What’s your rule for regifting food gifts?

• Letitizia Golosa
• Do you put a new bow on food you’re regifting?

Food is as much a hobby as the foundation for a career. So the reality is that everybody who knows what I do tends to pass on the food items they don’t want. This can mean a beautiful bottle of extra virgin olive oil that they don’t want to take on a plane or a jar of ancient peanut sauce purchased on impulse several years ago on a trip to an Asian market. I accept all gifts as gracefully as one can because the intention is as important as the actual food item; however, that doesn’t mean I don’t check the expiration date once I’m alone with any potential new addition to my kitchen.

That becomes harder to do with open bags of candies or extra produce from a farmers market, but the reality is that my eyes and nose are as valid a judge as a date stamp. What are your rules for regifting food gifts?