WHAT TO GET YOUR FOODIE FRIENDS THIS HOLIDAY

Everybody’s got a few foodie friends within their circle. They know the difference between the oil you’d use to cook eggs and the oil you’d use in salad dressing (yes there’s a difference!). They know what’s in-season, and which flavour pairings work best with hard-to-pronounce wines. They’re your own personal restaurant reviewer, and have dined at places with things like ‘coconut bubbles’ and ‘horseradish snow’ in the menu. Needless to say, these people know their stuff, and get excited about artisanal products and up-and-coming food trends.

Narrowing down what to get for your foodie friends this holiday is not as difficult as you might think. Here at SPUD, we’re constantly meeting and working with new vendors, all with a specially crafted product and a serious passion that is reflected through the quality of their goods. If you’re stuck, here’s some inspiration to help guide you towards the products your friends have been hankering for!

Local honey

Raw honey that hasn’t been heated or pasteurized contains natural vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants, and other important nutrients. Local honey can also help reduce the symptoms of pollen allergies. Beyond these pros, there is the added bonus of supporting your local beekeepers who are doing incredible work to sustain the fading bee population. Your foodie friend will probably serve you some of this honey the next time you come over while telling you about their upcoming urban beekeeping course.

Try these:

Chilliwack River Valley Natural Honey Ltd. Wildflower Honey

Hives For Humanity Kitsilano Neighbourhood Honey

Small batch hot sauce

Although it’s true that some foodies may turn their noses up at hot sauce, there is a niche community within the foodie population that really loves their hot sauce. If you’ve ever had brunch with any of these people, you know who they are. All of the hot sauce we carry at SPUD have been made with love by true hot sauce connoisseurs, with fiery kick that you won’t find in conventional brands.

Try these:

Roasters – Roasted Pineapple Habanero Hot Sauce

Sriracha Revolver- Clean Mango Hot Sauce 

Local jam

There is something undeniably sweet about homemade jam, not just in the sweet reduced fruit flavour, but also in the cute little jars, and beautiful packaging we’re always seeing here at SPUD. Your foodie friend can look forward to spreading their new jam over their homemade ‘morning bread’ when they have guests over, or setting it on the cheese board at their next cocktail party. A nice jam is a nice touch.

Try these:

East Van Jam – Fuzz E. Peach

Livia Sweets – Caramelized Onion Jam

Artisanal oils

You may not be entirely sure which occasion calls for sunflower oil, and which calls for grapeseed, but you can bet your foodie friend knows. Higher grade oils, like extra-virgin olive oil, should actually not be used for high-heat cooking. Instead, they should be saved for finishing soups, crostini, pestos, and vinaigrettes. You can find a full breakdown on which oils to use where right here.

Try these:

Maison Orphée- Organic Balsamic Vinegar 

Maison Orphée – Organic Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt

There’s more to salt than you think. While kosher salt is great for sprinkling on food while it cooks, crystalline salt is best used sparingly on just cooked food. People use rock salt for regulating the temperature of ice cream, while opting for himalayan pink salt on their dishes as it’s said to contain more minerals. Beyond these, infused sea salts can help elevate the flavour of certain dishes. The bottom line? Salt can add a new dimension to old dishes. Help support your foodie friend’s pantry by stocking them up with some quality salts.

Try these:

Maison Orphée –  Fine Grey Sea Salt

When you’re shopping at SPUD, finding the foodie products becomes pretty easy. If you’re really stuck, why not get them a SPUD gift certificate or gift basket? Whether your foodie friend prioritizes local, organic, sustainably or ethically produced, or all of the above – we’ve got you covered.

Are you a foodie who would want something that’s not on this list? Let us know in the comments!