The story below is from our November/December 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
These five hidden gems offer great gift ideas for your favorite foodie.
When it comes to supporting small businesses, Roanoke is spoiled for choice. Happily, that means there are loads of locally-owned specialty shops and a wide selection of locally and regionally made goods.
Here are five under-the-radar places to shop for holiday gifts for the food lover in your life, whether you’re in search of custom gourmet gift baskets, unique kitchen gadgets and serveware, pantry upgrades, sweet treats or novelty wearables and games.
The Candy Store
The Candy Store is a one-stop-shop for food lovers whose tastes skew sweet. The walls are lined with a mix-and-match candy buffet featuring a variety of gummies, hard candies and chocolates, which you can opt to package in clear bags or cute takeout containers. There’s also an excellent assortment of gourmet chocolates, plus an array of vintage and international sweets and snacks, such as hard-to-find Kit Kat and Milka chocolate bar flavors.
You’ll also find food-themed gifts scattered throughout the space, such as candy making kits, over-sized gummy candies, novelty socks for adults and kids, card games such as Pass the Pasta, and whimsical kitchen gadgets and accessories like chip clips, dish sponges and tea infusers. Keep an eye out for video game- and TV-branded items, like energy drinks inspired by Pac Man or Ted Lasso, ideal for your office gift exchange or white elephant present swap.
Dilly Dally
This charming general store, housed in a historic building just outside Salem’s downtown, is a treasure trove of locally made goods, including a namesake line of sauces, preserves and baking mixes (try the pumpkin bread or strawberry shortcake).
Give your bestie a kitchen pantry upgrade with items such as AR’s Hot Southern Honey, Spice Titan’s stellar spice blends (try Home Base or Sweet + Savory), Bone Doctors’ BBQ sauces or Fermented Fire Hot Sauce Co.’s small batch hot sauces.
For a festive holiday brunch or hostess gift, pair a bottle of barrel-aged maple syrup from Back Creek Farms with Dilly Dally’s Easy Morning Pancake Mix and bag of beans from Little Green Hive or Red Rooster Coffee (bonus points if you offer to make them brunch!). The staff can also put together gift baskets based on a theme or your recipient’s preferences.
After all that thoughtful shopping, treat yourself to a freshly made sandwich (try the house made chicken salad) or scoop of ice cream from the adjacent café.
Front Porch Prezzies
Terra Creasy combined her love of surprises with her passions for local art, crafts and small businesses to launch Front Porch Prezzies. The Roanoke-based custom gift basket company features an ever-changing mix of goods from dozens of local makers, including RND Coffee, Isha Devine Pottery, Bread Run, Petals and Sugar, Blessed Day Treats and Gracious Day Grains, to name just a few. Gift basket prices and contents vary depending on size and product availability; you can opt to build from existing baskets or create one from scratch.
For the snack aficionado, consider a bounty of nosh such as pimento cheese crackers, chocolates, mixed nuts, granola, jerky, candies and cookies. The “closing basket,” a favorite among realtors, would be an ideal choice for the consummate entertainer. It includes olive oil, bread, bread dipping spices, a ceramic dish, a candle, cookies and a hand towel.
Check out Front Porch Prezzie’s build-your-own-basket pop-up at Golden Cactus Brewing on November 22 and 29; follow them on social media for additional pop-up dates.
The HomeGrown Co.
This Bedford gift shop is well worth the short detour from Roanoke. There are more than 50 local vendors showcased, several of whom are represented in the store’s robust kitchen and home section. Seek out unique finds like Sherwood’s heirloom-worthy wooden cutting boards, All Good Things’ one-of-a-kind tea towels made from vintage fabrics and trimmings, Toni’s Treasures’ hand-carved, hand-painted ice cream scoops and Big Love Handles’ ceramic bowls.
On the edible presents front, stock up on granola and nuts from Kind Baking Co. (HomeGrown Co. co-founder Bryn McDaniel’s business), extracts from Adoratio Farms, as well as preserved goods such as slaws, pickles and salsa from The Wild Ridge Homestead. Almost good-enough-to-eat stocking stuffers include fanciful soaps from Sun & Spruce (like the fan-favorite Whiskey & Tobacco), luxurious bath soaks from The Little Flower Field (try the Coconut Milk & Honey) or goat milk salt scrubs from Adoratio Farms (hello, cinnaberry swirl).
Medmont Mercantile
Whether your giftee is a seasoned entertainer, gadget-obsessed home cook or foodie-in-training, Medmont Mercantile has a gift for every food lover on your list. The eclectic mix of homewares keeps style, form and function top of mind, with an affordable assortment of glassware, serveware, cocktail accessories, measuring cups, linens and more.
Other giftable goodies include cookbooks, candles, puzzles, socks (we love the poke bowl), games, tote bags and plush toys. Discover irresistible snacks such as Asheville’s Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, sauces like the Oprah-approved truffle-infused Truff hot sauce, plus Medmont Mercantile’s own line of pickles, preserves, spreads and cocktail mixes. There’s even a display of dog treats and chews, so your furry friends won’t feel left out.
Can’t decide? Ask the staff to put together a custom gift basket. For more gift-giving inspo and holiday bottles, check out their sister business Wine Gourmet next door.
The story above is from our November/December 2023 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
