BY MADDIE MARRIOTT AND EMMA SYLVESTER
When it comes to gift giving on the local and edible level, we have so many wonderful places to choose from. We’ve put together some favorites for our first-ever holiday gift guide. We hope to help you find just the right gift for those on your list.
Kitchen Tools
ZEST!
If you can’t find it at Zest!, your kitchen probably doesn’t need it. Look for the latest cookbook or a classic tome for someone just getting into cooking. Owner Sharon Landis has made it easy to stock your kitchen with the right pots and pans and lots of herbs and spices. Zest!’s cooking classes make great gifts, too.
Lititz | zestchef.com
LUKE DELLMYER KNIVES
If you’re a serious cook and/or an outdoorsy type who likes to hunt or fish, you know that having the right knife makes a world of difference. It’s also pretty personal. Dellmyer can custom-make a knife (or teach you how to do it) made of high carbon steel and damascus (and can also do stainless upon request), and “gentleman’s folding knives,” aka fancy pocket knives.
Hellertown | lukedellmyer.com
TWO PINES CARPENTRY
Run by Joe Cianciotta and named for him and his son, Two Pines specializes in face grain, edge grain, and end grain cutting boards and charcuterie boards made especially from black walnut (he uses other woods, too). Two Pines sells a DIY charcuterie kit, which is customizable and comes with everything you need to finish the project at home. Bonus: He also makes Christmas ornaments!
Nazareth | twopinescarpentry.com
BELLEVILLE MARKET
This one-stop shopping emporium owned by Warren and Derrick Clark features the products of local makers and creators. You’ll find a wide array of home decor, vintage goods, and things you didn’t know you needed (like more plants) from 70 merchants in 10,000-square-foot space—including a whole culinary section called Taste of Belleville.
Easton | bellevillemarket.com
Sweet Treats
CHOCODIEM
Nestled in the Easton Public Market is this top-tier chocolatier known for handmade truffles, macarons, and specialty artisan chocolate resembling gnomes, holiday wreaths, or anything else you could possibly imagine made out of chocolate.
Easton | chocodiem-us.com
CLUSTERS
This handcrafted popcorn joint brings the Jersey Shore favorite to Bethlehem, offering a wide selection of sweet and savory classics, along with gluten-free and dairy-free options. All kernels are non-GMO and popped in coconut oil. Pop by to pick up a stocking stuffer and you may end up with a tub for the road.
Bethlehem | clusterspopcornbethlehem.com
COUNTRY KETTLE
East Stroudsburg is home to this old-school brick-and-mortar, offering fudge, chocolates, and a tempting array of candy barrels. Come for the sweets and stay for the eclectic display of gifts for everyone on your list, from the tchotchke lover to the candle connoisseur.
East Stroudsburg | country-kettle.com
Pantry Essentials
EPIC ACRE
Homegrown peppers are the secret to these to-die-for hot sauces perfect for any spice-lover on your gift list. Based in Mertztown, you can find their products at the Saucon Valley Farmers Market on Sundays or by contacting them directly.
Mertztown | Instagram @epicacrefarm
MATT-HAT JERKY
A teenager-owned business with global acclaim, this Bethlehem shop sells the supreme savory snack for the carnivores in your life. Spring for the variety pack to sample all 14 flavors, or scroll through their online store to choose your new favorite.
Bethlehem | matthatjerky.com
BIG RED BARN
Know someone who needs their peanut butter fix? Big Red Barn sells the all-natural classics and specialties that will add some flair to your spread. You can find their peanut, almond, and cashew butters on sale at the Emmaus and Trexlertown farmers markets as well as on the shelves at Apple Ridge Farm in Saylorsburg.
Emmaus | Instagram @thebigredbarnemmaus
DUKE’S DELITES
If you’re looking for a special treat for your beloved canine, you’ll be barking up the right tree at Duke’s Delites. From bacon bones to sweet potato bites, your dog will love these rewards, from a company that employs young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Whitehall | dukesdelites.org
Coffee
MAD CATTER COFFEE ROASTERS
Fond of felines? Check out this cat-themed coffee brand with a mission to support local nonprofit animal shelters. You can find them at the Saucon Valley farmers market or online, where you can sign up for their subscription service to have fresh bags shipped to your doorstep.
Hellertown | madcattercoffee.com
PASSENGER
Feel good about satisfying your caffeine craving with coffee or tea from this brand dedicated to supporting an equitable supply chain. Shop in person at their award-winning coffee shop, or take their online quiz to find the right brew for you and your loved ones.
Lancaster | passengercoffee.com
MONOCACY COFFEE CO.
Roasted locally in Lit coffee shop, Monocacy Coffee Co. boasts single-origin coffee labeled with information about where it was grown and processed down to the exact elevation it came from, so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
Bethlehem | monocacycoffee.com
FOUR MONKEYS
This small-batch coffee roaster is passionate about sustainability, from the coffee’s origins through the retail process. Four Monkeys roasts their responsibly sourced organic coffee beans locally in-store and sells them in compostable packaging. You can find them at their Kutztown storefront or at Trexlertown Farmers Market.
Kutztown | fourmonkeyscoffee.com
Best for Vintage Flair
QUEEN CITY APPAREL
Pick up some vintage apparel for the T-shirt lover on your list after a meal at Union & Finch. This offshoot business endeavor continues the legacy of many Lehigh Valley’s historical
establishments by printing their old logos on T-shirts. Opt for the popular favorite—a tribute to Hess’s department store—or get nostalgic browsing through the restaurant’s merch wall.
Allentown | unionandfinch.com | Instagram: queencitypa
OBJECT HISTORY
Stop by the Silk Mill to discover this hidden gem. Object History buys and sells everything from vintage clothing to dry goods for the enthusiast of all things to reuse, recycle, and re-love.
Easton | Instagram @objecthistory
Food Experiences
BUTTERHEAD KITCHEN
Plant-based chefs, rejoice! Butterhead Kitchen offers cooking classes, demonstrations, and private dinner events for those with an interest in vegan cuisine. Visit their website to schedule an event or add your name to the list for community events.
Easton | butterheadkitchen.com
FUNNY FARM
Those who dream of beekeeping will be thrilled with the immersive experience at Funny Farm in Mertztown. Experts will help you get up close and personal with their buzzing buddies while taking you through a live hive. Book the experience ahead of time online.
Mertztown | funnyfarmapiaries.com
SLICE OF DIVINE
Slice of Divine Charcuterie offers every budding chef’s dream: lessons in the comfort of your own home. Learn from the experts how to make the perfect grazing board, from picking out ingredients to assembling them. Book a date online for your group.
Lancaster | sliceofdivinecharcuterie.com
Best Edible Gifts to Mail
CALKINS CREAMERY
These award-winning cheeses are made on a family-run farm in the Poconos, but luckily for your gift recipient they can be shipped right to their doorstep. The only problem is deciding which of the many gift boxes to choose from.
Honesdale | calkinscreamery.com
COLONY MEADERY
Mead is a great alternative and one of the oldest alcoholic beverages. It’s made from honey, so it’s also gluten-free. Colony’s won more awards than we can count; try Straight, No Chaser to start, and get experimental with 911 is an Oak (mead aged on oak), or any of its hard ciders.
Bethlehem | colonymeadery.com
MIESSE CANDIES
In business since 1875, Miesse sells small-batch decadent chocolates made from high-quality ingredients. For your faraway loved one with a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with a box of candies from Miesse—or a membership to their monthly subscription service.
Lancaster | miessecandies.com
