Fantasy Gifts

Neiman Marcus will serve your family’s secret recipe for a cool $15K

For $15,000, your family recipe could be added to Neiman Marcus' menu.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Nostalgic San Antonio Neiman Marcus fans who remember the $250 cookie recipe hoax can now pay even more to add to the department store's foodie lore: One customer could see a cherished family recipe take its place on all Neiman Marcus menus — including at Mariposa at the Shops at La Cantera — for a year.

The unique opportunity is one of seven 2026 Fantasy Gifts from the Dallas-based luxury retailer’s 100th anniversary Holiday Book catalog.

For $15,000, the recipient will work with Neiman Marcus' corporate chef to refine a cherished family recipe, see it featured on restaurant menus across the country, and receive a custom hand-illustrated menu commemorating the dish, Neiman's says.

Aunt Betty’s Apple Betty or Pop-Pop’s Potato Soup could take its place beside Stanley Marcus' Pot Roast in restaurants nationwide. Proceeds will benefit the Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, the retailer says.

It’s a sentimental offering for a brand whose dining rooms have become part of family traditions, from holiday lunches to bridal showers.

Although pricey, the gift titled “Your Heritage Recipe at The Restaurants of Neiman Marcus” is the most accessible of the 2026 Fantasy Gifts. The rest offer the kind of over-the-top items and experiences that have made the tradition famous.

The remaining Fantasy Gifts (with their descriptions from the Holiday Book) are:

Dolce&Gabbana Casa Carretto Siciliano Foosball Table — $180,000: A hand-decorated foosball table featuring solid wood construction, galvanized steel hardware, screen-printed glass field, and hand-painted Carretto Siciliano artwork.

Dolce&Gabbana Foosball Table.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Star Wars Legacy Experience — $182,500: A once-in-a-lifetime journey behind the scenes at Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic at One Letterman in San Francisco's Presidio, including one-of-one Ahsoka season 2 lightsaber hilt prop replica signed by Dave Filoni, a private consultation to design custom-assembled lightsabers, and tickets to an upcoming Star Wars world premiere and afterparty alongside its cast and creators.

Neiman Marcus Star Wars fantasy gift Go behind the scenes with the 'Star Wars' empire.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

The Grand Tour with Buccellati — $860,000: A six-day journey through Venice, Florence, and Milan, personally hosted by the Buccellati family and offering rare access to private museums and ateliers, culminating in a design session with Andrea Buccellati to create a bespoke piece of High Jewelry.

Bucalleti Design a bespoke piece of fine jewelry.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Legendary Style with Verdura — $515,000: A New York City experience including a private salon tour of Verdura's historical museum collection, a fitting for a custom one-of-one color combination of the Maltese Cross cuff, uniquely set with emerald, sapphire, and diamonds, followed by dinner at Orso and producer house seats to a Broadway show.

Verdura Maltese Cross cuff.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Ultimate Wakesurf Escape with Austin Keen and Arc Boats — $460,000: A one-of-a-kind gift featuring a fully loaded, all-electric Arc Sport — a high-performance wake boat that blends aerospace engineering, EV technology and innovative software. The experience includes white-glove onboarding, custom gear, and private lessons with world champion wakesurfer Austin Keen for an unforgettable day on the water.

Arc Sport Boat.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

SAUJET and Lalique Crystal Fragrance Experience — $115,000: A trip to Alsace, France, featuring a stay at Villa René Lalique, private tours with Thomas Saujet and Silvio Denz, a perfume masterclass with one of the collection’s master perfumers, two-Michelin-starred dining inclusive of exceptional wine pairing from Lalique’s cellar, and a world-exclusive first-edition SAUJET crystal trunk set in Lalique flacons.

Lalique crystal perfume Master perfume.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

The Fantasy Gifts are a Neiman Marcus holiday tradition dating to 1959, when then-chairman Stanley Marcus began offering extravagant experiences and one-of-a-kind items in the retailer's annual Holiday Book. The 2026 edition marks the catalog's 100th anniversary.

holidays gift guide luxury neiman marcus

OPENING ALERT

Chic African-inspired coffee house debuts on San Antonio's North Side

Photo courtesy of Oyin.

Oyin is a quick-service cafe dedicated to African flavors.

One thing is for sure: San Antonio’s coffee scene has moved well beyond Starbucks. The city’s caffeine choices continue to expand with the opening of Oyin in the Park North shopping center at 842 NW Loop 410, a new café dedicated to African flavors.

Named after the Yoruba word for honey, the café specializes in flavors such as malt, tigernut, and kola nut mixed with various teas, cold-brew coffee, and coconut milk. Although many of the ingredients — and the owners — are Nigerian, Oyin highlights other traditions like an East African-inspired chai.

Not everything is caffeinated. The Green White Green refresher layers cucumber with a baobab-coconut cloud and pear, spiced with a little vanilla. And there are a few differences from traditional U.S. coffee shops. For one, everything is served over ice, and the spot does not have an espresso machine, using cold brew instead.

Oyin also serves a small food menu with items such as Pearl & Grain (a fonio and pearl tapioca pudding with mango and toasted coconut) and chicken gyada (a rich peanut stew). For dessert, Sun & Butter offers a rich, buttery foil to tea.

The interior may not be what some Westerners expect, at least if they’ve never researched Lagos hotels. The minimalist space is mostly white with comfortable upholstered chairs, jute light fixtures, and the occasional burst of color from floral arrangements. The spot is designed for quick service, with self-ordering kiosks and disposable food containers catering to grab-and-go customers.

Oyin opens as San Antonio continues to embrace more international coffee traditions. Michigan chain Haraz Coffee House, specializing in Yemeni beans, opened its first local outpost at 8637 Wurzbach Rd. in March. Nearby, FinFin Coffee, which bills itself as the area’s first Vietnamese coffee shop, is preparing to debut at 8637 Fredericksburg Rd.

coffee north side park north african cuisine openings