Tis’ the season for shopping, and once again we’re providing you with a variety of gift ideas to be found throughout Columbus this holiday season. Every Thursday, we’re showcasing gift ideas at various stores. This week we’re focusing on food and drink items.
1. Huffman’s Market – Holiday Dinner Shopping
Huffman’s Market has been an Upper Arlington grocery institution for 24 years and was recently in our spotlight after the new Giant Eagle opened up a few blocks down the road from them. If you’ve got holiday dinner shopping to do this year, swing by Huffman’s and pick up a Rack of Lamb, a few bottles of wine (or Egg Nog) and some homemade soup-to-go for your party.
More information can be found at www.huffmansmarket.com.
2. Columbus Food Adventures – Tour Gift Certificates
Food blogger Bethia Woolf and her partner Andy Dehus launched Columbus Food Adventures this summer to provide residents and visitors alike with new ways to explore local culinary options found a bit off the beaten path. Their tours continue throughout the winter months, and gift certificates are available for purchase online.
More information can be found at www.columbusfoodadventures.com.
3. Le Chocoholique – Holiday Treats
This new chocolatiere opened in the Short North earlier this year and has already gotten quite a few positive reviews from CU regulars. Their holiday treats include everything from vegan and kosher chocolates to chocolate-covered potato-chips to bacon toffee. Holiday delivery is also available.
More information can be found at www.LeChocoholique.com.
4. Brother’s Drake – Apple Pie Mead
Skip the holiday dessert this year and crack open a bottle of chilled (or warmed) Apple Pie Mead from local meadery Brother’s Drake instead. We admit that it might be hard to pick just one flavor from their offerings, but their cider-based apple pie flavor lends itself well to celebrating the holiday cheer. If the sweetness is too much for you, they also have a great semi-dry Southern Belle and semi-sweet VO that are equally great.
More information can be found at www.BrothersDrake.com.
5. The Hills Market – Local Ohio Foods
Local, local, local. The Hills Market goes uber-local for the Holidays and brings out the best in what Ohio has to offer to your pantry. From sauces to meats to honey to dairy to produce, Hills has a little bit of everything made locally. And not only do your purchases of local products help to support local businesses, Hills is additionally giving back to the community by donating 10% of all local product sales to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank through the end of the year.
More information can be found at www.TheHillsMarket.com.
6. The Olive Orchard – Olive Oil Gift Sets
The Olive Orchard was founded six years ago as a local importer of high-quality oils from around the world, but their recent relaunch in 2010 has placed their products more prevalently in stores throughout Central Ohio. Their products can also be purchased online, and gift sets and sampler sets are a perfect match for holiday gift ideas.
More information can be found at www.TheOliveOrchard.com.
7. Watershed Distillery – Columbus-Made Gin
Watershed Distillery just officially launched their products on December 1st, though their business has been a long time in the making. The signature spirit from Watershed is their gin, which has a lighter, smoother taste compared to other traditional gins, and has some very unique citrus highlights. A great addition to the liquor cabinet for that cocktail connoisseur on your shopping list this year (or for yourself!).
More information can be found at www.WatershedDistillery.com.
8. Nida’s Sushi – Sushi Making Kits and Japanese candies
Nida Perry expanded beyond the North Market in 2008 with the popular Nida’s Thai on High restaurant, but the original Market shop is where the magic all began. In addition to selling ready-to-eat sushi, the small shop carries all of the ingredients you’d need to put together a “sushi making kit” for your favorite at-home-chef. And for the less adventurous (or for the kids), Nida’s carries a wide variety of imported Japanese candies, including a couple different flavors of Pocky. Great for a stocking stuffer!
More information can be found at www.NorthMarket.com/Nidas-Sushi.
9. Via Vecchia Winery – Wine from the Heart of the Brewery District
Earlier this summer, Via Vecchia relocated their wine production facility into the Brewery District and have begun work on producing large amounts of wine on site. Currently, the winery is selling four types of wines from their 2006 portfolio, and offer tastings and retail sales both in their new location as well as in several retail outlets around Central Ohio.
More information can be found at www.ViaVecchiaWinery.com.
10. Bink Davies – Ribbon Candy from Hammond’s
Bink Davies is a gift shop that opened in the Short North this past spring and offers a very wide selection of items that would make great unique holiday gift items. It was almost too hard to pick just one item here to highlight, but we noticed that the Lip Shmacking Around blog posted up an article praising the Ribbon Candy from Hammond’s that they keep in stock. A good reason to stop in, and who knows… you might find something else there while you’re at it.
More information can be found at www.BinkDavies.com.
11. Middle West Spirits – OYO Vodka
2010 has been a year of tremendous growth for local artisan alcohol production, and newcomers Middle West Spirits have quickly become one of the crown jewels of the scene. Their flagship product is their OYO Vodka, a full-bodied vodka made from local ingredients. You can find OYO in a variety of retail outlets as well as at the retail shop built into their production facility in the Short North.
More information can be found at www.MiddleWestSpirits.com.
12. North Market Spices – Salts, Rubs and Seasonal Seasonings
North Market Spices is another relatively new vendor in the historic marketplace, and their offers are a perfect fit if you have a cooking enthusiast on your gift list this year. The shop carries over 80 types of spices, rubs and mixes, and each one lends itself to dozens of recipes and applications, which can help spice up anyone’s cooking habits.
More information can be found at www.NorthMarket.com/North-Market-Spices.
13. Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties – Rich Mint Brownie Bark
Peppermint Bark is an annual holiday tradition for many fans of the holiday season, and Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties offers their own spin on the classic as a special limited-time holiday treat. Their Rich Mint Brownie Bark combines the classic peppermint flavor with the unique brownie richness that Sugardaddy’s has become known for. Brownie Bark is available in-store only at their two locations, but other products can also be ordered online.
More information can be found at www.Sugardaddys.com.
14. Barrel & Bottle
One more stop at the North Market takes us to the newly opened Barrel and Bottle boutique, serving up a wide selection of beer and wine to market shoppers. No matter what your tastes may be, The B&B offers over 250 wines and 150 beer selections in their space with many seasonal favorites in stock for the holidays.
More information can be found at www.NorthMarket.com/The-Barrel-and-Bottle.