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Made in San Diego: 10 Perfect Hostess Gifts for the Holiday Season
Rule number one? Don’t show up empty handed.
Instead of handing over a generic bottle of vino from BevMo or a box of cookies from Trader Joe’s, this year, bring your hosts and hostesses locally crafted gifts that support local artisans.
Grab & Go for Hosts You Know
Last minute invite to an impromptu cocktail party at the neighbor’s house? Bestie calling you in for moral support at her auntie’s dinner? Just plain forgot about the third holiday party of the week? As long as you know your host well enough to be aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions, keeping these thoughtful gifts on hand will no doubt come in handy this month.
Macarons from Le Parfait Paris ($22-30)
Find authentic French-style macarons in Liberty Public Market at Le Parfait Paris.
A stunning orange box of a dozen made-from-scratch macarons makes for an elegant hostess gift that pairs perfectly with after dinner coffee and tea.
Sugar Mama Caramels from Pigment ($9)
These handcrafted, small batch sea salt caramels from local confectioner Nancy Flint come individually wrapped, making them easy to share. I love them because they are buttery and creamy, not sticky, so they won’t get stuck in your teeth.
At $9 for a 3.5 ounce bag, this is one of the more affordable options on the list, a great choice for anyone on a tight holiday budget.
Spent Grain Dog Treats From Stone Brewing ($10)
Dog moms and dads will love getting a special treat for their pup. Stone Bones are made by repurposing the brewery’s spent grain, combining it with organic peanut butter, organic flour, organic eggs, and a little water for a delicious treat for their furry friends.
Wine from Carruth Cellars ($35)
Carruth Cellars makes all their own wine locally in their Solana Beach urban winery location and sells their bottles at the three tasting rooms in Solana Beach, Carlsbad, and Little Italy.
While the grapes are sourced from Northern and Central California, and Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Solana Beach winery does the rest.
Grab a bottle or two of the crowd-pleasing 2016 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or 2016 Knights Valley Malbec.
Coffee Vodka from 619 Spirits ($30)
619 Spirits handcrafts their premium vodka in North Park and incorporates local ingredients into their spirits. The coffee vodka is made with local brew from Caffé Calabria, freshly infused for a smooth blend. Swirl it with cream for an easy version of a White Russian.
Bonus: the vodka is made from sugar cane so is naturally gluten free.
For Hosts Who Could Use a Hand
Potluck-style gathering? These gifts will make hosting a little easier.
Honey Bourbon Pecan Pie from Pop Pie Co. ($35)
Pecans, orange zest and spiced bourbon whiskey combine with Executive Chef Gan Suebsarakham’s signature all-butter crust for the ultimate pecan pie.
Before you present this beauty, make sure you’ve established that your hosts aren’t already making a dessert, since you wouldn’t want to upstage them, and that would be a major risk with a pie this good.
Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit from Cutwater Spirits ($30)
What happens when eggnog meets sunny San Diego? You get the Bali Hai Tiki Holiday Spirit from Cutwater Spirits. The locally-distilled concoction combines Bali Hai Rum with cream, cinnamon, and holiday spices for a tropical take on a traditional eggnog.
Even better, you only need to add ice and serve, making cocktail hour extra easy on your host or hostess.
Cannabis Edibles from Kaneh Co. (Mint Brownies and Cinnamon Pecan Blondies (10mg/100mg per bag) $24)
Kaneh Co. was founded by baker Rachel King and specializes in gourmet cannabis infused edibles. This season, they have holiday treats with a cannabis kick, including the likes of classic fudge brownies topped with mint chunk pieces and cinnamon pecan blondies topped with caramelized pecans.
For Hosts You Don’t Know Well
Heading to your significant-other’s boss’s house and not sure of your host’s dietary restrictions or preferences? These are all safe bets.
Succulent Arrangements from Pigment (prices vary, starts around $20)
A succulent arrangement is a great San Diego gift that will likely still be gracing their home in 2020 and beyond.
At Pigment, there is a build-your-own succulent bar as well as ready-to-go succulent gardens artfully planted and arranged in a locally-sourced vintage vessels.
Merry Candle from AURA Candles ($30)
Candles add holiday cheer to any party. AURA candles are poured by hand in the Carlsbad studio by best friends Jasmine and Chelsea. They use a coconut wax blend that burns more cleanly than paraffin, along with lead-free wicks.
The limited edition “merry” scent is a festive blend of Siberian fir, cinnamon bark, and golden raspberry.
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