The holidays are here, which means parties and cookie swaps and endless wine and ugly sweaters and what not. More often than not, I wait until I’m rushing out the door to the party to think of what to take with me. I normally end up stopping at the closest grocery store and picking up a bottle of wine or flowers. I guess that’s better than showing up empty handed, but I figured I can be a bit more thoughtful! And in order to do that, I started with a list of some of my favorite local “foodie” gifts that I’d like to share! These are convenient and in all price ranges really, and of course most of them are food related! I’d LOVE to get any of these BTW - ;)

1. Prosecco – Bubbles are ALWAYS a good idea, but up the ante with a Prosecco Superiore if you can get a hold of it. The Superiore, as it suggests, is a higher quality prosecco that comes from a very small and specific region, and will be appreciated by anyone who enjoys prosecco outside of Sunday mornings with OJ. Most of the Prosecco Superiore (look for the DOCG label) that’s found in the area ranges from $14 - $20. Super reasonable, right? Find the De Faveri DOCG at Pearson's in Glover Park.

Look for the DOCG label - Photo Courtesy Alan Tardi

2. Take a taste of Istanbul with Simit and Smith’s holiday baskets at their Georgetown location. Several sizes and combinations are available with sweet and savory options. I’d like the box of the Turkish delight, fresh baklava, simit and pagaca, please! So much food for $55! Other ready to gift boxes include a 30-piece box of baklava for $30) ; a 2-piece box of Simit ($7.50); a four-piece box of Pogaca in a variety of fillings.

Simit and Smith gift baskets - Photo courtesy Simit and Smith

3. For a fun Christmas twist on the traditional King Cake, try Bayou Bakery’s Creole Kringle Cake. Made fresh with “flaky "shugah"-tossed croissant dough, praline crunch, creole cream cheese and finished with a warm praline glaze” – this will be a sweet ending to any holiday gathering! Make sure to pre-order the $36 cake 48 hours before you need it though, they are accepting orders till Dec 22.

Creole Kringle cake - Photo courtesy Bayou bakery

4. Wine is always a great gift, but make it extra special by choosing a bottle from a local winery. Some of my favorites are the Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay, the Early Mountain rose and pretty much anything from Barboursville, but especially the Octagon.

5. Bazaar Spices – The sampler sets from Bazaar Spice make a great gift for someone who enjoys cooking or experimenting. But really, any combination of spices, bitters, tonics, from the GORGEOUS store will make for a beautiful and fun gift. Gift sets start at $26.

6. Carpe DC Food tour – Personally, I loved this tour and I do really think it’s a great option even for the DC locals who’ve been here a long time. There’s always something new to learn, but even if not, no one is going to be unhappy with a few hours of eating and drinking, right? Gift certificates start at $36.

So, there’s my list of gifts that could work as stocking stuffers, host(ess) gifts, or just if you are feeling generous!

Happy Holidays!