15 Unforgettable Foodie Gifts for Mom


LET'S SHARE A BITE

Are you always stumped on what to get your foodie Mom? 

Reservations at the old standard spots or another spatula to crowd the kitchen drawer may not deliver the “wow” you were hoping for.  Avoid the pitfalls and give her something that shows her you know her.

Here are 15 unforgettable options to delight and make lifelong delicious memories for Mom (and a few pro tips of what to avoid).

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SWEET ESCAPES


#1   A DECADENT CERTIFICATE TO ROSELLE DESSERTS

Why have your cake and eat it too? It’s much more fun to give a gift card. Unveiling a gift certificate allows you to build anticipation between her special day and the next little trip out to redeem it.

In Toronto, check out artisans Stephanie Duong and Bruce Lee whose intricate desserts taste as good as they look at Parisian patisserie Roselle. They issue cute little gift cards that can be loaded up with any denomination you want.

Roselle Desserts • 362 King St E, Toronto, ON

@roselle_to

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#2   AN EVENING AT THE SWEET HEARAFTER

Does your mom have that magic second stomach that exists just for cheesecake? Satisfy it at Halifax’s Sweet Hereafter with unforgettable cheesecakes in a dining room as sweet as what’s on the plate.

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#3   SPIKED TEA AND STROOPWAFFELS

Amsterdam Tea Room is a neighbourhood hotspot in Winnipeg’s eclectic Exchange District. Stepping in is as cozy as being wrapped in a warm blanket. A crisp stroopwaffel (a Dutch waffel cookie filled with caramel) starts to melt with the steam of a perfectly poured cup of tea, spiked with her spirit of choice. Mark, Amsterdam Tea Room owner (above) offers over 75 different tea varietals to choose from, there is one to satisfy Mom’s mood.

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EXPERIENCES TO SAVOUR


#4   GIVE THE GIFT OF AN ADVENTUROUS FOOD TOUR

Give her the chance to explore a local neighbourhood, discover surprising local history as well as taking a deep dive into the cultural traditions behind the cuisine, the stories of the food entrepreneurs and chefs, and the dishes they bring to the table.

Come with us at Culinary Adventure Co. and we’ll have you and Mom covered for “lunch and a half” by the time we wrap up. It’s the most delicious way to make memories together.

Your options are spread across Charlottetown, Halifax, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto and Winnipeg. If doing a tour in a city you’re visiting, make it the first thing on your itinerary. Your culinary guide will be more than happy to furnish you with recommendations to complete your city getaway.

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#5   DAN'S DINER REMOTE CULINARY EXPERIENCE

Imagine Mom dining beneath the northern lights with a world-class meal that features regional and local fare. Frontiers North sets up Dan’s Diner annually, a remote culinary adventure like no other.

If you’re looking to score brownie-points for life, send Mom on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure across the frozen Churchill River to a remote dining experience 58° North latitude, surrounded by wilderness beneath the northern lights.

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COOKBOOKS TO ESCAPE INTO


#6   BURMA: RIVERS OF FLAVOR BY NAOMI DUGUID 

Canadian writer and traveller Naomi Duguid  has been authoring cookbooks for over 20 years. Her groundbreaking, Burma: Rivers of Flavor lays bare one of the world’s least explored cuisines.

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#7   THE LAST SCHMALTZ: A VERY SERIOUS COOKBOOK BY ANTHONY ROSE



Chef Anthony Rose, a restaurateur so successful he’s put his stamp on a whole neighbourhood, has entered the cookbook scene with The Last Schmaltz: A Very Serious Cookbook.  He immerses himself in the many different Jewish culinary traditions that underpin his own cooking.

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#8   BOTTOM OF THE POT: PERSIAN RECIPES AND OTHER STORIES BY NAZ DERAVIAN

Bottom of the Pot refers to the tahdig, a layer of golden rice that gets fried to crisp perfection. In Persian families, the tahdig is a precious part of any celebratory meal together. Naz Deravian stuns with her debut, a very personal collection of family recipes and stories.

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RESTOCKING THE PANTRY

#9   A COLLECTION OF BRITISH GOODIES FROM COOKE'S

In Kingston, Ontario’s Cooke’s you’ll spy a window into the 19th Century as well as an array of dry goods, jams, sweets and cheeses to spoil any chef. The creaking floorboards are original to the building in 1865. Susan D. Cooke or another of her staff will be happy to show you around the emporium. Grab a gift basket if you’d like their curatorial touch.

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#10   MIDDLE EASTERN SPECIALTIES FROM SOUK TABULE



Souk Tabule in Toronto’s up and coming Canary district sells spices, syrups and cardamom blended coffee imported directly from Lebanon and other quarters of the Middle East. Executive Chef Rony Goraichy now heads a small Toronto restaurant empire, but his love of cooking began as a family affair in Lebanon, and the shelves of the bright, orderly shop evoke that milieu beautifully. Come back with Mom for a cardamom latte or gorgeous Chef’s Platter.

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CUTTING EDGE GIFTS


#11   A CHEF'S KNIFE FROM COOK'S EDGE

If your Mom loves to cook, she treasures her knife collection. Tip: if you want to flatter a foodie, ask to feel their knife callouses - seriously.

If you haven’t got a knife shop on your block that cuts it (puns intended), go online. Charlottetown’s Cook’s Edge on beautiful PEI offers free shipping across Canada or the USA on any purchase over $200.

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#12   A JAPANESE KNIFE FROM TOSHO KNIFE ARTS



If nothing but the absolute top-of-the-line will do, no one offers higher quality Japanese knives than Tosho Knife Arts in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood.

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UNBREAKABLE GEAR

#13   KITCHEN GEAR FROM A+ RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES SHOP



Pro tip: Mom doesn’t want a plastic spatula from HomeSense that will melt when she gets to serious cooking. Winnipeg culinary students, caterers and home chefs alike trust A-Plus Restaurant Equipment and Supplies (embed: a-plus.ca) in the historic Exchange District as the place to shop. A-Plus offers the sturdiest pots, pans and colanders at prices to satisfy tight-fisted industry professionals.

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#14   TAKE A TRIP INTO TAP PHONG



Setting foot in Tap Phong (tapphong.com) in the centre of Toronto’s central Chinatown is an experience unto itself. It’s no wonder they were recently profiled by CBC Life. The mesmerizing stacks of kitchen supplies, traditional Chinese decorations and bamboo everything make it a treat for the senses. Why not give mom a shopping spree here?

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#15   YOUR CUISINE, MA CUISINE

Many houseware stores are boxy, fluorescent-lit, functional places. Ma Cuisine in Ottawa’s ByWard Market neighbourhood offers a selection second to none in Ottawa. Staff are always on hand here to assist. FOODIE TIP: Sneak around the corner on Murray St. for the Best Croissants in Ottawa at The French Baker, voted #1 by The New York Times.

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No matter what your Mom craves. A thoughtful foodie gift is always the better bet.

Plus, remember what she's told you for years ... "You get what you pay for" - so show her you know her and make plans together around food, fun and memories. She'lll love you for it.

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Did you find the perfect food gift? Let us know at info@culinaryadventureco.com