all-local gift guide
SUGAR, SPICE, AND EVERYTHING NICE
Gifts for cooks, foodies, hosts, and more.
WRITTEN BY SUE EDMONDSON
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BUSINESSES (CHEESE-MAKING KIT AVAILABLE AT WEDGE. PHOTO BY JACI GOODMAN)
Finding the perfect something for that special food- (or drink-) loving someone can be a challenge. Why not consider something locally made? Not only will the gift be unique, but also you’ll be supporting business owners, and more of your money will be used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms, all of which strengthens the local economy.
Take the guesswork out of giving with this list of locally made gifts, crafted with that special someone in mind.
Mr. G’s Hawaii-Style Teriyaki
Bring the islands home with Mr. G’s teriyaki sauces, the creation of Maui native George Kapahee. The all-natural, award-winning sauces reflect Kapahee’s connection to the “aina,” or the land, and his passion for the tropical fruit essence of island food. Ingredients include locally grown fruit, garlic, and honey, and a hint of Hawaii.
They are perfect for the cook or barbecuer who enjoys experimenting with flavor.
Mr. G’s Hawaii-Style Teriyaki
http://www.Mrgsteriyaki.com, 775-846-1829
Sierra Kombucha
Join the kombucha craze! Touted for its probiotics and vitamins, the health conscious have imbibed this fermented tea for some 2,000 years.
Mark and Margaret Jackson’s Sierra Kombucha offers a new twist on ancient traditions. Organic or natural fruit juices such as pomegranate, grape, orange, even prickly pear, turn the blend of organic green tea and organic sugar into a lightly carbonated drink in which neither fruit nor kombucha overpowers.
Bring to a party as a healthy alternative to soda.
Sierra Kombucha
http://www.Sierrakombucha.com, 760-937-2874
Gourmet Rooster
As a mom of two little ones, Courtney Barnes spent a lot of time experimenting in the kitchen, in part to create dishes the whole family would eat, and in part because it was plain fun. After building a blue ribbon-winning collection of recipes, she went pro. Now, everyone can enjoy her all-natural products, including barbecue sauces, fruit and savory spreads, and salad dressings.
They are for anyone who likes to cook or entertain, whether novice or epicurean.
Gourmet Rooster
http://www.Gourmetrooster.com, 877-735-1049
Trimmer Outpost Beef, Jerky, Jams, and Jellies
Beef is nothing new to sisters Terri Billman, Lisa Lekumberry, and Sheri Walters of Genoa’s Trimmer pioneer ranching family. In 2008, they opened Trimmer Outpost to market their Ranch One all-natural, grass-fed beef, homemade jams and jellies, and beef jerky.
Jams and jellies make great hostess gifts. The discerning meat eater will appreciate the quality beef and the teriyaki or Sidewinder Sweet and Spicy beef jerkies. Visiting historic Genoa is a bonus.
Trimmer Outpost
http://www.Trimmeroutpost.com, 775-782-2518
Wedge – A Cheese Shop
Talk about simple. Make fresh mozzarella at home in about an hour with a quart of milk and a cheese-making kit from Wedge – A Cheese Shop, located in Midtown Reno.
Even simpler, buy any of the 120-plus cheeses sold at Wedge, including Fallon’s Sand Hill Dairy queso fresco, a nice substitute for feta or ricotta.
That’s not all you’ll find at Wedge. The shop offers cheese appreciation/tasting classes with varying themes. Reservations required.
They are ideal for aspiring cheese connoisseurs.
Wedge – A Cheese Shop
http://www.Wedgecheeseshop.com, 775-737-4078
Takoda Gourmet Syrups
You have got to love an all-natural flavored syrup with 75 percent fewer calories than most sugar-sweetened syrups and only 4 grams of carbohydrates per ounce (sugar has 24). But it’s the taste, not the stats, that wins over customers, co-owner Jeff Blevins says.
“Our flavors are really diverse,” he says. “You can add them to just about anything, from vinaigrettes to chicken dishes to batter. And they make a nice martini.”
Please a sweets lover with these healthier flavored syrups.
Takoda Gourmet
http://www.Takodagourmet.com, 775-591-8080
Churchill Vineyards Wines
Growing wine grapes in Fallon was unheard of, but that didn’t deter the owners of Churchill Vineyards. In 2001, with community and agency support, they planted the high-value, water-conserving crop. Under the stewardship of owners Colby and Ashley Frey, the vineyard now spans 10 acres. Wine tastings are available, but it’s easy to grab a bottle for a gift. Ashley says customer favorites are riesling and gewürztraminer.
And her favorite part? “It’s the process, starting with the buds forming on the vines,” she says.
Churchill Vineyards
http://www.Churchillvineyards.com, 775-423-4000
The Barrel Rack
Showcase a wine collection with a distinctive wine rack created from recycled oak barrels, the patented design of co-owner Chet Bassetti. He gathers barrels from wineries (saving them from landfills), disassembles them, and lets the wood dry before rebuilding the barrels in sizes from small to large. Then they’re finished, creating a patina Bassetti describes as “really beautiful.” The newest product is a wine bar with a glass top, stemware holders, and a wine barrel rack below.
They make a special gift for the oenophile.
The Barrel Rack
http://www.Barrelrack.com, 775-622-1363
Great Basin Brewing Co.
Beer lovers will appreciate a “growler,” the refillable to-go jug from Nevada’s first and most award-winning brewing company. Or give a “Feast Among the Yeast,” a night of food and beer pairing with the brewmaster, offered monthly.
Great Basin Brewing Co.
http://www.Greatbasinbrewingco.com
Sparks: 775-355-7711
Reno: 775-284-7711
Taps and Tanks: 775-856-1177
B-Dubbs Desert Inferno Hot Sauce
Some like it hot, and they won’t be disappointed with these sauces. Creator Barry Wood took the world’s hottest pepper and tamed it with a sweet base and seasonings that enhance, not mask, flavors.
“Use it on anything. Try it on an apple tart!” Wood says.
B-Dubb’s Desert Inferno Hot Sauce
http://www.Sweetheatnv.com, 775-217-5888
CSA Subscription
Community-supported agriculture is as close to growing it yourself as it gets. Customers buy subscriptions from local farmers who deliver their fresh produce to convenient Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe locations. Many CSAs offer certified organic or naturally grown produce, and some offer naturally grown meats and eggs.
It’s a gift that keeps on giving for the discriminating chef.
For a list of area CSAs, visit https://ediblerenotahoe.com/2012-01-27-04-24-16/csas.
Donate
Honor special people with charitable donations made in their names. Take a cue from sisters Sydney and Brooklyn Menante, who asked guests attending their seventh birthday party to bring donations for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada instead of presents.
As Brooklyn says, “Because a lot of people, they don’t have enough money for food.”
Or go global, with a contribution to Heifer International. The organization provides livestock and training to impoverished families, with a special condition — that the recipients share offspring of their gift animals with other families.
It is for the person who has everything, including a big heart.
Food Bank of Northern Nevada
http://www.Fbnn.org, 775-331-3663
Heifer International
http://www.Heifer.org, 855-948-6437
Freelance writer Sue Edmondson looks forward to delighting her foodie friends and family with locally made products.
