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Food makes a perfect gift any time of the year!You're making your list and checking it twice, but you're still not done with your holiday shopping, and those argyle socks didn't go over so well last year. I'm here to help. I'm Mark Anbinder with the 14850 Dining Report, and I know you'll be shocked when I tell you that food makes a great gift any time of year. No, put down the fruitcake. Put it down. OK. All the supermarkets are getting into the act with holiday displays, and you could do worse than to pick up a Hickory Farms box set. They do contain actual food. Or visit the cheese display to assemble your own. It might not come with the box, but you'll probably save money.
But for food baskets I'd suggest starting at Ithaca Coffee Company or Ithaca Bakery. Each has a remarkable selection of cheeses, summer sausages, and other gourmet foods sure to impress, and especially this time of year, their selection is likely to outshine the supermarkets. Ithaca Bakery's Meadow Street cheese case also features such exotic items as smoked fish and caviar. Ithaca Coffee Company, in the Triphammer Mall next to Triphammer Wine & Spirits, and now downtown in the new Gateway Center, also offers a wonderful selection of fresh roasted coffees and a better variety of tea than you'll find in the supermarket, and they can fill your growler with a selection of craft beers. Speaking of beer, the other top-notch gift basket in town is from Ithaca Beer, featuring pint glasses and a selection of beer bottles. Of course, they too can fill growlers, and their seasonal selection is appropriately wintry right now. For non-drinkers, Ithaca Soda Company's ginger ale and root beer can't be beat.
Or arrange overnight delivery of a special dinner from gourmetgroceryonline.com, or legalseafoods.com. These web sites can send your gift recipient a meal of your choice, ready to prepare, but again you might need to worry about storage space. Or they can send a gift certificate redeemable at the time of their choice. That's certainly safer! Got time for a relaxing meal? Take your gift recipient out for a nice lunch or dinner. Lots of Ithaca restaurants are open through the holidays, or are just closed for a day or two, but some are closed for a week or longer for a well-deserved vacation. Check out our annual list of holiday closings! Just remember, a gift that tastes good is always a gift that's in good taste. Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and well-fed holiday from your friends at 14850 Dining. |
Pastries often go over well, even if they don't last long, and what better place to find them than at the Queen of Tarts, the bake shop and café opened last winter by the owner of Just Desserts. The heart-shaped flourless chocolate torte, pictured, says "I love you" both through its shape and through its decadent dose of cacao.