Great Gifting: Gifts That Give Back

This year's series of holiday gift-giving posts kicks off with a win-win-win suggestion: it'll make your recipient extremely happy, it'll do good for someone in your community and it'll make you look like an awesome person for giving something that is self-liquidating (i.e. doesn't have to be dusted or stored) and also helps those less fortunate. You can add in another win if you count the fact that all this happens with money you'd be spending anyway, maybe on a gift that doesn't do any of the above.

What is this magical prezzie that satisfies on so many levels?

Well, New Deal Distillery is holding its 4th Annual Season's Eatings event on December 14, a holiday bazaar that brings together local food and drink artisans to showcase the area’s finest chocolates, cheeses, spirits and foodstuffs. And we're not talking just any old artisans, but folks like Pok Pok Som drinking vinegars, cured meats from Tails and Trotters, heavenly handmade chocolates from Alma Chocolates (top photo), locally roasted coffee from Water Avenue, addictive chocolate truffles and cheeses from Briar Rose Creamery, pickles from Unbound Pickling, jellies from Kelly's Jelly and so many more. (List on the website.)

New Deal, of course, will be featuring its roster of distilled goodness for tasting and purchase as well, and I can guarantee from past experience that your giftees will be thrilled to find a bottle of spirits under the tree instead of some gewgaw from the Dollar Store or Tuesday Morning. Proceeds from your purchases will benefit the Oregon Food Bank, and admission is just one non-perishable food item or a donation in the amount of your choosing.

So start making your list now, and don't forget the holiday parties and gatherings that might require a host or hostess gift. You can't help but come out a winner.

Details: 4th Annual Season's Eatings.Sat., Dec. 14, noon-6 pm; admission is one non-perishable food item (or cash donation). Event at New Deal Distillery, 900 SE Salmon St. 503-234-2513.

Read the other posts in this year's Great Gifting series: Mad Skills, Kids' Stuff, Bookin' It and Good Eatin'.

Great Gifting: Keeping Spirits Bright

This year I've spouted off about my idea of the perfect gift, so I'll spare you a repeat of that rant, but how about a (pun intended) self-liquidating gift for the imbibers on your list? Most of them would be thrilled to get that special bottle of Islay single malt they've had their eye on, but how about keeping it local and giving some hooch from the 'hood?

For lovers of liqueur, both New Deal Distillery and House Spirits have coffee liqueurs that are miles better than that syrupy Kahlua you drank in college. Plus they're made with locally roasted coffees from Water Avenue and Stumptown, respectively, and would be brilliant teamed with a copy of the Big Lebowski (for White Russians…get it?).

New Deal also has a new Ginger Liqueur that would be terrific teamed with soda and mint, or as a mixer in a ginger drop or gimlet. Stone Barn Brandyworks has an appropriately holiday-esque product in their scarlet-red Cranberry Liqueur, eminently sippable over ice or topped with soda for a refreshing spritzer.

For those of a Scandinavian bent, or who have a taste for licorice, there is unaged Aquavit from House Spirits available at the distillery, though their aged Aquavit, which has been drawing raves in national pubs, is about as "rare as a dodo bird" according to the young man who answered the phone at the distillery. He suggested checking the OLCC search engine for availability of this as well as their made-from-local-barley White Dog unaged whiskey.

Even better, if friends and family are in town over the holiday, get them out of the house and away from your liquor cabinet by taking a tour of Distillery Row (check first to make sure the distilleries will be open). That way you can buy them a bottle of their favorite spirit and be their bestest friend ever. At least until they sober up.

Read the other Great Gifting posts: The Art Around You, Eating is Believing and Giving from the Heart.

Livin' in the Blurbs: Shopping, Eating…and Dieting?

One of my favorite events this time of year is a garage sale. No, it's not where I get all those special gifts for the people I care about, like half-burned candles and only-slightly-worn sweaters. At this garage sale you can do some serious power shopping for the foodies on your list. Put on by contributor Jim Dixon of RealGoodFood, it was originally held in his garage. The last couple of years he's moved it to his warehouse, the better to display the stunning range of imported olive oils, salts, grains, beans and other goodies he brings in from around the Northwest and the world. He also sells many of his olive oils in bulk, and he can fill up your (clean) containers from genuine Italian fustino. Like the garage sales of yore, he'll be dishing out free homemade soup and wine to make your shopping experience that much more pleasurable.

Details: Jim Dixon's Olive Oil Garage Sale. Fri.-Sat., 12/3-4; noon to 6 pm; cash or checks only please. At 833 SE Main (corner of SE 9th & Main), space 122 (On the NE corner of the building facing the parking lot. Look for the olive oil sign on the sidewalk out front.) Please park on the street since the other Activspace tenants need the lot during the day.

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And because this is Portland, there are many opportunities to give the gift of food from our bounty of local producers. One place where you'll be able to see (and sample) many of them under one roof is coming up at the 3rd Annual Season's Eatings Local Food and Spirits Market, an event that benefits the Oregon Food Bank. Sponsored by New Deal Distillery, which is introducing its brand new ginger liqueur at this year's market, you'll also find products from pie to charcuterie and cheese to pickles and coffees. Look for the full list of fantastic vendors on their website!

Details: 3rd Annual Season's Eatings Local Food and Spirits Market, Sat., Dec. 10, 11 am-6 pm. At New Deal Distillery, 1311 SE 9th Ave. 503-234-2513.

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He rocked the Portland food scene with one of the first carts in the city, and Kevin Sandri's Garden State quickly became known for its amazing take on East coast Italian-American classics like a to-die-for Meatball Hero and crunchy arancini, always served up with some Jersey attitude on the side. It eventually moved to N Mississipppi Avenue from its original Sellwood location and spawned a burger cart called Burgatroyd. Recently, much to the chagrin of his throngs of admirers, Sandri decided to close GS down and take a 9 to 5 job with a new business called Farm to Fit. A "chef prepared meal service," it's the brainchild of Dre Slaman and G. Scott Brown and features an all-organic menu that caters to the weight-loss crowd. Sandri's challenge is to breathe some life into usually drab diet meals…perhaps a low-cal version of the Hero? We'll see!

Details: Farm to Fit, 503-688-9248.