Give a taste of Memphis: Holiday gift ideas the foodies on your list will love

Jennifer Chandler, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the foodie in your life? Look no further.

Here are ideas to delight the taste buds of anyone who loves (and lives) to eat good food. Each of these holiday food gifts is a Memphis-made original.

For the barbecue lover

Stock your barbecue aficionado’s pantry with some of his or her favorite Memphis barbecue sauces and dry rubs.

Corky's BBQ offers a line of their famous barbecue sauces and dry rubs so you can enjoy a taste of their Memphis-style barbecue at home.
Corky's BBQ offers a line of their famous barbecue sauces and dry rubs so you can enjoy a taste of their Memphis-style barbecue at home.

Even better, give the gift of all the famous Memphis sauces by picking up a bottle of all five of the city's most celebrated barbecue sauces. The Rendezvous, The Bar-B-Q Shop, Corky’s BBQ, Central BBQ and Hog Wild – Real Memphis Barbecue sell their sauces and seasonings in grocery stores throughout Memphis, as well as at their restaurants.

For the mixologist

From left to right, rosemary infused, hibiscus infused and blackberry infused simple syrup sit on a stand near a Cane & Herb pop up stand at Stock & Belle, 387 South Main Street, on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Rob Williams and Lauren Thompson-Williams co-own Cane & Herb, a Memphis-based company that creates simple syrups.
From left to right, rosemary infused, hibiscus infused and blackberry infused simple syrup sit on a stand near a Cane & Herb pop up stand at Stock & Belle, 387 South Main Street, on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Rob Williams and Lauren Thompson-Williams co-own Cane & Herb, a Memphis-based company that creates simple syrups.

A gift of a Memphis-made spirit is sure to boost the holiday “spirit” of your favorite mixologist.

When it comes to whiskey, Memphis is making its mark.

Consider a gift of one of Old Dominick Distillery’s small batch bourbon whiskey releases, which includes a Straight Tennessee Whiskey, a Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey and Cask Strength whiskeys.

Old Dominick Distillery’s small batch bourbon whiskey releases include a Straight Tennessee Whiskey, a Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey and Cask Strength whiskeys.
Old Dominick Distillery’s small batch bourbon whiskey releases include a Straight Tennessee Whiskey, a Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey and Cask Strength whiskeys.

A bottle of B.R. Distilling Company’s award-winning Blue Note Bourbon would be a welcomed gift as well. We like them all, but the Blue Note “Juke Joint” Whiskey is our favorite for gift giving.

A gift of a Cane & Herb simple syrup would be a fun addition to any bar for cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. These simple syrups with an herbaceous twist elevate your drinks with their herb-infused liquid sweeteners.

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For the cook

Different types of ribeyes are available inside the newly opened Buster’s Butcher, at 199 S. Highland St. in Memphis, Tenn., on Aug. 18, 2023.
Different types of ribeyes are available inside the newly opened Buster’s Butcher, at 199 S. Highland St. in Memphis, Tenn., on Aug. 18, 2023.

Any cook would love a gift of some of the best locally grown and raised ingredients from the Mid-South.

A Home Place Gift Pack from Home Place Pastures in Como, Mississippi, includes cuts such as grass-fed steaks, thick-cut pork chops and grass-fed ground beef.

Fans of bacon would love to get Newman Farm Bacon Lovers Box. Five pounds of award-winning bacons made from their heritage Berkshire pork come in the sampler pack.

A gift card to Buster’s Butcher would also be a welcome treat. This new butcher shop carries cuts of meats from regional farms.

Jacko's Pepper Jelly is a sweet and spicy treat.
Jacko's Pepper Jelly is a sweet and spicy treat.

Condiments like Jacko’s Pepper Jelly and New Wing Order Memphis Buffalo Wing Sauce make excellent stocking stuffers.

For the sweet tooth

Bluff City Toffee's signature gift box.
Bluff City Toffee's signature gift box.

Memphis may be known as the barbecue capital of the world, but our hometown also has some of the best sweets in the country.

Give a gift box from just one of these food artisans, or create your own sampler box.

Shotwell Candy Co. and Phillip Ashley Chocolates are garnering national attention for their hand-crafted sweet treats. Sweets from Bluff City Toffee and Dinstuhl’s are also not to be missed.

Some of our favorites include Shotwell’s original salted caramels, Phillip Ashley’s turtles, Bluff City Toffee’s milk chocolate pecan toffee and Dinstuhl’s cashew crunch.

We also love a box of macarons. Two of our favorite places to pick up these French cookies are 17 Berkshire (which now has locations in Overton Square and in Germantown’s Saddle Creek Shopping Center) and The Sift Bakery in Bartlett.

Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies) at Orale Tacos and Bakery, 2204 Whitten Rd.
Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies) at Orale Tacos and Bakery, 2204 Whitten Rd.

And speaking of cookies, I also love the alfajores dulce de leches cookies at Orale Tacos & Bakery. If you order in advance, the owners will pack them in cute little gift boxes for you.

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For the foodie who loves to eat out

A gift certificate to a restaurant may just be one of the most thoughtful gifts to give this year. Not only are you giving the recipient a fun and delicious night out, but you are also supporting Memphis’ restaurant community.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.

If you want to keep up with the tastiest news in the Bluff City — like the story above, sign up for our Eat Drink Memphis weekly newsletter for a hearty serving of stories on everything from restaurants to recipes. You can sign up here.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Christmas gift guides for foodies: Try these Memphis-made food gifts