HOLIDAY GUIDE
For more ideas about gifts, decorating, where to eat and what to do, check out our Atlanta Holiday Guide at AJC.com/holidayguide.
Whether you’re shopping for the baker, the cook or the entertainer, these 10 food gifts will be welcome for the holidays — and for year-round eats and treats.
1. Sweet & Spicy Snack Mix
Atlanta’s award-winning Watershed restaurant is known for its seasonal and soulful Southern-inspired dishes. But a few months ago, chef Zeb Stevenson created a recipe for hot-selling snack mix. Watershed’s Sweet & Spicy Snack Mix, which includes peanuts, popcorn, pecans, smoked paprika and dried chile, is available in two sizes of Mason jars ($10 and $20). Only at Lucy’s Market, 102 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta.
2. Ella May Bread Board
For a handsome, one-of-a-kind gift, choose the Ella May Bread Board made by Lamon Luther in Villa Rica. Founded in 2012 by Brian Preston, the company teaches craftsmanship skills to people transitioning out of homelessness. Made of solid black walnut, the 22-inch-long board ($55) can be used for serving or cutting. A hold in the handle makes the board easy to hang or display. Find the boards at lamonluther.com. Or at Verde Home, 999 Brady Ave., Atlanta, and Hope Marketplace in The Avenue West Cobb, 3625 Dallas Highway, #470, Marietta.
3. Kim's Cheese Straws
Any good Southerner knows it is not a party without cheese straws. Whether serving or sending, try Kim's Cheese Straws made in Statesboro by Kim Marsh Kaiser. The homemade cheese straws come in four flavors: the best-selling original cheddar, Parmesan (her personal favorite), tomato basil cheddar and hot habanero cheddar. A 3.5-ounce size box is $5.99. The popular four-flavor gift box is $27. Order at kimscheesestraws.com. In the metro area, find Kim's Cheese Straws at the Preserving Place, 1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, and Kudzu & Company, 6450 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.
4. Homespun
In 2012, Jason and Jamie Jimenez founded Atlanta-based Homespun, a boutique personal chef service and home goods line. An Atlanta native, Jason has worked at several Atlanta-area restaurants, including Canoe, Local Three, and Muss & Turner's. Jamie, a self-taught graphic designer, has a passion for seasonal cooking, hospitality and inspiring environments. Together, they offer one-of-a-kind gatherings, such as in-home dinners, store openings and corporate dining events. Private dinners start at $65 per person for a four-course, family-style meal. To book Homespun for you or as a gift, visit homespunatl.com.
5. Malvi
When Laura Curtis Retana and her husband, Paris, moved to Cumming three years ago, the Culinary Institute of America grad began experimenting with marshmallows. In the process, she created Malvi, an all-natural marshmallow cookie sandwich. Malvi is short for "Malvavisco," the Spanish word for marshmallow. While Vanilla Salted Caramel is top seller, Retana's favorite is Peppermint Chocolate. Coming soon: Cotton Candy Marshmallow. A Malvi four-pack is $6.50. The popular sampler ($32) includes 20 Malvis (five, four-packs). Order at malvimallow.com or check metro-area locations, including Crafted Westside, 1000 Marietta St., Atlanta, and the Spotted Trotter locations.
6. Chocolate Heaven
Krysti Henderson of Highlands, N.C., first made Chocolate Heaven as a holiday gift for family and friends. The decadent flourless cake soon made its way into a local coffee shop. Now Atlantans can indulge in the gluten-free cake, too. Available at Lucy's Market, 102 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., in two shareable sizes: a classic 9 inch ($30) and the 6-inch mini ($16). Also available online at lovechocolateheaven.com.
7. Holiday Fried Pecans
Keith Baum grew up in Louisiana in a plantation home surrounded by fruitful pecan trees, which he harvested every year for his grandmother. In 2010, Baum stumbled onto a family recipe involving pecans and developed his own lightly salty and sweet treat: Holiday Fried Pecans. Holiday favorites include the 16-ounce pail ($25) and the 24-ounce tin ($35). Order at holidayfriedpecans.com. In the metro area, find Holiday Fried Pecans (with the memorable squirrel logo) at Charles Willis, 465 E. Paces Ferry Road (Buckhead), Atlanta, and Intown Ace Hardware, 1404 Scott Blvd., Decatur.
8. Simply Fresh
Dolores Svensson began selling artisanal quinoa salads at Atlanta-area farmers markets in 2010. Within months, Svensson decided to open her Simply Fresh Market in east Cobb and sell her made-fresh-daily soups, salads and dinners-to-go. Holiday and year-round favorites for go-go families include: chicken tortilla soup, chicken pot pie, beef lasagna, and chicken piccata ($10.50-$22). Find Simply Fresh meals at Lucy’s Market, 102 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W. (Buckhead), Atlanta, and the Simply Fresh Market, 255 Village Parkway, Marietta.
9. Nicobella Organics
Nichole Dandrea-Russert is a dietitian, nutritionist and yoga instructor. She is also the founder of Atlanta-based Nicobella Organics, a line of healthy chocolates, ranging from truffles and peanut butter squares to munch (chocolate-covered nuts). Popular gift items include the variety box of truffles ($12.95 for a six-piece box) and the Nicobella sampler ($31.95/sampler). Products are free of dairy, gluten and soy. To order, visit nicobellaorganics.com. Or check the many Atlanta-area stores that carry the chocolates, including Whole Foods, Juicy Jenny, 56 E. Andrews Drive, and Tipple & Rose, 806 N. Highland Ave.
10. Zen Tea
For the tea drinker on your gift list, head for Zen Tea in Chamblee. The shop and tea house, owned by Connie Miller, offers more than 165 of pure quality loose leaf teas, tea blends and more than 30 pyramid tea bags. Loose teas are prebagged in 2-ounce resealable bags ($7 each or four for $24). While you are there, try the shop's signature drink: a Matcha iced or hot latte ($3.95). Undecided? Buy a gift certificate for a special event, like a High Teas or Tea Tasting. Visit ezentea.com or 5356 Peachtree Road in Chamblee.
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