Foodie friends and family aren’t always easy to shop for.
Barbacoa Apparel’s pink cake shirt is bound to be hit with SA foodies. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Barbacoa Apparel
After all, it’s hard to know just what cooking gadgets they’ve already amassed and what cookbooks already line their shelves. One way to make sure you’re giving them something they can use is to shop local and keep your dollars in the Alamo City.
Here are seven hard-to-beat gift ideas that will hit the spot.
San Antonio Cooks
Written by veteran food writer Julia Rosenfeld, San Antonio Cooks is a beautiful compilation of 80-plus recipes crafted by noted chefs from the 2-1-0. Those recipes include delicious fare from favorite local restaurants including Best Quality Daughter, 2M Smokehouse, Biga on the Banks, The Friendly Spot Ice House, Clementine, Sushihana and more. Keep your purchase extra-local by picking up a copy of San Antonio Cooks at one of the city’s independently owned bookshops or have them special order it should they not have it in stock.
Pan Dulce graphic T-shirt from Barbacoa Apparel
Letting our city’s iconic pan dulce speak for itself, San Antonio-based Barbacoa Apparel (barbacoapparel.com) offers a signature pink cake T-shirt that’s one of its bestsellers for good reason. The pop-art-inspired design is screen printed on a soft heather tee, turning a beloved panadería dessert into wearable art. Simple, sweet, and instantly recognizable, it’s a perfect gift for anyone who loves classic Mexican treats. Barbacoa apparel sells online or at Painted Tree Boutiques (522 NW Loop 410, Suite 211). The company’s website also includes an exhaustive list of other retailers that stock its SA-themed goods, from socks and wallets to mirrors and magnets.
Personalized cutting board from Very That
Very That, a standout San Antonio boutique that bills itself as “your one-stop Chicana shop” sells personalized cutting boards — an ideal gift for the home chef in your life. Crafted from durable organic bamboo, each board is sturdy enough for serious chopping and carving, yet stylish enough to double as a chic charcuterie display. Simply add your engraving notes when ordering online to create a custom piece your foodie friend will use for years.
Locally produced culinary items from the Pearl Farmers Market
Farmers markets don’t just sell fresh, locally grown produce. Most of the larger ones also offer an incredible selection of food items produced by area artisans. We’re not just talking jellies and jams here but specialty spice rubs, aged cheeses, top-notch wines and unusual relishes and condiments. While there are plenty of farmers markets around the Alamo City, the one at the Pearl (200 E. Grayson St., atpearl.com) offers an exceptionally varied selection of locally produced food items. The downtown-area shopping and dining complex’s Saturday markets run 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and focus on area-sourced foods, while its Sunday markets, which run 10 a.m.-2 p.m. are centered around local artists, many of which produce culinary-tied goods such as pottery. For the holiday season, the Pearl is also offering Wednesday holiday night markets on Dec. 3, 10 and 17.
Dinner at one of San Antonio’s Michelin-starred restaurants
For adult foodies, gifting a dinner — or an eight-course dessert odyssey — at one of San Antonio’s trio of Michelin star-winning restaurants means giving an unforgettable experience. Isidore at Pullman Market (221 Newell Ave., (210) 756-7359, isidoresatx.com) serves some of the city’s finest steaks with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and exceptional hospitality. Its neighbor in the same Pearl market, Nicosi (221 Newell Ave., (210) 759-0088, nicosisatx.com) offers an immersive, dessert-only journey where phones are set aside so guests can savor every moment. And don’t miss Mixtli (812 S. Alamo, (210) 338-0746, restaurantmixtli.com), whose seasonal tasting menus pay homage to Mexico’s vast culinary heritage and deserve to be experienced at least once. Be sure to stop by the Bar at Mixtli on your way out.
Whataburger Limited-Edition Holiday Ornament Set
What South Texan doesn’t appreciate the San Antonio-based drive-thru wonder that is Whataburger? The beloved and ever-expanding burger empire is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a spirited set of holiday ornaments inspired by classic burger toppings. The collection includes ketchup, jalapeño and no-onion designs, plus a signature Whataburger ornament stamped with a special 75th-anniversary emblem. Fun, festive and full of Texas pride, this set makes the perfect gift for the Whataburger fan in your life. The set is available through the Whataburger online store (shop.whataburger.com/products/whataburger-holiday-ornament-set).
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