Features Gift Guide Holiday Shopping Shopping Guide Cookbooks Homepage CTbites Holiday Gift Guide For Food Lovers (2024 Editio April Guilbault November 30, 2024 And here we are again, on the threshold of the holiday season! The weather might be a little warmer than usual (but then again, it snowed this morning. Anyone else keeping up with all of this?) but the holiday spirit is in full swing! With that comes the quest for the perfect gifts for all those lovelies on your list. We have scoured and explored and found some delicious and interesting gift ideas for you…fresh delivered milk anyone? We have divided this curated list into four sections: Gifts, Cookbooks, Subscriptions, and a few “Beyond Connecticut” items not to be missed.Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays to you, our fellow foodies!CT Food Lovers Gift GuideBlack Cap Blades www.blackcapblades.comHandmade custom kitchen knives made by a cook’s hands, for a cook’s hands. Black Cap Blades is the embodiment of passion and craft from former cook turned cutler, Michael Rubin. He designs, manufactures, and brings to life one of a kind, heirloom quality kitchen tools in his shop in Simsbury, Connecticut. In stock knives are available on his website at www.blackcapblades.com as well as options for custom orders or a “Custom Knife Experience” wherein you can purchase a voucher that covers a custom knife build for someone where they will collaborate with Michael on their very own custom blade. Michael can be reached directly via www.blackcapblades.com, blackcapblades@gmail.com, or (860)-255-4977. Holiday delivery can be guaranteed for orders now through December 18th for in stock knife inventory.”OnWashington To Purchase: https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/onwashingtonOne card, multiple choices! The gift that’s a sure thing-the OnWashington Gift Card, a community-based digital gift card that is a wonderful way to support local small businesses. Consumers can purchase an OnWashington E-Card to send as a gift which can be used at participating restaurants, shops, and salons that are part of AGW SONO Partners’ extensive Washington Street Historic District portfolio. With the OnWashington Gift Card, purchasers can write a personal message and send it to family, friends, and colleagues via email, text, or physical copy. All digital and always available on your phone, recipients can choose to spend it at any participating merchant or mix it up and spend flexibly at multiple locations. Current OnWashington Gift Card merchants include: Current OnWashington Gift Card merchants include: Eco Evolution, Cheese & Bread, Salon Etre, Tablao Wine Bar, Oishi Sushi & Izakaya, Jean’s Closet, Mecha, Donovan’s, Lazy Sister, Music & Industry, Pokemoto, Himalaya (2025), and more to come!Palmer’s Market www.palmersdarien.comThis holiday season, experience the magic of Palmer’s Gift Shop in Darien, CT-worth the trip from anywhere and one of CT’s hidden gems! This enchanting shop is located inside Palmer's, a nationally acclaimed specialty food market, and is sure to delight food lovers and gift seekers alike. Explore a curated collection of quality artisan wooden cutting boards & bowls, cookbooks, stylish mugs, and so much more! Discover food-focused gifts and charming gourmet ornaments like Eggs & Bacon, French Baguettes, Oyster Shells, Cocktails, Hot Cocoa, and more! Don’t miss this Christmas shop—a whimsical wonderland straight out of Santa’s workshop. Not in the mood to browse in person? Treat someone special with one of their Gourmet Gift Baskets (order gift baskets here: https://www.palmersdarien.com/order-online/#/restaurants/palmersmarket/14987/menus/72306) delivered right to their door. Plan a visit and see why Palmer’s Gift Shop is one of CT’s hidden holiday treasures. www.instagram.com/palmersgiftsandflowersBigelow Tea www.bigelowtea.comNot sure what to get teachers, bus drivers, and your mail carriers this holidays season? Bigelow Tea has the perfect gift! Their Seasonal Tea Collection, made locally in Fairfield, CT at Bigelow Tea, is an indulgent blend of seasonal teas great for gifts and stocking stuffers. Conveniently and prettily packaged in it’s own “tea box”, it contains 8 tea bags each of caffeinated black teas, Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, Hot Cinnamon, Eggnogg’n, Caramel Apple and 8 tea bags each of caffeine-free herbal teas Cranberry Harvest, Peppermint Bark, and Ginger Snappish. Great for entertaining as well! Bigelow Tea always come individually wrapped in pouches for peak flavor, freshness, and aroma to enjoy everywhere you go. Gluten-free, calorie-free, and Kosher Certified.Available on bigelowtea.com or AmazonCato Corner www.catocornerfarm.comNamed one of the “Top 50 Cheesemakers in the United States” by Food and Wine! Cato Corner Farm offers unique, award-winning raw and pasteurized cheeses handmade from the sweet milk of the farm’s pasture-raised Jersey cows. Perfect for holiday parties or the turophile (cheese lover) in your life! The Farmer’s Market Basket and the Holiday Cheese Board Package pair cheese with other local delicacies, the Ploughman’s Platter is a selection of four complementary styles, while the Cheese of the Month keeps on giving. Choose customer favorites like Womanchego or Aged Bloomsday or their bloomy rind Celeste, based on a recipe from the Loire Valley. Order by December 17th for holiday shipping or visit their on-farm shop.Moromi Shoyu moromishoyu.com Small batch is where it’s at; soy sauce, miso, hot sauces and specialty fermented condiments. All made in southeastern Connecticut, Moromi products are created using traditional fermentation techniques that utilize koji and our natural microbiome. The team at Moromi focuses on developing unique and flavorful food ingredients that help both home and professional cooks to create distinctive meals for their families and their guests. And their idea of the perfect gift? The Moromi Gift Set! Send some Moromi love! This gift set includes your choice of two bottles of handcrafted sauce. See website for retailers.Newbrook Kitchen www.newbrookkitchen.comWant to gift your foodie loved ones a memorable experience rather than a physical gift? Look no further than a Newbrook Kitchen Gift Certificate. At award winning Newbrook Kitchen, gift certificate options are a plenty. Choose from an interactive cooking class, classic high tea, or multi course chef’s tasting Supper Club gift cards, or choose a flex certificate that can be used for anything the recipient chooses. Newbrook Kitchen is bound to impress recipients with the moody interior, warm staff, and unparalleled cuisine, and gift givers as well since gift certificate purchases could not be easier. Email newbrookkitchen@gmail.com or call 203.858.7531 to order and Newbrook will conveniently send you a virtual jpeg to print or send to your loved one, all from the comfort of your home! Zen Cha Matcha @zenchamatchaWelcome to the first matcha tea shop in Connecticut, serving ceremonial grade matcha that is sourced from a 400 year old family farm in Kyoto, Japan. A perfect gift for your Matcha lover is their Matcha kit which is packaged in a bespoke wooden, lidded box that can be also be used as a tray, a bamboo whisk, matcha scoop, sifter and matcha bowl. Customers have a choice of 4 colors for the bowl-Red Plum, Salt White, Sand, and Earth Clay. Available for purchase in-store only. Black Friday Sale: 20% off Matcha Kit *sale price available only on 11/29/2024Aquila’s Nest Vineyard www.aquilasnestvineyards.comEmpowered women empower women! From the names of their wines to the experiences they host at their sprawling vineyard, they have all the offerings of fun, beautiful and inspiring visits to the vineyard! Coming in January: Vision Board & Networking Workshop, Pastry and wine pairing night, live bands and craft nights. Treat yourself, treat some friends with gift certificates or a great night out.Arogya www.arogya.netAt this wellness center in the heart of Westport that is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, their tea company carries the largest selection of wild harvest and organic looseleaf tea in Fairfield County. For yourself or a fellow tea lover, be treated to their Ceremonial Matcha gift sets and Tea Explorer boxes, from the herbal to Vintage Pu’er tea, to organic and variety…there’s a world tea to discover in 2025.Connecticut Distilling Co www.ctdistillingco.com They turn beer into whiskey. You heard that right. Using reclaimed beer from their brewery partners, through a unique process they can repurpose the sugars and yeast and some flavors to create new whiskeys. You’ll look at their spirits such as their Blueberry Fields rum, Waterville Vodka, Fort Hill Bourbon, and DROPS ( a unique Hop-flavors spirit to drink on the rocks or mix) in a whole new light.Cottonwood and Church www.cottonwoodandchurch.comHmmm…still need some cute little gifts? Maybe an earthy, ceramic berry bowl paired with a knit potholder in neutral tones of cream, gray, slate (that will match anything)? Or maybe gold-handled floral cake servers, an Around our Table blank recipe book with recipe cards or maybe a marble tree cheese board? Or yes, vintage-inspired Holly and Berries glasses! You are bound to cross some items off your list here.Donovan Family Chocolates www.donovanfamilyconfections.comStunningly crafted handmade chocolates. A box of them will delight the eyes and then the palate! Holiday flavors include Snowman Hot Cocoa, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Peppermint Mocha, Grinch’s Heart Black Forest Cake, Rudolph Gingerbread Caramel Crunch, Mom's Christmas Snickerdoodle. They’ve also created boozy options, so head to their website for the full flavor gallery.Double L Market www.doublelmarket.comPersonality Boxes! Personality is all about what makes each and every one of us unique. If food is the way to the heart then Double L Market is your conduit to the food. They have been creating food gift boxes for years and they will help you curate your special food finds.The food you love! And they make it easy (love that). Gianna will personally walk you through in-store or speak with you on the phone to assist you in selecting and creating a gift that reflects your personality or the one you love.You can find ideas on their website, each one subject to your personal specifications-of course! Call, text or order online.Eco Evolution www.ecoevolution.co Everything your eco-loving cooking and baking gift recipient could want; produce bags, reusable lunch bags, teas, coffees, beeswax wraps, bamboo Matcha spoons and whisks, mugs, teas, coffees and more. And all earth friendly. Griswold Inn store.griswoldinn.com/collections/gift-homeEnjoy a tipple with a splash of history with the Griswold Inn’s US Constitution Rocks or Pint Glasses, Compass Rose rocks glass and stemless tumblers, and Prohibition Pint glasses. For your nautical table, you’ll love their Green Octopus Tumblers, Martini glasses adorned with a pewter octopus, and blue and white Octopus espresso cups! And finally, gifts for the fellas could include their leather strapped flask, a Lighthouse or Fire Extinguisher cocktail shaker, or their foraging tool kit.Hartford Artisans Weaving Center www.weavingcenter.org15 years of preserving, promoting, and teaching the craft of hand-weaving at the Artisans Weaving Center! And lucky for you, they create one-of-a-kind, cotton hand-loomed linen table runners and towels that will grace your table and kitchen (and beyond) in the beautiful way that only an artisan piece can.Hudson Table Stamfordwww.hudsontable.comLearn to cook in 2025 or just have some great experiences! Time to get creative with cooking classes such as Korean Beef, Japanese Surf and Turf, donut making, Classic Nola and so many more that will have you learning and eating and eating and learning all year long. What could be better?Ideal Fish www.idealfish.comSeafood delivery service! Their fist is raised in North American and delivered to your door overnight. Branzino, Salmon, Shrimp, Caviar, Trout and Barramundi, tinned fish, filets, dips, smoked, samplers-all sustainable and raised in drug and chemical-free conditions so they are healthier and tastier and dare we say, ideal. LeRouge Handmade Chocolates by Aartiwww.lerougebyaarti.comFrom “chocolate portraits” and make-your-own-bars to artisanal decadent truffles that echo flavors from around the globe, a gift of chocolate from Aarti, brimming with expertise and attention to detail, will be a memorable and unique gift this holiday season. Le Rouge also creates stunning and customized gift boxes that are perfect for corporate gift giving. Give her a call, she loves creating the ultimate box for individuals and companies.Liuzzi Gourmet Food Market www.liuzzimarket.comServing the community since 1982 offering Italian delicacies to serve every occasion. Their stuffed-to-the-brim gift crates will make a fabulous gift for your favorite Italian food connoisseur; from meats and cheeses to pastas and sweets or their variety baskets, even Stanley Tucci would be drooling.Modern Milkman www.modernmilkman.comAll at once modern and yet harkens back to a simpler time. This farm-to-doorstep milk delivery service lets you choose your share based on how many products you would like to receive each week-everything from whole milk to coffee milk and half-and-half, cream cheese, yogurt, eggs and more. This is truly a community enterprise, as they have a food partnership program so if you are away or have too much in your fridge, you can donate to families in need via the Hockanum Valley Food Pantry.Mystic Knotwork www.mysticknotwork.comAmerican-made woven nautical knots that will leave you impressed. With a long nautical history (the first and oldest knot shop in the U.S.), Mystic Knotwork has evolved from weaving dog toys and beloved knot bracelets to woven items for your home and table; bottle stoppers, coasters, trivets, place card holders. The perfect touch of nautical New England.Nutmeg and Honey www.nutmegandhoney.com Curated boxes celebrating the best of the Nutmeg state! Their “Good Morning” will be a winner (and who wants to make breakfast after cooking and baking all season?) with local pancake mix, coffee beans, Blueberry Lemon jam, Jane Austin’s black tea and strainer, Honey Vanilla small batch granola and raw honey. All from CT!Oysterman’s Daughterwww.oystermansdaughter.comSend fresh Copps Island oysters, clams, even a lobster! Or maybe instead of eating, your favorite sea-foodie would like to learn how to shuck? They’ve got the knives, towels, gloves, the shucking deal.Papineau Studios www.papineaustudio.com From the private art studio of Anne Marie Papineau in Litchfield, artisan glassware to make your table and every drink you serve all the more memorable. Lead-free crystal glassware is etched and painted with details of natural elements such as strikingly colored feathers, Birch trees, hearts, dragonflies and more.Songbird Woodcraft @songbird_woodcraftNatural edge handmade charcuterie boards and cutting boards, some with epoxy handles, some with a variety of woods…and even one made with a horseshoe embedded in it. Check ‘em out!Tide2Table@tide_2_table Learn to gather wild blue point oysters and clams right in Westport CT. This New England tradition is family-friendly and a must-do for all seafood lovers. On the excursions, clients learn how to identify native and invasive species of fish and shellfish, and learn to use traditional hand tools to collect these different species. You’ll also learn about different methods of preparation for each catch. Best part, enjoy your catch served cold on the half shell! Wave Hill Breads www.wavehillbreads.comRecently moved into their new state-of-the-art yet homey space, they will be offering cooking and baking classes, as well as kids’ baking classes. This is the perfect opportunity to punctuate your new year with some shared and delicious experiences! Check their website or updates on classes.Waypoint Spiritswww.drinkwaypoint.comSure, you could show up to your next holiday party with a bottle of Waypoint Spirits Espresso flavored Vodka or Honey Habanero Flavored Whiskey and be a hit. You could also give the gift of their Local Bourbon Barrel Club! Four different levels, which include everything from participating in the barrel filling process to tastings to their own bottles. White Gate Farmwww.whitegatefarm.netHead to this lovely 100 acre farm and partake in some classes that highlight the organic White Gate Farm experience. A great way to do that is with their cooking classes such as their 2-hour hands-on and demo Sourdough Bread making classes that focus on boules, focaccia, and their sweet sourdough, The Morning Loaf. Cookbooks From CT Authors The Cake Bible-35th Anniversary Edition, by Rose Levy Beranbaum The definitive cake by America’s top cake baker. Celebrate these 35 years of publication by…baking a cake!Forage and Feast by Chrissy Tracy Recipes for Bringing Mushroom and wild plants to your table.Garden Grown by Julia Dzafic Got a garden? Here are over 100-veggie forward, family-friendly recipes to utilize what is harvested from your beloved garden, with gardening tips scattered in for good measure.Savor: Recipes to Celebrate by Alison Milwe Grace Favorite recipes, themed classes and menus for gatherings by the owner/chef of AMG Catering in Wilton, CTServing Life: Behind Bars, Kitchens, and Hospitality, by Justin Michael Morales Inside the wild world of hospitality from the vantage point of life working in kitchens and behind the bar.Afiyat Bit by Eman Neamat 50 favorite, easy-to-make Kurdish recipes and traditions, from her kitchen to yours (Afiyat Bit means Bon Appetit!) The Jewish Holiday Table by Naama Shefi Recipes, traditions, and stories collected by the Jewish Food Society to show how celebrations are marked throughout the year through what is shared at our tables.Nourish by Terry Walters 200 Plant-based and gluten-free recipes to feed body, mind, and soul. Eat healthily easily and joyfully!Monthly SubscriptionsAshlawn Farm Coffee www.farmcoffee.comTheir beloved coffees have quite the following. And if you join their subscription program, their roaster will choose two (12 oz) offerings to be delivered right to your doorstep every month. Morning coffee just got interesting.Fairfield & Greenwich Cheese Conpanywww.cheesemongerbox.comHighest quality American and European cheeses direct to your door. Bliss! Choose from the Classic Box (3, 1/2 lb. cuts of cheese, available as monthly or one-off), The Signature Box (3, 1/2 lb. cuts, artisan crackers and a jam/spread/charcuterie, available as monthly or one-off) or a Build a Box (3 cheeses and two accompaniments).Jonathan Edwards www.jedwardswinery.comWithin the shoreline town of Stonington sits the Jonathan Edwards Winery and they have been producing since 2001. Join or gift a Wine Club subscription, which range from 2-4 shipments per year, focusing on either reds or a mix and limited releases. Ox Hollow Farmwww.oxhollowfarm.comGive a membership card, which helps the farm with their production costs and then can be used towards any farm item they sell at their markets and farm stands. Quality food for you along with supporting your local farmer.Simpson and Vail Teawww.svtea.comMostly subscription boxes of tea, which contain four varieties of loose leaf tea. Each bag makes approximately 6 cups of tea. That’s enough to just about get you through each month or host a tea party or two. Selections of the month are listed on their website.Stylish Spoon www.stylishspoon.comSubscribe and get healthy and convenient breakfast Oatmeal cups in delish flavors like Wild Blueberry and Cranberry orange, cookie bites, supersede breads and trail mix bars. Your health goals for the new year just got a little easier.Sub-Edge Farm www.subedgefarm.comEggs or Flowers? Give the gift of flowers with a Flower CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Share! You’ll allow your gift-ee to pick up a farm-grown bouquet at the farm every week from mid-June until the end of September. Or give an Egg Share (now there’s a memorable gift!) of 16 weeks of pasture raised fresh eggs.Beyond ConnecticutBits & Pieces www.bitsnpiecescc.com CTbites’ former contributor, Eliza Schlesinger, now partners with her talented husband, Chef Orlando Benavidez, owner of Bits and Pieces con cerveza, to craft unique, gluten-free, non-GMO, all natural, vibrant, chile-based corn tortillas, Latin-inspired sauces and his own individually crafted spice blends. Chef Orlando’s culinary roots trace back to his grandparents’ farm and kitchen in New Mexico, where he was taught farm-to-table practices. With fond childhood memories and experience running top kitchens in Vail, Las Vegas and Denver, Orlando created "Bits & Pieces” using only essential, fairtrade, and ethically sourced ingredients. In addition, each product label offers suggestions for the perfect pairing with proteins, vegetables, or cocktails designed to make the products accessible to cooks of all skill levels and to create a delicious culinary experience. Check out their products at https://www.bitsnpiecescc.com/lends-Tokyo Treat www.tokyotreat.com Subscription boxes filled with full-sized Japanese sweet and savory treats! In any given box you might receive seasonal KitKats, Japanese noodles, chips and salty treats, Mochi, jellies, Japanese drinks and oh, so much more. Choose a month to surprise someone or a 3, 6, year-long subscription.DrinkTrade www.drinktrade.com 3, 6 or a year of joe for your favorite java drinker but here’s the hook: it’s a new coffee each month and the coffees are from the top independent roasters in the U.S. Another cool part is that no two subscriptions will be the same since they are tailored to the recipients’ taste, what they love or what they want to try.House of Knipschildt www.chocopologie.comSend a cake, but not any ol’ cake! These cakes are sure to be the cakes of the season, the highlight of the holiday table: The Green Lady, a Matcha Green Tea Cake, The Yuzu Dragon, a Yuzu-Passionfruit cake or the Chocopologie Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake. But wait, there’s one more: Baked Alaska, which is a collaboration with the famous Delmonico’s in NYC, All as delicious as they look. End the year or start 2025 on a super sweet note!
