Gift Spots for Food Lovers

This holiday season we are excited to be sharing some amazing small businesses that have had a big impact on our kitchens. 

Our chefs in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut are revealing their favorite spots for shopping local and filling their kitchens with the most delicious products and food. 

There’s something for everyone on your holiday gift list, including yourself 😉.

Massachusetts

Pamplemousse

With two locations, Reading and Salem, Pampelmousse brings Boston panache to the Northshore.

With gourmet cheeses, fancy wine, charcuterie and delectable noms of all kinds, Chef Janice recommends everything this shop has to offer. Her personal favorite? The whipped pistachio & caramelized onion dip. Yum!

Follow them here @Pamplemousse_reading.

DJ’s European Market and Deli

Don’t miss this spot for a huge variety of amazing sausages and Polish Donuts! 

Located in the heart of Boston's Polish Triangle, DJ's Market has been a Dorchester staple for sandwiches for over 30 years. Their breads and pastries are made fresh every day, and this is one of Jared’s favorite spots!

Peep their instagram: @djs_market.

Savenor’s 

You can’t miss Savenor’s,  Julia Child’s favorite hang out in her Beacon Hill days.

Chef Laura is also a huge fan of Savenor’s and describes it as an absolute meat mecca.  It has rare and exotic meats if you’re feeling adventurous (who wants python for dinner?!), and quality meat, poultry and seafood carved by the hands of expert butchers. You can also score seasonal/hard to find gems like overflowing baskets of morels and green peppercorns in brine! Be sure to check out one of their two locations in either Beacon Hill or Cambridge.

In the meantime, check them out at @savenorsbutchery.

Wilson Farm

Located in Lexington, Wilson Farm is a go-to for fresh produce, amazing prepared foods and baked goods, seasonal snacks and activities, plants and flowers, kitchen staples, and more!

Georgia worked at Wilson Farm long ago, and appreciates every chance she gets to go back. From farm animals to delicious samples, to hay rides, fresh cider donuts and caramel apples in the fall, there is fun for the whole family at Wilson’s, and so many gift items for family and friends! Wilson’s is family owned, and the staff is always helpful with any of your questions. Inside the shop they can help you with all your grocery needs, and outside or in the greenhouse they are available to help you pick out the perfect pumpkin, Christmas tree, or plant for your home.

Give them a follow @wilsonfarm.

Bow Market

Bow Market is your one-stop-shop for any and all holiday items you might need.

Loads of hipster-y boutiques and store fronts with records, vintage clothes, jewelry, and cute home goods and gifts. Pop ups and rotating businesses keep it fresh so there’s always something new. Chef Matt let’s us in on the best part: if you’re not into the shopping but get dragged to the market anyway, there are food and drink options galore on the lower level courtyard where you can happily kill some time!  Snag a scrumptious veggie burger at Saus, an incredible glass of wine at Rebel Rebel or a poké bowl at Fish Market! You won’t regret it

Check out all their delicious eats! More at @bow.market.

Salumeria Italiana

Located in Boston’s famous North End,  you must shop Salumeria Italiana for out of this world Italian ingredients like olives, bread, oil, and balsamic. Recommended by Jared, it’s a go-to for delicious Salami, cheeses, and canned items!

So many goodies to check out! @salumeria_italiana.

KOKO Bakery

KOKO Bakery is a Japanese, French, and German inspired bakery located in Newton. 

You can’t go wrong with anything here, but Chef Janice says the red bean bun, the creme brulee french toast and the seeded German rye are a must! They do not have a formal menu but everything is great!

Certainly worth spending some time on their instagram: @kokobread. 

American Provisions

American Provisions has two locations, one in Boston’s favorite “Southie” and the other in Dorchester.

They’ve got grocery and kitchen items, an amazing collection of wine, and fresh sandwiches, salads, and coffee. According to Georgia, this local shop has the best Italian sandwich around. The “Farmhouse” is also a can’t-go-wrong sandwich option. Recently they opened a fun wine bar next door to their Southie location!

Follow them here: @americanprovisions.

V Cirace and Son

Want to travel back in time to a super old-school Italian “Package” store?

Head over to V Cirace and Son, a store that carries hard to find Italian wines among thousands of other wines, beers and cordials. Limoncello anyone?! Chef Laura recommends visiting during the holidays to peep their gorgeous store front decked out with all things Natale (Christmas in Italian!). If you’re feeling extra generous this Holiday season, scoop up one of their massive gift baskets or a beautifully crafted piece of pottery adorned with the images of Sicilian lemons. Saluti!

See their gift baskets on instagram @vcirace. 

Polka Dog Bakery

We have to throw in a favorite for our furry friends, right?!

Polka Dog Bakery is a great Boston based dog treat company with multiple locations in and around Boston.  This is one of Chef Ben’s favorite spots to spoil his pups with all the goodies!

Check out the goodies on instagram @polkadogbakery. 

Local Root

Check out Local Root, with locations in Newton and Belmont-  a great shop for kitchen gadgets, equipment, cook books, knives or anything a chef minded person would enjoy or love to add to their kitchen. Chef Brianna loves that they also sharpen knives!

See their gadgets for yourself @locoroot221!

The Spirited Gourmet

The Spirited Gourmet just might be Chef Janice’s favorite shop for food noms located in Belmont. 

It has great wine, a carefully curated spirits selection, fancy potato chips, chocolates, patês and caviar,  jammy sundried tomatoes, and treasures from around the world.  Looking for wine for a special someone,  talk about all the varieties with John or Julian and you won’t be disappointed. 

Instagram: @thespiritedgourmet.

Mamaleh’s Delicatessen 

Mamaleh’s is a New York style Jewish Deli in Cambridge with all the kitchy, goofy elements of an old school diner that we all fondly remember.

According to Chef Matt, the nosh is great at Mamaleh’s any time, and their bakery team really knocks it out of the park, especially around the holidays. Fun fact: Chef Matt did a short stint at Mamaleh’s a while back and during his time there began bringing their Chocolate Tahini Pie to his family’s Thanksgiving.  He hasn’t been allowed to show up to Thanksgiving without it since! High praise for the crew at Mamaleh’s and it is definitely worth visiting asap!

Start by visiting their instagram @mamalehs.

Blackstone’s Boston

Chef Brian loves this spot for all kitchen tools and gadgets related. 

At Blackstone's in Beacon Hill you won’t necessarily find food gifts, but it is by far the best kitchen supply store in the city!  From beautiful high end knives, to pots, pans, tools, and home decor, there is something for everyday home cooks to professional chefs!

Check them out @blackstonesboston.

Bacco’s 

Chef Laura raves about this pretty and immaculately clean cheese shop located in Back Bay.

Bacco’s carries all the favorites you’ll need to construct an impressive cheese board. Don’t be afraid to ask the employees their picks. These guys are experts on all things cheese! Great wines for varying budgets, and if you’re staying at one of the hotels nearby, pop in and grab a couple DIY room service snacks!

Give them a follow! @baccoswineandcheese. 

MF Dulock’s Butcher Shop

Chef Matt describes MF Dulock’s as a “chef’s treat” tucked away on Highland Ave in Somerville.

It’s a super small, no frills, whole animal butcher shop that always sources locally and never freezes any of their meats. Chef Matt loves to go here on special occasions when he needs a funky cut of meat or wants to treat himself to a nice steak. They do a great selection of house sausages that are always a hit!

Find them here @mfdulock.

Fruit Center Marketplace

Fruit Center Marketplace is Chef Ben’s  go to for almost all groceries. 

With locations in Milton and Hingham, this local grocery story has a great cheese selection, some good wines, great rotating beers, super fresh produce and the freshest fish around! 

Lots of fun stuff to see on their instagram: @fruitcenter.

Formaggio Kitchen

This spot was recommended by Chef Brian in Massachusetts AND Chef Matt in New York! 

Formaggio Kitchen has three locations in Massachusetts and one in New York.  According to pretty much anywhere, this is absolutely the best cheese spot in the game!  If you want to build an *amazing blow someone away cheese board* for the holidays, this is the place to go. They’ll even fill your board up with jams, pates, nuts, dried fruit and crackers.  At the New York Location, they also carry Marou chocolate, an award winning single-origin chocolate bar from Vietnam. Whichever location you go to, make sure you bring your wallet - it’s super easy to keep adding things to your shopping basket! 

Maybe start with some instagram window shopping! @formaggiokitchen. 

New York

Kitchen Arts and Letters

KAL is the perfect stop for the book and food lover in your life! 

As one of the few culinary bookstores in America, Kal has over 12,000 titles ranging from cookbooks and culinary histories to technical manuals and food writing. They have all the latest best sellers as well as rare and out of print books and the staff is always willing to help you track something down.  If you are in New York, Chef Matt Larkin says you definitely don’t want to miss this shop!

Harlem Wine Gallery

Recommended by Chef Matt Larkin , Harlem Wine Gallery is a small, boutique wine shop that carries a large selection of local wines from New York State and artisanal, natural wines from all over the world. Harlem Wine Gallery also carries the largest selection of wines by Black winemakers and by Black-owned wine companies in New York City (Side note: If you want to know more about good drinking, always ask a chef!).

More here @harlemwinegallery.

Harlem Grown

Harlem Grown is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.

Currently, they have 10 urban agriculture facilities ranging from soil-based farms, hydroponic greenhouses and school gardens. Charitable donations help provide high-quality produce and programming to the greater Harlem community free of charge. Chef Matt Larkin notes that this holiday season, a donation to HG can help inspire Harlem youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition. 

Give them a follow @harlemgrown.

NiLu

Another favorite of our favorite New York Chef’s is  NiLu, a gift shop curated with local makers, Black-owned brands, and other items that celebrate and support the neighborhood. They host the Harlem Vintage Market every Saturday and Sunday outside the shop featuring local artists, makers, and musicians. 

Check them out on instagram @shopnilu. 

Connecticut

Double L Market

Chef Amanda raves that Double L Market has THE BEST produce around. They sell local baked goods, pies, nuts, cheeses & bone broths. Everything is remarkably fresh with high quality ingredients, grass-fed meats and free-range poultry. Bonus: the staff is wonderful and very helpful and passionate about quality!

Give them a follow! @double_l_market.

A&S Fine Foods

Both Chef Jeremy and Chef Amanda love A&S Fine Foods!

Located in Norwalk, the shop is loaded with Imported Italian specialty goods like cheeses, snacks, meats, olive oils, pastas, espresso, and more. They also have great prepared foods and amazing sandwiches, too.

Check them out @asfinefoodswestport.

Ready to Go Shopping?

We hope this list is helpful, and we’re always here to give you more specific recommendations and ideas!

Ask away or let us know what you got!!