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General meat lovers and gourmets alike will relish these artisan salamis, made by Creminelli with Barolo wine, truffles (shown above), and other fine ingredients. Photo courtesy Creminelli. |
| WHAT IT IS: Our favorite affordable gourmet food gifts. |
| WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: Nothing tastes better! |
WHY WE LOVE IT: So delicious, and something for everyone. |
| WHERE TO BUY IT: See individual listings. |
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Great for tea lovers, chocolate lovers and dieters: black, green and herbal chocolate-enhanced teas with virtually no calories. In a wood gift chest. From SerendipiTea. Photo courtesy Serendipitea.
Handmade syrups from Java & Co. are a gourmet treat, in flavors including French Vanilla, Hazelnut and TiRUMisu (made with a touch of RUM). Photo courtesy Java & Co.
For the sauce-lover or the grilling guru, the best BBQ sauces ever, from Grandville’s. In six luscious flavors, give one flavor or all six. Photo by River Soma | THE NIBBLE.
Who can resist Creminelli’s handmade artisan salamis? A real treat in two gift box options. Photo courtesy Creminelli.
There are no pearls, but these plucked-fresh-from-the-sea oysters are gems. Photo courtesy Willapa Oysters.
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12 More Great Gourmet Food Gifts
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After The Sweets: The Savories
Last week’s Top Pick presented 20 great gourmet food gifts from the sweets category. This week, it’s savory items—everything from stocking stuffers to deluxe treats.
Foodie friends and family members who know the difference between good and great will delight in these items, ranging from $10.99 to $99.00, with most under $40.00.
All have been NIBBLE Top Picks Of The Week. All are made by American artisans. Some—Serendipitea (immediately below) and Tiny Footprint Coffee—are calorie-free, and the honey-enhanced vinegars add lots of flavor with few calories. Most of the selections are healthy, good-for-you options.
Our holiday gift to you: 10% off at checkout with code SANTA, through December 31, 2011.
1. COFFEE & TEA
Assam Tea Gift Set |
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Assam tea, also known as Irish Breakfast tea, is one of the delights of the tea world. A hearty black tea with unique malty notes, it’s delicious straight, or with milk and sugar. The gift set from SerendipiTea, which includes a stainless steel tea scoop, is $15.75. More information.
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2. COFFEE & TEA
Chocolate Tea Gift Set |
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Delicious and fragrant chocolate drinks with zero calories? You won’t believe how good this SerendipiTea assortment of six chocolate-accented teas (black and rooibos) is. For tea lovers, chocolate lovers and dieters, in a lovely gift chest, $35.00. More information.
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3. COFFEE & TEA
Organic, Sustainable Coffee |
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Here’s truly superb organic coffee that’s good for the environment! We adore Tiny Footprint Coffee, our “house blend.” For each bag sold, the company more than offsets its carbon footprint by planting saplings in a rainforest. One-pound bag $10.99; $11.99 for decaf. More information.
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4. COFFEE & TEA
Handmade Flavored Coffee Syrup |
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People who enjoy a hit of flavored syrup with their coffee will love these handmade syrups from Java & Co. In five popular flavors: one bottle in a drawstring bag, $16.00; in a gift crate, $19.00; two-bottle gift crate, $36.00. More information.
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5. CONDIMENTS
Grandville’s BBQ Jam |
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Grandville’s amazing artisan BBQ sauce is so thick that it’s called BBQ jam. It’s the best BBQ sauce we’ve ever had. Select from six terrific flavors, $19.90 for any two or $56.70 for all six. More information.
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6. CONDIMENTS: HEALTHY
Honey Vinegar Set & Balsamic Vinegar |
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Honey Ridge Farms, a fourth-generation family business, makes vinegars from their delicious honeys. Two bottles of award-winning honey balsamic vinegar, $18.98; two flavored honey vinegars (choice of chile, lemongrass and sundried tomato), $21.98 for two bottles. A trio of vinegars in a cedar box that turns into a grilling plank, $45.59. More information.
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7. HEALTHY
Heirloom Idaho Beans |
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Zürsun Heirloom Idaho Beans are not just good-looking; they’re more delicious than supermarket beans. For healthy eaters, cooks and people who want to eat better in 2012. Choose from three gift sets, $30.00 and $40.00. More information.
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8. MEAT & SEAFOOD
Artisan Salami Mix |
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From a family making artisan meats in Italy since the 1600s, Cristiano Creminelli may make the best salami in America. Two gift box options include succulent salamis such as barolo, casalingo, piccante, sopressata, tartufo (truffle) and wild boar, $35.00 and $45.00. More information.
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9. MEAT & SEAFOOD
Gourmet Jerky |
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Gary West, our favorite producer of tender gourmet jerky, has a luscious jerky gift for everyone. From a spicy Hot Jerky Trio to a Jerky Bouquet to a Wild Game Sampler, you’ll find welcome gifts from $19.99 to $79.00. More information.
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10. MEAT & SEAFOOD
The Best Oysters |
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The best oysters we’ve ever had are from Willapa Oysters in the Pacific Northwest. The company also makes four tasty chowders and a traditional oyster cornbread dressing. From $26.00 to $99.00; two-day or overnight shipping required. More information.
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11. SNACKS
Gourmet Popcorn |
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Send a dozen large or small bags of popcorn (full of healthy fiber) in Black Truffle and White Cheddar or Fleur de Sel Caramel, $23.88 and $47.88. Five-flavor gift sets also available, $33.00 to $38.00. More information.
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12. SNACKS
Gourmet Potato Chips, Dips & Seasoning Sets For Chips Or Popcorn |
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Potato chips were invented in Saratoga, New York. The original Saratoga Chips recipe is now available in reproductions of the original box. A bite of history in 1.5-ounce stocking stuffers (6 for $14.94) or boxes ($6.99 each). Chip & dip sets and seasoning sets from $23.96. More information.
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Great taste, great gifts, grateful recipients!
— Karen Hochman |
