Local Food and Drink Gift Ideas

Give a gift that definitely won't be returned. Our Food Editor recommends everything from spices to spirits, all made right here in New Hampshire

We all have that special shelf in the closet or never-opened cabinet — where the well-meaning, but unwanted gifts linger in pre-Goodwill donation limbo. This year, skip the scented candle and give the gift of local artisan food and drink, from sweets and snacks to spirits and spices. No one will want to give these up, and they may not even last until the end of the evening.

For the Sweet Tooth

Mike Morin with his award-winning cookies. Photo by Melissa Boulanger

Mike Morin’s Famous Chocolate Infinity Cookies
There’s nothing like celebrities in the kitchen. Foodie and former WZID radio host Mike Morin pours a lot of love into his Chocolate Infinity cookies. They are rich, chewy and studded with nuts for the perfect mouthful. Don’t just take my word for it — he’s pictured here at the Deerfield Fair with his blue ribbon. Find them for $20 a dozen at Fulchino Vineyard in Hollis, a stop on the Symphony NH Holiday House Tour on December 2 and 3. You can also visit Chew Hampshire on Facebook to contact Morin. With enough encouragement, he might go big-time with these.

Pancake Gift Basket
Maybe the perfect oh-so-sweet New Hampshire gift is from Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill. The Polly’s Breakfast gift package includes your choice of their famous pancake mixes, choice of White Mountain Coffee, their own maple syrup and two signature mugs for one heck of a breakfast without the travel time. $43.99 to $48.99.

Adult Fudge
The Bailey’s Irish Cream Fudge is really made with Bailey’s. Pick it up at The Mill Fudge Factory at 2 Central St., Bristol, or order online for $12 a slice online.

Cookies and Other Italian Goodies
The boxed cookies are just one of the many options at both the Portsmouth and Salem Tuscan Markets, which are brimming with gourmet gifts for foodie friends, some imported from Italy and others made right on the premises. Find their own pastas, fresh frozen or dried, and, of course, sweets. These boxed cookies are the perfect hostess gift.

Rum Cake
The Black Cat Rum Cake Company, based in Nashua, makes a rich, buttery classic recipe offered in three sizes: single-shot, standard loaf and the heavyweight, which is baked in a real wood box. It can be found at Cava de Vino and Bonhoeffer’s Café & Espresso, both in downtown Nashua, or you can place a special order online.

Savory Items

Photo by Susan Laughlin

Sour Cherry Spiced Wine Savory Spread
This spread from Wozz! Kitchen Creations of Bethlehem is perfect for pouring over a slab of goat cheese for a delightful cracker experience. It also complements duck, sausage or ham. This is just one of the many wonderful products offered by this award-winning company, $10.

Gourmet Pretzels
The tasty pretzels from Portsmouth’s Port City Pretzels come with a choice of three coatings: cinnamon sugar, ranch dill and feisty hot, offering a taste for everyone on your list. They are widely distributed and available online, $7 for 16 ounces, $4 for an 8-ounce package.

Hickory Deep Smoked Salt
Salt is a common seasoning, but there’s more to this seemingly humble culinary companion. The Salt Cellar at 7 Commercial Alley in Portsmouth offers a vast array of sea salts, infused salts and gift sets perfect for everything from popcorn to dessert. To start, the hickory-smoked salt ($6.99) is perfect for finishing pork, chicken, eggs and fish.

Orange Chili Relish
The orange chili relish from Mola Foods of Nashua is an easy way to add the flavors of authentic ancient Cameroonian tribal recipes that have survived by being passed from mother to daughter. The orange chili relish is perfect with chicken. $6.95

Spirits

’Tis also the season to raise a glass. A bottle of locally distilled spirits spreads the cheer and supports our local economy.

Gin
For the gin enthusiast, it doesn’t get much better than Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile’s Tamworth Garden series. Of the five varieties, perhaps one of the most unique is the Wild Hops version, made with a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Centennial and Columbus hops, along with a New Hampshire heirloom vine they cultivated locally. Ideal for both sipping straight or in a gin and tonic.

For a versatile, everyday gin, you might also want to pick up the White Mountain gin while you’re there. For one thing, it makes an amazing negroni (recipe below and find more of Tamworth’s recommended recipes here). Can’t decide what to get? Stop by the beautiful tasting room to sample spirits before you buy. It’s located at 15 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth.

White Mountain Negroni
1 oz Tamworth Garden White Mountain Gin
1 oz Blanc Vermouth
1 oz Campari
orange peel
Stir, strain into a rocks glass over ice. Express an orange peel over the glass and garnish.

Vodka
The General John Stark vodka from Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee is made with New Hampshire apples and is triple distilled. Combine it with their cranberry liqueur for a local cosmopolitan.

Flag Hill Cosmo
2 ounces General John Stark vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
1/2 ounce Flag Hill cranberry liquor
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Rye
If a Manhattan is more your style, Flag Hill’s straight rye whiskey will do the trick. Made with locally grown rye, it smells like butterscotch and has notes of honey, all with a sweet, drying finish. Relax with a splash after dinner.

Rum
For something a little different, try Sea Hagg‘s blueberry rum. The sweet touch of rum is a perfect foil for blueberries and the flavor they add to the mix.

Dessert Wines and Spirits

Like your dessert served in a glass? These local wines and spirits are perfect for serving after dinner.

Limoncello
Limoncello is a lemon Italian liqueur, often served chilled as an after-dinner drink. You can find it locally at Fabrizia Spirits in Salem. They have classic lemon, blood orange, a cream style and the newer Italian margarita.