Kitchen Doors: Top-Notch Food Gifts
URBANA (Local First)
Phoenix / urbanashop.com
Recently voted Best Place to Buy a Gift by Phoenix New Times, UrbAna is a local boutique featuring unique items perfect for gifting or taking your own party to the next level. On the heels of a glowing recommendation from a friend, I stopped into UrbAna to check them out. Husband-and-wife owners Brian and Ana truly have something special here. They have taken care to stock their boutique with a vast selection of pieces ideal for accenting your home, setting a table, throwing a memorable dinner or cocktail party, or for gifting someone special. Some of my favorite items are kitchen towels and napkins with funny sayings, books on entertaining and their gourmet gummy bears in flavors such as bubbly champagne and chocolates featuring ingredients like agave, sesame, orange and crunchy tortilla pieces. While their fall inventory is available now, UrbAna will feature additional holiday items beginning the day after Thanksgiving.
NUTSACK FOODS (Local First)
Cave Creek / buynutsacks.com
Roasted nuts are a favorite gourmet gift, great for everyone on your list. Nutsack Foods takes high-quality and ultra-premium nuts and places them in a brown paper sack for you to enjoy. But owner Bill Sutherland adds a bit of humor, starting with the company motto, “You never forget your first Nutsack.” Expertly roasted and salted, all Nutsack’s nuts are vegan-friendly and gluten-free. Try a bag filled with a single type of nut, like almonds or cashews or dig into one of Nutsack’s mixes such as the Sedona or spicy variety that features paprika and chile powder and includes other ingredients — diced pineapple and pecan pralines to name two. There is even a Keto mix available for those watching their carbs and Nutsack has bags filled with Peanut M&M’s or gummy bears so you can create your own trail mix. Nutsacks can be purchased online and are sold in several locations around the Valley. Visit their website for retailers.
COOKIE BROKERS
Phoenix / cookiebrokers.com
Just when you thought cookies couldn’t get any better, Cookie Brokers came and gave our kitchen stoves and mixing bowls some stiff competition. Monday through Saturday, this family-owned business bakes some of the best made-from-scratch cookies and dessert bars in Phoenix. You’ll find traditional flavors such as chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal raisin as well as more unique flavors such as carrot cake and s’mores. My personal favorites are their chocolate chip cookies and their magic bars with coconut, chocolate and butterscotch chips. What makes their cookies so good? They are always fresh, have the perfect balance of ingredients, and are baked just right. Cookie Brokers also makes a great gift for special occasions. They can put together a box of cookies or a platter featuring a selection of their sweet indulgences. Work with Cookie Brokers to choose a design to make your gift or party extra special including for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year — just make sure you order in advance to guarantee your order. Stop in or order online of by phone.
WILDFLOWER (Local First)
Multiple locations across the Valley / wildflowerbread.com
Wildflower (formerly Wildflower Bread Company) is much more than a great local spot to grab a fresh breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each day, they bake more than a dozen types of high-quality breads in addition to a variety of desserts, muffins and cookies. Starting in November and in time for your holiday celebrations, Wildflower will release an array of seasonal menu items including traditional pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and apple crumb pie. Pick up a loaf of cinnamon pumpkin bread and, for a tasty holiday twist, use it to whip up French toast that will delight your friends and family. For something on the savory side, pick up their pull-apart dinner rolls, which are available in 9-grain, dill and sourdough. And mark your calendars for December, when Wildflower will offer their pecan coffee cake, another must-try.
If their delicious food weren’t enough, Wildflower prides itself on giving back to the community. Wildflower’s owner, Louis Basile, is passionate about feeding the less fortunate. In fact, since 2009 Wildflower has donated more than $2.4 million worth of fresh bread and bakery items to help the hungry. And every night they donate their unsold baked goods to local shelters and hunger relief agencies throughout Arizona. Wildflower also partnered with Loyola Academy, donating breakfast every morning for the entire school year to its students. (Loyola Academy provides scholarship education to academically gifted sixth, seventh and eighth grade boys from underprivileged families.)
Wildflower prides itself on supporting the community through children’s wellness, education, women’s empowerment and animal advocacy. Place your holiday orders in advance beginning November 1 at any Wildflower location, via phone, their website or through their mobile app.
