You can never go wrong with food

Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008 by Travis Cody in
21

I was chatting with a friend last night and we ended up perusing a number of nifty sites. If you're stuck for gift ideas, you might check out a few of these web retailers.

These luscious looking candies are called Caramel Presents and they are from Harry London Quality Chcolates. Established in 1922 in Canton OH, Harry London's specializes in recipes and candy making techniques in the European tradition. A featured item is the Happy Holidays Gift Tower, featuring an assortment of Harry London specialties. It's 6lbs full of chocolate and a dang fine value at $70! The prices are quite reasonable and you can order directly from the website and ship anywhere.

One of my favorite candy shops is Sees. Charles See emigrated from Canada to Los Angeles and established his first candy shop and kitchen on Western Avenue in 1921.I remember the old store in San Mateo CA, not far from where my grandfather still lives. My gram used to take us down to Sees for special treats. The store is still there. We have a store in Bellevue and I make a visit every December for peanut brittle and truffles. This little goodie on the right is called the Ultimate Holiday Assortment Pack. It's expensive at $140, but look at what you get! I've found that you can't go wrong if you show up at a holiday gathering with a box of Sees.

Let's see...what else did we find?

Oh yeah! Have you seen these before? This lovely is from a place called Edible Arrangements. It's fruit baskets taken to a whole nuther level. We had one of these baskets earlier this year at my old company. Edible Arrangements was established in 1999 in East Haven CT by Tariq and Kamran Farid. According to the website, they have franchising opportunities world wide. The arrangements are really cool and the fresh fruit tastes terrific. Plus you can have some or all of the fruit dipped in chocolate. Chocolate covered fruit! Can I get a hell yeah?

And of course, there's always Hickory Farms. I love that place! You can get such a variety of inexpensive assortments of cheese, summer sausage, crackers, mustards, and other spreads. We've got our eye on the Heartland Hardwood Server for a couple of friends of ours. It comes with an attractive cutting and serving board, 4 different knives, summer sausage, smoked cheddar cheese, jalapeno and cheddar blend, Big Barn cheddar, cheddar and Harvarti blend, and Mission Jack blend. You can also add some honey pineapple mustard and crackers. Hmmmmm...we might have to get one of those for our own little 25 December celebration.

Don't forget...if you have friends that love coffee, a gourmet coffee gift basket is just the ticket. There are all kinds of great sites such as coffeeAM.com, Send Coffee, igourmet.com, and so many others. Just type "coffee gift baskets" in your web search.

Oh! My sister often sends me something from Wine Country Gift Baskets.


So don't fret! You can never go wrong with food as a gift!

21 comments:

  1. You know what torture is? Torture is coming here at 3:46 a.m., with a grumbling tummy, and then seeing and reading all about food.

    Thanks, Trav. Now I'm craving cheese, crackers, and chocolate.

    *grin*

  1. Food can never go wrong. Yum!

  1. Liz Hill says:

    Ghirardelli also make a mean gift basket---and that chocolate is to die for---it would even make the very idea of peas go away ;-)

  1. Anonymous says:

    See's! Man, you know how to torture a girl!

    [drool]

    I grew up in Hickory Farms Country. It's just isn't Christmas without Beefstick and smoky cheese!

  1. LOL Lois-I love those beef sticks, though I'd never admit it in person. :)

    I make food baskets a lot for people for gifts. I finally decided that this is what my Nana is getting this year. She'll think it's a cop-out gift, and she's right...but it's home made, so that counts.

  1. I am sure my basket is in the mail.....:)

  1. Anndi says:

    The thought of chocolate is too much to bear in a "doctor's orders no chocolate til the tummy ouchies go away" house.

  1. Cherie says:

    What great ideas! I think these companies should be offering you commission. :)

  1. Ivanhoe says:

    Canton is just under an hour drive from me :o)
    Now you made me go to our lunch room & check the goodies. Our clients are sending food baskets to us...I had a chocolate..or two ;o)

  1. I have used food as a gift many times. Sees is wonderful.

    Those edible bouquets are becoming way popular

    Excellent ideas Sir...

  1. Akelamalu says:

    The fruit baskets just look so delicious!

  1. Songbird: I checked the books and 3:46am falls within the specific time period allowing you to eat anything you want.

    Terra: Yup yup!

    Turn: Oh yeah! We had a layover at SFO on our way down and back from visiting my sis over the holiday last month, and we made sure to pick up some Ghiradelli. Good call! And peas are GACK!

    Lois: You're right about the beefstick and smoky cheese. We've talked ourselves into getting some this weekend.

    Mags: No way is a home made food basket a cop out. Especially if you make it!

    Sarge: One can always hope.

    Ann: According to any Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his or her remedies, chocolate is the best.

    Cherie: I'll take it! Where do I sign up?

    Invahoe: Oh I know! We used to get so many gift baskets and candy boxes at my old company.

    V: I think we'll get one of those edible fruit baskets for the folks this time around.

    Akelamalu: Don't they?

  1. Kanani says:

    I love See's Candies! I went and bought some to send to a friend this year, and oh... I ended up with a one pound box for myself! (Yup, I shared it!!).

  1. You are evil, did you know that? You've now inspired me to pop offline ASAP to go scarf down some Hershey's miniatures in between handfuls of popcorn with a side of cheesestrings. EVIL, I SAY!!!

  1. DrillerAA says:

    Oh good Lord! The last place I need to be during the holidays is on a food web site. I may never be the same.

  1. j says:

    There is an edible arrangements just down the road from us. I have thought about getting an arrangement for the holidays. My kids asked me to get a job there - ?????? They think it looks cool I guess.

    It's almost the weekend! WOO HOO!

  1. Lynn says:

    I'll take the wine basket and the Hickory Farms basket. Skip the fruity basket thingy. I try to avoid fruits and vegatables religiously.

    (Great to 'see' you again Trav! *heavy sigh for the knee thingy*}

  1. Anndi says:

    After banana chocolate muffins failed to help and a doctor's visit, all dairy products have been banned until the stomach virus leaves. I have a very bummed Chicklet.

  1. TopChamp says:

    The fruit looks nicest to me although the knife/board set would be a very cool present. I have bought a posh knife for my dad as his present. Otherwise it's mostly books and knitted things from me this year.

  1. Julie says:

    Woooo! While shopping today I saw some Wine Country Gift baskets! They looked mighty fine I must say. I saw one for $35 and one for nearly $70. Very attractive!

    And and and get this-I saw an Edible Arrangements van in Canton today! I nearly made Jeff jam on the brakes. He thought something was wrong because i got so excited!

    Did you say you wanted my address?

    **huge-O-mongus grin**

  1. Janna says:

    Anyplace that sells chocolate is quite all right with me!
    And if they happen to also sell sausage and cheese, that's even better.

    Arteries, schmarteries.