“I’m a bit of a blade junkie, so when I heard that the acclaimed wildlife sculptor—and South Carolinian—Grainger McKoy had recently unveiled a knife, I had to have a look. I was not let down. The Grainger McKoy Hand-Cut Knife is a showstopper that sports McKoy’s iconic feathered design and a blade that hides entirely when folded. Consider it art with an edge.—David DiBenedetto, senior vice president and editor in chief
“I would love any still life by classical-realist painter Sarah Lamb. Particularly, one of her food related pieces or one from her trompe l’oeil collection. She is Virginia born and Florence trained. Her use of light makes the most simple everyday objects come alive and burn an impression in your brain. Like eggs!”—Margaret Houston, photo editor
“Dinner at the truly remarkable and Michelin three-starred Inn at Little Washington, where chef Patrick O’Connell has been showing the world (and even the Queen of England) how Southern hospitality is done for forty years. If I’m extra good, perhaps the gift could also include an overnight stay—though I’d have to be awfully extra good for that. So springing for the cheese course at dinner’s end would be enough. It’s delivered to the table by the Inn’s “cheese whiz” Cameron Smith and served with a delightful side of puns, as you can see in this Washington Post video.”—Phillip Rhodes, executive managing editor
“Considering I snapped one of my favorite fishing rods earlier this year (a dock incident we shall not discuss), I could use a replacement. It so happens that Shimano has just come out with a nifty limited-edition rod-and-reel combo that pairs a G. Loomis IMX-PRO rod with one of Shimano’s stalwart Bantam MGL baitcasting reels, at a pretty sizable discount no less. In other words, it’s essentially a bass caster’s dream combo, and I’d use it for throwing artificials to trout and redfish, too. It’s offered at select tackle shops around the country, which you can find here.—Dave Mezz, deputy editor
“I really want Alison Roman’s new cookbook, Nothing Fancy. I just love her casual approach to delicious food and her enthusiasm about sharing it with others. Can’t wait to cook my way through this book for my friends and family.”—Julia Knetzer, art director
“Oranges. Specifically, navel oranges from Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton, Florida. I grew up nearby, and navels were a winter tradition in our home. They’re at their juicy best this time of year, and although I’m not close to the groves anymore, Mixon does deliver.”—Chris Kraft, digital chief
“Christmas calls to mind roasted chestnuts, but I’d prefer a bag of Ocmulgee Orchards’ sugar fried pecans. Not as sticky sweet as pralines, these are a perfect, sugar-crusted snack that I love eating straight from the bag or spooned onto vanilla ice cream. I hope to see these Georgia-grown pecans inside my stocking this year!”—Holly Roberts, editorial intern
“A long weekend at Blackberry Mountain is at the very top of my wish list. Hiking, fishing, pottery classes—this luxury resort is a little slice of heaven in the Great Smoky Mountains. (Oh, and did I mention the world-class spa?)” —Olivia Dello Buono, social media editor
“I’ve caught mackerel off the Outer Banks and striped bass in the lakes of South Carolina, but I’m almost ashamed to say I’ve never been fly fishing. I’d love to take a Brookings Anglers fishing school class with Simons Welter, one of the few female guides in the South (who also gave us a dynamite interview for Garden & Gun’s newly released book, Southern Women).”—Amanda Heckert, deputy editor
“Recently, I’ve found myself embarking on weekend trips to visit friends and family in New York, D.C., Memphis, and beyond, and I’m getting pretty tired of navigating airports and overhead bins with my unwieldy Rollaboard. This Christmas, I have my eye on the triple zipper weekender bag by Cuyana, a proudly female-founded and -run company dedicated to creating simple, high quality clothing and accessories. This canvas bag has large compartments and lots of pockets, with a crossbody strap designed to throw over your shoulder and hit the road.”—Caroline Sanders, editorial assistant
“I have a bit of an antiquing addiction, and I’m especially drawn to hand-detailed dishware and mismatched tea cups (blame my British great-grandmother). After finding treasures, I usually look up the patterns on Replacements, Ltd., a North Carolina–based company that has pieces from every table-setting collection you can imagine. A gift card to Replacements would help me find mates for some of the assorted gems I’ve discovered, and would be a thoughtful gift for anyone looking to complete an heirloom collection of dishes.”—CJ Lotz, senior editor
“I’m in the process of training for my first half marathon, so my wishlist is filled with cold-weather running gear. I’ve got my eye on these super-soft Cloudknit Longsleeve T-Shirts from Austin-based Outdoor Voices, which are versatile, comfortable, and great for layering.”—Dacey Orr Sivewright, digital editor
“I’m into this artist named Frank Gonzales: He does these fantastic birds, and I particularly like his 2009 to 2014 work. I think his work would be wonderful to collect.”—Marshall McKinney, creative director
Holiday gift guides from G&G
>> Gift Ideas for Southern Cooks
>> Gift Ideas for Those Closest to You
>> Gift Ideas Under $150
>> Gift Ideas for Every Budget
>> Gift Ideas for Kids
>> Our Editors’ Wish List
Also see
>> Our Favorite Southern Books of 2019
