We take our Food411 Gift Picks seriously. Many, many hours go into food tastings to select just a few gift picks that we know you will be proud to give.
Practical but very Pleasurable, gifting food is always a gift in "good taste". Last month we started the list with Part 1...here is Part 2 — 2011 Holiday Gift picks. Below you will find a great Clip & Save Holiday Meat Cooking Guide with wine pairings!
Food411's Holiday Gift Picks – Part Two
Harbor House Crabs
The gift of Maryland bluecrabs is not just a meal it is an evening of fun in a box! We had a blast with our "Dinner for Two" (which by the way fed four of us) 12 steamed Jumbo crabs
2 incredible Crabs Cakes, ½ pound steamed shrimp 4 Espresso Bean Brownie, 2 Mallets $89
Simon & Co
We have found the place for truly special gift "baskets". These unique gifts are not premade – each one is made by hand in their studio. They combine very special containers with just the right specialty foods. We sampled "snack sensation" $49 +up
Beehive Cheese's Barely Buzzed – Reserved gift set:
For the lover of cheese, coffee and chocolate! Packaged in a wooden box with a fire branded lid, a special cut 1.1 LB wedge of Barely Buzzed cheese (a full bodied cheese hand rubbed with a Turkish grind Coffee, French Superior Lavendar buds are ground with the coffee. Aged on Utah Blue Spruce aging racks.) Dark chocolate ganache truffle infused with Barely Buzzed coffee and lavender . And, "Beehive Blend" whole bean coffee roasted by Colorado Legacy Coffee Company. $67
Sunchowder's Emporia
We are BIG fans of these jams. Wendy Read knows how to handcraft jams. butters and chutneys. She hand cooks local fresh ingredients in old fashion copper kettles and jar in small batches. She never uses corn syrup, pectin, preservatives or colors. She adds unexpected ingredients to create a new spin on an old fashion tradition. Exotic Jam Trio $16 . These make such a special gift.
Element Bars
Customized whole food bars for any active person on your list! Build, label and wrap custom bars! Fun, unique — these bars are actually made of real whole ingredients that you choose, not like most mass produced bars that are filled with "junk". Box of 12 $24
TCHO
Bean to bar, this company creates superior chocolate along with being an agent of social change. That being said, we love their gift boxes adorned with illustrations by graphic artist Max Kisman. "All I want to do is melt for you" snowmen makes a perfect holiday gift filled with 12 small bars. $17
Damn Good Cookies Squares
Damn good cookies has made our list again but this time with their squares! Wow, their name really does say it all. These people know how to bake – love the cookies and the squares take "brownies" to new heights (rich and decadent). Box of 8 assorted or 1 type $30
Girl & the Fig gift set
The well known Sonoma county restaurant has "bottled" their goods! Set of 4 condiments – 1 jar of each: fig chutney, fig compote, red onion compote & black mission fig jam. $28
A copy of their new book: Plats du jour – journey through the seasons in wine country $48
Gourmet Station
They continue to impress us with new and delicious offerings. Treat someone to a true gourmet dinner at home. Dinners for 2 $90 + up. These dinners are delivered so beautifully packaged and include everything bread to dessert (even the coffee!)
Valrhona
Their limited edition holiday gift boxes are just beautiful, and encase delicious works of edible art. Valrhona selects cocoa beans from all over the world, including Venezuela, Ecuador, the Caribbean islands, Sri Lanka, Papua-New Guinea, and Ghana. Box of 16 $30
Swirly Buns
Hand-rolled by Roger & Dana Reyes, all-natural & soo doughy! Sweet and savory flavors - their original family recipe was ham & cheese. Perfect to freeze and eat when the craving hits. Heat to its original doughy goodness-by micro for ten to twenty seconds. These buns are an expression of love, comfort food at its best $22/dozen
Grandma's Soups
Send a gift of homemade chicken soup! "Create Your Own gift set". Start out with a 1/2 gal of Grandma's Chicken Soup, they include a felt gift bag and you choose the gift to fill it with. $44
Gourmet Kitchens DIY Granola kit
Everything you need to make granola with the aroma of their Blood Orange Oil and zesty dried fruits, including the Original Granola Recipe. Kit $18
Nudo – "adopt an olive tree"!
Keepsake designer tin with 1 tin each of extra virgin olive oil, citrusy lemon oil and fiery chilli oil, But this gift keeps on giving it out – a gift of your very own adopted olive tree. Inside the hamper are instructions on how to register your olive tree and receive the whole year's harvest of lovely olive oil from your tree. $134
