GIFTS THAT WILL WARM THE HEART
Bring the heat this holiday with coffee, literature for foodies, fleece
Whether you hate the cold yourself or have some loved ones who need a little warming up, here are some suggestions for turning up the heat this Christmas.
PERK UP
A hot new trend in gifting is giving a subscription. While magazines have been readily available through subscription for decades, other industries are now trying their hand. You can buy razors and cigars and wine that way and now you can get a lovely cup of java in the mail.
Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters are seeing a real uptick in online coffee buyers, especially around Christmas.
“Coffee lovers can be hard to buy for, so a coffee subscription is the perfect last-minute gift that can be enjoyed for months,” says founder Phil Robertson.
Founded in 2007 by two former U of C engineering students, Phil & Sebastian has grown from its initial spot at the Calgary Farmer’s Market into some high-end standalone shops in Mission, Marda Loop, East Village, Stephen Avenue and Chinook Centre. Their beans are ethically sourced direct from producers in 13 regions including Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Bolivia, Kenya and Ethiopia. They roast beans in an old refurbished UG-15 Probat machine in the old Simmons building in East Village.
Customize your own coffee subscriptions by choosing espresso, filter or decaf, and the length of the subscription is flexible between one, three, six and 12 months. Shipping within Canada and the U.S. is free. It starts at $29.95 for one 340 gram bag per month.
Check out Phil & Sebastian at
PAGE TURNER
Classic literary lovers will swoon over a new series of books that combine timeless tales with modern recipes from high-profile chefs.
The Puffin Plated clever collection lets you “have your book and eat it, too” as the included recipes match the tone of the novel. The unabridged version of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice would be a perfect gift for book club members or those who like to indulge in afternoon tea. Recipes inside are courtesy of Martha Stewart and include sweet confections and pastries, petit fours, spice cake, Linzer tarts and French macaroons.
The complete edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol features a curated menu of holiday dishes you might have enjoyed in Victorian England such as baked ham, smashed root vegetables, fruitcake cookies and pecan pie. Recipes come from Martha Stewart, Trisha Yearwood, Ina Garten of the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa, and author and Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis.
The hardcover books are published by Penguin House. Order online at or try your favourite bookstore.
GET COMFY
What soccer mom or football dad hasn’t been frozen on the sidelines in early spring or late fall? Schlepping blankets and sleeping bags to the field is one solution but a company has come up with another idea to keep you warm and somewhat stylish.
The Comfy is the latest variation of the Snuggie or the slanket which worked its way into many households via TV infomercials. The Comfy is a soft, thick, oversized version of a blanket sweatshirt. It has a hood, elasticized wrist cuffs and a front pocket. It’s reversible with velour on one side and a sherpa fleece on the other. Depending on your height, it can be knee-length or lower. On a fivefoot-two person, it comes to midcalf length.
It was invented by two brothers who sang their way through the TV entrepreneur reality show Shark Tank and won backing from Barbara Corcoran.
The cosy, wear-anywhere Comfy comes in black, white, grey, blue and pink and is available online at Amazon for $69 or check out retailers like Bed, Bath and Beyond. Check out thecomfy.com