From a Shake Shack-scented candle to a DIY afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress, these epic foodie gifts will help make restaurant-worthy meals at home.
Mildred’s Pancake Essentials Kit, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
Chef Donna Dooher’s epic pancakes are now available Canada-wide. This kit includes everything you need, from organic maple syrup to wild blueberry compote, to host the perfect brunch. There’s also a cheeky ‘Wake me up when brunch is ready’ sign.
$40.95
The Festive – 3 Vertuo Limited Edition Coffee Assortment, Nespresso
Elite French pastry chef Pierre Hermé has come together with Nespresso’s Master Roasters to co-create a limited edition collection of exceptional coffees for this festive season. Hermé has brought his pastry-making expertise and passion for developing taste and flavour combinations to the art of the brew, with bold and delicious blends being the result.
$39.50
Scout Market Goods Holiday Bundle, Scout Canning
Perfect for the sustainable snacker, Chef Charlotte Langley’s curated ‘Seacuterie’ bundle includes a 3-pack of Scout fan favourites, a chic acacia wood serving board, oyster shucker, stoneware bowls and 4 cheese tools.
$85
Sweet & Sassy Trio Collection Gift Box, Salt Spring Kitchen
This selection of handmade, small-batch preserves is made on Salt Spring Island, B.C. and is exactly what’s needed to amp up charcuterie and cheese boards (or seacuterie boards!) for epic holiday entertaining. Gift box includes three spreads described as “a little sweet, a little spicy and a little sassy.”
$25
Apotheke x Shake Shack scented candles, Apotheke
This scented candle duo definitely wins the ‘most-unique gift’ award. New York’s iconic lifestyle store Apotheke has partnered with equally iconic fast food restaurant Shake Shack to develop two custom scents. Burger in The Park has notes of Shackburger, Magnolia and Green Grass while Shake N Fries has notes of Sea Salt, Sweet Vanilla and Fried Potato.
$42 USD
Rosemary & Clove Whisky Sour Kit, Dillon’s
Dillon’s founder Geoff Dillon doesn’t mess around when it comes to crafting honest spirits and in turn crafting honest, spirit-and-ingredient forward cocktails. His seasonal twist on the whisky sour uses the Dillon’s trifecta of Dillon’s Single Grain Rye Whisky, ginger bitters, rosemary-clove cocktail syrup; all to create a guaranteed warmup on even the frostiest days.
$88
Maple Trio Collection, Jolene’s Tea House
Jolene Brewster is known for her hometown pride, and her Banff tea house shows it in every way. This trio includes three of Jolene’s tea blends, infused with Quebec maple sugar for a truly Canadian cup.
$50
Bestseller Pack, Momofuku
This bestseller pantry kit from Momofuku’s David Chang-backed line of restaurant-quality pantry essentials is now available to order online. The selection includes brand favourites like heat-packing Chili Crunch oils, chef-quality soy sauce and three packs of Momufuku noodles.
$87
Triple Threat Combo, Zing
A Canadian line of pantry shortcuts made in collaboration with pro chefs adds an effortless, restaurant-worthy palate to home-cooked meals. The lineup includes Chef Christine Flynn’s Buzz Hot Honey, Hakka-ish Chili Crisp, and Mogambo Spiced Garlic Spread.
$37
Baker’s Box, Maison Zoe Ford
A fan of Top Chef Canada contestant Chef Jo Notkin? You can make four of her fabulous recipes with this Baker’s Box. Her Baker’s Box includes high-quality baking ingredients and directions to make bakery-quality pastries at home. Box includes Big Time Brownie Mix, Banana Bread Scone Mix and more.
$60
Smitten Kitchen Keepers, Deb Perelman
Smitten Kitchen Keepers is the long-awaited second cookbook from Deb Perelman, the best-selling author of The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. So, what’s a ‘keeper’? It’s a fuss-free lemon poppy seed cake. It’s Perelman’s favourite roasted winter squash. It’s a slow-roasted chicken served on a bed of unapologetically schmaltzy croutons. Keepers are fail-safe, satisfying recipes you’ll rely on for years to come. Brought to you by Appetite by Random House.
$40
Trio Livret et Cannes, Au Pied De Cochon
Quebec chef Martin Picard of Au Pied de Cochon opened his own Sugar Shack in 2009, and his Cabane à Sucre PDC has become a spring destination during sugaring-off. Picards’ creative cooking has inspired his own products, including a Maple Dulce de Leche and Maple Condensed Milk. This duo comes with a recipe booklet.
$21
Signature Mustard Variety Mix, Caplansky’s Delicatessen
If anyone knows mustard, it’s Zane Caplansky. This gift set has a some of his favourite small-batch mustards from his delis’ impressive lineup, including Ballpark, Mild, Horseradish and Spicy.
$40
The Signature, Kitten & the Bear
Toronto’s Kitten and the Bear tearoom serves some of the fluffiest scones around and their dessert-style preserves are sweet and spreadable. This gift set includes everything needed for serving a decadent afternoon tea, including a dry mix of their signature scones. For a final touch, there’s also a vintage teaspoon.
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$72
Bagel Box, St-Viateur Bagel
This build-your-own bagel box from Montreal bagel-baking legend St-Viateur’s can be filled with bagels (of course), and optional add-ons such as all-dressed seasoning (aka everything seasoning) and spreading spatulas to use for butter or cream cheese.
$25+
Empress Tea for One Gift Set,
Fairmont Store
Having Afternoon Tea at Victoria, B.C.’s The Fairmont Empress Tea should be on everyone’s bucket list. Empress Tea for One Gift Set has everything a tea lover would need (with the exception of the view over Victoria’s Inner Harbor) to create afteroon tea at home. There’s even a tea towel with the Empress’ famous scone recipe printed right on it.
$125
Wiseman Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Owl
Perfect for cocktails or sipping neat, Wiseman Bourbon is a whiskey for those with a pioneering spirit. Made with a masterful blend of four Kentucky Straight Bourbons, Wiseman Bourbon has aromas and flavours of sweet caramel, citrus and light oak.
Price and availability vary by province
Rosewood Honeybee, Rosewood Estates Winery
In addition to crafting great wine, the Niagara Region’s Rosewood Estates Winery also produces delicious honey on-site. This gift pack includes four signature honeys from their apiary along with a honey dipper and hand-written card. Sticky fingers? No problem – bar soap also included.
