With the season in full swing, I want to share some delicious gift ideas that are perfect for those who love to eat.
1. Sandrine Raffault-Martin is a pastry chef and chocolatier from Paris who makes the most exquisite creations that will wow anyone on your Christmas list. Besides her regular stock of beautiful chocolates and pastries, at Christmas time Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate offers show-stopping desserts like traditional Buches de Noel (yule logs), eggnog macarons and special holiday chocolate figurines (perfect stocking stuffers). On the savoury side, spice up your holiday table with a tourtiere (gorgeous French meat pies) served with fresh baked brioche, and for starters, their house-made pate is absolutely luxurious. Pre-ordering for the Buches de Noel, eggnog macarons, brioche and tourtieres must be done before Dec. 19. Call 250-860-1202, go to the shop at 1865 Dilworth Dr., or visit www.sandrinepastry.com.
A gift certificate to attend one of her cooking classes is also an amazing gift idea.
2. Chefs and home cooks alike can be seen gazing longingly through the glass topped countertops at Knifewear on Pandosy. Seriously beautiful knives are on display, featuring craftsmen from Japan. Not just pretty to look at, I dare you to test drive one on a potato and leave without wanting one badly.
They have lots of other gift ideas. Old school straight razor shaving is all the rage and they have all the tools necessary. Call 778-478-0331, go to the shop at 2983 Pandosy St., or visit www.knifewear.com.
3. Nothing says celebration like fresh shellfish. Throw in some caviar and local bubbles like Summerhill’s festive, angel-adorned Cipes Gabriel and you have yourself one fabulous party.
Codfathers Seafood is the only place to purchase any fish or seafood. Jon and his wife Anne-Marie go to great lengths to ensure that you are purchasing the freshest and most sustainable products on the market.
Codfathers now has Ocean Wise Selva prawns that Jon says, “is a product that is going to actually reverse the socio-economic and quality problems that have been associated with bulk commercial farming.” They were the first outlet for these shrimp in Western Canada. Thank you Jon and Anne-Marie.
More info on Selva prawns at http://www.blueyou.com/page/Programmes/Selva_Shrimp#section_The_Sustainable_Shri_5.
