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Caviar from Tsar Nicoulai is harvested from sustainably farmed white sturgeon. A one-ounce jar of its Select California Estate Osetra—endorsed by the French Laundry’s Thomas Keller—serves two. a$89 at tsarnicoulai.com.
Grass-fed beef is lower in saturated fat and higher in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventional corn-fed beef, and it’s better for the environment too. Bill Kurtis’s Tallgrass Beef, which supplies picky restaurants like Lula Cafe and Bistro Campagne, offers several gift packages for the home cook, including the Steak Sampler and the Connoisseur Grill Pack. a$69.49 and $110.99 at tallgrassbeef.com.
For the griller on your list, combine a jar of spice rub from Reader contributor and BBQ expert Gary Wiviott with a gift certificate from the venerable Paulina Meat Market. aOne-cup jar, $5.99 at the Spice House, 1512 N. Wells, 312-274-0378, thespicehouse.com; Paulina Meat Market, 3501 N. Lincoln, 773-248-6272, paulinameatmarket.com.
