Choosing a thoughtful gift can be challenging. Instead of fighting throngs of shoppers at the mall or worrying about shipping delays, look to your favorite restaurants and local watering holes for present inspiration. A gift that supports our local chefs and bartenders can offer a refreshing change of pace this season.
Discover Block Ice’s best tips for a thoughtful present for your clients, colleagues, friends, and loved ones.
4 Ways to Pick the Perfect Holiday Gift for the Foodie in Your Life
#1: Shop Local and Skip the Shipping Hassle
Shopping locally is the perfect way to support your community during the holiday season. Your favorite local spots rely on holiday shopping to bring in the number of customers they need to keep the lights on. In fact, 8 in 10 small businesses rely on their earnings from this time of year for their overall profit. For the majority of these companies, holiday shopping provides one-quarter or more of their overall annual revenue.
Another big plus to shopping locally this year? If you’re prone to saving your holiday shopping until the weekend before, keeping your gift list local lets you skip long shipping times and ensure your presents are ready for the big day.
Saint Nick Approved Local Gifts for the Cocktail Lover on Your List
Are you shopping for a mixologist or cocktail connoisseur? Here are six local gift ideas to put under the tree (or in the freezer) this year!
- Treat the football fan in your life to a special bottle from Gold Bar Whiskey’s Joe Montana Collection.
- A custom trial-sized six-pack of Burly Beverages' famous syrups, perfect for DIY sodas and cocktails.
- A bottle of their favorite liquor from local favorite Dry Diggings Distillery.
- Customized cocktail ice from Block Ice for their favorite drink of choice.
- Sample the finest cocktails Sacramento has to offer with a bottle from Locked Barrel.
- Enjoy your favorite Vietnamese cuisine at home with a cookbook by Charles Phan of The Slanted Door in Napa.
#2: A Touch of Luxury Makes Your Gift Extra Memorable
The gift of a memorable meal together is a wonderful Christmas present. The best way to help this special holiday gift stand out from your regular date nights or brunch outings is to invest in unforgettable quality.
Fortunately, our local area is home to excellent restaurants that have been recognized by the famous MICHELIN guide. The perfect way to help your gift stand out is to invest in a high-quality dining experience from one of these renowned local eateries.
Festive Gifts Your Favorite Foodies Will Remember All Year:
Treat them to a fine dining experience with one of these Northern California favorites.
- Dine at SingleThread in Healdsburg for an unforgettable experience. The restaurant has won three MICHELIN stars, the most prestigious rating.
- Gift them a meal at The Kitchen in Sacramento. This unique dining experience earned a MICHELIN star.
- Treat them to quality food and a cozy vibe at Ella, which earned a MICHELIN plate.
- Enjoy Californian cuisine at Beast + Bounty, which has a MICHELIN plate.
- Localis won the MICHELIN Plate for their five-course tasting menu that changes seasonally.
- Treat them to dinner at NIXTACO, the Roseville restaurant with a taco menu so exciting that it’s earned the prestigious MICHELIN Bib Gourmand.
#3: Make Memories Together By Giving An Experience
A stunning 92% of Americans are hoping for an experience as a present this year, according to travel booking platform GetYourGuide. The perfect gift might not be something you wrap at all, but something you do together.
Holly Jolly Holiday Experiences that Make Perfect Presents for Everyone:
- From golfing to a weekend getaway, give them the gift of something you can do together!
- Go golfing at The Club at ArrowCreek.
- Enjoy an afternoon mini-golfing at Tipsy Putt.
- Sip whiskey with a tasting at the Napa Valley Distillery.
- Stay at the Archer Hotel or Carneros Resort for a wine-tasting weekend in Napa.
- Light the beam with the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center.
- Spend a luxurious weekend in Midtown Sacramento at the Hyatt House, and enjoy drinks upstairs at the historic Star Lounge.
#4: Give a Gift That Will Have Them Celebrating in Style
For the budding mixologist who already has their home bar fully stocked, a t-shirt or ball cap repping their favorite bar or line of spirits can be the perfect present.
A beanie or pin from their favorite bar or restaurant can be the ideal touch to wrap up your gift list. They make great stocking stuffers and could become the favorite entry in your office’s white elephant exchange.
Stuff Their Stocking With Swag From their Favorite Spot:
- This is more than just a cute pin from Burly Beverages – it also comes with membership to The Haymakers Guild.
- Steak lovers will enjoy this classic Fine Diving T-shirt from The Butterscotch Den.
- Break up your Block Ice in style with this canvas bag and Rickhouse Ice Mallet from Gold Bar Whiskey.
Kick the new year off in style with the perfect holiday gift of custom ice cubes. Embed your favorite garnish, or have the cubes stamped with your loved one’s initials for the perfect finishing touch. Order now.
This blog was updated in December 2023 to include up-to-date information. It was originally published in November 2021.