The Best Local Gifts You Can Eat
Add these New England-made sauces, spices, sweet treats, and more to your shopping list this holiday season.
Runamok’s holiday gift box. / Courtesy photo
New England has a plethora of food and drink businesses creating unique, gift-worthy products. Here are some of our favorite local picks—mostly from Greater Boston, but a few from farther corners of the region—for any gift-giving occasion, from pantry staples to luxurious ingredients. (Note that while prices were accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change. Items within each section are listed from lowest to highest price.)
Jump to:
- Sauces
- Oils, Spices, and Other Pantry Staples
- Meat and Seafood
- Fermented Stuff
- Snacks, Sweets, and Treats
- Miscellaneous Gift Boxes
See also: Boston Gifts for Fun Food People: Kitchenware, Merch, and More
Sauces
Villa México Café’s black salsa. / Courtesy photo
Black Salsa by Villa México Café
Downtown Boston mainstay Villa México’s award-winning tacos and fan-favorite burritos are extra-special thanks in part to the house salsa, a deeply umami-packed family recipe that features tomatoes, peppers, and garlic—“no raw onions or cilantro, no stereotype.” It has a slow-build heat that adds a kick without overpowering the meal. Try is as a marinade; mixed with sour cream or cream cheese as a dip; or even over vanilla ice cream.
How to buy: From the Villa México Café website—$8 for a small jar, $18 for medium, $28 for large. Nationwide shipping is available, as are large orders for corporate gifts and such.
Dumpling Daughter’s Spicy Sweet Soy sauce. / Courtesy photo
Spicy Sweet Soy Secret Sauce by Dumpling Daughter
Nadia Liu Spellman’s local trio of dumpling-focused restaurants is a casual homage to her parents’ now-closed upscale Chinese restaurant, Sally Ling’s, the first of its kind in Boston. Spellman sells packaged dumplings, too—and, naturally, a sauce that pairs perfectly. Infused with spices and brown sugar, it’s equal parts spicy and sweet, and it comes in a convenient squeeze bottle.
How to buy: From the Dumpling Daughter website as part of a bundle; at a local store; or via Amazon—starting at $9.99 for an eight-ounce bottle.
Barra’s salsa macha. / Courtesy photo
Salsa Macha by Barra
Sure, Chinese-style chili crisp is everywhere now (including in this gift guide), but have you tried the Mexican condiment salsa macha, a somewhat analogous chili oil? Salty, spicy, nutty, and a little bit smoky, it goes great on tacos, chicken, eggs, and so much more. Swing by Best of Boston Mexican restaurant Barra, sip on some lesser-known Mexican spirits, and take home a six-ounce jar of Barra’s house-made version.
How to buy: At Barra (23A Bow St., Union Square, Somerville) or via takeout/delivery—$10.
Sauces and more at Singh’s Roti. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Trinidad Pepper Sauce by Singh’s Roti
Head to this award-winning Dorchester restaurant to get your Trinidadian roti and doubles fix, and you’ll fall in love with the fiery, ghost- and Reaper-based house hot sauce. You’re in luck: It’s available by the bottle, the perfect gift for a loved one who can handle the heat.
How to buy: At Singh’s Roti (554 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, Boston) or via takeout/delivery—$14.
Little Brother’s La Jiao Jiang. / Courtesy photo
La Jiao Jiang by Little Brother Chinese Food
This Portland, Maine-based dumpling company makes its own take on the popular chili crisp condiment, a spicy, savory concoction that tastes great on dumplings (among many other uses—scroll through some fun ideas here). Little Brother’s version features crunchy garlic and red onion, and it’s vegan and gluten-free.
How to buy: From the Little Brother website—$15.99 for a small jar or $29.99 for “the big baby,” 16 ounces. Also available at a variety of stores in Maine and a few in Greater Boston.
Potluck’s Ssamjang. / Photo by Tony Luong
Ssamjang by Potluck
Based in Boston, Potluck produces Korean pantry staples—made in small batches in Korea—including ssamjang, a funky-sweet-spicy paste that jazzes up everything from grilled meats to bibimbap. With a fermented soybean base, this zingy condiment is meant for “dipping and dabbing.”
How to buy: From the Potluck website—$16 for a 7.4-ounce jar. Also available at stores around the country, including quite a few in Greater Boston.
Pammy’s Bolognese sauce. / Photo by Xana Turner-Owens
Bolognese Sauce by Pammy’s
If you’ve been to Pammy’s, the lovely, Italian-ish “new American trattoria” in Cambridge, the gochujang-spiked Bolognese sauce probably lives rent-free in your mind, as it does ours. There, the punchy sauce is served with lumache pasta, a chunky elbow shape. Give a jar as a gift, or gift one to yourself, and you can pour it on anything. We’re not sure anything beats the lumache, but we’re willing to do the research, for science.
How to buy: Pick up at Pammy’s (928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday throughout December 2024—$23 for a 16-ounce jar.
Oils, Spices, and Other Pantry Staples
Yafa Bakery & Café’s za’atar. / Courtesy photo
Za’atar by Yafa Bakery & Café
Best of Boston bakery Yafa delights with chocolate-covered dates, rose-petal-bedecked pastries, and other Middle Eastern sweets. While we would certainly recommend an assortment of Yafa’s baklava as a gift, if you’re looking for something a bit more shelf-stable, a bag of organic Palestine za’atar does the trick. The blend of thyme, sumac, and sesame is the perfect seasoning for poultry, warm bread, and countless other uses.
How to buy: From the Yafa website for pickup at Yafa (594 Somerville Ave., Somerville)—$13.99.
Maman Myrthe’s Pantry Mango Pineapple Rum Spread. / Courtesy photo
Booze-Infused Fruit Spreads by Maman Myrthe’s Pantry
Cooking out of CommonWealth Kitchen in Dorchester, Nathalie Barege named her company for her grandmother, who was a natural medicine healer in Haiti. A touch of alcohol adds a bit of extra fun to Barege’s fruit spreads—grapefruit Grand Marnier, blueberry bourbon, and mango-pineapple rum.
How to buy: From the Maman Myrthe’s Pantry website—$14.95.
The “Explore Kitchen” vinegar set from American Vinegar Works. / Courtesy photo
Vinegar Sets by American Vinegar Works
This Worcester-based artisanal vinegar company aims to evoke a sense of place—think old-timey industrial New England—working with American wines and ciders to make its slow-fermented, barrel-aged vinegars. Various four-bottle combos make for great gifts, such as the Explore Kitchen Vinegars pack with beer malt, rice wine, rosé wine, and apple cider vinegars.
How to buy: From the American Vinegar Works website—$49 for most four-pack sets, with various other bundles available.
Pagu’s pancake and cake mixes. / Courtesy photo
Cake and Pancake Mix Bundle by Pagu
Matcha, ube, and black sesame pancakes, oh my! Grab a bundle of Pagu’s three pancake mixes (each makes about a dozen medium pancakes) and gluten-free chocolate cake mix for some really fun breakfasts/treats at home.
How to buy: From the Pagu website, for shipping or pickup at the restaurant (310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge)—$49.99.
Runamok’s holiday gift box. / Courtesy photo
Maple Syrup Holiday Gift Box by Runamok
This Vermont-based producer of syrup and honey is packing three limited-edition maple syrups into a box for your pancake-loving pals. The star is the edible glitter-infused Snow Globe syrup, but the peppermint bark syrup is a dessert-y treat, and then there’s a Festivus syrup—for the rest of us. (That one’s infused with “holiday spices.”)
How to buy: From the Runamok website—$69.95.
Curio Spice Co’s Eight-Tin Chef Set. / Courtesy photo
Eight-Tin Chef Set of Spices by Curio Spice Co.
A spice set from this local company can’t be beat. We love this particular eight-spice combo because nothing’s too unfamiliar, but your recipient probably doesn’t already have these exact spices in their collection, from the lemony Aegean salt to the seaweed-and-mushroom Supeq blend, reminiscent of furikake. Bonus: It’s packaged beautifully.
How to buy: From the Curio website, for shipping or pickup at the store (2265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge)—$74.95.
Meat and Seafood
Alpine Butcher’s truffle-infused Australian wagyu ribeye spirals. / Courtesy photos
A Gift Card for Fancy Beef at Alpine Butcher
There are only two places in Massachusetts to get legit Kobe beef—Rare Steakhouse at Encore Boston Harbor, and this Lowell butcher shop. Kobe’s not always available, but you’re always sure to find some high-end domestic and imported wagyu options. A gift card’s the way to go so your recipient can choose from, say, truffle-infused Australian wagyu ribeye spirals and A5 Japanese wagyu kabob skewers.
How to buy: From the Alpine Butcher website—cards start at $50.
Island Creek Oysters caviar. / Courtesy photo
Build-Your-Own Caviar Sampler by Island Creek Oysters
Ooh, fancy. Buy a 30-gram tin of caviar from Island Creek Oysters; get 50% off a second tin. It’s a great opportunity to try a couple different types of caviar, with selections available from Italy, Georgia (the country), California, and North Carolina.
How to buy: From the Island Creek Oysters website—30-gram tins start at $99 each.
Fermented Stuff
Chi Kitchen’s kimchi pickles. / Courtesy photo
Kimchi Pickles by Chi Kitchen
When cofounder Minnie Luong, born in Vietnam and raised in New England, was young, her family grew and preserved their own foods, leading her to become an expert in making kimchi. Meanwhile, her husband and cofounder Tim Greenwald grew up making pickles with his family. Chi Kitchen’s kimchi pickles are the logical blending of their talents—and a fun gift for any spicy pickle lover. (Tell them not to discard the juice, which can be used in bloody marys or salad dressings.)
How to buy: From the Chi Kitchen website or at various local shops—$10 for a 16-ounce jar. (If shipped, it will arrive in a vented pouch, not a glass jar.)
Natto plushes from Aya’s Culture Kitchen. / Courtesy photo
Natto by Aya’s Culture Kitchen
For the most part, if you find the uniquely textured Japanese fermented soybean dish natto around here, it’s frozen and shipped from Japan. But for the natto-curious and true connoisseurs alike, Aya Abe is making it fresh right in Greater Boston. Add a tiny natto plush, and you’ve got an offbeat gift for the fermented food lover in your life.
How to buy: From the Aya’s Culture Kitchen website, to be shipped or picked up at the Aya’s farmstand (75 Dudley St., Arlington)—starting at $24 for a four-pack of five-ounce portions.
Pigeon Cove Ferments kraut. / Courtesy photo
A Kraut Trio by Pigeon Cove Ferments
Turmeric ginger kraut, garlic dill kraut, daikon kelp kraut, and more—choose three products from this Gloucester-based company to save a few bucks. The lacto-fermented goods are raw and vinegar-free, and they showcase local ingredients.
How to buy: From the Pigeon Cove Ferments website, to be shipped or picked up at the company’s kombucha taproom (44 Whittemore St. Unit 10, Gloucester)—$25.
Snacks, Sweets, and Treats
SweetBoy chocolate chip cookies. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Chocolate Chip Cookies by SweetBoy
Ben Sidell, son of Saltie Girl founder Kathy Sidell, got the hospitality gene, too: SweetBoy was born in the early days of the pandemic, when the drive to bake sweet treats for friends turned into a full-fledged business. His chocolate chip cookies—with big, melty bits of dark and milk Valrhona chocolate and generous flakes of Maldon sea salt—are available by the tin.
How to buy: From the SweetBoy website, to be picked up at Saltie Girl (279 Dartmouth St., Back Bay, Boston)—starting at $18 for six cookies. Or, have a 12-cookie holiday tin (with six different flavors) shipped for $48.
Winter Warmer Sampler by Taza Chocolate
Taza’s pretty ubiquitous these days, but we can’t forget its Somerville roots. The stone-ground chocolate company has tons of giftable products; we like this seasonal sampler pack so our giftees can try a little bit of everything. This eight-pack of chocolate discs includes flavors such as guajillo chili, super dark, vanilla, and more.
How to buy: From the Taza Chocolate website, to be shipped—$23. Or, browse the factory store (561 Windsor St., Somerville) or consult the store locator to find this and other items in person.
Multi-Pack Gift Box by Q’s Nuts
Is your friend nuts about nuts? Somerville-based Q’s Nuts will let you put together a custom six-, nine-, or 12-pack; choose from options such as Mexican chocolate peanuts, bananas Foster almonds, key lime ginger cashews, “sweet and sassy” pecans, and more.
How to buy: From the Q’s Nuts website, to be shipped—starting at $36.99 for a six-pack. Or, visit the store in Somerville (349 Highland Ave.) or Boston (Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St.)
Anonymous Doughnut Holes Delivery by Mass Hole Donuts
Affectionately described as “Mass Holes for a Masshole,” this is a box of a dozen Mass Hole Donuts doughnut holes, delivered anonymously to your frenemy, boss, etc. to let them know someone thinks they’re a Masshole.
How to buy: From the Mass Hole Donuts website, to be shipped within 20 miles of Somerville—$50.
Seacoast Sweets. / Courtesy photo
Assorted Patties by Seacoast Sweets
This Massachusetts-born candy company, now based in Rhode Island, specializes in patties—peppermint, peanut butter, coconut, and s’mores. The best way to taste them all? A large assorted box, containing three of each flavor.
How to buy: From the Seacoast Sweets website, to be shipped—$50. Or, consult the store locator.
Miscellaneous Gift Boxes
CommonWealth Kitchen’s 2024 holiday gift box. / Courtesy photo
Holiday Gift Box by CommonWealth Kitchen
This Dorchester nonprofit organization and food business incubator puts out a gift box each year showcasing its members and supporting its programs. This year’s box features Meal Mantra cranberry tomato chutney, Effie’s Homemade oatcake biscuits, Mr Tamole green tomatillo salsa, and more.
How to buy: From the CommonWealth Kitchen website, to be shipped—$88.
Eastern Standard Provisions’ soft pretzel charcuterie box. / Courtesy photo
Soft Pretzel Charcuterie Box by Eastern Standard Provisions
Waltham-based Eastern Standard Provisions (yes, it’s related to the restaurant) is adding a pretzel-and-charcuterie box to its repertoire this holiday season. It includes soft pretzels, cheese, cured meats, sauces, and more.
How to buy: From the Eastern Standard Provisions website, to be shipped—$159.99.
Portugalia Marketplace in Fall River. / Courtesy photo
Visit Portugal Gift Box by Portugalia Marketplace
If you can’t make it to Portugal, this Fall River emporium of Portuguese goods is the next best thing. And if you can’t make it to Fall River, treating yourself or a loved one to a Portugalia gift box is the next best thing. The Visit Portugal box, which looks like a suitcase, contains coffee, pineapple jam, tinned sardines, wild lavender honey, and more.
How to buy: From the Portugalia Marketplace website, to be shipped—$200. Or, browse the store in person (489 Bedford St., Fall River).
Bay State Abundance Gift Basket by Pemberton Farms Marketplace
This gourmet Cambridge grocer—which feels akin to the late, great Russo’s in Watertown—puts together a variety of gift baskets for any occasion. A number of them pay tribute to New England food; “Bay State Abundance” is perhaps the most, well, abundant. Your giftee will find everything from chocolate-covered blueberries to salt water taffy to sparkling cider, all local.
How to buy: From the Pemberton Farms website, to be shipped—$239.95.
