The opinions and recommendations are impartial and the products are selected independently. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on this page.
Content of the article
If the past two years have impressed us, it’s that we need to look closer to home for our food and drink purchases, lest we lose some of our talented local producers. To help with that, the Journal has put together a Holiday Gift Guide, a helpful list of some of the delicious treats to be enjoyed in our town. Here is just a taste:
Advertising
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Spirits from Strathcona
I don’t know about your group of friends, but pretty much everyone in mine is raving about the new one Velvet Cream, a liqueur reminiscent of bourbon vanilla pods from Madagascar, birch bark and red willow, with a base of rum from Puerto Rico and rye from the Canadian prairies. Just one drop in your coffee and Christmas can be as many mornings as you want. Priced at $ 37, it’s available at many of the local liquor stores listed on the website, or direct from the South Side Distillery at 10122 81 Ave.
Rge Rd
Look, we talk a lot about Rge Rd and The Butchery, but that’s because they keep coming up with great ideas like the Country vacation and forestry package. A collaboration between The Butchery, Field Notes and DRVO Handmade, the $ 115 box features items from a number of Edmonton businesses, including a handcrafted walnut board from DRVO, a box of cold cuts from The Butchery and a 500ml bottle of Don’t Call Me Sweet Pea Garden Amaro from Field Notes Edmonton.
Advertising
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Hungry Zine
Hungry Zine, a “community-driven zine centered on stories of radical cuisine, art and culture,” posted a $ 65 holiday box supporting local BIPOC-owned businesses like Gibbos OG Hot Sauce and Pei Pei Chei Ow Saskatoon Jam. The window on it is however limited; you can order on their website and pick up in a pop-up this Sunday between noon and 5 p.m. at the Glass Bookshop.
For the love of cheese
In our household, cheese is the only element that we cannot do without. Even vegan family members see it as a necessity, which is why December gatherings usually include a dairy-free option. The vegan cheezery, For the Love of Cheese, is also a gluten-free destination. There is a lot of options for the holiday snack platter, including Almond-Based Baked Feddah, Cashew-Based Cultured Cream Cheese, and Semi-Sweet Havarti Hearty Dill. The website names many places to find their produce, including several Sobey’s, Blush Lane, and the Old Strathcona Farmers Market.
Advertising
This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Mojo Jojo Pickles
A Mojo Jojo Pickles storefront recently opened on Whyte Avenue, stocked and ready for the holiday season. they offer 13 holiday gift boxes, and a pickle ornament for your tree to boot. The Boozy Fruit Gift Box is a personal favorite, especially for brandy blueberries, and it’s very reasonably priced at $ 59.99.
Meuwly’s
Closely aligned with Mojo Jojo is the Meuwly Craft Market, which also has a number of holiday boxes for sale starting at $ 50 where you personally choose the locally made items you want in them. So go ahead and add all the delicious Fleur Jaune cheese you want, or maybe some Jacek chocolates, because we know none of this will go to waste.

The Violet Chocolate Company
Speaking of sweets, the Violet Chocolate Company has a holiday collection which includes savory flavors such as stracciatella mint, eggnog and peppermint and cookies. You can buy them online (delivery is Tuesday) or find them at places like Shop Harrow in the West Edmonton Mall, The Makers Keep on 124th Street, and Evolution downtown. Check the website for more places to find them.
Lonely pine and Symbolic bitter
But seriously, let’s get back to drinking. The Lone Pine Distillery has a variety of Cocktail Boxes, including Creamsicle, Rhubarb G&T, and Bee Balm, $ 55 each. If that sparks the mixologist in you, open your computer and check out the vast collection of bitters from Token Bitters, made here in Edmonton and available on their website or at a few Wine & Beyond stores.