The sweet and the savory. Both are perfect for holiday gift giving. Add the Southern charm that each of our picks bring, and you have perfection. Here are our top 30 Southern Foodie Gifts for 2013.
Warning: this list will make you hungry and possibly side track you from any work at hand…
SWEET
Tennessee Valley Pecan Co
Send a 1/4 gallon of chocolate covered pecans and a hearty “Thank you Ma’am; Thank you Sir” will arrive by handwritten note. Really. They are that good! www.tnvalleypecan.com $32
$32 for 1/4 gallon
8 Nye’s Cream Sandwiches
Nye’s Cream Sandwiches is located in Wilmington, NC, and was a Martha Stewart American Made Audience Choice Award nominee. We’ve sampled these and they are DIVINE. Order the following sample pack from Taigan: Pumpkin Cranberry Spice, Apple Pie and Caramel Latte and Blackberry Cobbler for $48. www.taigan.com
Have you shopped at Taigan? It’s like shopping at your favorite vacation boutique, but online. The site has partnered with fabulous artisans, purveyors, designers and boutiques from around the globe to bring you the best of the best, while supporting small business owners, many of which don’t have their own websites. It’s a great place to lose yourself for a few hours. You’ll find 5 fabulous FINDS from Taigan throughout this list.
$48
Piece of Cake
No one will turn down the gift of cake, especially from an Atlanta institution like Piece of Cake. Two of our favorites are the caramel cake and the coconut layer cake. And their pound cakes are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee on Christmas morning. The cakes ship beautifully, so they are a wonderful gift to send friends and family who are out of town. www.pieceofcakeinc.com
Piece of Cake caramel cake. 9 inch, 3 layer is $35
Two Smart Cookies
We’ve tasted these and were immediately hooked. They taste like a blend between a tea cake and a sugar cookie and are sure to be enjoyed. They are also beautiful as each is handmade in their Savannah factory. Order the 1/2 dozen ($22 includes shipping) or full dozen ($43 includes shipping). They also take special order (monograms, themes, etc.). www.twosmartcookies.com
$22-$43
Fudge Bites in Burlap
Made in small batches in Montogomery Texas, this fudge is loaded with goodness: “there’s more crunchy, nutty, coconutty per square inch than a Texas mile. That’s OUR fudge factor – where small isn’t really small at all. One taste and you’ll know, we’re not messin’ around.” Intrigued? Us, too. $13.95 Taigan.com
$13.95
Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt
Bourbon Smoked Sea Salt will have you tearing up when the container is empty–it’s that good. Bourbon Barrel Foods creates this wonder salt by smoking their sea salt with bourbon barrel staves. And, just when you think this is only good on meats, salads and such, explode your taste buds by sprinkling it on caramel salted ice cream. Oh yeah … Made in Louisville. bourbonbarrelfoods.com
$9
Bourbon Ball Box
Cellar Door Chocolates has a 16 piece Bourbon Ball Box where you can customize your selection. There are 16 different bourbon balls from which to choose. Get one of each or just your favorites! This box has Mint Julep Bourbon Balls, Dulce De Leche Bourbon Balls, Brown Sugar Bourbon Balls, and Honey Bourbon Balls. Available at Cellar Door Chocolates for $22.80. cellardoorchocolate.com
$22.80
Ghyslain’s Chocolates
Ghyslain’s chocolates are too pretty to eat, well almost. These holiday chocolates feature an artistic tree, snowman and other beautiful edibles. Available at either Ghyslain location for $23.75. ghyslain.com
$23.75
Music City Cookie Tin
This adorable tin is filled with 9 cookies from Christie Cookie, a Nashville based company that has been serving up delicious cookies for over 30 years. $18.90. ChristieCookies.com.
$18.90
Wondermade Marshmallows
Taste the booze in these bourbon and Guinness marshmallows. Gives a whole new meaning to hot chocolate, hey?! We found these for $22.50 on Bourbonandboots.com
$22.50
Nashville Toffee Company
Seriously amazing Toffee. Get the 1 lb box as any smaller will go too fast. $23.95 store.nashvilletoffeecompany.com
$23.95
Holiday Macarons
For all the gluten free friends, how about some macarons from the famous New Orleans bakery, Sucre? They are soooooo good! $30 for 15 perfectly sized pieces. www.shopsucre.com
$30
Olive and Sinclair Chocolates
Recently voted “America’s Best Chocolate” by Southern Living Magazine, you know this is gift that brings pure joy! We are particular fans of the Sea Salt, but you can’t go wrong with any flavor you choose. $6.99 each. www.oliveandsinclair.com
$6.99 per bar.
Goo Goo Clusters
$19.95
Jeni’s Ice Cream Sandwiches
These can be shipped and OH MY are they delicious. 5 flavors are available, 4 of which are made with macaroons (notice all ye gluten avoiders!). This is the dessert you will dream about. 10 pack is $70, and a 5 pack is $37.50. If you live in Atlanta, Nashville or Columbus, OH or Southport, IL, you can pick them up and pay a bit less. But, the holidays call for splurges and this one is worth it. www.jenis.com
5 for $37.50; 10 for $70
SAVORY
Georgia Olive Oil
Not all olive oil comes from overseas. Taste the real deal and be a convert with this small batch olive oil straight from Georgia. $32 shop.eatboutique.com
$32
Schermer Pecans
We first found out about Schermer Pecans through The Southern C Summit. The gals that run this know their Southern food and they oohed and aahed over this product, with good reason. Have your gift be likewise received! $44 for a set of three bags. www.taigan.com
$46.02
The Outlaw Gift Basket
Enjoy the spice of the holidays with these Southern spices and sauces made by Nashville’s own The Southern. For $45, this gift is sure to please! http://the-southern-nashville.myshopify.com/
$45
The Best Cheese Crisps
Merry Cheese Crisps are not your typical cheese straw, but rather a delicious melt-in-your-mouth, bite-sized round. Hands down the best we’ve ever had. $13 to $23 available online at www.merrycheesecrisps.com.
$23
Stone Hollow Creamery Artisan Goat Cheese
Stone Hollow Farmstead churns out amazing goat cheese that is completely free of chemicals, antibiotics and additives. With many wonderful combinations such as fig, blackberry and wine, rose petal, honey pecan, sundries tomato and many more, you are sure to find the perfect gift for the foodie on your list! www.stonehollowfarmstead.com.
Cheese Making Kit
We’ve all fancied the notion of making our own cheese around here, but have never actually done it. Belle Chevre makes it easy with this DIY goat cheese kit for only $27.95. A perfect gift for a family, as kids of all ages (seriously, ages 3-99 will love this!) will enjoy this project. Belle Chevre is located in Alabama and has won numerous awards for their goat cheese. www.bellechevre.com
$27.95
Bourbon-Themed Gift Box
Tell us that you’ve ordered from Batch Nashville…it’s our favorite monthly box idea EVER. Of course we’re partial to Nashville as a city, though! Share the love with their gift boxes that they have online now. This Bourbon themed box definitely caught our eye at just $35. Ship anywhere that loved ones need some Nashville love. batchnashville.com
$35
Taste of the South Sampler/Doux South
Atlanta farm-to-table chef Nick Melvin presents the Doux South collection, continuing his family’s tradition of pickling fresh garden vegetables. The Taste of the South Sampler lets you send a gift box of homegrown goodness containing a jar each of Little Rock Caviar, Soulshine Peach Chutney, Mean Green Tomatoes, and Chow Chow. www.douxsouth.com, $38.
Doux South, Taste of the South Sampler, $38
Bacon’s Heir Pork Rinds
For all your friends on Paleo diets, grab a few bags of these because even those who haven’t tried pork skins will find a new love in these hand made snacks, made in Atlanta. $12 www.bourbonandboots.com/
$12
Ice Box Coffee
This cold brew coffee will instantly make you understand why the cold brew method is the way to go. Seriously, this coffee is life changing. Well, maybe not, but your coffee life sure is about to change. Buy the big 32 oz bottle for yourself and as a gift. Just add a little bit to your mug, add hot water and enjoy. $14 www.iceboxcoffee.com
$14
Old School Stone Ground Grits
It’s surprisingly hard to find good stone ground grits. And, if you live outside of the South, it’s downright impossible. This gift will be a welcome addition to any pantry, but we suggest ordering at least two per person, as they are mighty tasty and affordable (a perfect combination!). Made in North Carolina from the most select corn. $4.50 per 2 lb bag. www.igourmet.com
$4.50 per 2 lb bag
Virginia Peanuts
They may be Virginia Peanuts, but they are made in Texas and they are addictive–so be prepared! We suggest the Artisan-Peppercorn Blistered Peanuts. $19.99 for a 18 oz tin. www.squirrelbrand.com
$19.99 for a 18 oz tin
Charleston Bloody Mary Mix
4 bottles for $39.99
Callie’s Biscuits
We thought the price was too high until we broke down and bought some. Damn, these are good. I mean, slap your mama, open the front door and scream, bang on a pot GOOD. 24 biscuits $45.90. www.taigan.com
$45.90
Green Hill Double Cream Cheese
Made in Thomasville, GA by Sweet Grass Dairy, this cheese has converts to GA cheese throughout more than the Southern region; the accolades pour in from all over. Send some of this cheese to your own cheese monger and then send some to yourself as well. $14.99 www.taigan.com
$14.99
Hungry?
