Gift Guide: 20 Very Good, Mostly Local, Things To Eat And Drink

The Total Jerk
This salty sampler from New York Mouth will sate both couch potatoes and outdoorsy types. The snack pack features an assortment of jerky, made by five local artisans, in a variety of unique flavors. Korean barbecue-flavored grass fed beef and peppered King salmon will smash any preconceived ideas that jerky is just cheap gas station sustenance. $110, newyorkmouth.com

Whisky Advent Calendar
What better way to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus than with 24 consecutive days of drinking leading up to the big day? Master of Malt’s clever calendar has a surprise selection of drinks by the dram — an excellent early gift for the whisky aficionado. $237.66, masterofmalt.com

Empire Mayo Fall Collection
Chef Sam Mason and Elizabeth Valleau are giving Hellman’s a run for its money with their Brooklyn-made mayonnaise. A trio dubbed the Fall Mix includes white cheddar, rosemary and vadouvan-flavored mayos that complement any cold-weather dish. You might think a condiment is a less-than-thoughtful gift, but trust us — the jars will be empty before spring rolls around. $22, empiremayo.com

Black + Blanco Sandcastles Black Box Gift Assortment
The sophisticated sweet tooth will appreciate a break from the norm with these inventive cookies. Flavors like vanilla-black sesame and maple-dusted cardamom keep the food snob happy, while whole grain rye flour and natural sweeteners sate the health-conscious eater. $40, blackblanco.com

Anarchy In A Jar Preserves
You can buy these preserves because canning is cool, or because their Brooklyn-made status gives them cachet, but we prefer them because their flavors outshine anything on a supermarket shelf. Abandon any notion of corn syrup-sweetened Concord grapes — “jamarchist” Laena McCarthy cooks up inspired flavors like grapefruit with smoked salt and the Hot Fireman (made with pear and chipotle). Whoever receives them will thank you for making breakfast more interesting. $22.50, murrayscheese.com

Counter Culture Farmhouse Coffee Subscription
There are people who don’t mind schlepping to Starbucks every day, and then there are those who can’t even think of leaving the house without a cup of home-brewed coffee. The latter will appreciate a subscription from the North Carolina–based cult favorite Counter Culture. Two 12-ounce bags of their farmhouse blend are delivered every month to the recipient’s door — sparing him or her from a daily trip to the café. $20.55/month, counterculturecoffee.com

Red Bee Honey Tasting Kit
If the only honey you know comes from a plastic bear, it’s time to expand your horizons. Beekeeper Marina Marchese offers 15 varieties of single-origin sweet stuff, each with its own distinct characteristics. Having a hard time choosing just one? Try the Honey Tasting Party box set. The collection includes four limited harvest flavors (wildflower, clover, buckwheat and alfalfa) and tasting score cards — this way you can do your gift recipient a favor and help sample the goods. $40, redbee.com

Pat LaFrieda Burgers
Winter weather and fear of pink slime should not get in the way of enjoying a good burger this season. Turn any carnivore into a Pat LaFrieda convert by splurging on the butcher’s original burger blend. The combination of chuck, briske and short rib is the closest anyone will get to mimicking the flavors of the Spotted Pig or Shake Shack at home. Plus, there’s an added bonus: no waiting on line all day. $40 (for 3 lbs.), lafrieda.com

Salt & Straw Favorites Gift Pack
What’s pie without a scoop of ice cream on top? Anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting Portland’s Salt & Straw will love the convenience of having its pints delivered to their door; and those who haven’t tasted the ice cream parlor’s goods will thank you for the revelation. Classic flavors like sea salt with caramel ribbons and chocolate with gooey brownie are crowd pleasing and go with everything. $65, saltandstraw.com

Achatz Handmade Pie Co. Pie Of The Month Club
Cooking skills apparently run in the family. Dave Achatz (second cousin of Grant) and his wife Wendy have built a mini empire in Michigan based on their award-winning pies. A 12-month subscription includes their signature four-berry flavor, as well as classics like double crust apple and pecan. It might be pricey, but the recipient will thank you for reliving him/her of dessert-making duties for the year. $454.95, achatzpies.com

Pig Island Gift Set
For all of the food trends that come and go, bacon is forever. This gift box, inspired by the annual Pig Island food festival at New York City’s Governor’s Island, is packed with porcine goodness. Items like bacon caramel corn and pork fat–roasted peanuts will keep someone satisfied through winter and have them clamoring for a ticket to next year’s event.  $45, withlovefrombrooklyn.com

Jacobsen Salt Co. Oregon Truffle Salt
Perfect for the cook who is conscious of food miles, these briny crystals are harvested from the Oregon coast and combined with heady bits of locally foraged black truffles. It’s a great alternative to Maldon or Breton salts, and just a sprinkle is enough to elevate any dish. $21, jacobsensalt.com

Papabubble I Love NY Candies
A sweet stocking stuffer for New Yorkers and beyond, these custom-made hard candies represent each of the city’s five boroughs. But as cute as they are, don’t forget that they’re more than eye candy — each borough has its own flavor combination (apple/pear, passionfruit/orange, raspberry/lemon), $14.50/jar, papabubbleny.com

High Times Cannabis Cookbook
Got an herb-loving loved one in Colorado or Washington? Since you can’t order them a tub of cannabutter this Christmas, this book will have to suffice. Recipes for sativa shrimp spring rolls and pico de ganja nachos will whet their appetite have prepare them for the moment marijuana legalization officially kicks in. $11.41, amazon.com

Lee Bros. Southern Food Of The Month Club
Matt and Ted Lee’s monthly subscription of authentic Southern pantry staples is the gift that keeps on giving. The recipient can look forward to a surprise package every month for one year. Selections vary, so there’s no telling if the next box will reveal a boiled peanut kit, stoneground grits or peach preserves. $330, boiledpeanuts.com

Zingerman's Detroit Street Brick
Unlike cheeses that sound like postcard captions (Humboldt Fog, Rogue River Blue), this prize-winning goat cheese is named after the gritty cobblestones in front of this Michigan institution's brick-and-mortar. A Zingerman’s exclusive, it’s an excellent gift for the person who has exhausted their options at the local cheese shop or Whole Foods counter. $17, zingermans.com

Kenny And Zuke's Pastrami Sandwich Kit
With Portland vying to be the epicenter of the country’s dining scene, it’s no surprise that their efforts include co-opting the tradition of New York delis. Kenny and Zuke’s mail order sandwich kit includes two pounds of house-made pastrami, a loaf of artisan rye, mustard and Jewish pastries for a sweet finish. It’s a great gift for the ex-East Coaster who misses a taste of home. $49.75, kennyandzukes.com

Edamame Growing Kit
Need a kitschy gift for a grab bag or green thumb? Skip the Chia Pet in favor of something tastier. This DIY kit creates a garden on your desktop. Once the soybeans sprout, the harvest can be stored in a wicker basket (included) and the growing container-turned-beer glass can hold a cold brew to wash down your snack. It doesn’t get fresher than this. $16, uncommongoods.com

Compartes Macallan Truffles
Chocolate. Booze. You can’t go wrong with the two. L.A. chocolatier Jonathan Graham melds the two beautifully in a sophisticated truffle that uses single origin organic beans and 18-year-old Scotch. Gift-wise, it beats the hell out of chocolate coins. $30, compartes.com

Runa Guayusa Tea
With all of the recent controversy surrounding artificial energy drinks, it’s time to turn caffeine fiends onto more natural alternatives. This loose-leaf tea, made from Amazonian guayusa, claims to provide as much caffeine as coffee, double the antioxidants of green tea and elevated energy levels without the crash. $16/pound, amazon.com