A Local’s Gift Guide
The holiday season is upon us, and that means a trip to see the lights at the Cambria Christmas Market, planning out just the right spot to plant seats at the Christmas parade and working through a list of who deserves gifts this year. If you’re anything like me, there are a lot of people who will receive presents from yours truly.
With all of the gift giving that happens over the holidays, can we all agree to make a conscious effort to shop local? Shopping at locally owned companies preserves the one-of-a-kind character that gives the Central Coast an economic advantage. Local businesses recycle revenue back into the community. As I recently read on a Facebook post and will now spread, “When you see something through an independent retailer that costs a little more, try to remember that Amazon and Target don’t buy ads in the local football program, donate prizes to your silent auction and probably wouldn’t let you have a bake sale in front of their store.”
Get to know some of the local products that make for some thoughtful and delicious gift giving. As a special incentive for staying local, all of the gifts showcased here can be purchased at an Edible-only price of 25 percent less than retail by entering the code “EDIBLE” at checkout. All the more reason to keep it in SLO.
Yes Cocktail Co.’s Holiday Cocktail Collection
Every small batch by Yes Cocktail Co. is crafted from 100 percent real fruit, herbs, spices and botanicals, and this collection is no exception with Cranberry Spice, Ginger Snap and Sugar Plum mixers for all of your holiday gatherings. Yes mixers highlight spirits rather than cover them up, creating a true craft cocktail experience at home. Cranberry Spice is made with tart cranberry purée, cinnamon, nutmeg and other holiday mulling spices, and nicely pairs with Champagne for a holiday mimosa, vodka for a festive vodka cranberry or whiskey for a cranberry spiced old fashioned. Ginger Snap is made with cold-pressed fresh ginger root and a blend of woodsy spices including allspice and cinnamon — a must have for wintertime mules. Sugar Plum is made with fresh plum, notes of vanilla and warm spice, the perfect accompaniment to a generous pour of gin, rum or mezcal.
Retail: $50.
yescocktailco.com
Chaparral Gardens’ Vinegar Gift Set
Chaparral Gardens, a 20-acre organic ranch located on the Central Coast, specializes in gourmet fruit and balsamic vinegars produced from their own organic fruits and herbs. The balsamic starts with a California zinfandel wine, and the fruit vinegar starts with a non-GMO grain base, with all batches fermented in stainless steel. Enjoy the gift of four of Chaparral Gardens’ most popular vinegars: the number one seller Blackberry Balsamic, which won Best Vinegar in the nation in 2010; Elderberry Balsamic, using hand-sourced berries form Carmel Valley; Champagne Mimosa, a gold medal winner and top-selling fruit variety; and cult-following Winter Ambrosia.
Retail: $20.
chaparralgardens.com
CELIA Chocolatier’s 24-Piece Chocolate Assortment
CELIA introduces unique artisan Belgian chocolates with the simplest and highest quality ingredients, focusing on flavor and a heavenly customer experience. This family-owned business was launched by two women entrepreneur engineers and sisters Dinah and Rhonda Nassar, who have made these chocolates the talk of the town. The 24-piece box of chocolate is a selection of fine dark and milk chocolates, including pistachio praline, coffee, hazelnut praline, honey coconut, pistachio marzipan, almond marzipan, raspberry, orange, dark center and caramel.
Retail: $42.
celiachocolatier.com
Molefina’s Good Cook Collection of Gold Medal Olive Oils
Committed to sustainable farming and adhering to the highest standards of harvesting and milling practices to extract the finest, freshest olive oil, Molefina showcases this through four of their artist-crafted, award-winning 100 milliliter bottles, including light and fresh EVOO with grassy notes and hints of apple; an all-around culinary staple, Spanish Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Rosemary Olive Oil created by crushing fresh rosemary and blending with olives to produce a herbaceous, aromatic bouquet; Pink Lemon Olive Oil made from fresh pink lemons blended with olives for a bright, lemony accent; and Sweet Basil Olive Oil made with organic basil crushed with olives.
Retail: $52.
molefina.com
Sugar + Spoon’s Fleur de Sel Caramels, Half-Pound Box
More than 80 years ago, great-grandmother Edith started making vanilla and toasted almond caramels on a ranch in Lockwood Valley to gift to friends and family for the holidays. Ever since, Sugar + Spoon has kept it in the family, making the caramels from their kitchen in Paso Robles and continuing great-grandma’s love of sharing and creating, using the exact same recipe she used — real ingredients, absolutely no preservatives and, from start to finish, every bit made by hand. Personal favorite fleur de sel caramel is made of real cream and butter and a delicate French sea salt.
Retail: $24.
sugarandspooncaramels.com
