The 2024 Heavy Table Local Food Gift Guide
Our mega-gift guide in lieu of the Tap newsletter for Friday, December 6, 2024
Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Heavy Table Local Food Gift Guide. We’re (extremely) proud to have assembled more than 75 different gifts, events, and special local shops for your virtual shopping pleasure.
(For our regular readers: this post replaces the Tap and this week’s Tulip and Schooner arrives next Friday.)
Let’s start with a no-brainer. Have you considered giving your friends and/or family members gift subscriptions to the only six-times-a-month, reportage and tasting notes-packed, Upper Midwestern super newsletter that tackles everything from restaurants to spirits to home cooking throughout the metro and beyond? It’s easy, and it keeps the Heavy Table alive as a resource for everyone who loves Upper Midwestern food and drink. And if you’re grateful for us, giving this gift will most assuredly make us grateful for you.
What’s that? You’d like a few more ideas? OK. We’ve got you. But before we dive into it, here’s a quick overview of this festive monster.
We’ll kick things off with a few of the STORES WE LOVE. These shops are a terrific place to start if you’re looking for curation, care, local connections, and stuff you just can’t get anywhere else.
Then comes our big, beefy, bold parade of FOOD, DRINK, AND GEAR. From the smallest of stocking stuffers to a parade of cheese fit for an emperor, we’ve got your and your favorite people ably covered.
Then we’ll close it out with some HOLIDAY EVENTS AND EXPERIENCE-BASED GIFTS - the perfect non-things for the people with everything.
STORES WE LOVE
Golden Fig | 794 Grand Ave, St Paul | MON-SAT 10:30am-6:30pm, SUN 11am-5pm
Founded in 2006 and still going strong, this is the little local food specialty shop that just won't quit. Stocking everything from spice mixes to sweets to baking supplies to cookbooks to cheeses and chocolates, Golden Fig leans toward the Upper Midwestern, the artisan-made, and the luxurious. – James Norton
Indigenous Food Lab Market | 920 E Lake St, Minneapolis
The shelves at the Indigenous Food Lab Market are stocked with Native-made products, many of which are sourced locally. Gift-friendly items include wild rice pancake mix, jams and jellies, hot sauces, and coffee, plus stocking stuffers like single-origin chocolate bars and savory pemmican snack bars. – Stacy Brooks
Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace | 1601 E Lake St, Minneapolis
The 103-year-old store is a destination for all things Nordic, including imported foodstuffs, home decor, and lefse-making equipment. Build your own gift basket with items from the deli and meat market like lingonberry preserves, tinned fish, Swedish gingersnaps, crisp bread, and chocolate. The gift shop’s kitchen section is stocked with specialty Scandinavian cookware and a nice selection of Nordic-themed cookbooks. – S.B.
Moon Palace Books | 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis | MON-SAT 11am-6:30pm, SUN 12-5pm
This Longfellow bookstore is a living, breathing example of why it pays to love what you do: every book in the shop feels like it's been put there for a reason, and its shelves are positively bursting with smart, engaging, intriguing, community minded literature, toys, trinkets, and more. Its cookbook section is robust and well-maintained, showing off a collection of classic books amid a whirling, always-evolving raft of new titles that capture the best of modern recipes. (Please note that Moon Palace requires customers to mask up.) – J.N.
Northern Clay Center | 2424 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis | DAILY 10am-5pm except THU 10am-7pm
Northern Clay Center sits squarely at the intersection of art, craft, and community - from its rotating gallery show to its shelves bursting with pottery by local and national artists to its ever-changing array of classes, NCC is hard to pin down and always a rewarding place to shop if you're in search of unique mugs, platters, or pitchers. It's one of my favorite places to bring out-of-towners, too - the prices and pieces range from the eminently casual and affordable to the somewhat dazzling, with everything you could hope for in between as well. – J.N.
Tare Market | 2717 E 38th Street, Minneapolis and 945 Broadway Street NE, Suite 103, Minneapolis
A trip to Minnesota’s first zero-waste store helps mitigate some of the excess of the holiday season. Giftable eco-friendly kitchen items include bamboo utensils, reusable silicone baking cups, colorful glass straws, and charcuterie boards made of ash trees reclaimed from Twin Cities neighborhoods. For easy gifts for teachers, neighbors, and co-workers, fill up one of your own glass jars with granola, snack mix, or chocolate-covered nuts from the bulk bins. – S.B.
Umei | 903 North 5th St., Minneapolis | THU 12-4pm, FRI-SAT 12-6pm, SUN 12-4pm, MON-WED CLOSED
Umei is one of the truly lovely and almost completely hidden jewels of Minneapolis shopping. This Japanese home goods, decor, cooking (like the donabe pictured above), and dinnerware shop is lovingly curated and a joy to browse, with everything selected and displayed just so (as befits the material.) The owner suffers from dizzyingly good taste, and that is reflected by just about everything in the shop. – J.N.
FOOD, DRINK, AND GEAR
Bad Weather Brewery Trading Card Sticker and Koozie | $3 or $6
This is a twofer. First, the trading card stickers are modeled after Magic the Gathering cards, perfect for the fantasy artwork Bad Weather uses on labels. My favorite beer and label from them – and a favorite of mine when it comes to all of Minnesota’s beer – is Hopromancer. Get the cards and the crowler koozie featuring Hopromancer artwork for the Magic or Dungeons and Dragons nerd in your life. – Louis Livingston Garcia
Man Made Lip Balm at Mill City Museum | $6
If you or someone you love missed out on the Star Tribune's annual flavored lip balm at the Minnesota State Fair, you can ease their sadness with this Old Fashioned American Whiskey flavored balm. It should tide them over until next August. – Amy Rea
Dangerous Man Enamel Pins | $6-15
I’ve become a bit of a pin junkie. Enamel Nintendo pins from the ‘80s adorn my camera backpack, alongside plenty of video game, brewery, and event pins. The Dangerous Man pins feature the bearded logo, but the best one is the plant. As many people know, the former Northeast taproom location had enough plants to hide wild animals or stage a Jurassic Park sequel shoot. It’s a nice nod to the old joint. – L.L.G.
Shashiko Coasters from The Textile Center | $8
Hand-embroidered and washable, Yoko Kan’s indigo cotton coasters are a tasteful way to keep unsightly rings off your table tops. Shashiko embroidery began as a mending technique to help reinforce and strengthen fabric, and the white-on-blue patterns on these coasters look fresh and chic. – Jeanne Lakso
Dampfwerk Distillery Smoking Plank | $10
Each side of this plank has about 20 uses. I’ve only used a plank once before to smoke Old Fashioneds, and it’s pretty fun. It adds a new flavor dimension, and if you’re at the cottage or cabin or wherever, it’s a cool way to entertain fellow guests. – L.L.G.
Cardamom Extract, Smoked Black Cardamom, and Cloud Forest Cardamom Seeds at the American Swedish Institute | Smoked Cardamom: $10 for 1.5 ounces, Extract: $18.50 for 4 ounces, Seeds: $13 for 2.4 ounces
A perfect trio for the Scandinavian baker in your circle. Of course, cardamom is ever-present in Scandinavian holiday baked goods, but it's also used in everything from chai to curry. The extract can be used anywhere vanilla extract is called for, the smoked cardamom is especially recommended for dishes where it will blend with other flavors in slow cooking (think soups and stews), and the seeds can be added to pastries or your morning coffee. – A.R.
Brewing Cacao from Carobeans | $12 for a 4-ounce bag
This unsweetened, caffeine-free beverage has a rich cocoa flavor without the sugar overload of many hot chocolate mixes. Local bean-to-bar chocolate maker Caroline Houghton sources the organic, fair-trade, heirloom cacao from Bolivia. – S.B.
Swedish Tree Gingerbread Cookie Cutters at the American Swedish Institute | $13
Take your Christmas cookie game to the next level by creating 3D gingerbread trees. Then it's up to you as to what kind of holiday forest you want to create–minimalistic plain brown trees, or garnished with every kind of color and cookie decoration you can attach. – A.R.
Coffee from Duluth Coffee Company | from $13 per 12 oz. bag
Minnesota's own Duluth Coffee Company relentlessly sources some of the best single origin beans that the world has to offer and roasts them with consistent skill. While DCC is too serious to trick its product out into easy-to-gift baskets, it's guaranteed to intrigue and delight the hardcore coffee lover in your life - either you'll introduce them to something new and delicious, or give them something they already know and enjoy. – J.N.
Minnesota-Themed Dish Towels at Mill City Museum | $13 each
Nothing says "I love Minnesota" like a kitchen towel featuring the state's new flag. For true insiders, the obvious choice is the "Duck duck grey duck" towel. Or both. Why not? – A.R.
Blizzard of '91 coffee from Up North Coffee | $14 for 12 oz., $75 for 5 pounds, ground or whole bean
If someone in your circle can never resist bringing up Minnesota's most fondly remembered winter disaster, this one's for them. The combination of Colombian and Rwandan beans roasted somewhere between medium and dark gives the coffee a smooth, deep flavor that might distract the '91 snowstorm survivor into drinking coffee rather than recalling the size of the snowdrifts all those years ago. – A.R.
Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Christmas Ornament at Mill City Museum | $14.50 each
Minnesota's own Nordic Ware has started a line of collectible Bundt pan ornaments to grace your Christmas tree, or use it as a decoration on a larger package containing a Bundt cake kit for the Bundt enthusiast in your life. – A.R.
Black Frost Distilling Glencairn Glass | $15
Every spirit drinker needs a Glencairn glass. Sure, it’s for enhancing whiskey, but I like to put just about any spirit into it to swish around, smell, and imbibe. It’s a great glass for sensory analysis of spirits. Plus, Black Frost is making some great spirits right now, so why not a branded Glencairn repping them? – L.L.G.
Wooden Ship Brewing Dog Toy | $16
Every dog in my life loves these chewable tallboys. The Pawsner is one of the cheaper ones I’ve found and purchased for a buddy. They seem to last a little while, but if you have a dog who loves to chew, just expect a dog to do what it does best: destroy it. It’s just the nature of dogs and toys (and sometimes video game controllers, not that I have trauma about that). Also works as a fun throwable toy as it bounces erratically. – L.L.G.
Beverage/pint sleeve from Faribault Mill | $15 each
Dress up a disposable coffee cup with a cozy woolen sleeve that keeps your beverage hot and your hands cool. Sleeves are made in Minnesota from blanket ends that would otherwise be shredded, and the sleeves also fit pint glasses. For an extra-thoughtful gift, pair with a gift card to the recipient’s favorite local coffee shop or craft brewery. – S.B.
Lakefront Brewery Dry Bag | $16
As someone who kayaks a lot over the summer, this dry bag has been a great addition to my time on the water. I’m able to sneak a camera or long lens into it to keep dry in case I see some eagles, muskrats, or loons. And Lakefront partnered with Milwaukee Kayak Company to make it, so it’s made with a trusted brand. – L.L.G.
Humble Forager Humble Little Forager Baby Onesie | $18
I’m a huge fan of beer-themed baby and toddler apparel. Humble Forager’s is one of my favorites thanks to all of its clothing featuring nature. We grabbed the yellow and it’s cute, soft, and adorable. Especially since I’m always photographing bees with my macro lens. – L.L.G.
Organic Mushroom Grow Kit from R&R Cultivation | $20
Watch a beige block transform into a miniature mushroom farm. Minimal effort is required to produce 3-4 pounds of gourmet mushrooms, making this an ideal gift for mushroom lovers of all ages. Choose from blue oyster or lion’s mane mushrooms and pick up your kit at R&R Cultivation’s New Hope facility. – S.B.
Stirsby | Available online or at the MIA Store | $20
Local artisan John Danicic made our dining room table years ago, and it's one of the most beautiful things in our South Minneapolis Craftsman home. On a much smaller scale, Danicic makes Stirsby kitchen tools - handmade wooden stirring sticks that are part cooking spoon (the stirring part) and part spatula (the gentle scraping part.) They're a pleasure to look at, a pleasure to use, and a terrific stocking stuffer. – J.N.
Christmas Charms Mug and Towel Set at Mill City Museum | $20
These jolly matching mug and towel sets will brighten up the Christmas kitchen (and dare we say it's a perfect combo for that person that always manages to spill their coffee?). – A.R.
Bury the Lede: A Cocktail Book | Available online | $20-24
Music meets essays meets cocktails in this collaboration between musician Dessa and heavy hitting mixologist Marco Zappia. This collection of 11 drink recipes is synched up with Dessa's album of the same name, one recipe per track. – J.N.
Tiny Baking Kit at Mill City Museum | $22 for 17-piece set
Forget the Easy Bake Ovens of yore. This is the gift for the young future scientists or baker in your life. They can make miniature versions of layer cakes and deep-dish pizzas while learning about the science behind various dishes. A 20-recipe book is included that explains everything from why cookies smell delicious to why cakes rise. – A.R.
SACA Turkey Donation Program | Online or in person at Eastside Coop | $22-26
OK, here's a feel-good curveball: instead of giving a gift to someone you know, consider giving a gift in honor of someone you know, to someone you might not. Throughout December, Eastside Coop is working with community members to donate high-quality, low-cost Ferndale turkeys to the SACA foodshelf. – J.N.
Twin Cities Cocktails by Peter Sieve, Molly Each, and Mecca Bos | Cider Mill Press | 2024 | $23
Former Heavy Table contributor Peter Sieve (accompanied by food writers Molly Each and Mecca Bos) brings readers a deep dive into Minneapolis, St. Paul, and metro-area watering holes, mixologists, and more than 100 cocktail recipes. Part history book, part how-to book, and all entertaining, this is a terrific snapshot of one of the country’s liveliest spirits scenes.
Chicago Mix T-Shirt from Candyland | $23
“Famous since 1923” is their tagline and sweet-salty-crunchy Chicago Mix is Candyland’s best-selling product. For the Chicago Mix lover in your life (I won’t lie; I mean me), Candyland has new nifty black T-shirts: bold product name, eye-catching kernels in cheese, caramel, and plain popcorn colors, wiggly lines to indicate freshly popped. Shipping is $10.95 but you can opt to buy the shirts at any of the three Candyland locations. Throw in some Mix, too, available in 1- to 7-pound bags ($11.00 to $52.00) and a variety of festive tins. – J.L.
Vesper Craft Cocktail Kits at Mill City Museum | $25 each for 4.9 ounces
Vesper's line of all-natural craft cocktail kits makes quick and easy stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. The kits can be consumed with alcohol or sparkling water. The Marshmallow Mule has (besides marshmallows) cinnamon and lemon and is recommended to mix with vodka for the alcoholic version, while the Red Velvet Sangria can be doctored up with anything from wine to sake to spirits, or hot or cold water for a stand-alone drink. – A.R.
BlackStack Loon Squad Tee | $25
As a soccer fan, I love Blackstack’s fandom of the local Loons. This shirt is simple, featuring a dot of red to mimic the iconic bird’s eye on a blue t-shirt, as if the bird is emerging from one of Minnesota’s lakes. It’s a great beer and soccer item for the footy and beer fan in your life. – L.L.G.
Surly Brewing Deneen Pottery Surly Minnesota State Mug | $25
My wife and I buy locally made mugs when we travel. We have them from all over the world. And we also have Deneen-made mugs, and they're lovely. Surly is an iconic Minnesota brewery, and this one features the state on it, making it a beautiful mug to decorate with, drink coffee from, or sneak beer into. – L.L.G.
Tattersall Cocktails in Bloom Book | $25
Our writer Stacy Brooks reviewed this cocktail book, written by Tattersall head distiller Bentley Gillman. It features simple drinks with foraged ingredients from the midwest. Chances are, you know someone who loves being in the woods and foraging. This book is for them, whether they're beginners or seasoned foraging vets. – L.L.G.
Pinecone Platter at the American Swedish Institute | $27.50
If you're looking for something winter-y but not overtly Christmas-y, this small serving platter (wood-backed) is for you. The borderline impressionistic pinecone depiction is all soft edges and calm colors. – A.R.
Kintsugi Kit by Mora Approved | Available online or at the MIA Store | $28
Here's a clever gift for anyone prone to breaking their kitchenwares: a Kintsugi kit of epoxy, a wooden brush, non toxic color powder, a mixing tray, and instructions for how to glue and decorate your busted pottery to render it both usable and more beautiful than ever. Simple, clever, and potentially a lot of fun. Plus: it's an object lesson in mushin, the Japanese philosophy of non-attachment and acceptance of change. – J.N.
Aebleskiver: A New Take on Traditional Danish Pancakes | Available online or at the MIA Store | $30
70 - count 'em, 70! - recipes for small, spherical, Danish pancakes make up the heart of this book, which also includes sauces, jams, glazes, and other accompaniments. The "new take" part of the book refers to everything from Ricotta Salata Æbleskiver with Grilled Corn and Fresh Herb Spread to White Chocolate Hazelnut Æbleskiver with Sweet Beet Ice Cream and Candied Beet Chips. – J.N.
Wild Mind Ales Long Sleeve Flannel | $30
I love a good flannel, and this Wild Mind Ales flannel is pretty great. It was recently on sale for $10 and still might be. But between the blue and orange pattern, along with the Wild Minds animal hop logo, this is one snazzy gift that shows off your Minnesotan. Because flannel. – L.L.G.
The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book | University of Minnesota Press | $30
I wrote at some length about the Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book for The Cookbook Test; the TLDR version is that the book is a sleek, efficient, battle-tested cookie machine. Just enough biography and story to keep things interesting, with clearly well-tested, extremely functional recipes at the heart of the book. Includes everything from fairly welcoming and basic treats to real dreadnoughts of the kitchen, all lavishly photographed and competently documented. – J.N.
Extra! Extra! Eat all About It! | Wisconsin Historical Society | 2024 | $30
If you've got a giftee who's from Wisconsin, a history buff, a food-lover, or (ideally!) all three, consider the archives-mining time machine called Extra! Extra! Eat All About It!. The book is an eating tour through Wisconsin's newspaper archives, revolving around roughly 50 to 150-year-old recipes that are often as surprising as they are functional - the authors have taken care to test out and update the recipes they've published. – J.N.
Winter Mitten Travel Mug with Reusable Straw at the American Swedish Institute | $32 for 20-ounce mug
These jolly travel mugs with their cheerful Scandinavian mitten designs will get a cold, dark, winter's morning off to a brighter start. The stainless steel tumbler will keep warm beverages heated or cold beverages cooled, and was designed by Minnesotan Cindy Lindgren. – A.R.
Gingerbread Coffee Cake by Bellecour | Serves 6-8 | $32
A luscious-looking coffee cake topped with cream cheese frosting, turmeric ginger-poached pears, candied cranberries and molasses shortbread crumbles. – J.N.
Pulpit Rock Handcrafted Bottle Opener | $33.12
There are plenty of bottle openers to purchase at breweries, but this one is special. It’s made from a barrel that housed Pulpit’s 7th anniversary stout, Seven Years in Heaven. The opener has a magnet to catch the caps so they don’t shoot off at the beer share. Each one is slightly unique thanks to the barrel wood. – L.L.G.
Indeed Chuck U Desk Mat | $35
Minneapolis artist Chuck U draws some weird stuff — and I’m here for it. Indeed’s label designs feature his work, and so can your desk. With seven desk mat designs to choose from, I give the edge to Loretta’s since it gives off upper midwest supper club vibes and pairs nicely with a wood desk. – L.L.G.
Hand-loomed Cotton Towels from The Textile Center | $38
Can a towel be described as “understated” and “elegant?” Weaver Laurie Schellinger’s supremely soft towels combine hygge handmade cottagecore aesthetics with monochromatic understated Scandi design. They’d make lovely host gifts for friends with calm sensibilities and a lot of barware to polish. – J.L.
Food earrings from Larissa Loden | $38 per pair
Wear your foodie pride on your ears with miniature depictions of butter, cheese, chef’s knives, corn dogs, garlic, and much more. The 18k gold-plated enamel studs from the St. Paul-based jewelry designer are nickel-free and hypoallergenic. – S.B.
Tenneyson Black Ginger Plant Based Alcohol Alternative from Marigold | $39 for 750ml
I’ve been exploring the non-alcoholic beverages at Marigold for the past year, and Tenneyson’s Black Ginger is top of my list of hits. The flavor profile is ginger-forward with a hint of citrus, but there’s enough herbal depth from botanicals like gentian root, and Yerba mate to give it some funky bass notes. Sip over ice, or blend 1 to 3 with Milk & Honey’s nonalcoholic Pomme de Vie cider, a spritz of lemon juice, and a slice of dried apple for the rim. It’s intriguing enough to be its own unique kind of libation, not just a booze substitute. Dry January celebrants will appreciate this elegant sipper. – J.L.
Holiday Edition Snuffle Mat at the American Swedish Institute | $39
Give the dog in your life a new way to celebrate what's probably a bewildering holiday season by burying treats or kibble under the flaps of the snuffle mat for them to nose out and gobble up. It could help keep them from begging at the holiday dinner table (at least for a while). – A.R.
Christmas Collection from Cocoa Flake | $42 for a 12-piece box, $22 for a 6-piece box
The Robbinsdale chocolate shop is offering a seasonal collection that combines hand-painted holiday imagery (think snowmen, snowflakes, and sparkles) with festive flavors. Each box includes white dream crunch, cranberry, gingerbread, peppermint, hazelnut praline, and orange anise bonbons. – S.B.
Minnesota Hotdish Casserole Dish at Minnesota Historical Society | $50
While unsure of why this has both "hotdish" and "casserole" in its name–covering all the bases?--this detailed map of hotdishes around the state will not only be a fine vessel for someone's favorite winter dish, but it may provide inspiration and ideas for exploring new hotdish/casserole options. – A.R.
New Glarus Custom Green Sweater | $50.50
I own this sweater (see above), and it is my favorite “ugly Christmas sweater.” Hops, cows, snowflakes, and overflowing beer mugs adorn this black and green sweater. I love it, but I need to lose the beer belly so I can fit into it a little better! – L.L.G.
Abbey Cake from the Jampot | $54
Every year, I treat myself to a $54 bourbon-drenched fruitcake made by monks located near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior. And while $54 may seem like a lot of money for a fruitcake, consider the following: the cake is 3 1/2 pounds. The cake is absolutely redolent of delicious bourbon, when properly wrapped in its cheesecloth and plastic it keeps pretty much forever, and every bite is absolutely dense with dark raisins and walnuts covered with a rich molasses cake. There are probably 15-20 really terrific snack-sized servings of cake in each loaf, which makes this a remarkable bargain and a culinary highpoint of the season. – J.N.
Toppling Goliath KANGA Cooler-Pseudo Sue | $55
I love having a small cooler to take to a beer share, camping, or anywhere I’m bringing beer. This soft one sports the now iconic (in the beer world) Sue T-Rex logo, fits a 12-pack, and has a magnetic flip top. As a parent who learned of magnetic snaps for onesies, I’m all in when it comes to magnets. – L.L.G.
Door County Favorites Gourmet Food Basket | Door County Coffee | $60
Featuring cherry jam, Al Johnson's Swedish pancake mix, dried cherries, Door County mustard, and 10 full-pot bags of Door County Coffee, this highly economical, geographically specific, and downright whimsical collection is perfect for friends and family with any sort of connection to Wisconsin's random thumb-like appendage. Door County Coffee is also exactly the sort of thing that you should send to the insufferable coffee snob in your life if you want to irritate them, as it comes in flavors such as "Frosted Cinnamon Buns," "Peanut Butter Crunch," and "Jamaican Me Crazy." Fan favorite Highlander Grogg is also included, of course. – J.N.
Coffee gift subscription from SK Coffee | $60 for 3 months, $120 for 6 months
Perfect for the single-origin coffee connoisseur on your gift list. SK Coffee focuses on single original coffees only and personally visits many of the farmers whose beans make it to Minnesota. Each month will have a different flavor profile: smooth, sweet, bold, or unique. – A.R.
Saint Paul Brewing Port Authority The Original Pack | $70
This rugged rucksack can hold 12 cans, a laptop, and more. It’s slick, fits the Minnesota outdoor vibe, and would be great for hauling around work to the local brewery, or for going on a little hike. – L.L.G.
Minnesota "Geode" Trivet | Available at the MIA Store | $72
This glass crackle trivet evokes the state of Minnesota AND the natural beauty of a geode all in one fell swoop. It's got a satisfying heft, and makes a pleasant statement piece when it comes time to bring that heirloom recipe hotdish out to the table at the holidays. – J.N.
Take and Bake Cinnamon Rolls in Le Creuset Dish by Bellecour | $75
“Six cinnamon rolls for $75?!” you might think. And you’d be right. But wait! The cinnamon rolls come in a lovely ceramic baking dish (value: $55) and come conveniently frozen to proof overnight and bake the next morning for maximum wow factor. A truly unique weapon in the thoughtful host’s arsenal, or a great way to celebrate a successful conclusion of holiday madness. – J.N.
Wild State Cider Fleece | $79
This is a beautiful fleece with two zipper pockets. Now, why mention zipper pockets? Stuff won’t fall out! I need zipper pockets, and most of my gear needs a hidden inside pocket. I have had the same wallet since 1997, and although it doesn’t often go into a sealed pocket, I don’t lose stuff thanks to zipped pockets – no matter how much cider I’ve had. – L.L.G.
Bent Paddle Insulated Flannel | $79
My main winter coat is a Bent Paddle one. It’s comfy, warm, and durable. This flannel is much lighter but insulated and looks great. Perfect for that Midwest look and a little warmth during our colder months. By the time this is published, I most likely will have purchased one at the brewery! – L.L.G.
Holiday Appetizer Board by Bellecour | Serves 10-12 | $89
Seasonal and bakery favorite snacks united to create a festive hunger-fighting force. This formidable board (see top photo in this gift guide) includes deviled eggs, crudite with dipping sauce, cheese and pear compote, dried fruits, cured meats, pickled items, nuts, and house-made crackers. – J.N.
Classic Meat and Cheese Gift Box from Ferndale Market | $100 (includes shipping)
Ferndale Farms turkeys are center stage on holiday tables around the region. But I’m using their mail-order assortment of meat and cheese to broker a lasting peace with my Wisconsin family members before the Vikings and Packers meetup in early January. I’m hoping this harmonious selection of Minnesota meats and (mostly) Wisconsin cheeses will inspire hugs across the border. Upgraded gift boxes ($125 - $150) include crackers, spreads, and serving implements if you want to get something more spendy. Order by December 18 for holiday delivery. – J.L.
Jester Concepts Gift Cards | $100
Pretty much everybody does gift cards, but few do it as elegantly or generously as Jester Concepts (the team behind Borough, Parlour, P.S. Steak, Butcher & the Boar, Char Bar, and Starling). Until the end of December, buy a $100 gift card for a friend and Jester will mail a bonus $25 gift card to you. Easy peasy. – J.N.
Summit Brewing Lighted Back Bar Sign | $150
I want this for my personal bar… that’s a work in progress. The Summit logo floats over the Smith Ave/High Bridge that also adorns the EPA beer labels. It’s just a classic Minnesota beer brand, classic beer, and lovely landmark, and I would love to serve beer with it lit behind me in the basement while my friends and I play Super Nintendo. – L.L.G.
Fair State Co-Op Lifetime Membership: Individual | $200
Beer and brewery swag is cool, but for $200, the second biggest price on this list, you can buy a Fair State fan a lifetime membership to the brewery co-op. This comes with deals on pours, 10 percent off merch and to-go beer, a rewards program, and exclusive events. It’s a pretty sweet deal. Plus, you can choose to pay in 10 installments. – L.L.G.
Cheese CSA from Shepherd’s Way Farms | $400 for one year subscription, $215 for 6-month subscription
Cheese lovers can enjoy a year’s worth of Shepherd’s Way Farms’ artisan cheeses, divided into 1 1⁄2 pound monthly shares of 3-4 varieties for pickup at locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In addition to the creamery’s familiar lineup of cheeses like Friesago, Big Woods Blue, and Shepherd’s Hope, CSA members get limited edition cheeses and exclusive products like cheese spreads, ricotta, and cheese-filled bonbons. The farmstead cheeses are made by hand in Nerstrand, Minnesota from sustainably-produced sheep’s milk. – S.B.
HOLIDAY EVENTS AND EXPERIENCE-BASED GIFTS
Curry Diva Private Dinner Party or Cooking Class | Price varies
What better way to explore Sri Lankan curry than inviting Heather Jansz to your home to cook dinner or offer a class (hands-on or demonstration only). Meals can be customized to dietary preferences or restrictions, and participants get to eat everything. – A.R.
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony at Limu Coffee | Reservation only | 500 5th Ave NW, #109, New Brighton | $10 per person (minimum 10 people)
This small strip mall coffee shop becomes an entirely different experience when customers book the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The shop's owner, an Ethiopian immigrant, dresses in traditional clothing, roasts raw coffee beans on a small portable stove, grinds them, and makes exquisite cups of coffee served with typical Ethiopian snacks (nuts, popcorn). Guests can try a bit of salt in their coffee (an Ethiopian custom) or resort to cream or sugar. It's an immensely civilized and gratifying event. – A.R.
Jam Sessions and Live Music at Urban Forage Winery | 3016 East Lake Street Minneapolis
Grab a glass of local cider, order a pizza, and get ready to listen to live music - or jam out with friends old and new at Urban Forage Winery and Cider House. The schedule:
December 6: 4-6 PM Irish Session Musicians
December 6: RJ Vocal
December 13: Matthew Hope
December 15: Slow Irish session
December 20: 4-6 PM Irish Session Musicians
December 20: The PhilBillies – J.N.
Japanese Tea Ceremony at the Great Tea House | Reservation required, offered only on Sundays | 1816 Mainstreet, Hopkins | $35 per person
Learn about the history, culture, and etiquette involved in the Japanese tea called Chanoyu or Chado. Participants have the option of experiencing the ceremony the traditional way sitting on tatami mats, or chairs are available. The Great Tea House owner Titima has been a practitioner of the ceremony for more than a decade. No photography or recording is allowed during the ceremony. – A.R.
Jingle Giles | Earl Giles, 1325 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis | Nov. 25-Dec. 31 | Event on Facebook | Reservations
Earl Giles Distillery and Restaurant has kicked off a six-week festival of holiday cheer featuring themed food and drink, gift markets with live DJ on Saturdays from 11am-3pm, Ugly Sweater Sundays with $50 gift certificate prizes, and Trivia Mafia Tuesdays at 6:30pm on Dec. 10 (Holiday movie trivia) and Dec. 17 (Elf trivia.) – J.N.
Krumkake class at Norway House | December 13 at 10:30am, 913 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis | $30
If you didn’t learn to bake krumkake from your Norwegian grandma, instructor Heidi Eger has you covered. In a ninety-minute, hands-on class, learn how to make classic and flavored versions of the crispy batter cookies. Afterwards, check out the Norway House’s 10th annual Gingerbread Wonderland display of community-made gingerbread houses. – S.B.
Winter Wonder Bar at Creekside Supper Club | 4820 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis | Now through Jan. 12
Holiday drinks and over-the-top Christmas decor make the Winter Wonder Bar one of the most photogenic places in the metro to grab your Old Fashioned and a bowl of French Onion Soup. – J.N.
Winter Wonderland Holiday Sampling Fair | All Three Mississippi Market Locations: 1500 West 7th St., St. Paul; 740 East 7th St., St. Paul; 622 Selby Ave., St. Paul | December 7, 10am-1pm
Mississippi Market is leaning into the holiday season with a holiday sampling fair powered by local food all-stars, spread across all three of their metro locations.
East 7th: Dough Gold, HOYO, Midwest Bakery Halal
West 7th: Eli’s Hot Rocking, San Jose Chocolate, Tapestry Coffee, Huxley
Selby: Homestead Honey Farm, Wonderstate Coffee, Barsy’s Almonds – J.N.
Women’s Environmental Network Makers Market at Coffeewomple Roastery | Thursday, December 19, 5:30 - 8:30pm. 610 SE 9th Street, #107, Minneapolis | FREE registration
This evening event showcases local sustainable businesses owned by women and POC. Along with cool gifts made from upcycled, repurposed, and environmentally friendly materials, there’ll be savory treats from Bao Bao Buns, baked goodies by Sweet T’s Bakery, and Garden Witch Co.'s sweet-spicy-savory jams. The Women’s Environmental Network supports networking for women and underrepresented genders in career paths that sustain the environment: a mission worth supporting. Admission is free, but registering will earn you a chance to win a free gift basket. – J.L.
What a delightful list! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for featuring Northern Clay Center! NCC Sales gallery manager here, we’re open 10 am - 5 pm EVERYDAY, ‘til 7 on Thursdays through Christmas 🎄