Whether it’s a host/hostess gift that you need or a special something to please that foodie in your life, you can find wonderful food, supplies, classes and gift certificates right here in our region that will be sure to please and show that you are proud to support our local merchants.
Here are just a few shops and purveyors to get you started on your Holiday gift buying. I know that there are many other wonderful food purveyors in our area, especially in DC and Maryland. If you have a favorite, please make a recommendation in the comments section so I can update our list and help everyone find just the right gift!
SWEET
Kingsbury Chocolates
Kingsbury Chocolates are the perfect gift for the chocolate lover in your life. Kingsbury offers fine chocolates including truffles, caramels, chocolate bars (I can personally vouch for these), hot chocolate, fondues and Vermont maple popcorn to name a few. They offer boxed assortments and baskets, all beautifully wrapped. Chocolate tastings are also available for your home or business. You can also purchase Kingsbury Chocolates at Artfully Chocolate.
Visit Kingsbury in Old Town Alexandria, or order online.
Kingsbury Chocolates
1017 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-2800
(800) 704-4179
www.kingsburychocolates.com
Artisan Confections
These hand-crafted chocolates are individual works of art. They are made with Valrhona chocolate, butter and cream along with fine liquers, extracts, fruit purees and botanicals. What they do not have is artificial ingredients and preservatives.
Owner and chocolatier Jason Andelman is a native of Northern Virginia and founder of Artisan Confections. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America’s pastry program. His confections are perfect as a hostess gift, distinctive corporate gift or just for you!
Artisan Confection’s retail shop is located in Arlington, where you can see the chocolates being made or even treat yourself or someone else to a chocolate making class! Confections can be ordered online, or purchased at Biagio Fine Chocolates, Best Cellars, Periwinkle and Artfully Chocolate.
Artisan Confections
4815-B Lee Highway
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 239-0616
www.artisanconfections.com
Artfully Chocolate
Artfully Chocolate is a relative newcomer to the vibrant neighborhood of Del Ray in Alexandria. This colorful shop offers fine chocolates, treats, orchids and artwork. Among the fine chocolates they carry are Artisan Confections, Kingsbury Chocolates, Christopher’s Confections and J. Chocolatier.
Artfully Chocolate
116 E. Del Ray Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 635-7917
www.artfullychocolate.com
The Curious Grape
The Curious Grape, located in the Shirlington section of Arlington, is a really fun place to visit what with free wine and chocolate tasting! The store carries of wide array of fine chocolates, including single origin chocolates, flavor-infused chocolates and Artisan Confections. In addition, you can find truffles, sauces, hot cocoa, fudge, spreads and dessert wines.
The Curious Grape can also prepare a wonderful gift basket or host a private chocolate tasting right in your own home!
The Curious Grape
4056 S. 28th St.
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 671-8700
www.curiousgrape.com
ShoeBox Oven
ShoeBox oven is a virtual bakery which has received high praise from many of the area’s magazines and newspapers. It’s theme, “a very tiny merry bakery” tells of the meager origins of this fantastic bakery. Operating out of Ray’s the Steaks kitchen on Friday nights, Krishna Brown created imaginative and whimsical goodies which combined things like Mexican chocolate and Japanese chilis for “amor and the Samurai” which she would sell on Saturday morning at the Arlington farmers market.
For the holidays, Brown offers Apple Duchess pie, Campfire S’mores, Caramel Chocolate Tart, Parisian Macaroon Gift Box, and Vintage Babka besides her everyday treats such as a Girl in Bombay, White Chocolate Crunch and Champagne Chocolate.
You can order online for Tuesday through Thursday shipping, or pick up at both Ray’s locations in Arlington and Silver Spring and the Arlington farmers market on Saturday mornings. Best Cellars in Arlington also does ShoeBox Oven tastings each month.
ShoeBox Oven
www.shoeboxoven.com
Cocoa Cafe and Gallery
By Kingsbury Chocolates and Artfully Chocolate, this place in NW D.C. just opened at 1529c 14th St., NW D.C. This venture features chocolates, a patisserie and a cafe. There are many products you can order online, too. FYI- the cafe offers libations for your chocolate pleasure, including sparkling wines and coffee drinks.
Cocoa Cafe and Gallery
SAVORY
Hard Times Cafe
Hard Times Cafe has many area locations offering good old comfort food. The Old Town location was the first Hard Times I visited and was introduced to Chili Mac. I’ve been eating chili over spaghetti ever since! My husband is partial to Cincinnatti style chili which was also new to me and I particularly enjoy Hard Time’s mix. It’s got a bit of spice and heat with just the right amount of aromatic cinnamon running through it.
Among the spices mixes Hard Times Cafe offers are Cincinnatti, Texas, Terlingua Red and Vegetarian. Hot sauce, chili vinegar and gift certificates are also available at your nearest location or online.
Hard Times Cafe
VA and MD locations
www.hardtimes.com
King St. Blues
King St. Blues has several Virginia locations along with their original location in Old Town Alexandria. They offer “comfort food with a southern accent” under huge iconic paper mache creations. Although not a bbq joint, King St. Blues offers several delicious bbq dishes including ribs, pulled chicken and pulled pork, all slatherd in their own Mahogony BBQ Sauce. You can enjoy this sauce at home or give as a gift for the bbq lover in your life. Also available is Rib Butt Rub.
King St. Blues
Old Town, Kingstowne, Crystal City, Arlington and Stafford VA
www.kingstreetblues.com
Cheesetique
Cheesetique, a wonderful cheese, wine and other goodies shop in Del Ray offers a large variety of artisinal and farmstead cheeses doled out with expert advise. Cheeses from local purveyors and from around the world are available at Cheesetique. Jill, the proprietor, also offers cheese tasting classes. With her success, she has outgrown her small storefront location on Mt. Vernon Ave. and will be moving to a larger shop just a block down the road.
Cheese tasting is always wonderful at Cheesetique. Have them make a special gift basket or cheese platter for your holidays! The gift of a cheese class is also a wonderful idea for the cheese afficianodo on your gift list.
Cheesetique
2403 Mount Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 706-5300
http://www.cheesetique.com/
Planet Wine Shop
Planet Wine, next to Evening Star Cafe (and owned by the same folks) offers a fine variety of wines as well as cheeses. In particular, they offer “Petite and Cheese Packs” which included about a half dozen cheeses and can be purchased at the store, or online. Subscription to monthly delivery is also available, as are gift certificates.
This is a particularly nice gift for the wine lover as well, because you can purchase a bottle of wine at Planet Wine, and enjoy it over dinner next door at Evening Star Cafe for a nominal corkage fee. Nice!
Planet Wine Shop
2004 Mt. Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 549-3444
http://www.wineaccess.com/store/dailyplanetwines
Toigo Orchards
If you go to most any of our area’s wonderful farmers markets, you know Toigo. Not only do they have some of the best produce around, but they also make their own sauces, butters, canned goods, honey and mustard. You can purchase their products at your nearest market or order online. Check the website for Toigo’s market schedule. The Italian Store in Arlington also carries Toigo’s heirloom tomato sauce.
http://www.toigoorchards.com/
FOR THE COOK
La Cuisine
La Cuisine, located in Old Town Alexandria, offers high quality kitchen supplies for the serious cook. From All Clad, to Wusthoff to cookie cutters and kitchen string, La Cuisine has it. They also feature a few gourmet food products. Currently, La Cuisine has Panel chocolates including Galets de Rhone, assorted truffles and caramels. Saison De Rosalie Jams have also just arrived.
In addition to the above, La Cuisine offers gift certificates, cooking and baking classes and a newsletter you can sign up for via email. Shop online or in person.
La Cuisine
323 Cameron St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-4435
www.lacuisineus.com
L’Academie de Cuisine
L’Academy de Cuisine offers cooking classes for the professional as well as home chef. For adults and children alike, you can learn classic French cooking techniques, cuisines from around the world, pastry arts and knife skills (well, maybe that’s not for kids!). Classes are demonstration or participation and offered at convenient hours.
L’Academie de Cuisine
5021 Wilson Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 986-9490
www.lacademie.com
Tags: Alexandria, Washington, Arlington, gifts, Virginia, Hound Picks, chocolate by Ramona
3 Comments »
Although upon my last visit to the Arlington market I was a bit depressed and longing for the vibrancy of Spring, I wished for the handful of vendors this past Saturday. I drove to Courthouse about 11:45 am and found an empty parking lot. “I swear they’re open year-round” I thought aloud. “Did I miss an email or something?” Apparently I did. The hard working folks at the Arlington market took a much deserved day off for the Holidays. They should be returning to business as usual after the New Year.
Earlier in the day, we visited Cheesetique to pick up the Saint-Marcellin cheese for the gratin dish. I was in the mood to try a different cheese for snacking, and boldly ordered 1/4 pound of Stinking Bishop (it was just taunting me to try it) when our helper looked at me askance and said “Uh…have you tried Stinking Bishop before?”. “No” I said shyly, “but I like epoisse” as if that gave me some gravitas. “Here, try some” she said. What can I say about the taste of this pungent cheese? I’ll say dirty socks in a non-ventilated hamper for about a week, that’s what I’d say! Yeah, this cheese is for serious stinky cheese lovers…who won’t be kissing anyone anytime soon. A burp 10 minutes after sampling the malodorous morsel recreated the experience vividly. Not for me. To those who love it and it’s funky friends, more power to you!
Instead, I picked up a piece of Chimay, a Belgium cheese made by those same Trappist monks who make the beer. Chimay is creamy with an assertive nutty flavor and yes, can be a bit pungent. It paired nicely with a Drambuie brand Spicy Apricot Mustard and the Pinot, and made for a relaxing afternoon of braising and noshing.
