The story below is from our November/December 2021 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
From heirloom skillets to cocktails-in-a-jar, there’s a gift for every type of food-lover in your life.
For many, the spirit of the holiday season is centered on gathering around the table to share gratitude and time together over good food, drink and cheer. Why not extend that sense of delicious merriment to the gifts you give? We’ve curated dozens of products from local makers and shops to delight and surprise all the different types of food-lovers in your life—or even a treat yourself moment (we won’t tell). From heirloom-worthy skillets to cocktails-in-a-jar, these are some of our favorite giftable goodies for the holidays.
For the Fan of Heirloom-Worthy Cookware
Heart & Spade Forge Skillet
Each of these heirloom-worthy skillets takes blacksmith Jed Curtis 12 hours to forge by hand. The skillets are beloved by local chefs and home cooks alike, and they just get better with age. The custom pieces can be ordered in a variety of sizes and styles; because each skillet is made to order, there’s a six- to nine-month wait list. Put your order in now—complimentary personalized engraving is available—and write your gift recipient a card alerting them to the estimated arrival of their gift. Order at heartandspadeforge.com.
Maples Wood Shop Ice Cream Scoops & Pizza Cutters
For 40 years, Tom Maples enjoyed woodworking as a hobby, but for the last three years, the veteran has churned out beautiful-yet-functional ice cream scoops, pizza cutters, pepper grinders and cutting boards for retail. Maples uses both domestic and exotic woods, such as purple heart, padauk, and sapele, which give the distinctive handles their all-natural and striking signature style—no staining necessary. Available at Black Dog Salvage, Artsy June and Crafteria.
Phoenix Hardwoods Cutting Boards
For more than two decades, Phoenix Hardwoods has produced beautiful cutting boards and kitchen items out of their Floyd workshop. Their aptly named Appalachian stripe cutting boards are made from local wood, including walnut, maple and cherry. It takes four weeks to make one board, including cutting, creating the pattern, gluing, drying, planing, shaping and smoothing the edges. The boards are as functional as they are beautiful—there’s a variety of sizes and styles, including one with a juice groove. Available at Black Dog Salvage and Second Helpings.
For the Foodie Who Takes their Pantry Seriously
Spicewalla Spices
This Asheville-based company has earned a reputation for its thoughtfully sourced, small-batch spices that are roasted and ground to order. The diminutive tin sets are giftable and offer an instant spice cabinet upgrade. Larger containers of spices are available, too. Elevate your avocado toast or scrambled eggs with Everything Bagel Seasoning or take chicken wings and marinades next level with Chinese Five Spice. Available at Crystal Spring Grocery, Crafteria and Earth Fare.
Piemonte Provisions Nut Butters & Jams
Sandra Sarlinga and Fabian Luján, the Floyd-based couple behind Piemonte Provisions, are a regular fixture at LEAP’s Grandin Village Farmers Market. Seek out the small-batch peanut butter made with local peanuts that are ground on a mill for a creamy-meets-chunky consistency. Try the Cinnamon Bun Peanut Butter, crafted with Virginia maple syrup and redolent of brown sugar and cinnamon. Jams include savory flavors like the best-selling balsamic and jalapeño jelly, which works wonders in dressings and marinades. Available at the Grandin Village Farmers Market or piemonteprovisions.com/shop.
Oliveto Artisan Oils & Vinegars
At Oliveto you’ll find top-notch olive oils for cooking and finishing dishes, as well as flavored oils (think basil, chipotle and blood orange) that are ideal for dressings and bread dipping. For a luxe stocking stuffer, opt for the black truffle infused olive oil, which makes a killer grilled cheese. On the vinegar side, the dark balsamic vinegars make a stellar addition to cheese boards, or a surprising complement to vanilla ice cream. Available at Oliveto Artisan Oils & Vinegars.
AR’s Hot Southern Honey
For some sweet heat from Richmond, score a bottle of AR’s Hot Southern Honey. Drizzle it onto fried chicken, slather it on biscuits with butter, or mix it into sauces or dressings. And if you’ve never tried hot honey on pizza, prepare to level-up that takeout pie. For a game-changing take on Brussels sprouts, Big Lick Gift’s owner Joe Stanley broils sprouts with red onion and a drizzle of hot honey, then sprinkles them with feta. Available at Big Lick Gifts, Ladles & Linens, Eli’s Provisions, Crafteria and Dilly Dally.
For the Budding At-Home Bartender
Storied Goods Sugar Cubes
Local maker Martha Bourlakas’s flavored sugar cubes make crafting custom tipples at home a cinch. The orange cherry cubes are a shoo-in for an old fashioned, but they also play well in rum drinks, like a mojito. The cinnamon-vanilla cube is a natural match for your morning cuppa, but it’s also stellar in coffee-based cocktails such as an espresso martini. And for an instant party in a glass, drop a rose petal cube into a flute of sparkling wine. Available at Crystal Spring Grocery and Crafteria.
Camp Craft Cocktails
Everything you need to make craft cocktails at home is packaged into a cute mason jar. Just add your favorite liquor and let the flavors mingle and work their magic. Pair the hibiscus, ginger and lemon number with gin for an herbaceous floral sipper. Or add a glug of bourbon to the jar filled with apricots, cherries, oranges, bitters and cane sugar for a riff on an old fashioned that’ll warm you to your toes. Available at Crafteria.
Vintage Glassware & Barware
The bar tools and serving vessels you use to make and serve drinks are as important to the craft as the cocktail itself. Vintage glassware adds instant panache and doubles as a conversation starter. Look for unique shapes, styles and patterns such as punch cups or cordial glasses; shop in sets or mix-and-match for a more eclectic feel. Keep an eye out for stylish additions to your barware arsenal such as decanters, jiggers, mixing glasses and bar spoons. Snap up these one-of-a-kind finds when you see them. Available at Black Dog Salvage, Roanoke Antique Mall and Crystal Spring Grocery.
For Devotees of the Morning Sipping Ritual
Isha Devine Pottery Mugs
Artist Isha Devine started as a painter but recently delved into pottery with a namesake line of hand-hewn mugs and plates. The bright color combinations in striking pinks and earthy greens, coupled with the textural patterns of her mugs has garnered the attention of local tastemakers and Grandin Village Farmers Market goers. Even the bottoms of the mugs are ornate, depicting Devine’s signature and mandala patterns. The mugs are comfortable to hold and so pretty, you’ll want to display them on the countertop even when you’re not using them. Available at La De Da, Gatewood Rose Botanicals, Grandin Village Farmers Market or via Instagram @ishadevinepottery.
Roasters Next Door Coffee
RND Coffee has earned a reputation for its thoughtfully sourced and locally roasted coffee beans, inventive lattes and warm hospitality. Recreate the experience at home with a bag of beans and brew your way to java bliss. We’re partial to Neighborly Blend, an approachable blend of Tanzania, Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil beans with notes of caramel, chocolate, fruit and apple pie. RND also offers bagged coffee subscriptions, so you can give the gift that keeps on giving. Available at Crystal Spring Grocery, Mast General Store, Roanoke Co+op and RND Coffee Lounge.
Swallowtail Tea
Floyd outfit Red Rooster Coffee has brought their commitment to craft to Swallowtail Tea, working with local herb farmers and sustainably sourcing the highest quality tea from around the world. Try the Moroccan Mint, Swallowtail’s riff on a classic that features a crisp, refreshing and slightly smoky blend of certified organic spearmint and Pinhead Gunpowder. The Earl Grey makes a vibrant brew; when steeped, you get a smack of citrusy bergamot up front, then lingering spicy, floral and citrus notes from the Orange Pekoe Special Assam. Available at Crystal Spring Grocery.
J.T. Copper Barista Syrup Sampler
Floyd-based duo Theda Anderson and Jolie Greatorex founded J.T. Copper with a mission to make flavorful, small batch syrups using only simple, thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Perk up your morning cup of Joe with the barista syrup sampler, which includes Single Origin Chocolate, made from cocoa from Ghana; Vanilla Bean, robust and creamy, with flecks of real vanilla bean; Amber Caramel, a silky syrup that’s rich yet dairy-free; Sweet Mint, mellowed out with a touch of vanilla. If coffee isn’t your thing, try adding syrups to steamed milk or to make a rich hot chocolate. The syrups are also great drizzled over pancakes and ice cream or mixed into cocktails. Available at Crystal Spring Grocery; Amber Caramel available at Linens and Ladles.
For the Friend with a Sweet Tooth
Assorted Chocolate Truffles & Grown-Up Gummies
Perusing the truffle cases at shops around town is like visiting an edible art gallery, so allow for plenty of time to take in the dazzling designs and mull over the flavors. At chocolatepaper, seek out truffles from Nancy’s Candy Co., a local confectioner located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. There’s something for all cravings, from chocolate overboard to dark salted to jalapeño. (Wine Gourmet carries chocolatepaper truffles, too) At the newly opened Sugar Magnolia, curate a selection of truffles from the case or opt for grown-up gummy candies from Serafina or nostalgia-inducing jars of gummy cola bottles or rainbow sour belts by Candy Club. Available at chocolatepaper, Wine Gourmet and Sugar Magnolia.
La Vache Microcreamery Caramels
These sumptuous caramels are hand-crafted in Charlottesville, Virginia, using local ingredients and traditional French techniques. Try one and you’ll understand why they’re called La Vache, which roughly translates to Holy Cow! Perfect for stocking stuffers, under $10 gift exchanges or a treat-yourself moment. Available at Crafteria.
Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan
Asheville-based popcorn company Poppy has earned a reputation for its irresistible and clever flavor combinations. We’ll always have love for savory flavors such as pimento, but we can’t get enough of the perennially popular cinnamon bourbon pecan which feels especially festive this time of year. This combination teams up popcorn with a duo of Southern ingredient superstars, including Made with Troy & Sons® Cinnamon Honey Whiskey and fresh, caramelized southern pecans. And it’s gluten-free, to boot. Available at Sugar Magnolia,
Crafteria and at appalachian-revival.com, Crafteria’s holiday pop-up.
Board Games
Step up your entertaining game with one of these beautiful boards, then try your hand at one of Becky Ellis’ charcuterie or snack boards.
Acoustic Guitar Cutting Board: Get your air guitar on and then jam out with a stellar spread on these novelty boards made with Ozark natural hardwoods from Mast General Store (look for pineapple- and cat-shaped ones too).
Marty Wetzler Cutting Boards: Big Lick Gifts’ Joe Stanley got his start at Roanoke City Market, where he met local craftsman Marty Wetzler. Wetzler uses a mix of hardwoods that he harvests himself to create the one-of-a-kind boards. Find them at Big Lick Gifts’ brick-and-mortar.
Modern Mountain Design Co. Boards: Cue the snacks! This stunning zebrawood and walnut serving board is ideal for a grazing board to welcome guests or tide them over until the big meal.
Appalachian Stripe Board: Phoenix Hardwoods’ durable cutting boards double as serving boards. The medium size is the most popular for gifting, but the large or extra-large allow ample room for extra cheese wedges or salami rivers (yes, it’s a thing).
Tom Maples Cutting Board: Tom Maples uses a mix of hardwoods and exotic woods to make the intricate inlays of his centerpiece-worthy boards. They’re so pretty to use, they make prep work in the kitchen a pleasure.
Round Board: French Farmhouse is known for their contemporary-meets-cottage-chic selection, and this 25” round board made with acacia wood exudes timeless style and an effortless entertaining vibe.
Thread & Resin Boards: These sleek rectangular and oblong boards are ideal for serving holiday appetizers or crudité and dips. Local artist Josh Tooth crafts each board with oak or maple burl wood and a hand-blended resin, so no two boards are alike. Look for them at WyndRose Boutique, Black Dog Salvage or order online.
The story above is from our November/December 2021. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!