As we once again wade into the treacherous waters of gift giving fraught with socks and gift cards this holiday season, there is always one category of present that never misses: food. Whether it be a hand-made preserve or a craft beverage, giving something delicious to your loved ones is a sure-fire way to warm their hearts this winter. Here are five spots in the city to check out when completing your list!
Charmaine Sweets
Charmaine Sweets is your neighbourhood bakery baking everything from scratch and fresh to order! Be sure to pick up some sweet treats as a great gift idea! These rich, buttery treats come in tins or boxes – all wrapped up to give to someone special! Shortbread cookies, $12 – 45.
Sahara & Co.
Holiday Gift Giving is easy at Sahara & Co with our complimentary gift wrapping and premade Gift Baskets. Sahara & Co’s loose leaf tea brand Sahara Tea focuses on premium wellness teas, incredible taste, and all hand blended in our studio. The popular hand poured soy candles are made with essential oils, and all natural ingredients along with our Bath Therapy Salts. Come by to visit and pick up ready made gifts. Mention GIFT20 to receive 20% off your gift baskets.
Kitten and the Bear
Jams and preserves are a holiday season staple, and there’s no better place in Toronto to get your fill than Kitten and the Bear. Located in the heart of Little Portugal, this boutique crafts French confiture-style jams by hand in small batches with locally sourced produce. Be sure to check out their Holiday Collection, which includes delectable preserve flavours such as “pear, maple and scotch” and “red berries and winter spices.” They also have winter-themed gift boxes, complete with herbal teas and various confections!
Blood Brothers Brewing
While the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can also get a wee bit stressful. With the return of larger family gatherings after a year off in 2020, a few drinks here and there to take the edge off are a borderline necessity. Enter Blood Brothers, a craft brewery in The Junction that’s mixing up some seriously unique ales. Whether you imbibe on their Holy Ghost Seltzer or pick up their hot sauce gift pack, their offerings are sure to warm up anybody on your list. If you’d really like to give your significant others a gift nobody else will have, check out Blood Brothers’ collaborative event with Momofuku on Dec. 19. Pick up some Korean and Southern fried chicken for yourself, and their new Devil’s Trill XXVII: Chug Marry Trill six-pack (which features collabs with Badlands, Brewskey and Third Moon) for your friends!
If you’re looking for a gift with a feel-good story behind it, look no further than Found Coffee Shop. Located in Kensington Market, Found Coffee was started by Leighton Walters in Australia. When Walters moved to Toronto in 2019, he brought his idea for a change-making coffee house with him. On top of providing a tip top café atmosphere and ethically sourced cups of joe, Found Coffee donates $1,000 monthly to the cause/charity of a customer’s choice. Votes can be cast in store, and new ideas are always welcome. In terms of gift ideas, Found Coffee collaborated with Oakville’s @sethtaylorcoffee on some artisan beans. But perhaps no menu item tops their “Pay it Forward” option. Customers are invited to donate a dollar that will be put towards a coffee/food item for someone in need, a truly emblematic gesture of what this time of year is all about.