Check out Avenue’s full 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
CHIN CHIN
A bag of these West African-style cookie bites by Calgary company The Cake Aisle would make a delicious addition to any stocking. The tasty snack comes in a range of flavours including butter vanilla, cafe mocha, cinnamon spice, strawberry or spicy ginger. Starting at $2.99.
Multiple Calgary retailers, thecakeaisle.com
Spaghetti Dust
Looking for a new meal hack? Stuff your stockings with Spaghetti Dust by L’Isolina Pasta, a travel-sized, garlicky spice blend that makes a plate of tasty spaghetti easy peasy. Just add to drained, cooked pasta with extra virgin olive oil, toss and serve. It’s perfect for a last-minute, late-night or “I-forgot-to-get-groceries” meal. $12
Available at CampLand Institute of Leisurely Pursuits, 1119 10 Ave S.E., campbrandgoods.com
Kadak Chai
Calgary-based Chai Spice delivers an authentic, richly blended product with Kadak Chai. This South Indian-style masala chai is a warm and spicy blend of cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, ginger, Assam black tea and more, without additives or sugar. It’s available in 125g or 50g packages. Starting at $12.
Village Brewery’s World’s Best 6-Pack
Gift award-winning local brews to the beer fan on your list. This limited-edition collection features beers that have scored a World Beer Award in their respective style category. It includes two each of Village Blacksmith, Village Wit and Best Run Amber Lager. Pre-order until November 15 when the product becomes available province-wide. $16.50.
Available at Village Brewery, 5000 12A St. S.E. and at various Calgary liquor stores, shop.villagebrewery.com
Bag of Gravity Coffee Beans
Gravity, a local café with three locations, has just the thing for the coffee drinker in your life. Earlier this year, Gravity launched its own line of coffee beans that come in several roasts. For each bag sold, $1 of the sale goes towards the Inglewood café’s efforts to support local live music. Starting at $19.75.
Three Calgary locations, gravitycalgary.com
Le Creuset Canadian Destination Calgary Mug
This special-edition stoneware mug shines a spotlight on the architecture and outdoor landscapes of Calgary in Le Creuset’s “Caribbean” colour, symbolizing the water running through Banff National Park. It’s an odour-resistant and dishwasher-safe mug. $30.
Le Creuset, CF Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-262-1128, lecreuset.ca
Farfalle Candle
This jasmine, neroli and orange blossom-scented candle is handmade in Nata Concept Store’s London studio using eco-friendly and vegan ingredients. The candle is inspired by the art of pasta making, hence the fun farfalle pasta shape. $33.
Available at Tuu by Coutukitsch, 103, 902 9 Ave. S.E., 403-888-4612, coutukitsch.com
The Garlic Companion
Author and garlic enthusiast Kristin Graves explores the versatility of garlic in this cookbook that showcases 36 contemporary, garlic-forward recipes ranging from sweet to savoury. The book also covers spice mixes, craft ideas, floral arrangements, growing and harvesting information, and inspiration for garlic-themed dinners. $34.
Available at local bookstores like Pages on Kensington, 1135 Kensington Rd. N.W., 403-283-6655, pageskensington.com; fifthgengardens.ca
The Ghee-ft Box
Calgary company Vresh Foods makes delicious ghees that should be in every foodie’s fridge. This gift box lets you try three flavours of the clarified and caramelized butters at once: the OG Ghee flavour, chai spice and herb and garlic. Fun fact: the OG Ghee was a savoury food winner in Avenue‘s 2023 Made in Alberta Awards. $36.
Made By Marcus Cookbook
It’s never too cold for ice cream, and now, you can learn how to make it at home with the help of Marcus Purtzki, owner of Calgary’s Made by Marcus ice cream shops. This new cookbook will spark your culinary creativity with 50 ice cream recipes for creative flavours ranging from taber corn and blackberry to rose lychee raspberry. Personal stories, ice-cream-making tips and recipes for ice cream inclusions also fill this colourful book. $45.
Strawberry Measuring Cups
These hand-painted, strawberry-shaped measuring cups are as handy for baking and cooking as they are cute to display in your kitchen. The stoneware cups come in a set of four, with a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and one-cup option. $45.
Steeling Home, 1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca
Nanaimo Bar Liqueur
Two Rivers Distillery captures the flavours of a popular Canadian dessert in this locally made liqueur. Featuring coconut, chocolate and caramel notes, it would make a memorable and delicious addition to any bar cart. $54.95
Two Rivers Distillery, 453 42 Ave. S.E., 403-455-9759, tworiversdistillery.com
Bridgeland Distillery Gift Box Set
Bridgeland Distillery offers a wide range of spirits, but if you can’t decide which one to gift, a holiday gift pack set might be just the thing. Choose from the Bridgeland Whisky Pack featuring the distillery’s Innisfail Single Pot Still Whisky, Glenbow Single Malt Whisky and Single Blend Whisky, or the Bridgeland Cocktail Pack that comes with a bottle of the distillery’s Old Fashioned, Manhattan and Espresso Chocolate Orange Smash cocktails. $62 for the cocktail pack; $89 for the whisky pack.
Bridgeland Distillery, 77 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-455-9335, bridgelanddistillery.com
Spartan Collection
Calgary-based company Spartan Kitchen Products offers handy kitchen tools that make cooking prep a snap. The Spartan Collection comes with the brand’s shredder and peeler, as well as a slicer that you can only get in this collection box. Choose from black or multicolour handle options. $89.99.
Yeti 1 L French Press
Get this Yeti French press for the outdoorsy person in your life who doesn’t want to sacrifice on great coffee, even in the wilderness. The twist-to-lock lid, GroundsControl Filter and double-wall vacuum insulation are just a few of the features that help ensure a great cup of joe no matter where you’re setting up camp. Also available in a 1.9-litre version, the French press comes in several colours ranging from tropical pink to navy. $145.
Yeti, CF Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 587-651-6808, yeti.ca
Hamilton Beach Retro Bar Fridge
For those who love to entertain, this vintage-styled, 3.2-cubic-feet bar fridge in neutral cream adds an instant cool factor to any home bar. Stock it with a selection of classic sodas in retro glass bottles or craft beers in designer cans. $299.99
London Drugs, multiple Calgary locations, londondrugs.com
