If you haven’t quite found the perfect gift for everyone on your list, have no fear – we’re here to help. We’ve rounded up the best (and most delicious) Pittsburgh-made gifts and treats to delight everyone you’re gifting this year.
2016 Pittsburgh Gift Guide
Jams from Batch
This shop in Saxonburg sells plenty of cute gifts for the home and kitchen, but we’re partial to their homemade jams. They offer seasonal flavors like Black, Blue & Bourbon (with blackberries, blueberries and maple Bourbon), Carrot Cake, Cranberry-Persimmon and Figgy Van-Orange (with figs, balsamic vinegar, honey, vanilla bean and orange zest), and their own fresh takes on classics, like Strawberry Thyme. And with an ever-changing list of daily specials, like quarts of homemade soup and baked goods, you can pick up a treat for yourself, too. (Batch, 276 West Main, Saxonburg)
A519 Chocolates
Chocolate truffles with unique flavors (think Apple Streusel, Maple Pecan and Peanut Butter Pretzel), handcrafted in Pittsburgh by chocolatier Amanda Wright make a delicious gift, and their gorgeous designs are an added bonus. Our pick for this season is the Winter Caramel Collection ($30), which features four seasonal flavors (Cinnamon Brown Butter, Orange Clove, Applewood Smoked and Espresso Hazelnut) in one pretty package. (A519 Chocolate)
Boyd & Blair Vodka Moscow Mule Gift Set
We’re big fans of the locally-made potato vodka that Boyd & Blair produces in their Glenshaw distillery, especially when it’s paired with a gift set for easy-to-make cocktails. Their Moscow Mule Gift Set ($80), includes a personalized bottle of vodka, two copper mule mugs, and two bottles of ginger beer. We’re also eyeing their Vodka Tonic gift set, which comes with Pittsburgh’s Red Ribbon Tonic Water. (Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka)
Bread-Making Class at Enrico Biscotti
If you have a budding baker on your gift list, enroll them in a bread-making class from one of the city’s classic bakeries. Attendees will learn from a master baker at Enrico Biscotti tips and tricks for baking Italian bread, and take home their own homemade loaf. (Enrico Biscotti, 2022 Penn Avenue)
Bedillion Honey Farm Honey
Give a sweet gift this holiday season with locally-produced honey from Bedillion Honey Farm. The Southwestern Pennsylvania apiary uses bees that are managed without antibiotics or synthetic chemicals, and if you want to get a little more hands-on with your gift-gifting, they also offer beekeeping classes. (Bedillion Honey Farm)
Brew Your Own Beer at Copper Kettle
Of course, we’d love to get a gift of personally-brewed beer, but what we would love more is the experience of making it ourselves. Book an appointment at Copper Kettle to reserve one of their six brewing kettles, which produces four cases of one recipe of beer. You can bring your own bottles, or they’ll provide them, and your beer will be good for at least three months. (Copper Kettle, 557 Greenfield Avenue)
Pittsburgh Pickle Company Pickles
Pick a pickle for your holiday gift list this year… a Pittsburgh pickle, that is. Pittsburgh Pickle Company has three styles of pickles available, including their popular Pittsburgh style, with garlic, dill, mustard seed and sugar for a sweet and spicy finish. Jars are available for purchase at a number of Pittsburgh shops and stores, including the BeerHive and select Giant Eagles. (Pittsburgh Pickle Company)
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream Gift Sets
If you want someone you love to have their very own taste of Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream from the Shadyside scoop shop, you’re in luck – they can now ship to anywhere in the United States. Choose from four different four-packs, including an all vegan option, classic flavors, a nut lover’s assortment, and a seasonal option. Ice cream gift packs are $48, and shipping costs are determined by location. (Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream)
Leaf & Twig Tea
Greensburg’s Leaf & Twig specializes in small-batch, hand-crafted loose leaf tea, featuring herbal recipes to promote health. Varieties include Lavender Mint, Citrus Bliss, and Winter Comfort, a blend of ginger root, Echinacea and elderberry. (Leaf & Twig)
Wholey’s Home Made Peanut Butter
We’re nuts about Wholey’s Home Made Peanut Butter, and we always have a container (or two) in our cupboard. Get a pound of their super-sweet, fresh-ground Honey Roasted Peanut Butter for only $7 to give to your most fanatical PB&J fan friends. (Wholey’s)
North Ave Candles
Okay, they’re not technically edible, but they smell good enough to eat, so that counts. These candles ($12) are hand-poured in Pittsburgh, and have scents (and designs) inspired by classic books, like Lemon Meringue Pie (Amelia Bedelia), Sugared Citrus + Island Greens (Where the Wild Things Are), and Mint Sweet Tea (To Kill A Mockingbird). (North Ave Candles)
Bitters from Wigle Whiskey
Really, anything you wanted to gift someone from Wigle Whiskey would be appreciated, but we’re partial to their bitters. Available individually or in a gift pack of four ($50), a drop or two of these blends (available in Molé, Aromatic, Pomander Orange and Rosemary Lavender) will turn your cocktail into something extra special. (Wigle Whiskey)
Jarr’ed Dippin’ Mustard
The family behind Willow Creek Farm in Cabot’s has a full line of jarred products, from mustards and relish to spreads and butter. All are homemade, and made with vegetables that are grown on the farm. Jarr’ed’s Signature Mustard ($10) packs sweetness and heat, and is one of our favorite additions to stacked sandwiches. (Jarr’ed)
Black & Gold Blend from Steel City Salt Company
Steel City Salt Company’s newest salt blend is quickly becoming their most popular product. Made with their Hickory Smoked Sea Salt and lemon pepper ground spices, the Black & Gold Blend ($6.95) can be used as a rub or as a seasoning. (Steel City Salt Company)
Personalized Cookies From Yummyholic
Even the hardest to shop for person on your gift list will flip over a cookie made to look like them. Yummyholic’s Portrait Cookies (quotes available upon request) are made from hand-drawn sketches, baked, and decorated freehand, using royal icing and food dye. And the results are amazing. If you want a more realistic cookie to bite into, they also offer edible print cookies and edible print caricatures, too. (Yummyholic)
East End Brewery Tour
If someone you know loves craft beer, take them on a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Pittsburgh’s finest breweries. East End Brewing Company has tours ($25 per person) a few times a month, and offers attendees samples of brews, a guided tour, and a free Growler, full of beer. (East End Brewing Company, 147 Julius Street)
Pooches Choice Dog Biscuits
Don’t forget about your favorite four-legged friend with hand-made, grain-free dog biscuits. Pooches Choice are made in Morgantown, WV and are available at the newly-opened Lawrenceville Pet Supply. (Lawrenceville Pet Supply, 5152 Butler Street)
Dinner Date at Freedom Farms
Make a date on the farm at Butler’s Freedom Farms. They’ve just announced dates for their 2017 summer program, which includes a full farm-to-fork dinner, paired with red and white wines, and live music, all in a gorgeous farm setting. (Freedom Farms, 434 Overbrook Rd., Valencia)
Growlers from Arsenal Cider
Arsenal Cider’s ‘Daily Rations’ Growlers let you take their hand-pressed hard apple cider home… or give it to someone you really, really love. Choose from their rotating list of daily selections, including Picket Bone Dry Hard Apple Cider, Pioneer Pear Cider and Off Dry Riesling. (Arsenal Cider House, 300 39th Street)
Cupcake Party at Flour & Sugar Cakery
A girl’s night out, with super-sweet cupcakes? That might just be the best present ever. Seven Fields’ Flour & Sugar Cakery will host a party of up to 10 people in a private room at the bakery ($250), for a two-hour cupcake decorating party, which includes six cupcakes per person to decorate, icing and supplies, and professional instructions. (Flour & Sugar Cakery 673 Castle Creek Drive)
Breakfast Box from Harvest Delivery
Harvest Delivery’s subscription service works to connect local farms with people who want their products delivered to their door. The entire program is worth checking out, but if you want to give a one-time gift, we suggest their Breakfast Box ($42). Your recipient will receive one dozen local eggs, one choice of breakfast meat from a local source (bacon, sausage or steak), breakfast grains, fresh jam or honey, and a selection of seasonal herbs and produce. (Harvest Delivery)
Pretzel Crazy Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Pretzel Crazy hand-dips pretzel rods ($2.75) in chocolate and caramel, then top them with nuts, marshmallows and assorted candy treats to create a decadent dessert. Give the gift of a little heat with Chipotle Loco pretzels made with chipotle pepper-infused dark chocolate, or go super sweet with Peculiar Pecan, made with fresh roasted pecans and a white chocolate drizzle. (Pretzel Crazy)
‘Piece of the Pie’ Gift Cards
From now until December 31, your gift card gift to a restaurant in the Good Faith Restaurant Group (Legume, Butterjoint and the soon-to-open Pie for Breakfast) will keep growing the longer your recipient holds on to it. Available in denominations of $250, the gift card value will increase in value 10% every year until 2020. Read more here.
Getting Juicy Juice Program from Pittsburgh Juice Company
After a long holiday of over-indulging, we bet that there’s at least one person on your list who would love to start 2017 off on the right foot. Pittsburgh Juice Company’s ‘Getting Juicy’ Juice Program ($54 per day) is the perfect program for beginners. Each day includes six different healthy juices, like Carrot Apple Ginger and Power Berry Smoothie. (Pittsburgh Juice Company)
Zeke’s Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
Zeke’s Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans will give someone a sweet little dose of caffeine. Each half-pound bag of Zeke’s espresso beans are covered with Kopper’s chocolate, and are available at their retail location 6015 Penn Avenue. (Zeke’s Coffee)
What locally-made products did we miss? Share in our comments.
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