So many parties to attend, so many hostess gifts to buy.
Poor you! Why not freshen up your go-to gifts with some locally made products that anyone on your list would be thrilled to receive? Here are some of my current festive Midwestern favorites for holiday giving:
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| Collins Caviar Classic & Flavored TinsFor 28 years, Carolyn Collins (now joined by her daughter Rachel) has produced impeccably fresh, intriguingly flavored Great Lakes caviar. I love the spicy Wasabi Tobikko and Caviar Citron ($48, 3.5 oz.); purists might prefer the Salmon ($68, 3.5 oz.) or Paddlefish Caviar ($132, 3.5 oz.). Order a pack of Blini ($10) while you’re at it. | Jo Snow Syrups Fruity Gift SetMelissa Yen was bored with the coffee syrups she had at her café, so she started making her own. Add them to cocktails, coffee, tea, lemonade or to gild a snowcone! With flavors like Ginger Passion Fruit, Hibiscus-Basil-Orange Blossom, and Kickin’ Cream Soda, you can go wild. $22, Binny’s, Crate and Barrel and Whole Foods. | Katherine Anne Confections Daily Candy Treat CollectionLord have mercy, the truffles! Flavors like Goat Cheese-Walnut and Peanut Butter-Apple are just the beginning. Add her local Illinois wildflower Honey Caramels and the sinful Salted Caramel Marshmallows and you ‘ve got yourself a party. $43, Katherine Anne Confections. |
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| Koval Distillery Local LiquersFun fact: Koval was the first craft distillery to open in Chicago since Prohibition. Lucky for us, they’re making certified organic and kosher single-grain white whiskeys, rye vodka, brandies and liqueurs, all packaged in gorgeous, elongated bottles. $24-50, Koval Distillery. | Metropolis Coffee Small Batch CoffeeThere’s a reason why Metropolis’ coffee is so good: it’s made in small batches and roasted locally with fair-trade beans. I’m loving the seasonal Hullabaloo! Visit their café or else grab a bag or two at Whole Foods. You’ll be a popular guest. $18 per pound, Metropolis Coffee. | Rishi Teas Taste of Taiwan Gift SetBeautiful, carefully curated gift sets filled with exotic loose leaf teas, and a classic cupping Guywan Teapot are available online from Milwaukee’s Rishi Tea. $88, rishi-tea.com |
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| The Spice House Ethnic Chicago Neighborhoods Gift BoxI love this place! There’s no substitute for Tom and Patty Erd’s freshly ground spices; they add so much flavor to every dish they grace. This gift box features Bridgeport, Pilsen Latino, Ukrainian Village and Back of the Yards spice blends, plus cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and whole nutmegs. $21, The Spice House. | Sweet Girl Desserts: Dessert KitsPastry chefs Dana Benigno and Tara Lane know a thing or two about chocolate, and they want to make your life tastier. Four-Star Chocolate Mousse and Chocolate Souffle kits make delicious easy. $11, available at Convito Café & Market. | Three Tarts Bakery Gingerbread HousesThis shortcut to sweet architectural success is a huge holiday boon, and a great family activity. The houses are pre-fab; icing and decorations are included. $ 20 – $43, Three Tarts Bakery and Cafe. |
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| Top Hat Sundae Best Gift BoxI would eat an iPhone if it had Mayan Legacy Dessert Sauce poured on top. Uplift even the most pedestrian desserts with Top Hat, produced in Wilmette, $30. Sauces available at Artisanal Market (Wilmette), Foodstuffs (Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview), Chalet (Wilmette), Schaefer’s (Skokie) and Sunset Foods (Lake Forest, Long Grove, Highland Park, Northbrook). | City Provisions Gift BasketGround zero for local fare: food guru Cleetus Friedman has brought together all the best vittles in the Midwest under one roof and supplemented them with house-cured deli meats, unique prepared foods and even his own beer, brewed with local craft beer makers. The gift baskets are legendary. Gift Baskets, $40-$200. City Provisions. |
