones to an immersive cooking course featuring 12 traditional Ligurian recipes taught step-by-step through videos. Perfect for beginners and food lovers alike. You can enjoy my special Christmas gift for you! A 30%discount using the code “XMAS24” (you will pay it € 39,99 instead of € 57)
A private Zoom cooking class with me!
What about gifting your loved ones (even those far away) the fun experience of cooking all together with me? I’ll guide you step by step through Ligurian recipes, right in your kitchen, as if we were side by side. It’s the perfect way to connect through the joy of cooking! Sent me an email (enrica@asmallkitcheningenoa.com) and we will decide together the menu and I will prepare a nice Christmas gift card!
I would love to include in this list also my cookbook “Liguria in cucina” but unfortunately the reprint ran into problems, was delayed and the book will only be available after Christmas (no comment).
Whether you’re looking for Ligurian culture firsthand, or familiar flavors, soeting to decorate home, or for learning new skills, these gifts bring the magic of Genoa closer to your beloved ones’ heart and around your Christmas table.
If I arrived too late in your mailbox (just to let you know that promptness and consistency are my wished resolutions for 2025 ), these items can always be good ideas for other special occasions or a kind of “delayed souvenir” from Liguria for you!
Christmas Cook-along
On December 23 in the afternoon (Italian time) I have planned to prepare my Cappon Magro to bring on the table at Christmas Eve.
If you give me a positive feed back in the next 3 days I will open the date for registration!
And the Christmas menu?
I don’t want to leave you without some ideas for your Christmas menu with a Ligurian / Italian twist.
Here you can find my 2022 Christmas newsletter which includes more or less all the most traditional festive Ligurian dishes, and my 2023 Christmas newsletter where I shared a menu 100% Italian for the Italo-American tradition of the “Feast of the Seven fishes”, prepared with a group of dear friends, all Italian food writers.
If you missed them (or just want to refresh), have a look!
For this year that’s all, I wish you love and peace and joy for this Christmas!
Enrica