Last minute gift guide
Time is ticking
EATS AND DRINKS
Food and beverages for holiday parties and gifts
A good bottle of wine makes a perfect gift, but finding the right one can be a challenge. John Alonge, owner of the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center, provided us with a few of his picks of wine and an affordable real champage.
• Deakin Estate Shiraz (Victoria, Australia) 2004: Bold, in-your-face Aussie red at a bargain price ($9).
• Paraiso Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2006: Our favorite, fragrant California Pinot for less than $20 ($19).
• Casalj Bianco, Rapitala, Sicily 2005: The little-known Catarratto grape from Sicily makes an incredibly food-friendly white wine ($15).
• Cakebread Napa Chardonnay 2005: One of the greatest, not over-oaked and beautifully balanced. A classic ($37).
• Henri Abele Champagne NV: Real Champagne, 90 points from Wine Spectator—where’s the bad news? ($25)
You can purchase Alonge’s picks at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Drive, Suite 120, Downtown. 619-231-6400. www.sdwineculinary.com. And, while you’re there, if you’re looking for something to get the aspiring chef on your list, purchase a gift certificate to put toward one of the center’s monthly cooking classes.
There are a lot of great coffee roasters in San Diego, but Ryan Bros. is one that’s especially attracted our attention (see staff picks from our recent Best of San Diego issue). The Christmas Roast is hands-down one of the best-smelling coffees ever made. After the beans are roasted and while their “pores” are still open, they’re lightly sprayed with a caramel, chocolate and maple extract. The result is subtle enough for coffee snobs who normally eschew flavored beans. A half-pound bag costs $9.95 and is available for a limited time at 1894 Main St., in Barrio Logan, 619-546-6314 or www.ryanbroscoffee.com.
For her line of Jackie’s Jams, Jackie Anderson makes standards like Strawberry and Apple Butter but also makes up flavors like Strawbarb, Cranberry Walnut and—our pick—Triple Berry. Each jar label has different photo of the Ocean Beach pier, making this the perfect gift to send to transplanted San Diegans or jealous East Coast pals. A sample pack of eight 1.5-ounce jams in a wooden box is only $20. Three 8-ounce jams (wooden boxed, too) are $22. You can find Jackie at farmers markets (Hillcrest and Ocean Beach, for sure) or check www.jackiesjams.com for more locations.
The Sauce Goddess, known to her friends as Jennifer Reynolds, is another local woman-done-good in the condiment category. No preservatives or additives go into her grill glazes and rubs. In the glaze department, there’s the Sticky Sweet glaze and the award-winning Sweet & Spicy glaze. Rubs include flavors like Moroccan Twist and Latin Heat. Gift packs are $35 and include two glazes, two rubs and a T-shirt (men’s and women’s sizes with phrases like “Let me lick your fingers”). You can find Sauce Goddess products at places like Great News! in Pacific Beach (1788 Garnet Ave.) and Hot Licks in Horton Plaza or at www.saucegoddess.com.
A couple of months ago, Will Gustwiller moved his chocolate-making business, Eclipse Chocolat, into a bricks-and-mortar shop (and a cute one at that) on the border of North Park and University Heights. Browse what Eclipse has to offer online (www.eclipsechocolat.com) and then stop by the store to pick out some gifts. Gustwiller’s favorites are the Exotic Salted Caramels—chocolate-covered crème fraiche caramels topped with salt that’s been infused with flavors like ginger, chili, lavender or Chardonnay.
Or, pick up some tins of Gustwiller’s “drinking chocolate” (a fancy name for grown-up hot chocolate) that comes in flavors like Chile Burnt Caramel, Rosemary Mint and Orange Peel Vanilla and costs $8 a tin. Eclipse is located at 2121 El Cajon Blvd., 619-504-5310.
If you’re looking to make a gift basket with, say, a bottle of wine, some chocolate and maybe one other item, throw in a candle or two. Clarity Candles & Gifts in South Park (3002 Juniper St.) is a little nook of a shop with rustic-looking handmade candles (and soap, too). They’ll help you put that gift basket together for no charge. Scents rotate, but if they’re still there, Sugar Cookie and Cinnamon Vanilla are quite nice. For North County folks, Michael Langdon, owner of Candle & Gift Shoppe (11975 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 606) hand-pours his candles—more than 50 varieties—and promises they won’t drip a drop. Plus, his quaint shop stocks a bunch of other gift-basket accompaniments like wine-bottle stoppers.
Published: 12/11/2007
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT