Everyone has a foodie in their life.
The person who photographs their dinner before anyone’s allowed to touch it.
Who knows exactly where to find the best olive oil.
Who casually mentions that the cheese needs to come to room temperature before you serve it.
And look, they’re usually right.
Fortunately, buying them a Christmas present doesn’t have to involve deciphering their very specific kitchen equipment wishlist.
From Greville Street’s chocolate specialists to Windsor’s coffee roasters and the glorious food-filled aisles of Prahran Market, Chapel Street has plenty of delicious ways to say Merry Christmas.
Here’s where to start.
FOR THE PERSON WITH EXCELLENT TASTE: CRISTINA TOSCANO EVERYTHING FOOD
Some shops make you want to buy a present.
Others make you want to host an elaborate Italian Christmas lunch, complete with matching serving platters and an unreasonable amount of antipasto.
Cristina Toscano Everything Food is firmly in the second category.
Tucked into 549 Chapel Street, South Yarra, this beautiful store is a celebration of gourmet food, thoughtful gifting and everything that makes sitting around a table with your favourite people so good.
Founded by mother-daughter duo Cristina Toscano and Isabella Zervos, it’s filled with specialty pantry products, beautiful homewares, sweet treats and things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
Think Italian condiments, lovely ceramics, chocolates and little luxuries that make everyday meals feel like an occasion.
Basically, dangerous territory for anyone who loves a well-stocked pantry.
The gift idea: Put together a bundle of gourmet condiments and sweet treats, or choose a beautiful serving piece for the friend who treats every dinner party like a major production.
Just be prepared to find something for yourself.
Probably several things.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE OBSESSIVE: URKU
There’s chocolate.
And then there’s the kind of chocolate that makes you stop mid-conversation and ask what, exactly, you’re eating.
Welcome to URKU, 126 Greville Street, Prahran.
This boutique chocolate destination is all about Ecuadorian cacao, with a focus on single-origin chocolate, thoughtful sourcing and the flavours that make really good chocolate worth paying attention to.
We’re talking beautiful chocolate bars, gift sets and tasting experiences that are a world away from whatever’s sitting beside the supermarket checkout.
It’s a particularly good stop for the person who claims they don’t have a sweet tooth but somehow always wants just one more square.
You know the one.
The gift idea: A selection of URKU chocolate bars or a beautifully presented gift set.
For someone who really loves chocolate, ask about the tasting experiences, too.
And yes, you should probably sample something while you’re there.
It’s research.
FOR THE CHEESE LOVER: MAKER & MONGER
There are people who enjoy cheese.
And then there are people who plan their entire social calendar around it.
For the latter, head straight to Maker & Monger at Prahran Market.
Known for its spectacular cheese counter and famously indulgent toasties, Maker & Monger is the brainchild of cheesemonger Anthony Femia.
Here, cheese isn’t just an ingredient.
It’s the main event.
Behind the counter, you’ll find an ever-changing selection of artisan and farmhouse cheeses from Australia and around the world, with people who know exactly what they’re talking about to help you choose.
So if the person you’re buying for knows their brie from their bloomy rind, you’re in very good hands.
The gift idea: Ask the team to help you select a few standout cheeses for a festive cheeseboard.
Add some crackers, something deliciously salty and a good excuse to open the fridge.
One practical note: if you’re gifting fresh cheese, plan your shopping around when you’ll be handing it over.
Nobody wants a warm cheese surprise under the Christmas tree.
FOR THE COFFEE SNOB: CISCOS COFFEE
Some people drink coffee.
Others have a preferred grind size, a favourite brewing method and a deeply held opinion about supermarket beans.
For those people, there’s Ciscos Coffee at 106 Chapel Street, Windsor.
This longtime Windsor coffee specialist roasts beans on-site and stocks a range of freshly roasted coffees alongside brewing equipment and accessories.
Whether your favourite coffee lover makes espresso at home, swears by their French press or has recently developed a very expensive interest in pour-over coffee, there’s plenty to explore.
The best part?
You don’t need to understand every detail of their morning ritual to buy them something thoughtful.
Just ask.
The gift idea: Freshly roasted coffee beans, a selection of different origins or a useful accessory for their home-brewing setup.
If you’re buying beans, find out whether they use an espresso machine, filter brewer or something else first.
It’s a small detail.
To coffee people, it’s apparently a very important one.
FOR THE HOST WHO ALWAYS PUTS ON A SPREAD: PETE N ROSIE’S DELI
You know the friend whose idea of a casual snack involves three cheeses, six small bowls and some very strategic cracker placement?
This one’s for them.
At Pete n Rosie’s Deli in Prahran Market, the counters are packed with local and imported cheeses, charcuterie, specialty produce and the kind of ingredients that turn an ordinary afternoon into a proper occasion.
There’s a reason market regulars know where to find a good deli.
And this is a very good deli.
From prosciutto and cured meats to cheeses and delicious pantry extras, Pete n Rosie’s is the sort of place where you can build a genuinely impressive gift without resorting to a pre-packed hamper full of things nobody really wants.
The gift idea: Create a delicious antipasto collection with cured meats, cheese and a few carefully chosen accompaniments.
Perfect for the person hosting Christmas drinks.
Or the person who simply believes dinner can be a plate of excellent things.
We respect both approaches.
THE ULTIMATE CHAPEL STREET FOODIE HAMPER
Can’t decide?
Don’t.
Make your own.
Start with a beautiful pantry treat from Cristina Toscano.
Add some chocolate from URKU.
Pick up freshly roasted coffee from Ciscos.
Then head to Prahran Market for a little cheese from Maker & Monger and something delicious from Pete n Rosie’s.
Suddenly you’ve created a very impressive Christmas hamper.
No generic cellophane-wrapped gift basket required.
A few tips before you get carried away: choose shelf-stable items if the gift will be sitting under the tree, keep chilled products refrigerated, and save the fresh cheese and charcuterie for a gift you’re delivering close to serving time.
And maybe buy an extra chocolate bar.
For quality control.
Obviously.
MAKE A DAY OF IT
The best thing about Christmas shopping around Chapel Street?
You can turn it into a proper outing.
Start in South Yarra at Cristina Toscano, wander down to Greville Street for URKU, then explore Windsor’s coffee scene at Ciscos.
Finish at Prahran Market, where Maker & Monger and Pete n Rosie’s are waiting with all the delicious things you probably didn’t plan on buying.
Stop for lunch.
Have a coffee.
Taste something new.
Try very hard not to eat the presents before you get home.
It’s Christmas shopping, Chapel Street style.
GOOD FOOD. GOOD GIFTS. VERY HAPPY PEOPLE.
Forget another scented candle.
If the person you’re shopping for gets excited about exceptional chocolate, proper coffee, fancy pantry staples or cheese with a backstory, you’ve come to the right neighbourhood.
With Cristina Toscano, URKU, Maker & Monger, Ciscos Coffee and Pete n Rosie’s Deli all in the mix, finding something delicious on Chapel Street is the easy part.
The difficult part?
Not keeping it for yourself.
