Photo by Hayden Walker
This giving season has arrived and we’re here to take the hassle out of buying holidays gifts for all of your favorite foodie friends and family. The holidays are about spending time with those you love and we think you should be able to have it all with a gift that you can enjoy and eat together.
Our 2019 Austin Foodie Gift Guide has everything you need to enjoy the holidays. Show your loved ones exactly how they mean to you by gifting them something warms their heart and fills their belly.
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Arriving just in time for all of your holiday celebrations, Launderette has baked up an extravagant Holiday Cookie and Sweet Box, perfect for just about every festive occasion. This stunning display of three dozen assorted homemade cookies & sweets, crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Laura Sawicki, is undoubtedly the most delectable gift of the season. Available n512.382.1599ow until Tuesday, December 24, boxes are priced at $45 each. Customers can purchase cookie boxes in-person at Launderette or over the phone by calling.
Sprinkles is taking the hassle out of the holidays with the launch of their brand new, 2019 Red Box collection. Each deliciously curated assortment of treats features festive flavors and premium holiday packaging, so no need for wrapping just grab and go! The collection will be available for pre-order with multiple options available at $65 per box, so you pick the date and Sprinkles will do the rest. The Red Box collection is the perfect gift for everyone on your list!
Le Politique’s FIRST holiday bake sale pop-up which will be held in the patisserie from Dec. 20- 24. Guests can pick up goodies for office parties, holiday gifts, and Christmas, Hannukah or holiday dinners during patisserie hours which are 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday. There are even a handful of gluten-free and vegan options.
Gemelli’s Holiday Cookie Tins includes 24 delicious cookies baked in house at Gemelli. Contents include: lemon polenta shortbread, baci di dama, pignoli, amaretti, and almond biscotti. Shipping is available through 12/20.
Honeysuckle Teatime is taking Holly Jolly Cake orders from now up until Christmas! Customers can preorder this $65 cake for pickup (serves 8-10) from 12/21-12/24 by emailing sara@honeysuckleteatime.com or calling 210-365-9644. For more info, check honeysuckle out on Facebook or instagram, @honeysuckleteatime.
Give the gift of Austin’s Best Bakery (Austin Chronicle 2019) with upcoming Bakery Experiences in 2020. Join Easy Tiger for Pretzel Workshops and ‘Bread on the Table’ classes in 2020, led by their Head Doughpuncher David Norman. Learn the process of making pretzel dough, twisting, dipping and baking pretzels Saturday January 11 & 12th (10 AM to 2 PM) Includes Lunch. Walk through the process of making two artisan breads from start to finish with their signature milled flour, knead the loaves, shape and bake in the 6th Street Bakery Classroom.
One of Austin’s best BBQ spots in town offers whole briskets to make the perfect gift for the holidays! Whole briskets weigh approximately 6 to 6.5 lbs each ($22.95/lb). Don’t forget to add a jar of la Barbecue’s sweet and tangy barbecue sauce for $10. Whole briskets are available for pre-order online now (in-store pick up only), while supplies last*.
Pick up some Texas-themed products from Beef Loving Texans who likes to grill, cook and entertain. Most priced under $30, these are great gifts and stocking stuffers.
Ooni Koda fires out jaw-dropping pizzas in 60 seconds flat. No assembly, no mess, no fuss. Cooking outdoors with gas has never been so simple (or so beautiful). Ready right out of the box, the super compact Ooni Koda is good to go in seconds. Simply flip open the foldable legs, insert the stone baking board, and connect to a gas tank. Ooni Koda is ready to cook in 15 minutes and can reach temperatures up to 932°F (500°C). Use the heat control dial to cook Neapolitan-style pizza in just 60 seconds, right through to roasted fish, vegetables and steaks.
A must-have for the wine connoisseur, this innovative tool lets you pour a glass or two of your favorite vintage—without ever opening the bottle. Simply insert the needle through the cork, then pressurize and pour. The Coravin Model 2 uses argon—an inert gas—for pressurization, so it won’t affect the wine’s flavor or aroma. Remove the needle after pouring and the cork reseals itself, allowing the wine to continue aging uninterrupted. Coravin’s most intuitive design yet, the Model 2 is easy to open and close—and its Capsule Load Cell Technology makes installing gas easier, ensuring a perfect seal every tim
A handy guide for the tourist and native Austinite alike, Koko’s Guide to Austin is authored by top food blogger Jane Ko and offers recommendations for best happy hours, neighborhood restaurants, brunches, coffee shops, desserts, wine bars, and more. Pick up a copy at Book People or on Amazon.
The team behind Patika coffee has launched a locally roasted craft coffee retail brand. They source their beans from small, sustainable farms in Guatemala, Colombia and Ethiopia. Pick up Superthing at Patika South Lamar or Patika Luncheonette at 100 Congress Ave.
Whether you’re shopping for presents, party favors or holiday cooking supplies, you can find just the right holiday foodie find at Con Olio Oils & Vinegar’s holiday shop! Find anything from novelty kitchen supplies to chocolate boxes to pre-wrapped gift baskets featuring Con Olio’s signature ultra-premium olive oils and vinegars.
Perhaps you’re after a great gift for the wine-lover in your life. Look no further, as the White Christmas package from Pedernales Cellars, who have been producing sustainable grapes for their wines since 1995.
For those looking to find unique gifts from stocking stuffers to ideas on what to bring to holiday parties, the answer is a bottle of wine. William Chris Vineyards offers bundles of wine for holiday gifting, such as the 2019 Holiday Red (4-pack) that includes the four best-selling reds this year, 2016 Tannat, 2017 Enchanté, 2017 Sangiovese, and the 2017 Hunter for $150; the 2019 Holiday Mix (4-pack) for $100, guaranteed to please ANY wine lover with a variety that includes the 2017 Mourvedre, 2018 Roussanne, 2018 Malbec Rosé, and the Skeleton Key V; and the 2019 Holiday Red (2-pack) for $75 that includes the 2017 Hunter and the 2017 Enchaté, perfect for the red wine lover and wine enthusiast!
Located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Montinore Estate’s thoughtful winemaking process is rooted in the belief that exceptional wine is made from a sustained marriage of healthy soil and artful stewardship. Our favorite is the Red Cap Pinot Noir, a carefully crafted with fruit from different geographical areas within Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
From bold reds for Thanksgiving to festive sparkling wine for New Year’s Eve, Sterling Vineyards has a toast for the occasion. The California winery’s holiday offerings range from luxury serves to budget-friendly bottles, making it simple to choose a beautiful wine gift for everyone on your list.
Looking for an unforgettable gift for the racing fan in your life? Gear up for a great holiday season by gifting Adobe Road Winery’s The Racing Series Gift Pack (SRP: $279). This luxury set showcases Adobe Road’s newest line of four ultra-premium California wines paying homage to founder Kevin Buckler’s history on the track, as race-car driver and CEO of the winningest privateer racing team in North America, The Racer’s Group. The line of four highly-rated wines is named for an element of the sport, and the blends are as exciting to taste as the sport they honor. Available in gift set and individually on TheRacingSeries.com.
Ethyl Ambrosia has launched a premium line of boozy dessert shots just in time for the holidays, which will make your next gathering stand apart from the rest, offering a sophisticated alcoholic dessert shot perfect for gift giving or a unique libation at any gathering including holiday parties. A package of gel shots is $65 with free shipping and contains 20 shots and are available in a variety of flavors in a patent-pending cup for easy consumption. They are now available to order online for delivery to Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas and Washington D.C. with more states coming soon.
Perfect for the drink connoisseur and outdoor explorer, Desert Door recently released the Day Pack gift package, which includes a BAGGU Desert Door tote bag, a set of two camp mugs, a camp blanket and a seasonal recipe cards. The Day Pack is selling for $75 and is available for purchase online through the Desert Door website. For those who live locally, the Day Pack will include a bottle of sotol that one can pick up from the distillery after purchasing the gift online or can buy the full Day Pack with sotol included at the distillery.
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New Orleans, LA - On October 22, 2024, I recently had an opportunity to attend the grand opening of Caesars New Orleans, marking the completion of a stunning $435 million transformation of the former Harrah’s New Orleans. It was an evening to remember, filled with excitement, luxury, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. The festivities began on Canal Street with an exhilarating ceremony led by Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, President & COO Anthony Carano, and Caesars New Orleans General Manager Samir Mowad. The atmosphere was electric as they joined Caesar himself and an iconic New Orleans second-line band in a lively procession into the casino. It felt like the entire city had come out to celebrate, with Caesars New Orleans team members and Mayor LaToya Cantrell also joining the event to commemorate this historic occasion. Anthony Carano’s pride in introducing Caesars to New Orleans was palpable. “From local favorite Emeril Lagasse to our long-time partner, Chef Nobu, to the beautiful state-of-the-art Caesars Sportsbook, all-new rooms and gaming floor, and of course, our gorgeous new center bar, Octavia, Caesars New Orleans offers something for everyone. It’s a world-class resort in the heart of the Big Easy, and we can’t wait for our guests to experience it,” he said. The ceremony was a spectacle, kicking off with an iconic Mardi Gras float featuring Caesar and his court, and a dazzling firework show that lit up the New Orleans sky. The second-line band then led us revelers into the resort’s elegant center bar, Octavia, where we indulged in a “Taste of Caesars New Orleans.” Each bite from the six on-property restaurants was a delightful journey, capturing the essence of New Orleans’ rich culinary scene. Throughout the night, elemental entertainers, including the Saints Cheer Krewe, Mardi Gras Indians, Zulu Tramps, and showgirls, created an authentic and unforgettable Big Easy experience. Everywhere I turned, there was something new to marvel at, each performance more mesmerizing than the last. Samir Mowad, SVP and GM of Caesars New Orleans, highlighted the significance of the transformation, stating, “This year marks 25 years since we opened in New Orleans, and the completion of this project is the perfect way to usher in a new era with Caesars. Synonymous with the Caesars name, our new resort is pure elegance, and we’re excited to introduce a luxury brand like this to New Orleans. We are extremely grateful for the support of the community, our team members, and our guests as we come to the finish line of this tremendous transformation.” The hotel itself is impressive,…