Local Toronto gifts to get for the foodie in your life this holiday season
December has descended, Christmas coming, and the time of epic consumption has begun.
This is the time of year when hoards of people storm the malls, frantically searching for whatever gifts will bring a smile to their loved ones’ faces.
But there’s another way. And it includes leisurely strolls through the shops of local purveyors, instead of the rat race through the mall’s halls.
Consider supporting the city’s small businesses this holiday season, and treating your friends and family to consumable gifts that, instead of sitting idle on the shelf, will have their tastebuds and tummies feeling merry and bright.
Stumped on where to start? Here are our top picks:
Gourmet chocolates
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SOMA is one of the city’s sweetest treasures, always churning out treats that look nearly too good to eat. Nearly. This year, consider gifting the chocolate-lover in your life one of this spot’s crafty creations, like the Raspberry S’more Chocolate Twig. The large-format truffle features 5 glorious layers of honey graham cracker, Fiji and raspberry chocolate truffle, marshmallow, and raspberry and burnt sugar crackle.
Address: 443 King Street West
Phone: 416-599-7662
Address: 32 Tank House Lane
Phone: 416-815-7662
Preserves
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Serving up jams, jellies and all of the sweets, Kitten and the Bear is a gift to Toronto, in and of itself. Lucky for those who aren’t located in the west end, some of the spot’s nicest goodies can be easily gifted! Consider grabbing a jar of pear and mulled wine preserve alongside some fresh scones, or one of the spot’s curated and themed gift boxes.
Address: 1414 Dundas Street West
Phone: 647-926-9711
Coffee
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If the position of (hu)man’s best friend wasn’t already taken by dogs, coffee would certainly earn the top spot. Instead, we’ll offer the stuff a close second. Give the gift of energy to the go-getter in your life, so that they can run, not walk, into 2020 with a ready-to-thrive attitude.
Address: 1131 St. Clair Avenue West
Phone: 416-923-6675
Local spirits
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If your best friend’s bar cart is looking a little bare these days, why not help them top it off with a local spirit offering? In Toronto’s historic Distillery District, you’ll find Spirit of York, offering up made-in-Toronto spirits ideal for enjoying over the holiday season. The cranberry spiced vodka will transition beautifully from Christmas dinner to New Year’s Eve celebrations… if it lasts that long.
Address: 12 Trinity Street
Phone: 416-777-0001
Éclairs
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Some of Toronto’s most snazzy bakeries take the kitschiest Christmas characters and turn them into glamourous bites. Take Nügateau, for example. This spot is serving holiday-themed éclairs that’ll make your office Secret Santa gasp out loud… and then, hopefully, share the treasures with the rest of the class.
Address: 717 Queen Street West, Toronto
Phone: 647-748-7001
Address: Saks Food Hall, lower level – 176 Yonge Street
Macarons
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Another excellent option for the French-pastry lover, a box of macarons is always a good idea. Opt for the adventure of a combination of flavours from Nadege, or stick to your personal favourite one or two choices, to gift to your fancy friend who loves the finer things in life.
Address: 780 Queen Street West, Toronto
Phone: 416-368-2009
Address: 1099 Yonge Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-968-2011
Address: The PATH, Richmond Adelaide Centre, Toronto
Phone: 416-350-2014
Address: Yorkdale Mall, 3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-789-2016
Craft beer
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Beer is always a solid choice, but Big Rock is taking the giftability of brews up a notch. With a blank space on the spot’s tall can of traditional ale, you can personalize this present to make it extra memorable for the beer-lover in your life.
Address: 42 Liberty Street
Phone: 416-304-9403
Tinctures
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In case you forgot, the Christmas season is also cold season. As such, a natural and kinda-hippie source of immune support just might entice your yoga-doing, crystal-bathing cousin. Rainbo, a powerful combination of 11 medicinal mushrooms, fits the bill. Boasting adaptogenic properties that may support relaxation, immunity, and general wellness, this little dropper is the perfect addition to that morning cup of coffee.
Address: Likely General – 389 Roncesvalles Avenue
Phone: 647-351-4590
Fresh-baked cookies
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Fresh. Baked. Cookies. Need we say more? No, but we will. Craig’s Cookies are big, soft, squishy, and oftentimes filled with ultra good stuff. The shops are offering holiday-themed gift boxes of 6 or 12, which are ideal for gifting to one sweet-lover, or bringing along to a seasonal gathering… where you might be able to snag one for yourself.
Address: 1537 Queen Street West, 483 Church Street
Phone: 647-343-5156
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