Great Gifts for Food Lovers
Thursday, December 09, 2010
This state may have more food lovers per capita than any other. Here are 7 great gifts to please every single one of them, this holiday season.
Gorgeous chocolates
There are no more beautiful chocolates than those crafted by celebrity chocolatier Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections. His seasonal collection, $24, is the perfect hostess gift that features one piece of each of Shott's dozen flavors, including Lemon Crush, milk chocolate ganache spiked with fresh squeezed lemon juice, enrobed in dark chocolate. Stocking stuffer alert: 1/4 pound of fresh Asian ginger, candied in sugar and coated with dark bittersweet chocolate ($4). Available online or on weekends at the Garrison factory in Central Falls. 72 Ledge St, 725-0790, check for hours.
Chocolate making
Not only can you woo the chocolate lover in your life with a box of Newport chocolatier Laurent Vals' beautiful work ($27 for 16, available online, here), but give them the added thrill of gifting them a chocolate class at his storefront in Newport. They'll learn the introductory stages of chocolate making, and emerge with a takeaway box, all for $35 per person. Classes are Thursday nights from 6-8pm. Laurent Vals Handcrafted Chocolates, 82 William St, Newport, 841-8975.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHeavenly macarons
Moondust Macarons are the prettiest dessert in existence, and they make wonderful hostess gifts, girlfriend indulgences, and thank-you offerings to anyone special from the past year. A box of brilliantly hued sweet cookies is $10.50. The challenge: choosing from winter flavors like gingerbread with chocolate gingerbread ganache, apple-caramel with matching ganache, and peppermint with peppermint buttercream. Order online, here, or find them at winter farmers markets in Pawtucket, South Kingstown, at the Foundry Artists Holiday Sale, and a growing number of retailers (check here).
Italian treats
Nothing says holiday love like a rare balsamic vinegar, a lemon-flavored extra virgin olive oil, and a pound of Tony's Torrone, a locally made almond and nougat candy ($15.99). There's no wonder that food lovers rally to even a whisper of "Tony's Colonial," and now it's doubly easy to give Tony's wonderful assortment of imported Italian treats and local specialties. Shop online for ease, or do the right thing and take a few hours on the Hill. Stocking stuffer alert: A
jar of Tony's Stuffed cherry peppers, made right in town with provolone and prosciutto ($7.99 for a 12-ounce jar). Tony's Colonial, 311 Atwells Ave, 621-8675.
Gift baskets from heaven
This is the best thank-you ever created, and you'll want to keep one for yourself. Costantino's Venda Ravioli puts mouth-watering imported treats into a variety of baskets, from an ample $40 basket that has at least 9 items, to the whopping $125 selection of at least 21 items. From Italian tomato sauce and olive oils to sweet roasted peppers and pizzelle waffle cookies, Venda mixes and matches what looks best, and what will go together, and that trust in their expertise is part of the fun. Shop baskets online or drop by the shop for a plate of pasta, a cappucino, a chat, and then some shopping. 265 Atwells Ave, 421-9105.
Great granola
This is a gift that just keeps giving. Step one: order your artisan-granola-loving expert on your list a monthly delivery of Providence Granola Project's delicious product ($15.95 for two 15-ounce bags delivered to their door every month... available in 3,6, and 12 month subscriptions.). Step two: take advantage of a sweet deal, running through Dec 24: with every 6-month Granola of the Month subscription you order, you'll receive two free 12-oz bags of granola. That's a win for
you, or two great stocking stuffers. Step three: Support one of RI's innovative social ventures, which employs refugee men and women in the Ocean State. Read more about it here.
Cheese & Wine
It's a heady pleasure, shopping for gifts at Le Petit Gourmet & Newport Wine Cellar, the gourmet offspring of Newport's David and Maria Glade. Pick out some of the best cheeses available in RI, and then slide next door for a fantastic deal: "survival kit" cases of wine, for $120. Le Petit Gourmet, 26 Bellevue, Newport Wine Cellar, 24 Bellevue, Newport.
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