It's easy to take a bite out of your gift list

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It's easy to take a bite out of your gift list

By Dave Cathey | Published: December 5, 2012

Last week we offered up a lot of gadgets for gift ideas and stocking stuffers for the foodie on your list. This week we focus on gift ideas that you can eat or drink.

Nunu's Mediterranean Food gift baskets for the holidays, Friday, November 30, 2012. Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman

The first thing we think of when we think of gifts to snack or nosh is the gift basket. There is practically no food emporium that doesn't offer some sort of gift basket. Gourmet Gallery does a Made in Oklahoma basket among its many variations. The Beef Jerky Emporium offers gift baskets that won't cause your husband, son or boss to turn in his man-card. Few mix edibles and gadgetry as thoroughly as International Pantry in Norman. Few do chocolate as thoroughly as Coco Flow. Few do both candy and cupcakes like Pinkitzel. Few do candy and gifts like 42nd Street Candy Co. Few do all of these things like the Candy Box in Norman. You get the picture. If you're looking for a gift basket, you don't have to go far to find someone to do a great one for you.

One place that might not immediately come to mind is Nunu's Mediterranean Cafe and Market, 3131 W Memorial. Poaching product from the cafe portion of the operation, Janet Farhood and son Clayton offer beautiful baskets with assorted products, including a variety of sweets and savories, which you can mix and match. Options include homemade Walnut Baklava, Belgian truffles, Jordan Almonds, chocolate sunflower seeds, peppermint bark, candy cane caramels, shortbread cookies, almond cookies, chocolate Christmas figurines, Trecce dell' Orto Tricolor Pasta, Lovera's Gourmet Sauce (Tomato Basil, Roasted Garlic, or Vodka), Pietro Coricelli Riserva del Presidente Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Aceto Balsamico de Modena, Lovera's Onion Stuffed Olives (or other flavors), Artichoke Tomato Bruschetta, Elki Garlic and Herb Crackers, Merlot Wine Jelly (or Chardonnay, Chianti, or Marsala), Lazzaroni Amaretti Snaps, and chocolate-covered espresso coffee beans to name a few. Call 751-7000 to order, then stop by and have some falafel for lunch.

The new Savory Spice Shop is a must stop if you're shopping for flavor. Besides the assortment of spices, there are grinders, gift sets and candied ginger that'll brighten the gloomiest stocking. From local butchers to artisan food specialty shops, there are plenty ways to please the foodie on your list and support local farmers, ranchers and other businesses.

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BY DAVE CATHEY

FOOD EDITOR

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Edible gifts

Here are lists of ideas and some local vendors to visit.

• Wine: Fruit of the vine is a great idea as there is a wide variety of price points to satisfy the novice to the hard-core collector. Do your research first, then just stop by your neighborhood liquor store to ask more detailed questions and get your order in.

• Meat: There are a lot of great local butchers, including Cusack Meats, Bill Kamp's Meat Market, Wheeler's and Artisan's Pride in Norman, who can fix gift packs. The new kid on the block is Holder Brothers, which raises its own meat in Altus. The Edmond-area retail store, 15220 N Western Ave., opened last year, and the attention to detail is responsible for beef you won't forget.

• Cheese: Two words: Forward Foods. Cheese is the foundation upon which Forward Foods stands. Go by either location — 123 E Main St. in Norman or 5123 N Western in the city — and you'll understand. Then say, “I'd like to do a gift basket, please.” They'll take care of the rest. Epicurean's Pantry, 1333 N Santa Fe Ave., No. 117, does a great job, too, for folks in north Edmond.

• Vinegar and oil: All the gourmet shops previously listed offer various gourmet oils and vinegars as do Whole Foods, Culinary Kitchen, The Meat House and Sprouts Market. But for a full tasting experience, check out Inspirations Tea Room, 2118 W Edmond Road, for an expansive selection of gourmet olive oils and vinegars. They also have a store selling vinegar and oil exclusively in Spring Creek Shopping Center, 1389 E 15 St., Suite 124.

• Baked goods: If you throw a rock in this town, you're likely to hit a cupcake shop. You can even get Sara Sara Cupcakes in Penn Square Mall now. If you want to give the gift of great artisanal bread, check out Prairie Thunder Baking Co., 1114 Classen Drive, in the Plaza Court building.

SOME LOCAL PURVEYORS

OF EDIBLE GIFTS

• Gourmet Gallery, 12032 N May Ave. and 1532 S Boulevard in Edmond.

• The Beef Jerky Emporium, 4405 SW 3, 9346 N May and 810 W Danforth in Edmond.

• Forward Foods, 5123 N Western and 2001 W Main in Norman.

• Wheeler's Meat Market, 1524 SE 44.

• Cusack Meats, 301 SW 12.

• Rhett's Meat Market, 9300 N May, No. 300.

• Bedre, go to www.bedrechocolates.com to check availability.

• Woody Candy Co., 922 NW 70.

• 42nd Street Candy Shop, 4200 N Western, Suite A.

• The Candy Basket, 2001 W Main, No. 117, in Norman.

• Coco Flow, 100 E Main, No. 101.

• The Bricktown Candy Co., 100 E California Ave., No. 100.

• Inspirations Tea Room, 2118 W Edmond Road; Teaoli, 1389 E 15th St., Suite 124.

• Cupcakes to Go Go, 2524 W Edmond Road in Edmond.

• Sara Sara Cupcakes, 7 NW 9; 17 E Fifth St. in Edmond and in Penn Square Mall.

• Cuppies & Joe, 727 NW 23.

• Pinkitzel Cupcakes and Candy, 150 S E.K. Gaylord Blvd.

• 1 Smart Cookie, 12100 N Rockwell, No. 9.

• Cookies-n-Cards, 115 12th Ave. SE in Norman.

• Cookies by Design, 7000 Crossroads Blvd. No. 1110 in Moore.

• Ingrid's Kitchen, 3701 N Youngs Blvd.

• Brown's Bakery, 1100 N Walker Ave.

• Prairie Thunder Baking Co., 1114 N Classen Drive.

• Johnnie's Sweet Creations, 8419 S Western Ave.

• Raspberries 'n' Creme, 2925 Lakeside Circle.

• Joni's Signature Cakes, 300 West 33rd St. in Edmond

• Savory Spice Shop, 4400 N Western Ave.

• Epicurean's Pantry, 1333 N Santa Fe Ave., No. 117

• Bill Kamp's Meat Market, 7310 N Western Ave.

• Holder Brothers Beef, 15220 N Western Ave.

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It's easy to take a bite out of your gift list

By Dave Cathey | Published: December 5, 2012