A 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
With the gift-giving time of year just around the corner, we asked some of our clients to share their advice for holiday gift guide suggestions. Even if our travels will be limited this year, we thought we could all use a bit of travel-inspiration this holiday season.
For the Foodie
Tastes of Chicago
The online shop at Tastes of Chicago offers a one-stop-virtual-shop of Chicago’s most iconic food brands. Ship the best of Chicago to anyone in the country, and don’t forget to send yourself something too! Iconic brands available on the Tastes of Chicago website include:
- Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Pizza; Pizzas are 9″, serve 2 adults and come in Cheese, Sausage, Pepperoni, Veggie, Spinach, and Crustless (GF).
- Portillo’s is known for having some of the best Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs around and now you can have them shipped to your doorstep!
- Vienna Beef’s commitment to making quality meats is unmatched in Chicago. From their authentic Chicago-style hot dogs (hold the ketchup!), to their Italian beef sandwiches, you’ll only find the best in their meal kits.
- Garrett Popcorn Shops® has been popping Chicago’s most crave-able snack since 1949. Try their famous Garrett Mix®, the original sweet and salty combination of CaramelCrisp® and CheeseCorn recipes that started the craze.
- Eli’s Cheesecake has been serving up rich, creamy, hand-decorated cheesecakes for over 30 years. Baked with only the finest ingredients, and by people who care, Eli’s Cheesecake is the perfect treat for those with a taste for something exceptional.
- Fannie May Chocolates have been a Chicago tradition since 1920. Indulge in the decadence of one of their most famous candies, Fannie May Pixies, made with rich caramel, luscious milk chocolate, and crunchy pecans.
Gibson’s Steak
Gibsons Steak’s new online steak shop delivers FRESH Gibsons Grassfed Australian Steaks (GGA) straight to your front door. With over 30 years of experience, Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse has established itself as an expert in steak. All GGA has been wet-aged for a minimum of 75 days and is available at the following Gibsons Group restaurants: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, Gibsons Italia and The BOATHOUSE.
Harry Caray’s
Harry Caray’s award-winning, homemade Holy Cow!® Potato Chips have been a staple on the bar since Chicago’s legendary Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse opened in 1987; and now you can order both their classic and creative flavors to be shipped to your home.
Justice of the Pies
Chicago-area bakery Justice of the Pies specializes in sweet and savory pies, quiches and arts. Maya-Camille Broussard established Justice of the Pies in honor of her late father Stephen J. Broussard. Steve, who dubbed himself the Pie Master, was a criminal defense attorney with a passion for baking and eating anything made with a crust!
The bakery previously partnered with DreamOn Education to activate the I KNEAD LOVE Workshop, a one-day workshop providing elementary-aged children from lower-income communities instruction on nutritional development, acquiring basic cooking skills and encouraging creativity in the kitchen.
Justice of the Pies also partners with the Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CLGA) on a yearly “pie-drive” to raise money for the organization. Eat well and feel good when purchasing a Justice of the Pies pie and quiche here.
Meal Kits by Stephanie Izard
available nationwide on Goldbelly, Meal Kits by Stephanie Izard are a fantastic gift for anyone who loves flavorful, mouth-watering food! Based on some of her fan-favorite meals from restaurants like Girl & the Goat, Cabra, and Duck Duck Goat, these amazing meal kits by Iron Chef, Top Chef, and James Beard Award-winner Izard help you create a delicious meal in a jiff. A few favorites include Girl & The Goat: 10 Year Bday Kit for 4, Cabra Salmon Saltado Dinner Kit for 2, Duck Duck Goat Dinner & Drinks for 2
Wixter Seafood
Wixter Seafood will be offering a special holiday bundle featuring Small Sardines in Sauce, Tuna Belly in Olive Oil, and Octopus in Paprika Sauce for $35.00 (a 17% savings) online for nationwide shipping and in-store at Wixter Market.
Daisies
Chicago favorite Daisies Market will be launching a series of three bundles that will be available to purchase online via the Daisies. Bundles will be available for local delivery with plans to offer nationwide shipping as well.
- Aged Bundle ($110 – Approx.) includes Columela 30-year Sherry Wine Vinegar, San Giacomo Essenza, Latteria Soresina Parmigiano Reggiano and Microplane;
- “Chef’s Gourmet Pantry” ($90 – Approx.) includes Etimo Capers in Sea Salt, Galit Za’tar, Mieli Thun French Honeysuckle Honey, Mussels Escabeche, Mackerel Filet and DeCarlo Extra Virgin Olive Oil “Felice Garibaldi”;
- “Home Pastaio” (Home Pasta Making Kits varying in price from $50-$150) includes Specialty flours, Specialty pasta making tools and Daisies house favorite pasta recipes.
Jar Sessions
Gaijin Chef Paul Virant’s love of pickling led him to start Jar Sessions, which celebrates the tantalizing flavors and art of preservation. They are perfect for elevating every dish, whether mixing, sautéeing or blending into a range of dishes. Browse and order flavors like Blueberry Aigre-Doux, Pickled Sweet Peppers and Pickled Green Asparagus on their online shop.
Chicago Food Planet
Chicago’s #1 food tour company is offering two foodie boxes this holiday season: 3-1-Chew Foodie Box and the Windy City Foodie Box. Chicago Food Planet will be accepting orders for these two boxes beginning in early November through the Holiday Season.
Packed with Purpose
Packed with Purpose is a Woman-Owned business on a mission to create meaningful social impact while strengthening human connections. Since launching in 2016, they have been committed to discovering the best products from across the United States and beyond to include in curated gift collections. Crafted by purpose-driven organizations, these high-quality products are what make our gifts unique- each one represents an inspiring story of change and positively impacts communities.
Order Chicago-inspired boxes like the Chicago Gourmet Goodness box or the Chicago Rocks! box online.
For the Cocktail Connoisseur
Spirits & Spice
Specialty retailer Spirits & Spice just opened its first location outside of the Mountain West in Chicago’s Water Tower Place on October 10. In addition to custom spice blends and a tremendous selection of spirits, wine and liqueurs, Spirits & Spice offers vinegars and oils, both traditional and flavor-infused, plus craft beer, gourmet snacks, sauces and spreads.
In addition to their BBQ Basket and Boredom Buster basket, Spirits & Spice is launching Whiskey/ Scotch/ Brandy Virtual Tastings. These spirits-based tasting kits include a call to set up a Zoom Online Tasting party with Spirits & Spice for learning, tasting, and fun for the whole crew.
The Bristol
Bristol’s Booze Box is exactly 99oz of curated liquid to include two bottles of wine (one red and one white), one 17oz cocktail (serves four), and a 32oz growler. ($99). Order through Tock here. November’s Cocktail Box, Dealing with Your Drunk Uncle, includes Very Old Barton Bourbon, Sazerac Rye, Laphroig, Pecan and Ginger. Then, December’s Cocktail Box, VSOP Egg Nog, includes Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, Custard, Pie Spice, Vanilla and Pure Joy. Beer and wine options, coming soon, will also be thoughtfully curated with holiday inspiration. Booze Boxes can be ordered for pick-up via Tock and delivery via DoorDash.
For the Beauty Buff
BIÂN Beauty
Indulge in a dose of wellness and self-care with BIÂN Beauty. Developed by Dr. Julius Few, Chief Aesthetics Officer and founder of the Few Institute, these highly effective and unique skincare products aim to combat a range of problems at a level that can normally only be accessed through prescription products. As the creator of Stackable Treatments™, Dr. Few aims to encourage health and individuality while also improving skin by blending cutting-edge surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Additional details on the products can be found here.
Natural Baller
This organic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly skincare and lifestyle brand aims to encourage people that they don’t need a filter to feel beautiful. Natural Baller skincare products are made with pure, organic ingredients meant to nourish the skin and create a luminous, healthy glow. Each ingredient is intentionally chosen with the user and the environment in mind, making for a vegan, cruelty-free line that contains no synthetic fragrances, dyes, parabens or gluten.
Examples include products for cleansing, toning, brightening, moisturizing and enhancing one’s natural features. Natural Baller is developing holiday packages, which will be announced shortly.
For the Traveler
Launched this summer, is a meta-search engine empowering users with the data and tools to easily find and compare the best vacation rental apartments, cabins, houseboats, beach houses, and RV deals, all in one place. Giving the gift of travel this year? Book accommodations during this time with peace of mind thanks to VacationHomeRents’ two new tools. These tools were designed to ease some of the stresses of traveling during the COVID-era: a and a free, complementary.
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