Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Tasty treats for holidays found near your home
Go local: Choose some perfect treats for the holidays in Chester County
Itching to find the perfect gift for the food lover on your list?
We’re searched Chester County and beyond for the “it” artisanal gifts that everyone should have on their shopping lists. From chocolate masterpieces and innovative beef jerky varieties, to locally roasted coffees and crowd-pleasing sweet treats, we have lined up your ultimate gift-giving list below. Shopping local has never been this delicious!
Artisan Chocolates
Family-owned Bridge Street Chocolates (158 Bridge St., Phoenixville) offers an incredible array of delicious, handcrafted chocolate creations—from sea salt caramel truffles and chocolate-covered strawberries to wild hot chili chocolate bark. Perfect for stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. And, don’t forget to pick up some for yourself, too!
Whether they’re naughty or nice, your special someone will adore Eclat’s (24 S. High Street, West Chester) Good & Evil Tasting Pack, featuring an ultra-rate chocolate developed in partnership with Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert. Or, consider Eclat’s exclusive Peruvian traditional truffles, the “world’s greatest” caramels, and so much more. Order online at www.eclatchocolate.com.
Over in Conshohocken, Tradestone Confections (117 Fayette Street) is crafting ul- tra-artistic gourmet chocolates, barks, caramels, pâté de fruit and truffles. We’re already obsessed about chocolatier Fred Ortega’s special holiday line, which features a cranberry nutmeg bar, a whiskey tasting chocolate assortment, gingerbread bon-bons, peppermint bark and an exclusive winter holiday assortment (includes chestnut, cinnamon, caramel and pumpkin pie spice-infused truffles).
Locally Roasted Coffee and More
Burlap and Bean (204 S. Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square) is taking holiday specials to the next level. Browse their re- tail section and customize a gift basket with coffee, tea, mugs, T-shirts, local honey or chocolates. Not sure which of their brews your loved one would like best? Sign up for a six-month or one-year coffee tour, and Burlap and Bean will send one pound of coffee to the lucky recipient’s door every month! Burlap and Bean also doubles as a music venue when the sun goes down. Bring your favorite bottle (and your favorite person) and check out the variety of bands and musicians from the Philadelphia area.
The Wayne Bar (134 North Wayne Ave., Wayne) may be the Main Line’s one-stop
shop for premium coffee and ice cream, but just in time for the holiday season, they’re launching an insulated holiday travel mug promotion. Snag your share of these double-insulated, stainless steel Klean Kanteen quality travel mugs that come equipped with an gift that keeps giving—30 days of free hot coffee in January. Mugs price at $29 each.
Beef Jerky and More
West Chester–based Righteous Felon Jerky has continued to expand its empire of locally cured beef with the addition of Victorious B.I.G., the result of a collaboration with local craft beer experts Victory Brewing Company. Crafted as an all-natural jerky infused with Victory’s Storm King stout, this marks the jerky-makers’ first-ever beer-infused variety, which pays homage to their hometown (Downingtown!) and nods to their loyalty to the local craft beer scene. Additional flavors include a classic hickory, a chipotle-accented, a habanero-infused and a Saint Lucifer’s Spicedusted variety. Order the three-pack for $23.99 and receive free shipping. Online orders can be placed at www.righteousfelon.com.
Gauker Farms of Fleetwood is also slinging highquality farm-raised beef jerky and sticks that make great stocking stuffers for the meat lover in your life! Not sure what to get a party host/hostess or family friends? A gift certificate allows them to pick up their favorite beef or pork for a post-holiday dinner. Feel free to order online at gaukerfarms.com. You can also score Gauker Farms’ delicious products at Artisan Exchange in West Chester, and Downingtown and Malvern Farmers Markets.
Cooking Experiences
Give the chef on your shopping list the unique gift of local, organic black garlic this holiday season. Obis One of Pennsville, New Jersey specializes in black garlic — which offers twice the amount of antioxidants than regular garlic. Better yet, it’s an all-natural product with no additives and doesn’t leave you with garlic breath! Consider it for sauces, pizza, meats and veggies—the recipe options are practically endless. More info at www.obisone.com.
Love the spice? Saint Lucifer Spice of Philadelphia’s gift boxes available this holiday season give a sampling of all the company has to offer. Boxes feature two St. Lucifer bottles; three Halo Diablo Beef Jerky bags (representing their collaboration with Righteous Felon Jerky); four recipes, including St. Lucifer Bloody Mary and two tomato juice Bloody Mary starters; StL Herb Popcorn blend with two microwave bags of popcorn; St. Lucifer Chex Mix blend with two bags of Chex Mix; and St. Lucifer Spiced Mixed Nuts. Yes, all of that in one nifty gift box. Are you drooling yet? Shop online at www.saintluciferspice.com or find St. Lucifer Spice in area-wide stores (Country Butcher of Kennett Square, Montesano Brothers of Chester Springs, The Meat House of Chadds Ford, Hill’s Seafood of Media, Exton, Chadds Ford; among others).
Or, help that cook on your list accent holiday meals with the purchase of Simply Ghee’s newest product, Honey Ghee! The Lancaster County company’s newest addition touts the slogan a “sweet, spreadable butter” and is made from local pure, pasteurized, golden wildflower honey and Simply Ghee butter. This makes for the perfect spread on cinnamon raisin toast, muffins, pancakes or waffles, corn bread or even roasted squash, yams and hams. Purchase a jar for yourself and pick up a second for the food lover on your list. Find it locally in stock at Whole Foods Market of Devon and Terra Foods of Kennett Square, among others. Order online (www.simplyghee.com) by emailing gheemail@simplyghee.com.
The Woodlands at Phillips (1020 Kaolin Road, Kennett Square), located in the Mushroom Capital of the World, offers gift bas- kets full of assorted mushroom items that customers can create themselves, or choose from pre-made selections. The jarred mushroom gift pack is also a crowd-favorite. Order online at www.thewoodlandsatphillips.com or visit the store.
Sweet Treats
Elevate your holiday dessert table with award-winning cupcakes from Cupcake Wars’ winner Dia Doce (100 S. High St., West Chester). Acclaimed baker Thais Da Silva crafts truly indulgent cupcakes in an everchanging range of flavors— from red velvet candy cane to champagne, gingerbread, dulce de leche, key lime pie and so many more. Take your holiday soiree to celebrity status by renting the lime-green cupcake truck for your personal or business events. Gluten-free, vegan and custom creations available. Orders may be placed via email at Thais@ DiaDoce.com or by phone at (610) 476-5684.
Dessert is arguably the best part of any meal, and Full Spirited Flavours (2 Deerfield Lane, Schwenksville) is pumped up about the 2.5-pound full-size liqueur-infused cakes that they’re offering this holiday season. Savor a limoncello, mango coconut rum, amaretto or chocolate raspberry cake at your next family gathering. Not sure you can choose just one? No problem! Full Spirited Flavours is offering a new variety blossom four-pack to allow you to sample all four flavored cakes. Crisis averted!
With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, are you left feeling frazzled with everything you have to do? Let Iced by Betsy (145 Main St., Royersford) take care of the baking for you. (They won’t tell if you don’t!) With eye-catching— and insanely delicious— Christmas and New Year’s collections available, your sweet endings have never been this spectacular. The baker’s acclaimed f lavor lineup ranges from tiramisu and strawberry tall cakes to maple with sweet-and-salty bacon butter cream and Under the Mistletoe (peanut butter cake with Peanut Butter Kiss cookies on top). Consider giving the gift of sweetness, with gift cards and cupcakes wrapped with a bow also available. Place orders by phone at (610) 7557062.
Village Treats (236 Haverford Ave., Narberth) has a drool-worthy assortment of treats to sweeten up your office gathering. You may find yourself dreaming of their peppermint chocolate or spice whoopie pies; layer cakes in flavors like buttermilk, chocolate and pumpkin; pies with the most perfect crusts; and, of course, their mini donuts. Place your order today.