When shopping local this holiday season, there is really no better way to represent Brooklyn than giving the gift of food. Artisanal, organic, regional, small-batch, off-beat—we’ve got it covered here in the headquarters of the foodie movement. You can check off everyone on your list by making the rounds of some of our favorite stores.
For Your Parents, Who Get a Kick out of Using “Brooklyn” as an Adjective: BKLYN Larder (228 Flatbush Avenue)
BKLYN Larder, opened in 2009, was one of the first specialty food purveyors in the current wave of entrepreneurs making the Brooklyn food scene the cultural phenomenon it is today. Perhaps best known for its excellent cheese selection and delicious sandwiches, you can find a wide array of local and international jams, honeys, oils, meat and dairy products, and other groceries to gather for a gift. Or, let the discerning staff do the work for you with their wonderfully-curated gift boxes. The men on your list will enjoy the Beer & Snacks basket filled with Redhead’s Bacon Peanut Brittle, McClure’s Potato Chips, Spanish Style Fuet Sausage, BKLYN Larder’s own Olive-Oil Roasted Almonds and, of course, a few bottles of craft beer. Your family members from out of town can take a round-the-borough tour in a box with The Brooklyn: King’s County gift set, packed with Mast Brothers Chocolate, McClure’s Pickles, Liddabit Sweets, and much more.
For the Men in Your Life You’ve Already Given a Dozen Scarves to: Bitter & Esters (700 Washington Avenue)
Part do-it-yourself brewing site, part homebrewing supply store, and part classroom, Bitter & Esters has a little bit of everything to treat friends and family who are interested in homebrewing—whether they be first-timers or experienced brewmeisters. An easy pick would be one of their Brewing Essentials kits. While they have kits tailored to certain styles, their starter kit would be a good choice for those new to the craft. If you think someone might not be ready to turn their studios into breweries but still like the idea of making their own beer, sign them up for one of the classes offered on-site, like the popular introductory Brewshop 101 or their more advanced lectures on hops or yeast. If they’re hooked but don’t have the space, set them up to brew on premises; the store has dedicated space, equipment, and ingredients on hand for brewing one to two batches. Come to brew the beer, return later to bottle and package it, then return once more to pick it up. Slots generally book up two to three weeks in advance during the holiday season.
For the Friend Visiting from Out of Town, Whose Itinerary Revolves Around Where They’ll be Eating Each Meal: Brooklyn Brine (574 President St)
Brooklyn Brine pickles are one of the most common goods on the scene when it comes to markets and stores showcasing Brooklyn’s locally-crafted treats, but there’s nothing like seeing everything that they have to offer all in one place at the store, which is located on their pickling premises. Their standard NYC deli pickles are fail-proof, but their classics-with-a-twist like Maple Bourbon Bread and Butter, Whiskey Sour Pickles, or Hop-Pickle (pickled with Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA) are just off-kilter enough to appeal to someone who is just discovering their foodie sensibilities. Try branching out to the pickle road less travelled with their Moroccan Beans, Fennel Beats, Curried Squash, or Chipolte Carrots.
For Your Coworkers that You Actually Like and Will be Sneaking Presents to in the Elevator, Hoping Your Other Coworkers Won’t See: Blue Apron Foods (814 Union St)
No list of food sources in Brooklyn would be complete without Blue Apron Foods, one of the most beloved stores in Park Slope that is full of well-known and undiscovered treats alike. Build a basket of chocolates, candies, pastas, oils, coffee, teas, honey, flour, characuterie and, well, pretty much anything you can think of to represent local tastes and trends.
For the Hosts of all of the Holiday Parties You’ll be Juggling: Wedge (728 Franklin Avenue)
One of the new hot spots in ever-evolving Crown Heights is Wedge, a cheese shop brought to you by the owners of next-door-neighbor cafe, Little Zelda. This small little store carries an impressive array of cheeses representing several regions and techniques. With a rotating selection, you’ll be sure to discover something new each time. (As of this writing, a particularly intriguing offering was Barely Buzzed, a cheese hand-rubbed with espresso and lavender from Utah company Beehive Cheese Co.) Being short on shelving space, their selection of other provisions available for purchase is carefully curated to showcase only the best, like Sweet Deliverance Jams & Chutneys, Royal Rose simple syrups, and Sfoglini pasta.
For the Friend that Instagrams all of their Meals: Empire Mayonnaise (564 Vanderbilt Avenue)
If there’s a store that could best represent the artisanal food movement (some might say even cartoonishly so), it would be Empire Mayonnaise, the store selling only homemade, organic, local mayonnaise. Using non-GMO oils, local pasture-raised eggs, and seasonal ingredients, Empire Mayonnaise offers unique short-run flavors to spice up your sandwiches, dips, and salads. A good place to start is the Brookyn Assortment, a collection of bacon, white garlic, and truffle mayos. Other current offerings include rosemary, red chili, and vadouvan—a spice with notes of fenugreek, turmeric, nutmeg, cumin, curry, and citrus.
For Anyone who Wouldn’t be Caught Dead Owning a Keurig: Damico Foods (309 Court St)
For the coffee connoisseur, Damico Foods is a one-stop shop. Offering a wide variety of coffee beans, blends, and accessories (like grinders, machines, and mugs) for more than fifty years, you’ll find quality products in a charming, old-school atmosphere. A collection that’s crying out to be gifted is the Brownstone Collection of four original blends inspired by Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill ◆
Leave a Reply