Someone in your life is a restaurant snob. If you live in New York, then probably half of the people in your life, if not more, are amateur foodies borderline restaurant obnoxious. Maybe they visit Napa, France and Tuscany every year ISO of the most brag-worthy vinos, or maybe they brag Anthony Bourdain style about their culinary adventures in Malaysia. He’s the ICI student looking to fluff their resume. She’s a flat out Upper East Side just food snob. Oh, we aren’t judging. We get it; and we have the perfect present:

A membership to the James Beard Foundation. Tell me you haven’t been living under a rock for the past seven years it took you to become a New Yorker? The James Beard Foundation is only the most celebrate culinary foundation, preserving and nurturing America’s food and wine celebration, since like ever. Duh. Anyway, you don’t have to know what it is; they will know. And LOVE you for it.

There are several different levels of membership each offering insider information into the food world, sneak peak into culinary events and access to renown chefs and winemakers. For a bit more dunkets, you can give your “Wine and Food Enthusiast” an upgraded membership. (Options in detail on their membership site.) There are also special memberships for students and coroporations as well as NYC residents, so be sure your membership purchase is rightly tailored to your favorite foodie.

And if they haven’t visited The James Beard House for dinner, taking them for a night on the town might be even better. It is an experience with a variety of rotating chefs, seasonal specials and creative menus that change every meal.  I cannot remember the meal I ate because it is literally ten courses, but somewhere around here I have the souvenir menu they let you print out for wine induced memory reduction. See also: food coma. For reservations, call 212.627.2308. But take a gander at the website first because I’m sure the person working on the other end of the line is sick and tired of answering six trillion questions.

Emma Dinzebach

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