I don’t want to gloat, but I am in fact nearly done with all my holiday shopping. Crazy I know. It’s really only because my list has gotten much smaller in recent years and I typically give homemade baked goodies as gifts to almost everyone anyway. However, if you are still hunting for gifts for the food lovers on your list I have a few suggestions.
Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters Subscription
Keep the caffeine coming for the coffee lover on your list. You pick the roast, the frequency – weekly or monthly, and the duration – 3, 6, or 12 months. Prices start at 14.99 per month. Shearwater roasts only the finest grade of certified organic single origin coffee beans from Central and South America, East Africa, and Indonesia. http://www.shearwatercoffeeroasters.com/shop/
A Guide To Cocktails for Book Lovers
Book Girl’s Guide to Cocktails for Books Lovers by award-winning author turned literary mixologist, Tessa Smith McGovern of Westport, CT is part drink guide, part behind-the-scenes look at bestselling and local authors: a mini-history lesson is blended with a related cocktail, 50 unique recipes to be exact. For example, experiment with ‘Mr. MiCawber’s Hot Gin Punch’ (suited for the fictional character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield) or indulge in a ‘Salted Caramel and Bourbon Milkshake’ that ties into Flannery O’Conner’s short story, Wise Blood. http://amzn.to/2ggTuVt (this is an Amazon affiliate link).
Brown Dog Fancy Mustard Combo Pack
This stuff isn’t your average mustard situation. Creator Kyle Rothschild and his fiancee Sarah are keen on knowing the sources of each and every ingredient they put into their mustards. They are all incredibly flavorful, but we are definitely partial to the Spicy varieties. They offer 2-jar or 3-jar combo packs with prices ranging from $15 to $21. (They also have a t-shirt with a bearded dude on it that I swear looks just like Renato.) https://browndogfancy.com/shop-online/
There’s nothing like a nice kitchen knife. Ergo Chef, a Danbury-based company, makes these fantastic ergonomically designed knives. Last Christmas Renato gave me a whole set complete with fancy professional-looking carry case. I love them all, but my go-to ones are the 8-inch chef’s knife, the 3.5-inch paring knife, and the 9-inch offset serrated knife. These beauties can take a beating from reckless home cooks (like me), feel great in your hand, and cut like butter. Grab the cook on your list a nice new knife or maybe a set. Ergo Chef offers custom engraving on their knives too. http://ergochef.com/index.php
“Apparel For The Appetite”
If you have someone on your list who knows how to appreciate Italian meats or cheeses or desserts, a t-shirt from Wooster Street Meats, a CT-based company, is the perfect gift. As an Italian girl, I think these tees are hilarious and totally cool. Renato just had to have one when we saw their booth at this year’s Greenwich Wine + Food Festival. Prices vary from $20 to $27 depending on design and size. http://www.woosterstreetmeats.com/