I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Whether I’m creating recipes or baking for stress relief, I’ve discovered using quality ingredients makes a difference in the taste of my dishes. That’s why I enjoy writing my holiday foodie posts. I can share some of my favorite foods from family-owned businesses. You’ll find a variety of these goodies in the Gourmet Food Gifts 2020 gift guide. No matter who’s on your list, there’s something to please the pickiest of critics!

Gourmet Food Gifts

We’ve divided our gifts into five sections; spices and condiments, coffee & tea, libations, sweet treats and snacks, and gift boxes.

Spices & Condiments

Laconiko Ultra Premium 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Quality olive oil adds the perfect finish to a dish. At Laconiko, producing superior oil is a passion inspired by their father, Vasilios Pierrakos. Since this family-owned business produced their first batch of oil in 2009, they’ve garnered awards from around the world, including the BEST IN GREECE for best Koroneiki in all of Greece, the Top 10 Worldwide EVOO in Healthy Oleocanthal Composition, and repeated awards in the New International Olive Oil Competition.

We sampled the Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Infused with Black Truffle Oil. These oils are not just for cooking! The smooth, rich taste shines through, making it a wonderful accompaniment to a charcuterie tray or used as a dipping sauce for bread. Laconiko also sells balsamic vinegar, olive oil spices, olive oil soaps, and flavored olive oils with varieties like blood orange, sundried tomato parmesan, and pesto. Once you’ve tasted their oil, it’s easy to see why they are the most-awarded Greek olive oil in America.

The Spice Lab– This is a family-owned company that makes an appearance every year in my Foodie Gift Guide. With their variety of seasonings, salts, spices, sugar, and mixology ingredients, it’s easy to see why their motto is “cooking inspiration.” Tip: Their hickory smoked salt is a must when preparing fresh green beans. If you’re ready to ‘spice up your life,’ try one of their Spice Lab Seasoning Collections, like their Mediterranean Collection, featuring four spices, Spicy Italian Sun-dried Tomatoes, French Onion+Garlic, Sicilian Blend, and Mediterranean Blend. In the mood for a fiesta? Try their Fajita Seasoning Blend. It’s not just for fajitas! Add it to burgers, nachos, or grilled veggies for a deliciously different treat.

Ready to impress your guests? Serve up your favorite drinks, ceviche, or gazpacho in their Creative Mixology Salt Shooters Gift Package. It includes four 100% pure Himalayan Salt Shooters, each complete with a patented tequila flavor saver insert, and a wooden serving tray with a ceramic lime wedge insert.

Lusty Monk Mustard– Founder Kelly Davis, whose business is based out of Asheville, North Carolina, was browsing through an old cookbook when she found a mustard recipe and decided to tweak it. The results were three new flavors; Original Sin, Temptation Honey Mustard, and Burn in Hell Chipolte Mustard. These mustards, as the name implies, are not the typical boring mustards we spread on sandwiches. These are flavorful and have a kick of heat. Seriously, the horseradish in these flavors will clear your sinuses. We’ve used these mustards on everything from burgers and chicken sandwiches to dipping sauce for pretzels. It elevates the flavor from ho-hum to yum.

I also got a kick out of how she decided on the Lusty Monk name. In Medieval times, spicy foods were considered an aphrodisiac. Certain orders of monks were forbidden to eat mustard as it could lead to lust. Other monasteries ignored this edict and began to create their own mustard. Lusty Monk is a celebration of those monks who took the chance of preparing their own mustards.

Unprecedented Thyme – Let’s face it. 2020 hasn’t been the best year. One of the ways I’ve found to spice things up is by using a new spice blend like Unprecedented Thyme. Created by Fleshigs Magazine, this spice is a blend of classic herbs mixed in a new and delicious combination. They’ve used high-quality thyme, sumac, coriander, turmeric, Himalayan sea salt, cayenne pepper & cinnamon to develop a unique taste that’s slightly sweet and slightly tangy.

Described as an “earthy, complex blend,” Unprecedented Thyme is Star K Certified Kosher and makes a great addition to stews and soups. You can also use it as a marinade or dry rub on your favorite meats and vegetables. Not only will it add flavor to the kitchen, but you can also feel good knowing that 10% of all sales are donated to the Masbia Soup Kitchen Network; a group that provides emergency food packages to New York City residents in need.

Bear Creek Smokehouse– Our family grills year-round. That’s why the Bear Rubz Seasoning 5-pack and the Saucy Duo are a perfect present for the men in my family. We tried The Saucy Duo, which includes the “Bear Necessities;” a jar of Jalapeno Honey Mustard, and a jar of Smokey Barbeque Sauce. These really do put the finishing touch on a platter of smoked pork or grilled chicken. For your next cookout, try the Bear Rubz Seasoning pack. It includes one jar each of the Brisket & Rib Rub, the Steak Seasoning, the Burger Spice, the Blackening Seasoning, and the Rooster Rub. And, don’t think these seasonings are limited to grilling. Try them in the smoker and the air fryer too.

Family-owned since its beginning in 1943, this company is dedicated to producing award-winning smoked meats and more. You’ll find everything from soup mixes, dip mixes, gumbo, and Tea in a Jar. Need a surprise gift? Pick up one of their gift boxes which can be shipped throughout the US. I’m adding the Country Breakfast Box, with hickory-smoked bacon, a box of MeMaw’s Maple Infused Pancake Mix, and smoked pork sausage, to my Christmas Wishlist.

Coffee and Tea

Amora Coffee– Do you run on coffee? The Amora Coffee Club is for you. Established in 2011, their mission is simple. They deliver the freshest roasted coffee beans directly to your door. Whether you choose whole beans or finely ground, the beans go through a 9-step roasting process performed by 5th generation master roasters. It’s then hand-packed and delivered to your home in two days, making a difference you can taste.

Amora has eight custom gourmet blends including the Elegante Blend, with notes of chocolate, caramel, and spices, the fruity, creamy Delicante Blend, the Vigorosi blend, hinting of dark chocolate, lemon, and caramel, and the smokey and spicy Intenso blend. The beauty of their program is that you choose the number of bags you wish to purchase and how often you’d like to have it delivered. Amora also has a tea subscription service with six tempting blends available.

Adagio Tea– is another repeat favorite to our gift guide. Their loose leaf tea blends are highly sought after by my children, who raid my cabinets to find them. A small family-owned business, Adagio works directly with farmers around the world to produce a variety of tea blends. This year, they have several seasonal products available for the holidays including the 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar and the new 12 Days of Tea Gift Set.  I love the idea of a grownup take on the Advent Calendar. While the 4-year-old is enjoying her piece of candy from her calendar, I can take a break with tea from my calendar in flavors like Gingerbread and Candy Cane.

The 12 Days of Tea are packaged in adorable reusable gift tins that can be hung on the Christmas tree. Each tea bag relates to the 12 Days of Christmas song with selections like White Pear and Rooibos Peacan Turtle. Available in loose-leaf or bags, this is a gift you might want to hide for yourself. $29/tea advent calendar $19/12 days of Tea

Catspring Yaupon Tea– is another small family business with a big heart. Made from the Yaupon plant, a type of Holly plant that is native to the Southwestern US, Yaupon tea was once produced by Native Americans. Today, sisters JennaDee Detro and Abianne Falla create their own blends of Yaupon from their family ranch and several surrounding ranches in Catspring, Texas. The tea is available in three varieties, Marfa, a dark roast, Lost Maples, a medium roast, and Pedernales, a green yaupon. There’s also a special holiday variety, Deck the Hills.

I loved learning about the meanings behind the tea names. The Lost Maples, for example, is inspired by The Lost Maples forest. But, best of all, is the flavor of the tea itself; rich and full bodied. Since I’m not a tea purist, I like to add a bit of sugar and milk to my cup, but it is good served plain, iced, or hot.

Steeped Coffee– believes a simple cup of coffee can help us “slow down and take a moment to connect.” That’s the secret behind their process. They build relations with everyone; from their ethically-sourced fair-trade agreements with farmers to their partnerships with artisanal roasters. There are five blends of this hand-roasted, micro-ground coffee; Sunrise Light Roast, Medium Roast, Dark Roast, French Roast and Decaf. And, it’s simple to make too. Just place the coffee bag in hot water and let it steep. Or, if you are like me and like iced coffee drinks, steep it, then chill it for later.

You can enjoy your coffee on your schedule with Steeped Coffee’s subscription service. You can have a box of 10 or 30 packs of coffee delivered to you anything. Choose one blend or a variety of blends and change your subscription details at any time. After all, the only thing better than a fresh cup of coffee is having the coffee delivered straight to your door.

Libations

Wine Insiders– Who hasn’t been frustrated trying to find a good bottle of wine at a reasonable price? The folks at Wine Insiders have been there and want to “make shopping for great wine easy, convenient, fun, and affordable.” Browse through their site and you can find everything from name-brand imported or domestic wines available by the bottle or by the set. I like how the site is divided into clear sections; reds, whites, and countries or regions. They even have sections for special diets, like low sulfite or vegan. Each wine includes detailed listings of flavor profiles and food pairing, along with customer reviews.

Want wine all the time? Join the Wine Insiders club to receive 12 bottles of red, white, or mixed wines exclusive to club members every 12 weeks. Since there’s no obligation you can cancel or change your subscription at any time. This is an easy way to try new varietals you might not discover otherwise.

Sideshow Bloody Mary Mix– Pete & Kelly Holzer were on a mission: create the perfect Bloody Mary Mix. To develop the “perfect blend of ingredients combined with the perfect consistency,” they tested 75 recipes until they found their secret formulas. “Sure,” they say, “Our Side Show secret recipes utilize some typical bloody mary ingredients, but several surprises as well.”
Available in 3 flavors, Strongman, Fire Breather, and Trick Rider, you can find your preferred taste from mild to wild.

Strongman, the original flavor, has a mellow taste perfect to use for the Classic Bloody Mary. If you’re looking to up the ante, try Trick Rider with a zippy combination of horseradish, cayenne, and more. If you’re fearless and like spice in your life, try the Fire Breather, with its notes of Jalapeno and Garlic. If you don’t drink, Strongman makes an excellent base for soups or stews. Sideshow Bloody Mary Mixes are available online in 4 or 9 packs.

Sweet Treats & Snacks

eCreamery Ice Cream and Gelato– Dessert lovers can rejoice because eCreamery has the perfect gifts; homemade ice cream, gelato, and cookies. Founders Becky App and Abby Jordan put their cravings for ice cream into good use creating amazing flavors like Butter Brickle, a blend of smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream with a toffee crunch, or Chocolate Cake Ice Cream with Fudge Swirls & Brownie Bites. If the flavors themselves are not enough, they are delivered in adorable pints you can personalize. Their newest venture is Carson’s Cookie Fix with 13 different flavors of cookies, like Coconut and White Chocolate Chip.

I had a hard time stopping my kids from eating the cookies and the ice cream before I took photographs. And, truthfully, I kept sneaking bites of the Butter Brickle because it was so good. Want to make your own? You can create a custom blend. Start by choosing from over 40 flavors of ice cream. Then finish it off with your choice of a long list of fruits, nuts, candy, and bakery items. It’s your ice cream, your way.

Holly’s Homemade Jam, Jelly, & Treats— There’s nothing better to slather on a biscuit than a smear of fresh jam or jelly. Holly’s Homemade has you covered with her 15 flavors of jam and jelly. But, before you say you can find jam or jelly at the store, these aren’t the typical flavors of apple, peach, and grape. Instead, you’ll find flavors like Lone Star Jalapeno Peach Jelly, Brandied Blackberry Jam, or Strawberry Lemonade Jam. Inspired by the time she spent with her grandmother learning to make jams as a child, Holly, along with her husband, Mark, continues to create delicious goodies you can enjoy too.

I’m a fan of all the flavors I tried, but especially the black cherry jam. The flavor is sweet, yet teases with a hint of tartness. It’s super when mixed with vanilla yogurt as a base for parfaits. These jams have no preservatives and really taste like the ones grandma used to make. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter as well!

Manukora Honey Love honey but not sure where your honey is harvested or whether it is high quality? Try Manukora Manuka Honey. What is Manuka Honey? It’s a special blend of honey containing naturally-occurring Methylglyoxal (MGO) and is made by bees that pollinate the Manuka Bush. Each jar is rated for potency. The rating is called UMF, which stands for Unique Manuka Factor. Jars of Manukora honey can be purchased in either MGO 50+ or 100+. It can also be purchased in the rare varieties of UMF 15+, 20+, and 24+.

This New Zealand based company believes in trust and authenticity. Each jar has an independent sequencing technology “Trust Codes,” which gives you a detailed list of where the honey was derived right down to the beehive it came from. All of their products are Non-GMO, Antibiotic-free, and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) certified.

Mama Geraldine’s – Cheese straws are a Southern tradition. You’ll find a batch at almost any social gathering, potluck, or tailgating party. In 1994, Cathy Cunningham was nibbling on a batch of her mother’s cheese straws, when she had an epiphany. She could sell these cheese straws! The result was The Bodacious Foods Company featuring Mama Geraldine’s Cheese Straws and Cookies. And, if you’ve never heard the word ‘bodacious’ before, it means ‘as good as it gets.’ Today, the company produces 4 flavors of cheese straws; Aged Cheddar, Chipoltle Cheddar, Parmesan Herb, and Pimento Cheese. People with celiac will be thrilled because there are also two flavors of gluten-free cheese straws, aged cheddar, and parmesan cheese.

Ready for a cookie-fix? Try one of their 3 flavors of bite-sized morsels; Italian Wedding, Pecan Cini-Minis, and Key Lime. With each bite, you’ll remember why their motto is “Snack on, y’all.”

Sugar Plum Beer & Bourbon Liquor Nuts– Fran Edley was determined to make the world sweeter “one bite at a time.” The result was the creation of Sugar Plum Chocolates in 1995. Since that time, Fran has been shipping quality chocolates and nuts throughout the country. We tried the Beer and Bourbon Liquor Nuts which come in a collectible tin. Each tin includes 3 flavors of nuts; Jamaican Lager Infused-Peanuts, Irish Stout Infused-Cashews, and Kentucky Bourbon Infused-Almonds. My favorite is the Irish Stout Infused-Cashews which have a slightly sweet finish. I’ve been eating them straight from the bag, but they’d be a great addition to cookies or as an ice cream topping.

The tin did say it was designed for one to three people so I don’t feel bad for hogging the bag of cashews for myself. 🙂 If nuts aren’t your thing, check out their chocolate gift baskets with favorites like chocolate-covered potato chips, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered popcorn, and more.

Gift Boxes

The Chef’s Garden – Do you love to cook with fresh vegetables and herbs but are disappointed with the ingredients you purchase from the local store? That’s where the Chef’s Garden comes in. They’ve been delivering “specialty products with optimum shelf life, quality, flavor, and nutrition direct from the farm” for over 30 years. The food is hand-harvested and sent to your home overnight to ensure freshness. I was impressed with the selection, variety, and look of the products in my shipment. I grew up on a farm and know how hard it is to get perfect vegetables! Because it’s fall, I wasn’t expecting a large selection of groups, but this package surpassed my expectations.

My package included fresh rainbow carrots, microgreens, edible flowers, herbs, cauliflower, mixed greens, radishes, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, beets, and more. Having been sadly disappointed by the squishy cucumbers I’d found in the store lately, having vibrant, crunchy cucumbers was a treat. Each package even included a tag that read “specially harvested for Pam Wattenbarger,” which added a sweet personal touch.

That’s my list for Gourmet Food Gifts 2020. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does! Do you have a hard-to-please foodie on your list? Tell us what you think they’d like for the holidays.

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