2020 Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Let’s face it, 2020 has been a tough one. As we approach the end of the year, we want to make this gift-giving season as easy as possible for you and the foodies in your life with this holiday gift giving guide! Whether you’re looking to treat your friends, family, or yourself (self-care is important!), there are so many locally-made goodies and pandemic-friendly gift options. Check out some of our top picks in our 2020 holiday foodie gift giving guide. You’ll add a little joy to your loved ones’ lives, and support local businesses while you’re at it!

Kits and Baskets
Some businesses are offering virtual experiences in collaboration with their gift boxes! Bring your family together to virtually share holiday cheer while supporting local producers. 

Fromagination
Who doesn’t love a great cheese board? Fromagination is the place to go for local & international cheeses, and all the perfect pairings! They offer several different gift sets to make gift-giving as easy as can be for the cheese-lovers in your life, if you have any questions, their friendly staff of cheesemongers are experts at offering recommendations. From cheeses and companions, to slate and wood boards, Fromagination is your one stop shop! They even sell how-to books for those new to the cheese board game.

Madison trEats 
Looking for a quick and easy meal this holiday season without the hassle of planning and shopping? How about a locally sourced, healthy meal that you can enjoy without any shopping or cooking? Great for the busy shopper or as a gift to a family that doesn’t have time to cook.  Check out our very own selection of curated heat-and-eat meals featuring local producers! These delicious meals feature local products from diverse producers in and around Madison. We are also offering curated gift sets that can be shipped nationally, perfect for a foodie or someone who needs a little TLC. Click here for our latest offerings. 

Quince and Apple 
Quince and Apple has been making award-winning artisan foods for over ten years. Most known for their incredible small batch preserves, they also produce simple syrups, gourmet candied nuts, and more! Their gift boxes focus on a type of product (like the Artisan Nuts Deluxe Jar Collection) or revolve around a theme (like the Breakfast Gift Box), and are sure to delight!

Taste of Atwood
Our Atwood neighborhood food tours may be on a hiatus, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying some of the awesome products you would experience on our tours! Next Door Brewing is offering a “Taste of Atwood” on December 12th where you can pick up some delicious treats for your holiday. Taste of Atwood Gift package includes: Barriques Coffee Mug, Gail Ambrosius 2pc. truffle box, Nutkrack 4oz. can of candied pecans, Next Door 22 oz. bomber of your choice.

Baked Lab
How about gathering a small group together to bake something delicious while you get LIVE instructions from one Madison’s most talented bakers. The Baked Lab‘s fall bake along options include caramel apple pie or cheddar bacon biscuits, and more. Boxes can be shipped! Check the website for details. 

Kosa Spa
The perfect answer to holiday meal and pandemic fatigue! A warm meal, delivered to you. Kosa is offering an Ayurvedic Comfort Food Meal plan, delivered to you four times a week. Check out their website for details and monthly subscription options.

Old Sugar Distillery
If you’re looking for an incredible selection of spirits including rum, brandy, and honey liqueur you should definitely stop by Old Sugar Distillery. Their Brandy Old Fashioned gift set is perfect for a taste of Wisconsin, and the maraschino cherries alone make it a fave. 

Make Your Own Gift Basket
Buying a premade gift basket is wonderful, but compiling your own can give it a special touch! These local businesses make wonderful products that would be great as stocking stuffers or combined into a customized basket for the special people in your life!

Christine’s Kitchens
A shared commercial kitchen space, Christine’s Kitchens  houses a number of local producers! From pickles, to frozen meals, to jams and cakes, there is literally something for everyone. Local delivery or pickup! Pick up some of Christine’s Slide potato chips while you’re there (Curry Garlic is our fav)! 

Potter’s Crackers 
Potter’s Crackers has been making high quality, organic crackers since 2006. Not only are their handmade products delicious, they also source many of their ingredients locally! A couple favorites are the Winter Wheat crackers (great with jam or cheese!) and the Apple Crisps. These are sure to keep that foodie you know very happy. Potter’s Crackers can be found all around Madison,  so click here to find out where you can pick some up! 

Perfect Imperfections Candles
A hand poured soy wax candle that smells like a holiday pie? Yes, please. Jasmine’s creations are delicious, natural and all handmade. A favorite is the Pumpkin and Brown Sugar, but the Candy Cane and Cedar or Amber will make great stocking stuffers! You can also find also has soaps, scrubs and body oils.

Peace of Lovelace
Vials of bath salts are soul soothing and perfect for a relaxing night in (isn’t that what we are all needing AND having these days?). Peace of Lovelace salts are made by hand from Epsom salts with natural herbs and fragrances. Try a 4-pack of “test tubes” for $25 and choose your favorite. Owner Tamisha makes beautiful journals and sage bundles as well. 

Bar Corallini
Chef Giovanni is bringing a taste of Naples to us this holiday with a range of delicious pantry items, including vinegar and olive oil made especially for Bar Corallini by artisan producers in Italy.  Stay tuned to the Bar Corallini website for the launch in the very near future. Other items include pestos, pastas, pickles and even panettone!

Nutkrack 
Candied nuts are perfect for the holiday season, and Nutkrack makes the perfect candied nuts! Specializing exclusively in pecans, both the original Nutkrack (sweet) and the newer Firekracker (spicy) are decadent & delightful. As the saying goes, it’s impossible to eat just one!

Lush Life Vegan Bakery
The rum cake. That is all. This incredible vegan rum cake is perfect for your holiday dessert table. Lush Life also ships nationally! A take on her family recipe, this vegan, plant based version of a classic rum cake will fool even the most dedicated non-vegan dessert lover. 

Landmark Cheese 
Landmark cheeses are the perfect addition to your holiday cheese board or a pasta dinner. The Nociolla is an aged pecorino-style sheep milk cheese that is creamy, with nutty sweet notes. The sheep milk lends a bright finish. If your gift recipients are local, definitely try the Pipit! This creamy fresh cheese is simply sublime.

Madison Chocolate Company 
We love all the treats that you can find at this beautiful store on Madison’s near west side, but the Fluffer Nutter and the Ghost Pepper caramel have to be our favorites right now. The Ghost pepper caramel is smooth and creamy on the tongue packing just a touch of heat. The fluffer nutter is the most delectable combo of peanut butter and marshmallow dipped in chocolate. 

Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier 
Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier  specialty is single-origin dark chocolate truffles, but they also carry chocolate bars, chocolate dipped fruits, and holiday specials like peppermint & dark chocolate bark. But our winter-time recommendation is the hot chocolate mix! Made out of the same Colombian chocolate that covers the truffles, this luxurious hot chocolate will keep you feeling warm & cozy through the cold weather months!

Yahara Bay Distillery
For the people in your life who enjoy the occasional adult beverage, Yahara Bay’s small batch spirits make for an amazing gift! Pick your poison – whiskey, rum, gin, vodka – Yahara Bay has something for you. Our seasonal pick is the Cocoa Liqueur!

Gift Cards
If all else fails, no one will ever be disappointed with getting a gift card or certificate to their favorite local restaurant! Unsure of which eatery to pick or want to give your loved ones the choice of where to dine? Perhaps a gift card from one of these organizations which feature numerous restaurants and shops all around the Madison area. 

Food Fight
A locally owned and operated restaurant group with an ever-growing family of unique and diverse restaurants in the greater Madison area. And take advantage of their seasonal offer: For every $100 in Food Fight gift cards you purchase, you’ll get a Bonus Book with coupons and special offers!

Your Favorite Restaurant
Let’s be honest, it’s been an incredibly tough year for restaurants. Any amount of support will go a long way. Support your favorite restaurant by purchasing a gift card!

Madison Originals
An association of independently owned restaurants and affiliated businesses in the Madison, Wisconsin area.

Madison Eats Food Tours
Take a guided tour through Madison’s unique neighborhoods and scenic downtown while enjoying some of the best food and drink our city has to offer. You’ll experience our city’s thriving food scene and eat and drink from Madison’s most acclaimed chefs and local producers. Grab a gift certificate (they never expire and are on sale now through Dec 25th!) and look forward to our tours resuming in the spring!  
Looking for something a little bit more than a tour and in a warmer climate than Wisconsin (yas please), then take a peek at Madison Eats’ culinary vacations to Mexico and Cuba which will resume in 2021! For the most up to date information visit this link.

Donations
If you prefer the gift of giving, consider donating your time, food, or money to a local food pantry or organization that supports our community in need. 

Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
Creating a world where Black women and girls live long, happy and thriving lives, defined by healthy minds, bodies and spirits.

Centro Hispano
Centro focuses on shaping a better life for young Latinos.

Goodman Center
The Goodman Community Center strengthens lives and secure futures.

Food Pantries:
https://www.riverfoodpantry.org

https://www.secondharvestmadison.org