It’s time for our annual gift guide! We always love keeping it local as possible when shopping for gifts for our loved ones. The Bay Area has so many incredibly talented makers and businesses that we had a hard time choosing which gifts to showcase this year.
For the Foodie
Cream Co. Meats – This year more than ever we have discovered there is a comfort in having a supply of meat at home. Gift your loved ones this comfort and deliciousness with Cream Co. Meats. Their Bunker Box is designed to feed 2 people for 2 weeks and comes with a variety of beef, pork and poultry so you can get creative with your meals. This is a gift that will definitely be used and appreciated this holiday season! Cream Co. Meat’s also curates a variety of other sized boxes for larger or smaller families in addition to offering meat selections a la carte so you can customize a special box.
Feastin – This amazing marketplace was put together to provide a more restaurant-friendly delivery service. 100% of sales go directly to the restaurant you order from instead of the delivery service so you will be directly supporting the restaurant when you order through Feastin. Order meal kits, prepared foods from top restaurants around the Bay Area, groceries at wholesale prices, alcohol, or dessert. A gift card to Feastin is the perfect gift for your loved ones to get groceries and their favorite meals all from home.
Teleferic Barcelona Gift Baskets – These Gift Baskets are a must have for those missing a taste of Spain. A variety of Gift Baskets are available including Tapas, Paella Kit, Gourmet and Top Seller’s. Inside you’ll find an array of Spanish choices such as Iberian Ham, Truffle Olive Oil, Cheese, Olives, Sangria, and much more. Gift Baskets can be picked up at their locations in Palo Alto or Walnut Creek.
Bakers Bacon – Gift a Bacon subscription or bacon gift box to the bacon lover in your life. Not all bacon is created equal, and if you don’t believe that you need to try some Baker’s Bacon! This stuff is delicious, you have to try the sous vide bacon! Chef Tony Baker has created a uniquely sustainable, high-quality processes behind Baker’s Bacon to provide professional chefs with the ultimate option to enhance their creations. They source heritage breed pork, humanely raised without crates and fed a 100% vegetarian diet.
New West KnifeWorks – Knives as beautiful as they are functional! New West KnifeWorks has a shop in St. Helena that we love visiting when we are in the area. It’s almost like stepping into a gallery, but you can touch and use the objects can be used on a daily basis. Their knife sets will turn any kitchen into a chef’s paradise or pick out the perfect knife for your gift recipient. Each knife in their G-Fusion series comes in an array of colorful hues for mixing and matching. Some of our favorites are the 7″ Teton Edge Santoku, 6″ Deli, and 9″ Superbread.
Local Food Adventures Oakland Food Gifts- These gift boxes are filled with goodies from a variety of local small businesses in Oakland. Proceeds from the sale of each box are donated to the Alameda County Community Food Bank and East Bay FeedER. They have fun box themes such as the “Hella Yummy Holiday Baking Box”, “Sweets & Smiles Local Love Gift Box”, and many more. It’s a great way to give a fun gift while supporting local businesses and nonprofits.
For the Sipper
Seven Stills – Known for distilling whiskey from craft beer, the beloved San Francisco distillery, brewery and restaurant in Mission Bay creates unique and creative spirits and beer. For the holidays a bottle of whiskey or some craft beer never disappoints. The ChocaSmoke Whiskey is a favorite, made from chocolate oatmeal stout that is made with a peat-smoked, malted barley. The result is one of the more interesting whiskeys you’ll taste. A bomb of chocolate up front laced with a slight smoky note throughout, there are notes of caramel, honey and black pepper that grace the palate. They are also known for the Five Pounds Whiskey made from their Five Pounds Hazy IPA. It offers aromas of hops, citrus, pineapple, mango, pine, chamomile with spicy pink peppercorn notes on the palate.
Their collaboration series is also a huge part of their portfolio, executed with fellow local California breweries. Check them out for something unique to raise a glass with this Christmas.
Lovecha DIY Boba Kit – Who doesn’t love a good cup of boba? Lovecha makes making your on boba at home simple. Their holiday kits each make 12 cups of boba and include tea leaves, boba balls, sugar, compostable bamboo boba straws, and instructions. These kits are great for a family time activity or as a gift to that friend who can never get enough boba.
Chromatic Coffee – For those who appreciate a cup of high quality coffee, a bag of beans from Chromatic Coffee will surely perk up their holiday spirits. Their subscriptions are wonderful for a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year! If you are unsure of what to get, their Keynote, Gamut are customer favorites. For a bag of truely unique beans try their Necrocorn Pony!
For the Home Decorator
Sonoma Mill Works – Bring Wine Country home with culinary gifts that will beautify any kitchen. Sonoma Millworks uses reclaimed wood from local wineries’ French Oak wine staves. This wood is transformed into their VinoPlank and is available in various shades of toasted finishes. The Sonoma Magnetic Knife Block is great to have your foodie tools at the ready when cooking. This block will fit any size knife, look amazing, and is sustainably handcrafted. VinoPlank Long Tapas Board is a stunner! It’s a 35-inch-long Charcuterie Board serves up a natural wine country aesthetic with a beautiful story. Plus, who doesn’t love a good cheese, charcuterie or dessert board?! Check out their other culinary products as well to find something perfect for your recipient.
Gromeo Self Watering Living Wall- These beautiful Living Walls are perfect for bringing life and color into any space. They are designed and handmade in Silicon Valley using self-watering wicking technology and soil/hydroponic plant-by-pocket design that makes plant growing easy. Plant your own Gromeo or choose from eight fully-planted palettes. This would make a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys greenery and plants. They offer free shipping nationwide.
Urban Farmgirls– Founded in 2009, Urban Farmgirls is a woman-owned and operated (grandmother, mother, and daughter!) small family business in San Francisco’s Bayview District. They are a garden design and build company with a collection of made in-house home and garden goods such as their Pozzola pottery, planted arrangements, and living wreaths. Their gorgeous living wreaths will warm up anyone’s home with its beauty and uniqueness.
Uniqlay Ceramics– These beautiful locally made ceramic pieces are all handmade to celebrate diversity, culture, and deeply-rooted family traditions. They use the art of Kinobi which means functional beauty in all their pieces. All pieces are unique and made to order. We love her one-of-a-kind bowls and plates. A set would make a memorable holiday gift for anyone who eats food at home- which is everyone!
Kea’s Kreations– Love the ocean? These amazing pieces bring the colors and spirit of the ocean into your home. Resin art pieces are all poured by hand in Campbell, CA. Choose a cutting board, cainster, trinket bowl, coaster set, or tray or tray for that special someone on your gift list. Each piece has its own special design and feel. A perfect gift for anyone who has a love for the ocean. Custom orders are also available.
Hidalgo Home – Hidalgo Home is a women-owned design studio based out of Oakland, California. All goods are ethically made from designer and vintage fabrics personally sourced and hand selected by founders Michelle and Heather. Every piece is assembled in a female-owned and operated factory in San Francisco that employs and trains workers with disabilities, and 3% of all profits will be donated to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. We love their modern, stylish pillow prints, which enhance the look and add personality to any room. They also offer tree skirts this holiday season which would make a lovely gift.
For the Accesorizor
Goldenerre Watch Bands – Goldenerre is a luxury brand delivering the finest custom leathers and handcrafted durable metals. All of their smartwatch bands and jewelry are designed in San Francisco with attention to every precise detail to ensure the best fit. Every piece is labored by hand and assembled with superior lugs, custom dyed leathers and luxury materials. These bands make a stylisth gift for any smart watch wearer. The Grey Stud Band and Pyramid Band are some of our favorite designs.
Bukbag – Read on-the-go with this modern book cover and carrier with saddled handles. Form and function meet for a natural feel and ergonomic design made possible with soft, strong 100% cotton material and a convenient satin bookmark. Available in nine colors to find the cover that suits your mood. Any bookworm’s perfect gift!
For the Kiddos
Exploratorium – For the little learners on your Christmas list, the Exploratorium store is a one stop shop. They have puzzles, games, Tinkering Sets, books and more for all ages! Shoppers can now shop at the Exploratorium Store online and enjoy free curbside pickup. Orders are ready within 3 hours for contactless, curbside pickup at Pier 15 in San Francisco, Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Customers can also schedule a 30-minute virtual personal shopping appointment with an Exploratorium Store staff member, who will provide them with personalized gift recommendations. Museum Memberships make great gifts, and are another way to support the science museum. Memberships offer a year-long, unlimited access to the Exploratorium and will be activated once the museum reopens.
Some of our favorite finds at the Exploratorium store this holiday season for our toddlers were the DIY Electro Dough Kit, Primary Science Lab, and Tinker Totter Robots. For our babies we love Baby Loves Gravity, Baby Loves Coding, and the Plui Rain Cloud.
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