A North Fork gift guide for foodies
Your favorite foodie friend may already have that wooden-bowled KitchenAid mixer that everyone can’t stop talking about. Linens? She probably has a whole drawer full. So what can you gift to the superstar cook who seems like she has it all handled? The answer, of course, is the gift of food. With endless shops, farmstands, and artisanal spots to choose from, the North Fork is a destination just brimming with options when it comes to food-centric gift-giving. From curated gift baskets to cheese platters with verve to jams and jellies made from produce grown right in our own backyard, we’ve selected some of our very favorite. This year, give the gift of a taste of the North Fork.
At About Food, in Southold, the holidays are a time for gifting — gifting baskets, that is. Shop owner GP Lane is happy to arrange a bespoke, food-centric basket of beloved items that will suit the fancy of anyone in your foodie circle, full of the best and brightest ingredients (think hot sauces, artisanal candies, beautifully crafted kitchen tools, pastas, and so much more). Allow the store to experiment or offer your own personalized touch. It’s really up to you, your taste, and how far you want to take your culinary vision.
Looking for an ideal edible confection for the sweet-lover in your life? At the North Fork Chocolate Company, now with locations in Aquebogue and Mattituck, there is a gift for practically everyone in your orbit. The chocolatier makes nine- to 50-piece gift boxes; various types of chocolate bark; wrapped chocolate bars; chocolate-cloaked fruit; and even a limited selection of baked goods. For the chocolate-obsessed, it’s Paradise Found. Stock up on stocking stuffers, artisanal gifts, and maybe even a little something for your own larder. A little chocolate — or, in this case, a lot of chocolate — goes a long way toward holiday happiness.
Fourth-generation farmer Kevin Polack runs Southold’s Country View Farmstand with his wife, Donna; the 15 acres of land makes for plenty of space for produce, beekeeping, and much else. Even in the shoulder season, foodies can find local honey, jams and jellies, cheeses, and even pound cakes. The farm closes for the season right around Thanksgiving, so make sure to stock up on everything you need for gift-giving before it’s too late. Perishable foods can make a guest appearance on your holiday table, and canned and jarred goods are ideal for compiling into your very own beautiful farm-grown gift basket. ‘Tis the season, after all.
For a taste of the most gourmet, visit Mattituck stalwart, The Village Cheese Shop. This decades-old North Fork institution offers some of the finest foods around. For those in need of the kind of gift that will be eaten and appreciated post-haste, there simply is no other place. With over 150 international cheeses; osetra, platinum, and golden caviars; and an unparalleled selection of cured meats, the Village Cheese Shop has it all. And, if you’re looking for a uniquely curated platter to bring to your favorite food lover, they can even do that, too.
