We asked Joe, the writer of our Hanukkah-themed rom-com series dropping next week, to share his top gift suggestions this year. The result? A mix of high, low, and zucchini. Read on for his holiday shopping recs and a sneak peek at the first-annual antics and traditions of Hot Potato!
Whether you’re lighting your menorahs over Zoom,
or decking your halls from a safe six-foot distance, you’re probably still stressing over what to get your loved ones just like any other year. I get it! It’s a holiday burden shared by all, including a number of the characters in Hot Potato. For their sake and yours, here are some gift ideas perfect for mom, grandpa, your fun aunt, your best friend, or the true love you met by chance at the grocery store:
Homesick Candles | $34
In 2020, the safest way to travel is by nose… with a Homesick site-specific candle, that is. Most of my loved ones have been stuck in their houses for months, so I’m taking Hanukkah as an opportunity to send them on a scent journey somewhere more exciting/better smelling—from India (cumin, cinnamon, cardamom) to Indiana (magnolia, cotton, corn) to Grandma’s Kitchen (apple, cream, sugar cookie). Homesick even makes a latke-scented candle (baked apple, butter, potato) that I might pick up for myself. In Hot Potato, a disastrous first attempt at latke frying brings lovebirds Shayna and Mandy together, but when I’m burning latkes alone in my apartment, this candle can mask the fumes.
Book of the Month Club | $49.99 (3 months)
To lovers of literature, few things inspire more joy than a brand new book. And sharing a great read with a stranger can even spark a love connection, as it does in Hot Potato, when single dad Greg spots Lena buying a book by his favorite author. But in a time when bookstores are a public health hazard, you can do the bookworms in your life a solid by sending them a Book of the Month Club gift subscription. The name explains it all! As a one-time recipient of this gift myself, I can confirm it’s a hit.
Vegetable Spiralizer | $41.99
A vegetable spiralizer, like this one from OXO, does one thing and one thing only: it cuts fruits and vegetables into noodles. There’s a certain type of person who will relishthe chance to turn their produce into spaghetti, but to be clear, this gift isn’t for everyone. Worst case: they return it for store credit. Better case: they reward your good taste with a plate of zucchini bolognese. Best case: In the process of returning the spiralizer, your grandson Zev gets the opportunity to flirt with the friend of a friend he met at last week’s Hanukkah party, a thrilling turn of events that happens in… well, you probably get the idea by now.
Watercolor Paint Set | $9.99
Got a kid on your list? Engage their creative side with a Kid Made Modern Watercolor Paint Set. With 36 colors, two brushes, and a pad, the possibilities for artistic expression are endless. And what starts as a hobby could very well blossom into a thriving career, once the Chelsea galleries get a whiff of this kid’s talent. Of course, this kid might later be plagued by that brooding darkness that often clouds the mind of a master, but the acclaim and money will be enough to drown out the noise. What an exciting life this kid will have. All because you were thoughtful enough to get them a paint set.
Whatever You Can Find at Walgreens | Probably Sub-$12
If you’re like me, you tend to plan your gifts in advance so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. But we’re only human. Some folks on your list can slip through the cracks. For those special people you forget about until the last night of Hanukkah, don’t panic! You can find some gems at your local pharmacy. Teeth whitening strips, a shiatsu neck massager, a Bob Ross Chia Pet, a holiday picture frame that somehow manages to spell Hanukkah incorrectly (‘Channuchachk’)—take your pick.
Then, when you’ve finally gotten the perfect gift for everyone in your life, sit down with a fresh latke and a cup of cider, and treat yourself by listening to Hot Potato, available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe now, and be the first to hear new stories as they release next week!
In Part One, Greg introduces Lena to a new book while keeping his heart locked up. Listen to Hot Potato – Part One on Monday, December 14th!
In Part Two, Shayna gets some latke-making help from a goyish girl at the supermarket. Hot Potato – Part Two is dropping on Wednesday, December 16th!
And finally, in Part Three, Emily and Zev scramble into a relationship, if only Zev came home from the range. Check Part Three out when it releases on Friday, December 18th!
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Catch up on our Very Merry Meet Cute stories now!
Season’s Meetings, where a mall Santa and his companion elf warm up to each other. Link to listen!
Dancing Bear, where a wanna-be Rockette falls... in love. Listen here!
ER X-Mas, where Izzy and Ben discover the ER isn't the best place to find holiday cheer. Listen now!
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Give the gift of Meet Cute!
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