You’ve probably read about Oregon’s incredible ingredients — from black truffles and hazelnuts to sustainably caught tuna, salmon and crab. And you’ve probably seen pictures of the dishes that our award-winning chefs have created from this bounty, paired with any one of the thousands of handcrafted beers and wines Oregon produces. So, you can probably imagine how excited your friend will be when they see one of these gifts in their stocking.
Show your love for those in your life by gifting a piece of Oregon. Best of all, you’ll support local businesses at the same time. Make an impact with your dollar and give the gift of Oregon. Here are some ideas for the foodie in your life.
For Those Who Like Sweets: Chocolate, Ice Cream, Fruit
Nothing says the holidays quite like a little sugar indulgence before the new year. Oregon’s craft chocolatiers deliver with seasonal specialties like Earl Grey truffles from Arrowhead in Joseph, peppermint bark by Eugene’s Euphoria Chocolate Company, cherries jubilee dragée from Coastal Mist in Bandon, smokey blue cheese truffles from Lillie Belle Farms in Central Point, and the West Coast Brewery collection with Portland’s Moonstruck. Beyond the bar, choose from Ranger vanilla syrup, Treehouse drinking chocolate, or Creo chocolate mint lip balm. Despite what you might think, ice cream can be shipped via local wizards Ruby Jewel and Salt & Straw, plus the latter sells its cookbook and waffle-cone-scented perfume online. Fresh, flaky pastries are an order away at one of Oregon’s top bakeries near you. For fruit lovers on your list, send the sweet fruit of Oregon with gift baskets from The Fruit Company and Harry and David.
Read stories about Oregon artisan producers.
For Those Who Favor Savory: Cheese, Meats, Nuts
If your friend’s favorite flavors are more savory than sweet, Oregon’s cheesemakers are here to help. Bandon’s Face Rock Creamery makes a curd and cheddar gift box featuring its iconic Vampire Slayer garlic cheddar, while Rogue Creamery boasts a ‘perfect cheeseboard’ with its world-famous Oregon Blue. Don’t forget about Rivers Edge’s Up in Smoke, which is wrapped in smoked maple leaves and spritzed with bourbon. (Find more ways to buy local cheese at the Oregon Cheese Guild.) Set them up for a charcuterie night with a gift basket from Olympia Provisions. For special nut spreads, check out Jem Organics maple pecan hazelnut butter and Ground Up cinnamon snickerdoodle almond-cashew butter. Or send Oregon’s hazelnuts (aka filberts) from family orchards like Ken & June’s Hazelnuts and Freddy Guys Hazelnuts. For a taste of Japan, Newberg-based Kuze Fuku & Sons sells a gift set featuring yuzu miso, fruit spread, drinks, vinegars and more.
Read stories about Oregon Food Trails.
For Those Who Crave Caffeine: Coffee, Tea
Make your loved one’s mornings better with Oregon-roasted coffee, from Hood River’s athlete-minded Stoked Roasters, to coastal roasts from Sleepy Monk in Cannon Beach. Eugene’s Wandering Goat Coffee and Ashland’s Noble Coffee keep sustainable practices at the forefront. You’ll find Stumptown Coffee, Caravan Coffee, and Sisters Coffee Co. online and at many local grocery stores, along with Laird Superfood plant-based creamers. For tea lovers, look for Steven Smith Teamaker holiday collections or special imports at The Tao of Tea, Mamancy Tea Co., and Tea Chai Té. Oregon’s first commercial tea grower, Minto Island Tea Company, makes fun variety packs.
Read stories about Oregon coffee and tea.
For Those Who Love Happy Hour: Beer, Cider, Wine, Spirits
Oregon’s many wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries give reason for cheers. Consider exploring Oregon’s wineries to find the perfect bottle to gift. There’s Cerulean Wines in the Columbia River Gorge and Boedecker Cellars in the Portland Region to Silvan Ridge in the Willamette Valley and Kriselle Cellars in Southern Oregon. The state’s craft-beer scene is lauded for quality and innovation, such as wild-yeast beers by Crux Fermentation Project and de Garde Brewing, sustainability-focused Worthy Brewing and Standing Stone, fruit-forward ales from Little Beast, and even beer made with beard yeast by Rogue Ales. Cider fans will appreciate a stocking stuffer just for them, such as a membership to NW Cider, which features four shipments a year of expertly curated local ciders. Find botanical gins by Stillweather Spirits and Freeland Spirits, whiskeys made in casks by Ewing Young Distillery and with locally grown corn by Oregon Grain Growers, vodkas flavored with peppers by New Deal and with hazelnut espresso by Crater Lake Spirits, and elegant rice wines from SakéOne, America’s first craft saké brewery.
Read stories about Oregon wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries.
For Those Ready for Culinary Experiences: Restaurants, Tours, Dinners
Oregon has earned its culinary stripes the world over as local chefs continue to experiment with the Pacific Northwest’s homegrown bounty. Help your friends discover the state’s abundant culinary mastery with gift certificates to Oregon’s one-of-a-kind restaurants, like the theatrically seasonal dishes at Peerless in Ashland, fresh local seafood at Edgewaters in Bandon, hearty glazed steaks at Hamely in Pendleton, and farm-to-table fare at Ariana in Bend, among many others. Portland restaurant group Chefstable sells gift cards that are redeemable at 16+ locations. If your friend could use an immersive experience, local guides provide fun, safe tours of Oregon’s culinary world. Some are farm-focused like Farm 2 Forks Tours, while others explore vineyards like MountNbarreL and Backcountry Wine Tours or city stops like Portland by Mouth, City Brew Tours and My Party Bus. The seasonal on-the-farm dinner series from Plate & Pitchfork and Field & Vine and private dinners at Middleground Farms are unlike any other events.
Read stories about Oregon restaurants and culinary experiences.
