Madame's Holiday Gift Guide 2021

I am excited to share our first ever Holiday Gathering & Gift Guide with you. The holidays are such a special time of year, jam packed with getting together with friends, family, and even co-workers. This year it feels extra precious with the pandemic still taunting our ability to fully relax with gatherings and make plans

However you decide to gather (safely) and give gifts this season, we've rounded up some tips and treats to share with the people you love and connect with in your daily lives. And if you can’t connect in person most of these gift suggestions along with our linens and antiques can always be sent by mail.

Scroll through, shop, pin some ideas you love or share and drop soft hints on what is on your Christmas list. You can click on the title of each selection to visit their site and shop.

Happy Holidays from Paris with Love!

Bisous xx,

Ajiri and the entire Madame de la Maison team

SPIRITS

Our collection of champagne coupes, wine and whisky glasses are some of the most popular items in the shop. Beautiful glassware means you need lovely spirits to enjoy in them and we have rounded a few suggestions to share or give this holiday season.

Magnum of Ruinart Rosé
Nothing says c’est la fete like a magnum of Ruinart rosé champagne. The bottle is so beautiful and the taste is divine. Something about their new eco-packaging is so clean and chic to me. We’ll end our year with oysters, caviar and this big beauty on our bar cart while we dance around with coupes of bubbly rosé.

Izzy’s cocktail kit
I have been a fan of Izzy’s cocktail kits for quite some time. I love to try different cocktails without the obligation to buy entire bottles of liquor. It gives me ideas about cocktails I might like to make in the future also. Their holiday box is a great idea for a present but also if you are hosting a little apero cocktail with a friend or two. This special box comes with a 250 ml jar of the Tinsel & Tonic, the Bright & Bubbly as well as the Faux Gras, a delicious and vegan take on the classic paté. Oh and it comes with homemade sarrasin seeded crackers. For our Paris based friends: give the gift of a ready-set-apero time to a friend or colleague. To know more about the drinks recipes be sure to visit their website: www.izzysparis.com

Two Worlds Whiskey
Two World’s Whisky was founded by an American in France, Ashley Donahey, who made the leap from public service to the wine & spirits world in a foreign country. This classy bottle comes in a lovely gift box making it the perfect gift for the whisky connoisseur in your life. However it’s the story behind this whisky that makes it an ideal item you won’t find just anywhere.

“La Victoire, Batch 1 is crafted from carefully selected barrels of straight bourbon whiskey distilled and aged in the United States, then married according to a custom recipe developed by our incredibly talented master blender designed to appeal to the palate of whisky connoisseurs in France, La Victoire... It has notes of toffee, tarte tatin, pastry cream, fresh pear, apricot candied oranges, nutmeg, and clove spice that pairs beautifully with dessert and excels as a digestif.”

There were only 2,107 bottles produced and each bottle is individually numbered so you know this is a unique gift idea.

Where to buy:

In France

In the UK

Outside of France:
The Whisky Shop Paris (website is in French but ships to the US)

Must Have Malts

Citadelle Gin
Staying in the spirit (pun intended) of unique liquid gifts, Citadelle Gin, a French brand is named after the only Royal Distillery in the 18th century that was built in Dunkirk, France. I really love the label and the color of this gin bottle, but most importantly the smooth taste comes from fresh juniper berries and 18 different botanicals. This makes a lovely present along with a cocktail book about France for your Francophile friends.

Domaine d'Ardhuy
I visited this domaine in Burgundy just outside of Beaune this Fall and absolutely fell in love with the wine. I did a full tour and ta sting to learn about the region and the history of the house which i found fascinating. The house is owned by 7 sisters who inherited the business from their father! If you are in France or visiting soon, add this place to your next wine tour. I recommendthe Ladoix or Ladoix Premier Cru and the Clos des Langres for red wine lovers.

TEA & COFFEE

I love beautiful antique tea and coffee cups like this set of magenta and gold coffee cups and these lovely cream Wedgwood tea cups. There is something about sitting to savor a quiet moment but also having it be beautiful. Our sets make wonderful additions to your gatherings and below is a selection of coffee and teas that are lovely to share after long holiday meals but also make special presents thanks to lovely packaging and special flavors.

Mariage Frères Perle de Thé
Nothing says classic French tea like Mariage Frères and these gorgeous buds expand in a tea pot or a cup as it steeps. What a special and extravagant way to present tea no?

Dammann Frères Thés Verts Aromatisés
Whatever tea flavor you choose, Dammann Frères’ packaging is super chic and a lovely presentation.

Méert Tea (Thés de littéraires, the Saint Nicholas, L’explorateur)
This tea brand was founded in Lille, France in 1677 and has artistic packaging but I also love the flavors and how they cute names. You can offer the Saint Nicolas tea as a gift to a teacher or colleague to enjoy during the season. The thé de littéraires (literature tea) or the l’explorateur (the explorer) tea in reusable tins is genius for the bibliophile or wanderlust in your life.

Terres de Cafe
Created by Christophe Servell and voted Best Roaster in France, Terres de Café offers the widest range of specialty coffees in Europe and makes for a lovely gift. Terres de Café works with a large network of small producers in Africa and Latin America, favoring sustainable and social agricultural practices and roasted in Île de France. Your coffee loving friends will appreciate this boxed set and be impressed that you gifted an award winning and sustainable brand.

SWEET TREATS

What are the holidays without sweet treats?! You can plate some of my favorites this year on antique platters like the rose rectangular tray or one of our cake stands. However if you decide to wrap these up for a gift solo to a loved one, they'll be so happy and appreciate the sweet gesture (pun intended).

Méert Gaufre Vanille
I cannot stress to you how delish and wonderfully packaged these gaufres (waffles) are. If you decided to set them out for dessert, be prepared for them to vanish fast.

Panettone Cake
Every holiday spread needs a panettone cake on the table and this smaller version makes a nice present for the host to enjoy solo the day after entertaining.

Dolfin Milk Chocolate with Salted Carmel
Dolfin chocolate’s packaging is so simple and chic but the salted caramel flavor decadently screams Île Saint Louis in Paris.

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse
Not much needs to be said about offering someone a delicious box of chocolates by the famous Alain Ducasse. He is a celebrated chef with Michelin stars so you can be sure this is one amazing box of sweets.

DIPS, CONFITURES, & SEASONINGS

L’Épicurien Dips
L’Épicurien dips were created in the back of a Parisien delicatessen and continue to use the best produce from France in order to create delicious jams and dips. These are a perfect pair with pita or on a charcuterie board for a holiday spread.

Artisan de la Truffe Salts
Artisan de la Truffe offers the black diamond of gastronomy in the form of affordable and uncomplicated "little luxuries." These salts are great for the people in your life who want to spice up their cuisine or are just crazy truffle lovers like yours truly. And bonus points if you pair this gift with one of our antique salt cellars.

Confiture Parisienne
This set of 4 jams from Confiture Parisienne is a perfect way to gift someone with the taste of Paris. Cooked in small batches in copper cauldrons, each jam is lovingly prepared, with a balance of ingredients that lets each one find its proper place and express its flavor to the fullest.

Tour D’argent Dips
Tour d’argent, the famous restaurant in Paris, opened an épicerie last year in order to sell their delicious mustards, jams, spreads, and more during the lockdown. These condiments add both color and great taste to any gathering. Featured here are artichaut citron vert, poivron coriandre, betterave lavande, and moutarde fin. I have tried them all and these will make regular appearances on my party table spreads.

EDIBLE LUXURY

Petrossian Caviar
Give the gift of an edible luxury with Petrossian caviar that some might not treat themselves to but should. To make your gift extra special you can gift it in their collectible vintage 1920 case in an antique crystal Baccarat single server or go big with a full service for your New Year’s Eve fête.

BEAUTY & HOME

Officine Universelle Buly 1803 Huile Parfumé Body Oil
Some of my favorite gifts to give any time of year are usually from Buly. I love the old world apothecary vibe there of course but also there are many items you can customize such as the combs, brushes, and lipgloss. I bought myself this beautiful body oil to set in the bathroom next to one of our antique vanity jars. And the bonus was the personalized calligraphy they write on the packaging.

Diptyque Limited Edition Seasonal Candles: Sapin, Biscuit, Flocon
I am really loving Diptyque’s seasonal candles this year: Sapin, Biscuit and Flocon. The biscuit is my favorite though because it makes me feel like someone is baking delish cookies in my apartment. Below I included a few other great ideas from Diptyque because maybe you're like me and had no idea they do more than just beautiful candles.

Set of 3 Chess Candle Holders
These super cool stands that look like chess pieces are made from wax!! Super original and really love how they look on the table.

Gold Stand 190g Candle
This stand is a simple and chic present for a friend. They come in different colors and you can add multiple to make a stack.

Lapis Totem Candle Lid
It never occurred to me that candle lids could be a thing but they can and they are. This one spoke to me because it looks like jewelry and is actually a sculpture creation by the artist Jean-Baptiste Mayet. It turns a candle into a statement piece when it isn’t burning.

Maison Shiiba Candle
These candles made by Celine Chhuon, a talented Parisian photographer, are such an inspiring present. As the candle burns, over time an inspiring message is slowly revealed and I can't wait to discover what mine is.

BOOKS

Books are always welcome gift ideas n’est pas? Some books are ideal presents for the content, others for the cover like the Picasso covered Nobel Literature Prize winner books, and then there are some you give just for the color like the red Rose Illustrated children’s books. (You know color coordinated bookshelf lovers, like me, are into that sort of thing.) You will also find a few new books in the shop for fellow Francophiles.

Drinking French by David Lebovitz. Recipes and a deep dive into French cocktails, coffee, spiritz and apero snacks.

Don't be a Tourist in Paris by Vanessa Grall of Messy Nessy Chic. A guide book to Paris unlike any guide book you have every read.

The New Parisienne by Lindsey Tramuta. A intriguing and inspiring look at the women who are shaping and redefining what it means to be a Parisienne as opposed to the stereotypes the media sells.