Holiday Gift Guide: Food & Provisions
Pretzel Shortbread, Cougar Gold Cheese, Kringle, Salted Caramels, Ice Cream...
This week on LAST CALL we’ll have you covered with Holiday Gift Guides focusing on Holiday Advent Calendars, Drinks & Spirits, Books & Cookbooks, The Spirit of Italy, and Stocking Stuffers. Today’s Holiday Gift Guide is devoted to Food & Provisions. This is a super-sized dispatch and will likely be truncated in your Email, so be sure to click the “View Entire Message” link to expand.
Today’s LAST CALL Holiday Gift Guide is available to all readers thanks to the generous support of Casamara Club.
Tired of choosing between lackluster flavored seltzers and sickly sweet sodas and mocktails when they wanted a non-alcoholic treat at the end of the day, Casamara Club founders Jason LaValla and Erica Johnson took inspiration from Italian amaro and aperitivo culture to create a line of adult sodas, each with complex flavors and an extra dry finish. The result is a line of critically acclaimed, sophisticated, and refreshing botanical sodas that have gone on to become the NA of choice for every kind of drinker.
This holiday season, stock up on a variety case of these Italian amaro leisure sodas in bottles or cans to have on hand for invigorating non-alcoholic options with complex flavors that are perfect on their own, as a mixer, or to accompany your favorite aperitivo spread.
Alta: Classic Italian aperitivo, reminiscent of a Negroni.
Como: Breezy Alpine-style soda, inspired by Braulio.
Onda: Coastal, Sicilian-style flavor, inspired by the warm, herbaceous flavor notes of Averna.
Sera: Citrus- and spice-forward take on the Aperol Spritz.
And be sure to check out their latest release, Superclasico, a bittersweet, Italian-style aperitivo cocktail-strength non-alcoholic drink in a supercharged 8-ounce can. is ready to drink straight from the can, or pour it into an ice-filled glass garnished with an orange slice.
You can find Casamara Club botanical sodas on menus at Michelin star restaurants, James Beard award winning bars, and some of the best cafes and independent retailers in the country.
“Your leisure awaits…”
Holiday Gift Guide: Food & Provisions
Longtime readers of LAST CALL will likely recall some repeat appearances from last year’s Holiday Gift Guide, but I hope you’ll indulge me as one, there are thousands of new readers among us since last year; two, I’m a creature of habit; and three, these are items I truly crave and support, so they’re worth an encore.
—BTP
Sweet Things
O&H Danish Bakery Kringle
When I lived in Seattle my father would ship me a Danish kringle, an oval-shaped pastry with a flaky, buttery crust and a sweet filling, from the local Scandinavian bakery Larsen’s every year for my birthday. I tried to explain that it would likely be cheaper and save on shipping if I picked it up myself as the Ballard bakery was just four miles away from my apartment, but he insisted he liked having it arrive as a “surprise” delivered straight to my door.
Since moving to Brooklyn, I’ve started my own holiday tradition ordering myself a kringle from O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin (I have no personal or familial connections to Wisconsin beyond being good friends with a number of people who hail from the state) to warm up in the oven on Christmas morning. My go-to is their Cream Cheesecake Kringle, made with 100% Wisconsin cream cheese with a white icing racing stripe. There are many more festive kringles to consider among the Seasonal Favorites, like Christmas Fudge, Reindeer Tracks, I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, and Santa’s Secret Christmas. Or maybe drop off a Brandy Old-Fashioned Kringle, made with brandy, caramel, and cherries with vanilla icing blended with orange zest, at your favorite bar over the holidays for a sweet treat for the hard-working bartenders.
You can often find a rotating seasonal selection of O&H Kringles at Trader Joe’s (it’s usually Almond this time of year) if you want to save on shipping and give it a test run.
$24.99 plus shipping (O&H Danish Bakery)
McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream
I’m thrilled that Oregon’s Salt & Straw Ice Cream recently opened two scoop shops in Manhattan, but while pints are thankfully available in NYC, I still long for easy access to those McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream limited-release flavors only in their California stores. An updated version of their popular 5-pint Holiday Bundle is back, now featuring Pumpkin Spiced Latte, Martinelli’s Apple Cider & Cranberry Jam, Salted Caramel Chip, Reindeer Tracks, and Peppermint Stick (a favorite of Friend of LAST CALL Kendra Borowski).
But what I would really want for Christmas is their limited-edition collaboration with California’s own See’s Candies with flavors like Vanilla with California Brittle, Coffee with Molasses Chips, Banana Cream with Toffee-ettes, and Chocolate with Polar Bear Paws. I had the chance to get a sneak-peek sample of each of these at the Fancy Food Show this summer but they’re sadly not available in NYC.
Holiday Bundle: $58.00 plus shipping (McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream)
Assorted Pints: $12 plus shipping (McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream)
Candy & Chocolates
Fran’s Chocolates Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels
Fran Bigelow didn’t invent the combination of chocolate and salted caramel, but she helped put it on the map when she introduced her signature Salt Caramels at her Seattle chocolate shop, Fran’s Chocolates in 1998. Fran’s Chocolates Salt Caramels (available in dark chocolate with gray salt and milk chocolate with smoked salt) were my go-to gift when I lived in Seattle and I still load up whenever I’m back in the 206. There’s more to explore in their Holiday Collection, including Milk Chocolate Mint Ornaments, Peppermint Imperiales, Brandied Cherries, and Chocolate Santas.
Gray & Smoked Salt Caramels: $18.25 - $300.00, plus shipping (Fran’s Chocolates)
Chukar Cherries
Staying in Washington state for another beat, let’s give flowers to Chukar Cherries, the family-owned business based in Prosser, Washington, in the Yakima Valley who have been in business since 1988. They’re locally sourced chocolate-covered dried cherries can be found in a bustling stall in Seattle’s Pike Place Market as well as in store shelves, and at SEA-TAC airport. Check out their Holiday assortments are available in boxes, tins, and jars and feature their beloved chocolate-covered Classic Dark Cherries, Amaretto Rainers, Cherry Bings, and many more.
Holiday Original Assortment: $45.95, plus shipping (Chukar Cherries)
Wilbur Chocolate
Wilbur Chocolate in Lititz, Pennsylvania, is best known for their Wilbur Buds, their signature, specially blended chocolates poured into a flower bud mold and available in an assortment of festive holiday boxes and tins (the tins are available at their shop, but not yet posted online at this time). But if you’re looking to send LAST CALL HQ a Wilbur care package, my favorites are the Milk Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Meltaways Dark Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt.
Nora’s Candy Shop Turkey Joints
Growing up in Central New York, it wasn’t Christmas unless there was a jar of Turkey Joints under the tree. These oddly named Central New York holiday confections made at Nora’s Candy Shop in Rome, New York, are knobby sticks of chocolate and nuts (the original 1919 creations used Brazil nuts but the Hazelnut Turkey Joints are the most popular variety you’ll see around Central New York) enrobed in a crunchy, ribbon-candy-like coating. They also offer Brazil Nut, Hazelnut Coco-Monds, Midnight Cashew, Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter, and Chocolate-Covered Turkey Joints.
“Read “Turkey Joints: A Central New York Holiday Tradition.”
$29.99, plus shipping (Nora’s Candy Shop)
Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints and Rolo Dark Salted Caramels
I’m a sucker when an everyday candy like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups goes through it’s seasonal transformation with new holiday wrapper for Christmas (tree-shaped), Valentine’s Day (heart-shaped), Easter (egg-shaped), and Halloween (pumpkin-shaped). It’s essentially the same milk chocolate-enrobed, peanut butter filled treat but standing out with a statement wrapper. But two of this year’s models that are already in heavy rotation at Casa BTP are the gold standard Junior Mints Peppermint Crunch. Beyond simply putting the everyday Junior Mint in a red, white, and green box, they become a whole new candy with the addition of tiny bits of crushed up peppermint candy. Stock up for the season. They’re best enjoyed straight from the freezer.
I really dig the funky dark purple and black design of this limited-edition Rolo package for the holidays. While you would never mistake these for a Fran’s Chocolate Salt Caramel, Rolo puts on its holiday best with each candy wrapped in purple foil with an upgrade in both coating and filling, stepping things up with more mature dark chocolate over the usual milk chocolate and and elevated salted caramel filling. Stuff these in all the stockings and enjoy these while you can.
Scoop these up at the seasonal candy aisle at Target, CVS, Walgreen’s, et al
Snacky Things
Cougar Gold Cheese
Cheese in a can may not seem like the most appetizing gift idea, but when the Washington State University Creamery looked toward alternate methods to store and ship cheese in the 1930s, an iconic Pacific Northwest legend was born: Cougar Gold Cheese. When I lived in Seattle I would always tuck away one of these 30-ounce Cougar Gold tins in the back of my refrigerator to age an additional year or two, resulting in an even sharper, intense cheese flecked with crunchy tyrosine crystals. Available in original the OG Cougar Gold Sharp White Cheddar as well as Natural Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, Viking, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Hot Pepper, and Crimson Fire. I plan to order a tin or two for myself this year and share one with the gang at the next Steak & Shrimp Night at The Long Island Bar.
$33.00, plus shipping (Washington State University Creamery)
Lost Bread Co. Pretzel Shortbread
I’m fortunate that Philadelphia’s Lost Bread Co. pops up at a few of the local NYC farmers’ markets as I’ve become hooked Pretzel Shortbread. The 8-pack is perfectly sized for gifting (or keeping for yourself), and since the buttery, salty, malty Pretzel Shortbread is so good, you might as well order two of them.
$14.00, plus shipping (Lost Bread Co.)
Garret Popcorn Shops
There was a glorious period of time when there was an actual Garrett Popcorn Shop near Madison Square Garden so I could skip the spendy shipping fees, but that is now but a memory. People love the fan-favorite Garrett Mix (or Chicago Mix), a delicious combination of cheddar popcorn and caramel corn (I used to sneak that into the movies but would exit the theatre with a neon-yellow tint to my fingers). My Champagne tastes on a beer bottle budge (as my father often said of me) have me favoring the pricier Cashew CaramelCrisp. I haven’t pulled the trigger on ordering this for myself online since the local outpost closed (the last time was when I was in Chicago on the Last Call book tour in December 2019 and brought a giant bag back home with me on the plane), but maybe this will be my year?
Garrett Mix: $35.00, plus shipping (Garrett Popcorn Shops)
BTP Cashew CaramelCrisp Mix: $52.00, plus shipping (Garret Popcorn Shops)
Provisions
Rub with Love Spice Blends
Living in Seattle for more than a decade, I would see award-winning chef Tom Douglas’ signature Rub with Love spice blends in every grocery store around town. These days I can pick up a few of the deep bench selection of flavored seasoning rubs right here in Brooklyn at Fish Tales in Cobble Hill. The Salmon Rub and Steak Rub were my go-tos back in my Queen Anne Hill kitchen, but these days I always have the Smoky Barbecue Rub (thyme, coriander, smoked paprika, chilies, brown sugar) within reach and use it on everything from steak, salmon, and chops to pulled pork and barbecue chicken. I still need to check out some of the newer drops like Serious Pie Pizza Spice and Fish Taco Spice.
$9.99, plus shipping (Rub With Love)
Frankies Extra Virgin Organic Olive Oil
When it comes to olive oil, the eponymous Franks (Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo) of Brooklyn’s Frankies 457 Spuntino have got you covered. Their flagship Frankies 457 Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, made with Nocellara del Belice olives grown and harvested in Selinunte, Sicily, can be found in kitchens all over Brooklyn and beyond. Their Everyday Oil, a blend Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla, and Cerasuola olives from Sicily, is the one you want to keep on your counter, while their Calabrian Chili Oil gets its fiery kick from Peperoncini Lunghi, Diavolicchio Calabrese, and Peperoncini Tondi dell Etna. The move is to drizzle it over your pizza like they do at F&F.
$23.99 - $34.99, plus shipping: available at Whole Foods, Frankies 457 Spuntino, or online (Frankies 457)
Ekone Tinned Seafood
As one of the longest-standing shellfish farms to cultivate Washington states tidelines, Taylor Shellfish’s tinned seafood brand Ekone has perfected the craft of harvesting, smoking, and hand-packing seafood through their family-run smokehouse and cannery where they’ve fostered their tide-to-tin tradition for decades.
Ekone is available in individual tins and sampler sets featuring a variety of hand-packed, smoked seafood, including Oysters (including Habanero and Lemon Pepper), Mussels, Wild Octopus, Albacore Tuna (also flavored with Lemon), and Coho Salmon.
Whichever one you choose, the seafood can be enjoyed straight from the tin as a convenient snack or featured in a composed dish like salads, dips, sandwiches, and pastas. I always keep some key components in my pantry and refrigerator for easy aperitivo at home and having a few tins of Ekone on my shelf helps elevate the occasion with an element of Pacific Northwest-inspired “seacuterie”
$11.99 - $13.00, plus shipping (Ekone Tinned Seafood)
Our thanks to Casamara Club for underwriting today’s LAST CALL Holiday Gift Guide.
Onda Highball
Jason LaValla | Detroit, Michigan
Enjoying Casamara Club on its own—whether straight from a chilled bottle or over ice with a citrus twist—is the prefect way to experience this amaro soda, but when you’re feeling a bit more spiritous, utilizing it as a mixer will also deliver great results. In this case, Casamara Club co-founder Jason LaValla shares a Sicilian-inspired highball made with Casamara Club Onda and Sicily’s iconic Amaro Averna. The result is an earthy, though refreshing, highball with the brightness of lemon balanced with warm Mediterranean herbs and a bit of seaside salinity.
Makes 1 Drink
2 ounces Averna
1/2 ounce lemon juice
4-6 ounces Cassamara Club Onda Amaro Club Soda
Garnish: lemon twist
Fill a highball glass with ice and add the lemon juice and Averna. Give it a quick stir to combine. Top with Casamara Club Onda, pouring slowly down your mixing spoon to retain carbonation. Stir once, and garnish with a lemon twist.
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My fave holiday list of the year. I want ‘em all!
I’m already enjoying this year’s order of Lost Bread Co. Pretzel Shortbread. Thanks for introducing it to me on last year’s list!