Edible Gift Guide: The 7th Annual
It seems that each year, gift-giving gets even more difficult and overwhelming. With so many wonderful products to choose from (and so many ways to shop for them) it can have your head spinning. We’ve had the pleasure of trimming the fat and sorting through a very long list of local treasures to bring you our curated list of unique and exciting offerings. Here you’ll find the perfect gift for everyone on your list—from the adventurer who loves to travel in search of the next best bite, to your wine snob boss, to the hostess who seems to already have it all. Happy gifting, and getting!
FOR THE ADVENTURER
For the one on your list with a permanent case of wanderlust, Marin & Wine Country offer a host of dreamy escapes. For a romantic getaway, Nick’s Cove & Cottages
FOR THE OUT-OF-TOWNER: ESSENTIAL MARIN & WINE COUNTRY
The holidays are a time of good food, good cheer and, of course, gatherings of family and friends from near and far. Give your out-of-town guests the gift of a vacation to remember. In Marin, let the Marin Convention & Visitors Bureau help you craft a unique and fun-filled visit, arrange the perfect lodging (not your house!) or suggest an outdoor adventure. VisitMarin.org. We suggest starting your day with a visit to one of our local farmers’ markets, where you can enjoy barista-brewed coffee and locally baked goods while perusing the aisles for artisan cheeses, fresh from the ground produce and sustainably raised and harvested meats and seafood.
FOR THE BLISS-SEEKER
It’s no secret that the holidays are all about a little too much indulgence. For the beauty queen (or king) on your list, give the gift of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation with Hungarian skin care specialist Eva Claiborne’s brand new Evike
FOR THE (NOT SO) AMATEUR CHEF
We all have someone on our list who loves to cook—and whose food we love to eat. Foot the bill (and secure an invite) to their next dinner party with a gift certificate to Sonoma Market or Glen Ellen Market in Sonoma County (SonomaMarket.net) or Sausalito’s Driver’s Market (DriversMarket.com)—all locally owned groceries that support our local food and drink producers. Raise their talent to another level with a class or professional-grade kitchen accessory from the CIA at Greystone’s NEW store at downtown Napa’s recently re-opened Copia, or the CIA’s flagship campus in St. Helena.
THE NATURE LOVER
Lucky for us, Marin & Wine Country is home to some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the world. Accordingly, it is also filled with people who are passionate about preserving that natural beauty—and we bet you have a few on your list. For the committed environmentalist, give the green gift that keeps on giving: Go solar with Sun First Solar.
FOR THE ULTIMATE FOODIE
It’s hard not to be an enthusiastic lover and supporter of local food and drink here in Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties. A gift from any of these world-class local producers and retailers will be sure to please anyone on your list, from your beloved, to your boss, to your hard-to-please mother-in-law. Put together a market basket overflowing with goodies at one of the three year-round farmers’ markets in Fairfax, Petaluma or Santa Rosa run by the Agricultural Community Events group of markets. CommunityFarmersMarkets.com.
FOR THE ETERNAL ENTERTAINER
Even the hostess who has it all can always use a little something extra. Reward their efforts with some bubbles from Peju Province Winery
FOR THE COLLECTOR
Beautiful things elevate the spirit. Whether they be simple shapes in nature, a well-made piece of clothing or an exquisitely wrought piece of jewelry. We have all that and more in Marin & Wine Country for the collectors of beautiful things on your list. Petaluma Home & Garden’s City Market Bag
FOR A MEAL TO REMEMBER
Boss, best friend, hair stylist, teacher, coach, mentor, the one gift that is perfect for EVERYONE on your list? Dining gift certificates. No matter where they live in Marin & Wine Country, there are outstanding restaurants, markets and cafés that support and highlight our extraordinary local food and drink artisans. Highlights are Ca’ Momi’s “obsessively authentic” Italian food, heart-crafted in the Napa Valley
And of course, our favorite gift: a subscription to Edible Marin & Wine Country! Subscribe online for all of your good food and drink loving friends and family and we’ll include a gift note along with their first issue. They’ll be thanking you with the arrival of each quarterly issue! EdibleMarin&WineCountry.com.
Photo 1: event, which this year includes carolers on the Plaza and, as always, a wide array of exceptional wine and food offerings. Healdsburg.com. The wine lover will be swept away by Visit Calistoga’s Winter in the Wineries passport
Photo 2: an experience that includes access to 15 wineries (both historic and boutique) as well as discounts on lodging and dining—one of the best values in Wine Country. VisitCalistoga.com. For a more guided experience, turn to Gourmet Food & Wine Tours
Photo 1: is the perfect pairing (we recommend the gingerbread!). RusticBakery.com. And of course, any Marin & Wine Country visit would not be complete without world class, locally produced cheese. The Marin French Brie-style “Petite” collection
Photo 2: is handcrafted with local milk and features seven delicious 4-ounce Briestyle cheeses. They’ve been crafting their award-winning cheeses locally in Marin since 1865. MarinFrenchCheese.com. For a gift that’s a little more hands-on, immerse your guest in the Marin foodie scene with a West Marin Food & Farm Tour
Photo 3: —lead bivalve lovers straight to the source with a road trip to the farm out in Tomales. Hog Island will also ship their oysters to arrive just in time for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For details, visit HogIslandOysters.com. Out-of-town yogis will be thrilled to receive a gift certificate to New Om World Yoga
Photo 4: to keep their vinyasas flowing on their trip. NewOmWorld.com. The open-air Marin Country Mart is a one-stop destination for all of your dining and shopping needs seven days a week.
Photo 1: with locations in Sonoma and Marin offering massages and a brand new meditation studio (exclusively in Marin). SoulsticeSpa.com. A gift certificate to Yogaworks
Photo 2: will provide the Yin to the Yang of the holiday season (and all of that local food and drink) and get their yoga booty back on track. YogaWorks.com. Yogi Tea Tulsi Spiced Berry Immune Support
Photo 3: combines tulsi leaf, elderberry, blueberries and warming herbs for a delicious and comforting herbal tea to support everyday immune function—and is the perfect stocking stuffer for the health maven in your life. YogiProducts.com.
Photo 4: CIAChef.edu. If baking is their passion, thrill them with hand-selected, expertly milled grains and every kind of baking tool they could imagine or a baking class from Keith Giusto’s Baking Supply in Petaluma.
Photo 1: CentralMilling.com. Entrepreneurs who are a little bit more serious about the cooking game will love a class at the Food Craft Institute in Oakland, a comprehensive food business incubator that teaches business skills as well as food craftsmanship. FoodCraftInstitute.org. The carnivore will fall in love with Belcampo’s Meat Camp
Photo 2: a weeklong retreat on Belcampo’s farm at the foot of Mount Shasta, part retreat and part intensive educational experience learning about meat cookery and open fire grilling. BelcampoMeatCo.com. Aspiring professional and at-home chefs alike will find something to love on the Napa Valley Cooking School extensive list of professional courses and enthusiast offerings. NapaValleyCookingSchool.org. Healdsburg SHED
Photo 3: a weeklong retreat on Belcampo’s farm at the foot of Mount Shasta, part retreat and part intensive educational experience learning about meat cookery and open fire grilling. BelcampoMeatCo.com. Aspiring professional and at-home chefs alike will find something to love on the Napa Valley Cooking School extensive list of professional courses and enthusiast offerings. NapaValleyCookingSchool.org. Healdsburg SHED
Photo 4: offers gorgeous gifts for the gardener, the baker, the wine connoisseur and the home cook. The new SHED Pantry line of finishing powders, salt blends, preserves and shrub concentrates is the perfect addition to any kitchen. HealdsburgShed.com. Those on your list who like it spicy and hot will love Q Craft BBQ’s unique and imaginative Vietnamese Caramel sauce inspired by Chef Brannon Fetzer’s travels in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, perfect for grilling or stir-fry. QCraftBBQ.com. La Vie Rustic’s cranberry bean and herbes de provence soup set
Photo 1: is the perfect blueprint for a cozy winter dinner, made with high-quality Rancho Gordo heritage beans. LaVieRustic.com.
Photo 2: Provisions offers a wide array of products with something for every occasion from backpacking to school lunches to fancy dinner parties. Patagonia Provisions’ deluxe gift box includes a sample of lightly smoked wild salmon, garden vegetable tsampa soup mix, fruit & almond bars and savory grass-fed buffalo jerky. PatagoniaProvisions.com. If the easiest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, the second easiest way is surely through their pet. Petaluma Pet Company is the perfect place to pick up organic, all-natural treats and toys that are good for the planet and for our four-legged friends, too
Photo 3: PetalumaPet.com. Beekind
Photo 4: offers new and seasoned beekeepers everything they need to keep a healthy hive—or, for the less daring, all the spoils of beekeeping: honey, beeswax, lotions, soaps and more. Beekind.com. Help bring the great outdoors inside with gorgeous orchids, succulents and holiday wreaths and plants curated and designed by Green Door Design’s Susie Turner.
Photo 1: Add in some sustainably and locally raised beef, lamb, goat, pork, rabbit or poultry offered by Thistle Meats, the whole animal butcher shop in Petaluma. ThistleMeats.com. Stop by Ramekins Culinary School
Photo 2: in downtown Sonoma to shop for the perfect gift of preserves or cooking accessories. Ramekins.com. Pick up a gourmet gift basket at one of Nugget Market’s three Marin locations
Photo 3: is the “must have” for the cheese lover in your life; celebrate the Swiss tradition with a fondue set, all the cheese you need and a foolproof recipe. CowgirlCreamery.com.
Photo 4: the first and only organic vodka company producing wonderfully infused vodka in Sonoma county. Christmas Day Bloody Marys are even more special when made with Hanson’s habanero-infused vodka! HansonofSonoma.com. The old adage, “give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime,” also holds true for beautiful flowers. Give the gift of a lifetime of gorgeous scenery with a gift certificate for one of Dragonfly Floral’s flower arranging classes
Photo 1: Wrap it up and deliver it with one of the organic flower garden and floral shop’s custom-made arrangements. DragonflyHealdsburg.com. Chateau Sonoma
Photo 2: at Sonoma’s exciting Cornerstone Marketplace is filled to the brim with vintage ornaments, stunning tablescapes, housewares and cookbooks. You are certain to find something special for everyone on your list, and why not pick up a treat for yourself while you’re at it? ChateauSonoma.com. For a foolproof sweet treat, Sonoma favorite Girl & The Fig’s own salted fig caramel
Photo 3: have something for everyone, from Clif’s delicious organic wine to artisan foods crafted with fruits and vegetables grown on Clif’s own organic farm in Napa’s Potter Valley. Our personal favorite is the Just Add Wine gift set featuring a selection of products hand-picked by executive chef John McConnell. Exclusive code EDIBLECFW gets you 20% off all gift sets, wine and artisan foods through December 31, 2016! ClifFamily.com. And of course, when in doubt, give the gift of cheese. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.’s “Taste of Point Reyes” gift pack
Photo 4: is a complete cheese course ready for entertaining, accompanied by artisan honey and maple-roasted walnuts. PointReyesCheese.com. For the host who’s especially difficult to please, Marin favorite Good Earth Natural Foods
Photo 1: (locations in Fairfax and Mill Valley) is always a safe bet: A few highlights include globally conscious ethical fashion from Rising Tide, organic bamboo reusable-disposable dinner- and serve-ware line Bambu, or a gift certificate so your host can stock up on all the local organic ingredients for their next gathering. GENatural.com. Let the entertaining experts at Dragonfly Floral, Relish Culinary Adventures and Wine Country Walking Tours show your very lucky recipient how to take their events to the next level while they enjoy being a guest themselves during an immersive and interactive day in Wine Country gem Healdsburg with Sonoma Country Living Tours
Photo 2: a brand new offering from the trio of hospitality giants. RelishCulinary.com/SoCoLivingTour.html#. For everyone on your list who has caught the craft cocktail fever, and that is most everyone these days, the Mill Valley Market carries one of the most extensive spirits selections we have ever seen—not to mention a wide array of craft beers, world-class wines, and all the HOT right now hard ciders we covered in our Fall 2016 issue.
Photo 3: transitions seamlessly and stylishly from farmers’ market to the beach, and the purchase of each bag helps provide a fair wage to mothers who handcraft them in Bangladesh. Owner Alonda O’Kane’s pitch perfect eye has gathered together an impressive array of unique housewares and objet d’art including handblown Mexican glassware made with 100% recycled glassware that would enhance any bar cart or credenza. Facebook.com/PetalumaHomeandGarden. Local artisans Jeff and Sally Manfredi of Calistoga Pottery
Photo 4: have been producing lead-free, microwave- and dishwasher-safe stoneware in Calistoga for 36 years. Their pieces make a special gift for everyone who loves artful entertainment. CalistogaPottery.com. Terrestra in downtown Mill Valley (and San Francisco) is a literal jewel box of a store. Close your eyes and point and you will surely hit upon a gorgeous gift item. Most are handcrafted and all are of exceptional quality. This year we especially have our eye on this Pedestal Bowl
Photo 1: crafted from a single piece of plantation-grown teak. Terrestra.com. If you love Matthew Carden’s whimsical photographs in every issue of Edible Marin & Wine Country, you will swoon over Matthew’s full collection of “food as art” photographs at MatthewCarden.com. Everyone’s kitchen should have one! The fashion-forward will love Guideboat’s British Moleskin Shirt
Photo 2: With Ca’ Momi’s enoteca in Napa’s Oxbow Public Market or osteria in downtown Napa, you can set the perfect mood for your recipient. Give a certificate worth $100 or more and you will receive a box of Ca’ Momi’s housemade cookies as a thank you. CaMomi.com. Sonoma’s Cochon Volant BBQ will make your BBQ lover squeal with delight. Dine in or give the gift of a catered whole-hog BBQ! CochonVolantBBQ.com. Chef John Snell of Foodniks in Tiburon is famous for his biscuits, but the newly renovated café and market offers a wide array of dine in or take home options, including beer and wine. A familysize turkey potpie will have your harried hostess giving thanks the day after the party… Foodniks.com. Sausalito’s Cibo is buzzing for good reason. Cibo roasts its delicious coffee in house and packages it in recyclable and re-fillable tins sure to please the environmentally conscious caffeine lover on your list. Pick up a gift basket of Cibo’s house-baked pastries or cookies to sweeten the treat. CiboSausalito.com. In Graton, Chef Matthew Greenbaum’s Underwood Bar & Bistro is a longtime local favorite. UnderwoodGraton.com. Just across the street, Greenbaum offers a more casual Willow Wood Market Cafe. WillowWoodGraton.com. Both would make inspired choices for anyone within reach of Wine Country. Chef Sean O’Toole and his wife, Cynthia, have lovingly crafted downtown Napa’s TORC into a beautiful space, serving impeccably sourced and expertly executed food alongside fine wines and an extensive craft cocktail list—without the sometimes “too serious” atmosphere. TorcNapa.com. For the best avocado toast in Marin, among other highlights, head to Marche Aux Fleurs on Ross Commons.
Photo 3: Chef/Proprietor Dan Baker’s food is inspired by the famous French market, and sourced almost exclusively from the Marin farmers’ markets. This might be the most romantic spot in the county. MarcheuxFleursRestaurant.com. Mill Valley’s Piazza D’Angelo
Photo 4: in Mill Valley’s Tam Junction brings the best of modern coffee culture to the classic diner experience, South-of-the-Border style. Order up a green juice to counter balance that breakfast burrito filled with Green Gulch greens and housemade chorizo. Ole! Shoreline-CoffeeShop.com. Piatti of Mill Valley offers seasonal Italian-inspired meals with a view of the bay (and don’t forget to try their signature dipping olive oil!) Piatti.com. Sonoma Plaza classic El Dorado Kitchen features farm-driven, seasonal California fare from award-winning chef Armando Navarro—perfect for holiday parties and intimate date nights alike. ElDoradoSonoma.com.
Photo 1: offers the “luxe unplugged experience”—a North Coast gem where fine dining and expansive ocean views meet rustic chic cabins in an opportunity to truly unwind. ILoveSunsets.com. If a day trip is more their style, head to Healdsburg to experience their annual Dine Around Healdsburg
Photo 2: On Thursdays and Sundays, head to San Rafael to the Agricultural Institute of Marin’s farmers’ markets on the grounds of the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Marin Civic Center. AgriculturalInstitute.org. On Fridays, the Mill Valley Farmers’ Market will wow them with “holy” produce grown on nearby Green Gulch Zen Center’s farm. Facebook.com/millvalleyfarmersmarket. On Saturdays, the Marin Country Mart’s carefully curated market offers live music and gorgeous bay views to liven up your experience. MarinCountryMart.com. A holiday meal wouldn’t be complete without some Straus eggnog
Photo 3: a diverse and sustainable farm and vineyard. Their fresh stone-ground polenta is incredibly unique, and pairs wonderfully with their 2014 Red or Mourvedre. FPFarm.com. For another drink to toast with, turn to local favorite Clover Stornetta’s holiday eggnog
Photo 4: a festive gift box that includes three sparkling wines to start the party off right. Peju.com. If something a little stronger fits the bill, turn to Hanson of Sonoma Organic Vodka
Photo 1: serves local food and drink (including Tomales Bay’s famous oysters) in an exceptional setting on the water, and if you’re so inclined, dinner can turn into a magical evening of rustic charm and luxury in one of the 12 cottages. NicksCove.com. For something a bit further “out there,” gift a night or two at historic Dawn Ranch in Guerneville
Photo 2: where redwood groves, the Russian River and a bustling main street are all at your fingertips in this funky-cool town a bit off the beaten path. DawnRanch.com. River’s End Inn & Restaurant in Jenner
Photo 3: for an in-depth food and wine pairing tour through some of the culinary highlights of Sausalito, Yountville or the Sonoma Plaza. GourmetFoodandWineTours.com. If a plane ticket to Spain is not in your gift giving budget, the next best thing is the Spanish Table paella kit
Photo 4: so your explorer can whip up an authentic Spanish meal in their own kitchen, accompanied by fine Spanish cava and wines, capped off with a dessert of festive Spanish cookies and chocolates. SpanishTable.com.
Photo 1: The annual treat is sourced from local dairy farmers and is 100% organic—not to mention delightfully creamy and delicious. StrausFamilyCreamery.com. For the caffeine addict with a heart of gold, Equator Coffee’s World Bicycle Relief Blend
Photo 2: is the perfect gift: For each bag sold, Equator donates $1 to help supply rural parts of the world with bicycles. EquatorCoffees.com. To go along with the coffee, Marin treasure Rustic Bakery’s holiday line of cookies and treats
Photo 3: Local Elizabeth Hill lets guests frolic with baby goats, feed water buffalo or learn how to shuck an oyster during exclusive tastings at Double 8 Dairy, Cowgirl Creamery, Hog Island Oyster Company, Marin Sun Farms and more. FoodandFarmTours.com. And speaking of Hog Island Oysters
Photo 4: Check out their great lineup of holiday events including a French circus, holiday bazaar and visits by the Jolly Old Elf himself. MarinCountryMart.com.
Photo 1: line of all natural and highly activated products designed to restore radiance and health. Better yet, gift them a session with Eva, too! TiburonSkinCare.com. Mind-body-spirit types will love a gift card to Soulstice Spa
Photo 2: SunFirstSolar.com. A residential solar system is equal to planting over 10,500 trees, plus it saves immensely on electricity bills—a gift that will truly change the world. The gardener in your life will appreciate a gift certificate to Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, the one-stop shop for flowers, fruit trees, grasses and seasonal local flora to brighten any backyard. CottageGardensofPet.com. For the seafood fanatic, delight them with a membership in Real Good Fish’s sustainable seafood CSA.
Photo 3: RealGoodFish.com. If your loved one already has a closet full of Patagonia clothing and gear, they’ll go crazy for Patagonia Provisions’ exciting new line of organic and sustainable food and drink
Photo 4: Stop in to hand pick your holiday or hostess gift; delivery services are available. GreenDoorDesign.net.
Photo 1: (we suggest the Chocolate & Caramel basket, Pasta and Wine basket, or Bloody Mary basket!). NuggetMarket.com. Wine geeks will relish a subscription to Hayfork Wines Sustaining Member Case Club
Photo 2: one of our favorite family-owned wineries in St. Helena. HayforkWine.com. Another favorite for good wine and good food is Front Porch Farm
Photo 3: —this year celebrating their 100-year anniversary! Back in the day, the company’s founding fathers would mix up a 500-gallon batch of eggnog with a “little something special”: 30 gallons of whiskey from Vallergas Market in Napa. We’ll leave it up to you whether or not you want to follow in his footsteps (wink, wink). CloverPetaluma.com. The coffee lover will enjoy a gift certificate to Acre Coffee, where expertly made espresso drinks are crafted with house-roasted beans and served alongside grilled breakfast sandwiches. AcreCoffee.com. Spindrift’s sodas and seltzers, crafted with natural fruit juices and bottled in Sonoma, make great stocking stuffers, and we think Santa might like to find a refreshing soda under the tree this Christmas Eve. SpindriftFresh.com. The perfect holiday ham is a wonderful gift for the overbooked party planner. Rancho Llano Seco’s hams
Photo 4: are especially tasty, and the rancho has a history of six generations of responsible land stewardship. Enter the code #HOLIDAYS at checkout for a 15% discount on heirloom beans, ancient grains and pastured California pork. LlanoSeco.com. And finally, it wouldn’t be the holidays without fondue. Cowgirl Creamery’s Fondue Redoux collection
Photo 1: is the perfect topping for ice cream, waffles or even spooned straight from the jar. TheGirlandTheFig.com. Clif Family Winery and Farm gift sets
Photo 2: The Mill Valley Market’s beer and wine club memberships make exceptional gifts your lucky recipients will thank you for all year long. MillValleyMarket.com.
Photo 3: have been producing lead-free, microwave- and dishwasher-safe stoneware in Calistoga for 36 years. Their pieces make a special gift for everyone who loves artful entertainment. CalistogaPottery.com. Terrestra in downtown Mill Valley (and San Francisco) is a literal jewel box of a store. Close your eyes and point and you will surely hit upon a gorgeous gift item. Most are handcrafted and all are of exceptional quality. This year we especially have our eye on this Pedestal Bowl
Photo 1: for him or her. This genuine British moleskin is both fashionable and functional: high-quality cotton yarn, expert tailoring, windproof, warm yet lightweight, and available in a variety of colors. Stop by Guideboat’s flagship location at the Mill Valley Lumberyard in Mill Valley, or in San Francisco’s Jackson Square district, or visit them at Guideboat.com to view their entire line of collective wearables to adorn your loved ones. For something with a little more bling, Alix & Company’s
Photo 2: beautiful rings and other exquisite jewelry pieces are made in the designer’s downtown Mill Valley workshop from recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gemstones…the perfect way to spread a little romance this holiday season. AlixandCompany.com. If you are looking for a little (or a lot) inspiration in your gift giving, head to Sonoma’s Cornerstone
Photo 3: this holiday season to explore the great collection of shops and galleries, each independently owned and entirely unique. One of our favorites is Tesoro Flowers, where you’ll find gorgeous, festive arrangements and decor. Cornerstone’s 12 Days of Christmas event makes sure that the art of giving is also rewarding to the giver. CornerstoneSonoma.com
Photo 4: serves classic Italian fare in a gorgeous space perfect for entertaining groups. PiazzaDAngelo.com. Shoreline Coffee Shop
