This holiday season, treat the people on your shopping list to a taste of Delco. Whether you need something spectacular for a chef in your life or a crowd-pleasing present for the office White Elephant, we’ve rounded up the region’s most unique and delicious food-related gifts. You’ll find iconic Philly treats, farm-fresh subscriptions that keep on giving, and more on our menu of gourmet favorites.
Sweet & Savory Treats
Award-Winning Cheeses: The Farm at Doe Run produces an array of cow, goat, and sheep’s milk cheeses, perfect for anchoring a cheese board-inspired gift basket or bringing along to a festive gathering. Though the farm itself is in Chester County, you can find Doe Run cheese at locations across Delco, including Terrain in Glen Mills and 320 Market in both Media and Swarthmore.
Hometown Confections: When you’re shopping for neighbors, teachers, or coworkers, you can’t go wrong with a box of chocolates. Our local favorites include two family-owned candy shops: Christopher Chocolates in Newtown Square and Bevan’s Own Make Candy in Media.
Soft Pretzels & Tastykakes by Mail: If you have distant friends and family who are craving the flavors of home, surprise them with the ultimate care package from A Taste of Philly. Your lucky recipient will get 10 fresh Philly Soft Pretzels, 12 Tastykake Chocolate Cupcakes, and 12 Butterscotch Krimpets.
Chef’s Essentials
CSA Memberships: Treat your favorite chef to a bounty of locally-sourced ingredients with a CSA membership. Pasture Song Farm offers meat shares of pastured, antibiotic and hormone-free beef, pork, and chicken; pickup happens at the Media Farmers’ Market. For a vegetable CSA, check out Aston’s Red Hill Farm, where more than 30 veggie varieties are grown using organic practices. For a wide range of CSA options, from bread and dairy to seasonal fruits, try Lancaster Farm Fresh, which has convenient pickup locations across Delco.
Artisan Chef’s Knives: Any chef will tell you that a high-quality knife is the most coveted kitchen tool. For a truly luxe, one-of-a-kind gift, head just over the state line to Kalmus Knives in Arden, DE. Owner Harold Kalmus’ hand-crafted culinary knives are as beautiful as they are practical.
Cooking Classes: For the chef who loves expanding their culinary repertoire, a gift card to The Kitchen Workshop will be a holiday hit. This hands-on cooking school in Paoli offers a wide-ranging roster of classes, where students can learn about everything from knife skills to scratch-made pasta to Moroccan cuisine. Wayne Art Center also offers several culinary workshops each month; their Holiday Appetizer and Bouche de Noel classes make particularly festive gifts.
Hostess Gifts
Hand-Crafted Serveware: For that friend who hosts every birthday party, Friendsgiving, and game day get-together, choose a handmade serving piece with local flair. Check out Media’s Earth and State or Bob Deane Pottery for Delco-made ceramics, or opt for a beautifully carved wooden bowl from DP Turnings, which pops up regularly at area markets and craft shows.
Colorful Linens: Hand-crafted from 100% flax, Home & Skillet linens are designed to make your tabletop pop. You can find them at several local farmers’ markets, including Ambler, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and Horsham.
Local Libations
Wine, Beer & Spirits: Treat yourself to an afternoon in the tasting room at Grace Winery, then take home a few bottles as grab-and-go gifts. Their custom gift baskets and wine club memberships are also perfect presents for the oenophiles in your life. You’ll find a wealth of options for beer drinkers in Delco, too; discover something unique on tap at Sterling Pig in Media or 2SP in Aston. For cocktail lovers, keep it local with coffee liqueur or amari from Devon’s Pour Richard’s Distillery.
Coffee & Tea: Speaking of coffee, a fresh, fragrant bag of beans makes an easy and practical holiday gift. Head to Media’s Burlap and Bean for a variety of certified organic, small batch roasts. For tea drinkers (or someone who just binged every season of The Crown), you can have a complete afternoon tea delivered to their doorstep from A Taste of Britain in Wayne. Their “cream tea by post” includes tea, fresh-baked scones, and all the traditional toppings.