2022 Holiday Gift Guide
Shop brands, books, and products we love.
Psssst, Olive Oil Club Memberships are open! Now now.
**This post will be regularly updated until December 23.**
Welcome to the EXAU Holiday Gift Guide!
This guide exclusively includes products, brands, or books we know and love. We also did our best to include sales in order to save you a lil’ $$. Happy holiday shopping!
Small Businesses
EXAU Due2 Gift Set: Woman led & Family Owned
The set that started it all. Featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things, The Strategist, and more. She is beauty, she is grace, she is the Due2 set that includes the Turi and Lina! All the olives used to produce EXAU extra virgin olive oils are grown in Calabria, Italy within a 5km radius. We harvest and mill the olives within hours guaranteeing that our oils are as fresh as possible.
The Turi, named after Giuseppe’s father, is made with a blend of Carolea and Coratina olives grown on our estate and originally planted by Giuseppe’s grandfather and father.
The Lina, named after Giuseppe mother, is made with 100% Coratina olives which are grown on a certified organic farm in the low hills just 2km from the coast.
Jordan Samuel Skin: Queer Owned
I discovered Jordan Samuel Skin during the peak of the pandemic and we became fast friends. Jordan is a skin therapist and former professional ballet dancer. Frustrated by an irritated complexion caused by the constant use of stage makeup, he began experimenting with ingredients that would help him gently remove his stage makeup. JSS was born! His products are great for sensitive skin.
Alaya Tea: WOC Woman Owned
Founded by Esha Chhabra and Smita Satiani, Alaya Tea celebrates the beauty of the women who are the backbone of agriculture in the tea-growing regions of the world. They source their loose-leaf teas and herbals from organic and biodynamic farms in India!
Primary Beans: Woman Owned
Founded by sisters Lesley and Renee, primary beans are ethically sourced and delicious! They often showcase lesser-known bean varieties creating space for experimentation for home cooks!
CTOAN Candles: Black and Queer Owned
Jodyann Morgan started making candles in her Wisconsin kitchen and found a joy she wasn't expecting. CTOAN Co is the culmination of that kitchen experimenting. Today, the candles she makes are little works of art, infused with that original sense of joy, heart, and a whole lot of love. When you buy one, you're bringing all of that joy and love into your life and your home. Her body candles celebrate the human form, in all of its glory.
Zelli Pasta: Family Owned
Based in Springdale, Arkansas, Zelli Pasta is a family-owned and operated pasta shop that specializes in well… pasta. They carry a ton of other food products including things like our delicious olive oils, tinned fish, and sauces from Italy.
Made In Baking Tray, 13”x9”: On Sale
Made In is having a sale right now. Some products are up to 30% off. They make good cookware but we really like their ceramics and knives. This is the perfect size baking tray for making our Calabrian-ish Stuffing or doubling the Gateau di Patate recipe!! Plus it’s really prettyyyyy.
Not So Small Businesses
We hope you’ll mostly shop small this holiday season. But we’d be leaving out some great products if we didn’t include the following. These are items we’ve used and loved over the years.
Analon 10 piece Cooking Set
Is the set too much? If we had to choose one, we’d get the 3 quart saute pan because it’s the perfect size for sauce. It’s also great for veggies and meat.
Giuseppe and I did a little pot-and-pan experiment a few years back. We bought from a few different brands to compare quality. We ended up keeping one All-Clad pan (a nonstick pan that’s now retired) and this entire set.
We think the Analon Nouvelle collection has some of the best pots and pans on the market. The bottoms are thick and there’s a layer of copper between the stainless steel plates so they heat very well and evenly. They work on gas, electric, and induction, and are oven safe.
Giuseppe has literally lit some of them on fire (pasta all vodka), I’ve burned the crap out of them (several times) making popcorn and who knows what else. But after a good scrub down with soap and water (and sometimes steel wool) they look as good as new. Also, we’re fans of the copper patina look and the sides of the pan get really pretty with time.
Skinny Tongs (AKA Tweezer Tongs)
You know the ones you always see us using on Instagram to make perfect plates of pasta? Ya those. This set has 2 types of tongs! We use the pointed ones for twirling pasta. The ones that are wider at the bottom would be perfect for moving around roasts, chicken, steak, and awkward veggies. May your pasta twirls always be gorgeous.
Delonghi Manual Espresso Machine + Foamer
This espresso maker is awesome! We got it 7 years ago and used it well over 3 times a day regularly. It made all of those delicious morning cappuccinos you saw over the years on our Instagram, it fueled us through writing our book, and it made all the coffee we drank before going to harvest olives at 5 am. This machine is older than EXAU…
It just died a few weeks ago (but I’m almost positive we can get it fixed!) and we never had any problems with it until now. If you’re looking for an espresso machine that makes a great espresso, has the option to foam milk (there’s a learning curve but don’t worry!), and isn’t too pricey then this is an awesome machine.
Delonghi Boogey Automatic Espresso Machine + Foamer
Our Delonghi Manual Espresso puttered out at the perfect time because we were looking to upgrade and then this machine went on sale! Giuseppe and I both drink a fair amount of caffeinated beverages so this is the coffee maker of our dreams. It can make espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, iced coffee, long coffee, and you can adjust all the coffee types and strengths to your preferences.
This is an investment appliance so we only recommend this machine if you LOVE coffee and really want to invest in a long-term machine that makes consistent beverages at the touch of a button. It’s like having a Ferrari.
Books: Best Cookbook Reads of 2022
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child. And I’m so happy it’s a hobby I can take with me everywhere! Nowadays I mostly listen to Audiobooks. However, cookbooks are the exception. These are some of my best reads from the past year : )
My Paris Kitchen: 10% Off
For those who love really good, well-balanced, occasionally rich food and are interested in dabbling in French cuisine. And for a giggle at Americans navigating life abroad.
David Lebovitz is so talented and his recipes have so much depth. He’s thorough and his cooking just makes sense. Plus he sometimes uses copious amounts of mustard which Giuseppe and I really appreciate. The Chicken with Mustard, pg 169, is everything that you want chicken to be. Rich, tangy, salty, herby, aromatic. It really just checks all the boxes for deliciousness.
Let's Eat Italy!: Everything You Want to Know About Your Favorite Cuisine - 10% Off
For those fascinated with Italian food and who want to know more about the specifics of each region.
First off this book is HUGE and HEAVY. It’s essentially an encyclopedia of Italian food from all the different regions which is really tough to do in one book. We were delightfully surprised to see so many details about Southern Italian food. Although, we do wish there was a bit more research done on certain Calabrian foods, but hey at least we made it into the book!
My Aloha Kitchen: 10% Off
For those that want to make food that makes them feel nostalgic for a place they may have never visited and enjoy Japanese-inspired flavors.
This book is so well written. I almost thought I was hanging out on the beach with Alana about to make Shoyu Chicken even though I didn’t have half the ingredients. This book reminded me of what Hawaii ‘used to be like’ before mass tourism even though I’ve never visited Hawaii before that time. It’s a special book.
Books: Best Personal Reads of 2022
As I said I’m an audiobook kind of gal. I like to work out, walk, or clean while I listen (we love a good multitasking session!). These books had a profound impact on me. And while I usually don’t lean toward memoirs these were all exceptional. These are my best personal reads of 2022.
Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir - 10% Off
For those who want to learn about forgiveness. In all its forms.
I cried while I was lifting weights and listening to this book. Then I cried again while I was on the stationary bike and listening to this book. Why did I keep listening to this book and exercising? But at least I didn’t cry while out for a walk. Ashley C. Ford is wildly talented and people will revisit this book for years. Keep tissues nearby and don’t work out and listen to this book like me… Unless you want another reason to cry while doing squats.
Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas - 10% Off
For those who dare to dream, but might not think they have what it takes. And learning to heal from past trauma.
TW, this book includes suicide.
I went to high school with the author, Alexi Pappas. She was 2 years older than me and we both played soccer. I remember try outs like yesterday. I had never seen anyone run so fast, so much, or enjoy it so much in my entire life. She’s always been freakishly smart and athletic. Don’t believe me? The woman went to Dartmouth and later ran in the Olympics… and then made several films about running. Now she’s running circles around us all (literally) in marathons across the globe.
What you don’t see when you’re a teenager is the pain and sorrow your classmate might be experiencing at home or from past experiences. Reading Alexi’s book made my heartache not just from her incredible story, but because I looked up to her as we walked down the same hall for two years while she was going through some intense experiences and dealing with past trauma.
I’m so inspired by her because I got to see her when she was building the foundation for who she is today and that’s crazy beautiful!! I’m so proud of her. Read her book, this is another book where you’ll need tissues.
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home - 10% Off (on backorder)
For literally anyone that’s interested in love in any way, shape, or form.
I have to come clean. I haven’t actually read From Scratch. Listen, I WANT to read it. I really really do. But I can’t, at least not right now.
I can’t read From Scratch because it forces me to face a lot of realities that Giuseppe and I already lived through. And I just can’t do that right now. But I want you to read it because it’s a beautiful and meaningful story and Tembi Locke is an incredible woman.
That’s It
We love putting together these holiday gift guides because they also serve as a list of the products we’ve grown to know and love throughout the year. We hope this small but mighty list was helpful and happy holidays shopping!!!
Christmas (Recommended) Shipping Cutoffs
US Ground shipping: Thursday, December 15
US Air shipping: Sunday, December 18th (large orders not eligible)
Canada shipping: Friday, December 9
Orders placed after these days *can possibly* make it to the final destination on time. However, there are no guarantees because during the holidays carriers do not guarantee shipping times.
Grazie mille for reading. Take care.
-Skyler & Giuseppe
WOAH. We recently hit over 100 5-star reviews on EXAUoliveoil.com!!! Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to leave reviews for our oils, we couldn’t do this without you <3
Find us online EXAUoliveoil.com and on Instagram!
Wanted to thank you for this gift guide. Besides getting a subscription to your oils. I ordered the tongs, we've been using them a lot, and the Made In baking dishes.