Local Food and Drink Gift Guide

The city’s boom in food incubators and small-batch producers means a lot more holiday gift options for locavore food and drink lovers this year. From hot sauce to fancy marshmallows to tonics, here are some D.C.-made products to give—or just keep for yourself.redfox

SAUCE

Little Red Fox Hot Sauce

$7

In addition to stocking its shelves with foodstuffs from tons of local artisans, the team at Little Red Fox makes and sells its own hot sauce with smoked tomatoes and Thai bird chilies. Add it to just about everything.

Where to get it: Little Red Fox, 5035 Connecticut Ave. NW

chups’Chups

$12 for a sampler of five 1.25 oz. jars

These fruit ketchups come in flavors like peach, plum, and mango. Unlike Heinz, this stuff contains no high-fructose corn syrup—just vinegar, spices, and other natural ingredients.

Where to get it: Yes! Organic Market, Glen’s Garden Market, and other retailers. Buy online at chupsitup.com.

gloverpeppersauceGlover’s Pepper Sauce

$8.99

Founder Jamie Glover makes this fiery relish with five different pickled peppers. Also try the spicy infused vinegar ($6.99) on anything fried.

Where to get it: Several Whole Foods locations, Smucker Farms, Union Market, and other retailers. Buy online at gloverspeppersauce.com.

SWEET

marshmallows3The Capital Candy Jar Marshmallow Kit

$21

This box contains seven three-by-three-inch marshmallows in flavors like egg nog, salted caramel, and coconut. Other offerings include chocolate and toffee bark, lollipops, chocolate covered pretzel rods, and more.

Where to get it: Downtown Holiday Market (8th and F streets NW), Glen’s Garden Market, Smucker Farms, and several other markets. Buy online at thecapitalcandyjar.com.

undoneUndone Chocolate

$8 per bar

Wife-husband team Kristen and Adam Kavalier work out of Union Kitchen to produce 70 percent dark chocolate bars with organic, farm-direct cocoa beans from Central and South America and the Caribbean. Flavors include pink Himalayan salt or cinnamon, cardamom, and chili.

Where to get it: Monroe Street Holiday Market, Christkindlmarkt at the Heurich House Museum, and Glen’s Garden Market (as of Dec. 8). Buy online at undonechocolate.com.langdon-wood

Langdon Wood Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup

$19 for a 12 oz. bottle

Pennsylvania maple syrup ages inside rye whiskey barrels from Catoctin Creek Distilling Company to give your pancakes a sweet boozy topping.

Where to get it: Little Red Fox, Salt & Sundry, Glen’s Garden Market, and other retailers. Buy online at langdonwood.com/purchase.

SIP

True-Tonics-BottleTrue Tonics

$10 for a 8 oz. bottle

Made with cane sugar, cinchona bark, and other spices and botanicals, this just-launched tonic is meant to pair with gin or other cocktails.

Where to get it: Mess Hall pop-up at Union Market (Fridays through Sundays in December) or buy online truetonics.com.

 

Society-Fair-Artisan-Cocktail-2Society Fair Cocktail Sampler

$40

Bartender Todd Thrasher concocts a set of four cocktail mixes, including PX’s Grog and Hot Royal Oil. A spiced rum kit, bottled punch, and other cocktail making necessities are also available at the Alexandria market.

Where to get it: Society Fair, 277 S. Washington St., Alexandria.

amaro_Rey_Lopez_photocreditDon Ciccio & Figli Amaro delle Sirene

$37

Distiller and barman Francesco Amodeo revived the Amalfi Coast recipe for this Italian-inspired bitter liqueur with 30 roots and herbs.

Where to get it: Liquor stores throughout the area or at the distillery’s tasting room at 6031 Kansas Ave. NW on Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Find a list of retailers at donciccioefigli.com.