Shop local this holiday season with Feast’s St. Louis gift guide
It's nice to shop local every holiday season, but especially so this year. Many local businesses are still feeling the effects of COVID-19, and a great way to support them is to pick up gifts, provisions, treats and more for your loved ones (or yourself) during this difficult time. Here are a few local food-and-drink gifts we're adding to our list this year.
Did we miss one of your favorite spots for gifts? Email us at editor@feastmagazine.com.
Granola | Banner Road Baking Co.
For the breakfast-lover in your life, pick up some locally made granola. Banner Road Baking Co. offers fun flavors like Monkey Suit (peanut butter and banana) and Kick Start (chocolate and coffee). Individual packages are available, but you can also opt for a gift box featuring four flavors in either 4-oz. or 11-oz. containers. Order yours through Banner Road's online shop.
Banner Road Baking Co., bannerroad.com
Gift Sets | Big Heart Tea Co.
Known for its popular teas including Cup of Love, Royal Treatmint and Cup of Sunshine, Big Heart Tea Co. is a familiar name to many St. Louisans. This year, the St. Louis-based company is offering curated gift sets perfect for tea-lovers and newbies alike. Featuring Big Heart's limited-edition holiday line of Winter Chai (black tea, bay leaf, ginger, cardamon, clove), Blue Lullaby (butterfly pea, tulsi and peppermint) and Rosy & Bright (black tea, cinnamon, rose, hibiscus), the Cozy set in particular is perfect for the holidays. View all the options here.
Big Heart Tea Co., bighearttea.com
Ginger Liqueur | Big O
If you want to add a new staple to your favorite home bartender's collection, look no further than Big O. This St. Louis-made ginger liqueur delivers big flavors that work in all sorts of cocktails – Old Fashioneds, Margaritas and Negronis, just to name a few.
Big O Ginger Liqueur, drinkthebigo.com
Bonbons | Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates
Shopping for a sweet tooth this holiday? Stop by the Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates' shop in Webster Groves to pick out a box of eye-catching bonbons in staple flavors like roasted nutty caramel, tiramisu, black currant balsamic and blood orange alongside seasonal flavors including brown butter sage, mulled wine caramel and cannoli.
13014 Manchester Road, Des Peres, Missouri, bijouxchocolates.com
Christmas Classic Collection | Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
Whether you want to add a little festive treat to a gift basket or are looking for the perfect hostess gift, Bissinger's is always a good way to go. The longtime St. Louis favorite offers a range of chocolatey treats to choose from, ranging from truffles and caramels to chocolate barks, bars and dipped fruits. For a really festive option, go for the Christmas Classic Collection. You can shop for treats at the brand's locations inside Plaza Frontenac or the Galleria Mall, as well as other retailers including Dierbergs and Whole Foods.
multiple locations, bissingers.com
Pint of the Month Club | Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery
What to get for the ice cream-lover who has everything? A subscription to Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery's Pint of the Month Club, that's what. The local creamery, which now has several locations across St. Louis including DeMun, Southampton, Town and Country and Kirkwood, has earned a reputation for its small-batch ice creams in creative flavors such as maple bourbon with salted candied pecans, gooey butter cake and strawberry balsamic with white pepper. A subscription to the Pint of the Month Club, which is only available to purchase in-store, entitles the recipient to come into any location each month and pick a pint of their choice.
multiple locations, clementinescreamery.com
Coconut Butters | Coconut Kitchen
As the name might imply, Coconut Kitchen specializes in nut butters made from, yes, coconuts. Packed with the many health benefits of coconut, including fighting infections and aiding in digestion, the butters are also free from gluten, peanut, dairy and soy and low in sugar and sodium. Go classic with the Naked Coconut or opt for flavors including dark chocolate, cinnamon-raisin, lemon zest, mocha espresso or almond-tart cherry, all of which are great for cooking and baking with or just eating straight from the jar. Coconut Kitchen is available for purchase online or in a swath of stores across St. Louis.
Blueberry Gooey Cake Edibles | CODES Dispensaries
Gooey butter cake, but in gummy form! These St. Louis-inspired edibles are buttery, berry-forward and formulated with a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. Find them at several locations around the state, online and at the CODES dispensary in Affton.
11420 Concord Village Ave., Affton, Missouri, 314-834-0420, codesdispensary.com
Ellbee’s Garlic Seasoning | Ellbee's General Store
Fresh garlic is a workhorse in the kitchen, and no one knows that better than Ellbee's General Store in Wentzville, Missouri, home of Ellbee's Garlic Seasoning. Made with all natural, gluten-free ingredients, the moist minced garlic seasoning is available in a range of flavors including sweet and smoky, Tuscan, chili-lime and chipotle-herb. Whether you add them to pasta, steak or, naturally, garlic bread, these seasonings will instantly boost flavor in your cooking.
Holiday Tamale Bundles | El Molino del Sureste
Homemade tamales just have a way of warming you up from the inside out. Throughout December, chef Alex Henry and brother Jeff Henry will have holiday tamale bundles and other grab-and-go provisions available to purchase from El Molino's retail side of the business in Southampton.
5005 Kingshighway Blvd., Southampton, St. Louis, Missouri, El Molino on Instagram
Agave Wine | Grand Spirits Bottle Co.
A bottle of a wine or hard-to-find spirit is great for your friend who loves to try new things. At Grand Spirits, you'll find agave wine; red, orange, white and sparkling wines; NA and traditional spirits; and bar tools. A bonus? The Grand Spirits staff will happily give you the scoop on each and every one of them.
3194 S. Grand Blvd., Tower Grove East, St. Louis, Missouri, grandspiritsco.com
Cocktail Syrups and Shrubs | Heirloom Bottling Co.
For the home bartender who wants to mix up their cocktail game, shrubs and syrups from Heirloom Bottling Co. are a must. The St. Louis-based company makes it easy to add new dimension to classic cocktails with shrubs and syrups in creative flavors including blackberry-lemon-mint, blueberry-sage, strawberry-rosemary, mulled apple spice, forest fig-vanilla and more. Can't pick just one? Opt for a gift set featuring four different flavors. Find products from Heirloom Bottling at local shops including Civil Alchemy, Local Harvest Grocery and more, or order online.
Local Coffee Beans
Good news: There are plenty of coffee roasters in St. Louis that provide an impressive assortment of beans. Whether you go for a bag of beans from Sump Coffee, Kaldi Coffee Roasting Co. or Blueprint Coffee – or a sampler of the three – you'll impress your favorite caffeinated loved one.
Blueprint Coffee, multiple locations, St. Louis, Missouri, blueprintcoffee.com
Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co., multiple locations, kaldiscoffee.com
Sump Coffee, 3700 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 917-412-5670, sumpcoffee.com
Gift Boxes | Marcoot Jersey Creamery
Know a cheese-lover? Treat them to a curated gift box from Marcoot Jersey Creamery. Options range from the Marcooterie Board Cheese Gift Box (two Marcoot cheeses, one package of cheese curds, one box of crackers, one package summer sausage snack sticks) to the Dog Fanatic Cheese Gift Box (two Marcoot cheeses, plus Cheesy Chompers dog treats and a dog bandana. Shipping is available via FedEx, with cooling packs included, and orders can be placed on the Marcoot website.
526 Dudleyville Road, Greenville, Illinois, 618-664-1110, marcootjerseycreamery.com
Chocolate Bars and Jams | Nathaniel Reid Bakery
You already know Nathaniel Reid Bakery offers incredible pastries and showstopping desserts, but did you know the Kirkwood shop also sells chocolate bars, housemade jams and infused sugar? Fresh jams, made with seasonal fruit, are perfect for spreading on a slice of toast. Choose from chocolate bars in flavors like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramelized white chocolate and white chocolate. All items are available in the bake shop's grab-and-go section.
11243 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, Missouri, 314-858-1019, nrbakery.com
Global Chile Crisp Collection | oo’mämē
Sichuan-style chile crisp is having a major moment across the country, and the Global Chile Crisp Collection from oo’mämē is a great way to get in on the fun. The St. Louis-based brand offers a traditional Chinese chile crisp with tingly Mala peppercorns, spicy red pepper flakes, chewy crystallized ginger, savory fermented black beans and crunchy peanuts, as well as three other variations inspired by flavors across the globe. Enjoy a Mexican chile crisp (smoky chipotles and three other Mexican chiles, crunchy pepitas, fragrant orange zest and sweet mango), Indian chile crisp (turmeric, fennel, Kashmiri chiles, tamarind, garam masala, roasted peanuts, grated coconut and sweet papaya) and Moroccan chile crisp (peppercorns, piquant red chiles, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger, anise, coriander, jammy figs, fragrant orange peel, sweet ginger, crunchy sesame seeds and roasted almonds). All of the flavors are also available on their own, and you can find oo’mämē products online.
Mushroom-Adjacent Gifts | Ozark Forest Mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms are magical, but their limited shelf life makes them a tough gift to give. However, if you have a mushroom lover in your life, local purveyor Ozark Forest Mushrooms sells an assortment of sauces, pestos, oils, salts, butters, powders, dried mushrooms and even ravioli on its site.
4112 West Pine Blvd., Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-531-9935, ozarkforest.com
Barbecue Sauce | Pappy's Smokehouse
With a bottle of barbecue sauce from Pappy's Smokehouse, you can give someone the flavor of some of St. Louis' favorite ribs in their own kitchens. The sauce is available in three flavors – Pappy's Original, Sweet Baby Jane and the HOODOO sauce – and can be picked up at the Midtown or St. Peters shops, as well as several local grocery stores, or bought online.
multiple locations, pappyssmokehouse.com
Libations Starter Kit | Punch 5
Have a home bartender in your life? Treat them to Punch 5 Libations, a small-batch cocktail kit created in collaboration by 4 Hands Brewing Co.'s Kevin Lemp, restaurateur Ben Poremba and Andy Kim. Ranging from Orangeade (bourbon, tequila) to Passion (tequila, vodka) to Mauresque (gin, aged rum), each jar features all the accouterments you need to build a great cocktail at home – just add booze. The starter kit in particular makes for a great hostess gift; it features 2 cocktail jars of your choice, 2 cocktail glasses, 1 stirrer and 1 strainer.
Gooey Butter | Russell's
Lucky for you, Russell's popular gooey butter is available for holiday preorder and pickup. The bakery specifically refers to its take on the classic dessert simply as "gooey butter," as it features a distinct shortbread cookie crust. Choose from classic gooey butter or flavors including chocolate chip, lemon curd and pumpkin-walnut, all available in 8x8 pans.
multiple locations, russells-cafe-bakery.myshopify.com
Sparkling Cider | 'ssippi Natural Wine Bar
Order something new at the 'ssippi bar before loading up on natural wines for your group of friends – or NA beverages for those who don't drink. If you're in a hurry, scan the codes on the shop's wine fridge and shelves to learn about each product, and grab a few for purchase.
2926 Cherokee St., Benton Park West, St. Louis, Missouri, ssippi.xyz
Gift Boxes | The Annex
Out for lunch at Frisco Barroom in Webster Groves? Pop into its next-door neighbor The Annex for a few last-minute gifts for your Secret Santa or White Elephant party. Better yet, think ahead and email the shop and they'll put together a gift box full of local and specialty goods for you.
8122 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, Missouri, 314-731-6329, theannexstl.com
Tea and Teapots | The London Tea Room
You might as well make a whole afternoon of The London Tea Room – and that includes Afternoon Tea and gifts for the road. The restaurant-slash-shop has a myriad of signature loose-leaf teas to choose from, plus merchandise, mugs, teacups, infusers and (our favorite) brightly-colored teapots.
1900 Locust St., Downtown West, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-241-6556, thelondontearoom.com
Macarons | Tipsy Goat Macarons
You'll find the largest variety of macarons at the Trolley Stop Bakery in Chesterfield, Missouri. Tipsy Goat's flavors vary from week to week, but you might impress guests at Christmastime with flavors like brownie batter, earl grey salted caramel, espresso lavender and more.
67 Forum Shopping Center, Chesterfield, Missouri, 314-295-4898, tipsygoatstl.com
Candles | Twinkle Brews Candles
Unlike most of the items on this list, you can't eat or drink this gift, but these candles make the perfect hostess gift or gift basket addition for your favorite beer-drinker. Each scent is inspired by the beer, wine or spirit that once was found in the upcycled containers. You can find the candles at assorted local shops, or you can buy or design your own custom candle on the Twinkle Brews website.
Handmade Pasta and Sauces | Vicini Pastaria, Café & Market
In Lafayette Square, Vicini Pastaria specializes in scratch-made pastas including pici – a thick, hand-rolled, rope-shaped pasta. Find pasta in raw, stuffed and frozen forms, plus gluten-free pastas, handmade sauces, Italian market products, cheeses and desserts.
1916 Park Ave., Lafayette Square, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-827-6150, vicinipastaria.com
Artisan Cheese | Wild Olive Provisions
Wild Olive Provisions sits on a scenic corner amid the houses, cafés, churches and ice cream shops of the Shaw neighborhood. Walk through its doors to discover a selection of local, regional and European cheeses, plus charcuterie and condiments perfect for gift-giving.
2201 S. 39th St., Shaw, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-300-8089, wildoliveprovisions.com
The Cellar Shop Gifts | Winslow's Table
Plates and Cocktail Shakers | 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis
Showcasing the work of world-renowned portrait artist Kehinde Wiley, these are the kind of plates you'd display on your wall rather than use for food. The gift shop at 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis sells them in a handful of varieties, as well as penguin-shaped cocktail shakers and other goodies. Pro tip: Head upstairs to see a Wiley painting in the hotel's renovated gym.
1528 Locust St., Downtown West, St. Louis, Missouri, 314-940-2333, 21cmuseumhotels.com
Holiday gift-giving shouldn't have to be nerve-wracking, especially since we have access to so many local high-quality makers and shops in St. Louis.