Favorite Local Spots For Last-Minute Gifts (Schenectady, Niskayuna, Clifton Park, Saratoga)
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A friend emailed me recently asking if I had any ideas for locally made food gifts, so I put together a little list. Local Friends, what am I forgetting? I know there are so many other places in Troy, Saratoga and everywhere in between. Let me know! I’ll add them to this post. Happy last-minute shopping!!
Evergreen Olive Oil Company
There are so many beautiful gifts at this shop in addition to the many olive oils and vinegars. I bought a few mini bottles of the truffle oil to give as gifts — so good on polenta — and I used the Black Mission Fig balsamic vinegar in this Ina Garten recipe for balsamic-roasted Brussels sprouts just before Thanksgiving. Love the California Arbequina olive oil and the blood orange olive oil, which the ladies at the store use in their brownies, and they are incredibly delicious.
I tasted Nini’s Sicilian Salsa one day when she was sampling at the Evergreen Olive Oil Company, subsequently bought a jar, returned home, and essentially served it for dinner. It’s so good. She’ll deliver around the area, so get in touch with her ASAP.
Fleur de Sel is my favorite. Find it at the Nisky Co-op (Go ASAP, they sell out quickly … I also bought half a dozen bars last night.)
A Growler from Great Flats Brewing
Great Flats Brewing — great beer, great people. I love their IPAs but also their Octoberfest, which I used in the Vermont Cheddar Cheese and Beer Soup for the first annual Beer and Bread event to benefit Capital Roots. Such a great day! Photo credit Deanna Fox:
Tea from Divinitea.
Love their Moroccan Mint Tea.
Love the Mohawk Giants Blend (Find this at the Nisky Co-op, too)
I’ve written about Tara Kitchen a number of times (see Chicken with Green Olives and Preserved Lemons, Preserved Lemons, Chickpea Tagine) — love Aneesa, the owner, and all of her products: ras-el-hanout, harissa, preserved lemons, to name a few.
Such a great store and community — love both their books and gifts.
The Vischer Ferry General Store
My happy place. Great gifts, great people, great food.
Gift Certificate to Buckley Farm
Last winter we visited the Buckley Farm Cafe often on Saturday and Sunday mornings after hockey practice. Pancakes for the kids, bacon and eggs for the adults — such a treat. While you’re there you can pick up any of their incredibly delicious and humanely raised meats as well as eggs, stock, jams, pasta, and sometimes vegetables, too.
Gift Certificate to the Niskayuna Co-op
This is my favorite place to shop. They carry so many local products: cheese, yogurt, coffee, chocolate, soap, produce. They also sell Bread Toast Crumbs, Dot and Army Bowl Covers and the 1-qt Pyrex bowls. They are the absolute best.
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8 Comments on “Favorite Local Spots For Last-Minute Gifts (Schenectady, Niskayuna, Clifton Park, Saratoga)”
Those look so fun! I would love to buy spices. That’s one thing this place doesn’t have anywhere are good spice sources. Your stores look so fun!
I love where I live 🙂 🙂 🙂
Ali- gift of the year definitely goes to …Bread Toast Crumbs cookbooks! 🙂 I gave one to pretty much everyone I could think of and everyone (those that opened already) is excited to dive in. Remington told me he showed his kindergarten teacher the pictures of his friends when she opened hers 🙂
Thanks for making shopping so easy this year, I’m going to need a 2nd edition soon!!
Teal you are the absolute BEST!! Can’t thank you enough. Nothing could make me happier than to read all of this. Also, Rem … what a gem! Love him. Happy Happy New Year to the Reeves Family. Hope to see you soon!!
I’m so jealous of your store selection! I live right near Boston, and you WAY surpass our variety. ENJOY!
Wow, amazing to hear this?! I know I am forgetting some, too. There are so many great little shops here. Love it.
The Dilly Bean on Jay St. (across from The Open Door Bookstore) is a new local natural foods market that sells many of your favorites and more! Evergreen olive oil, Saratoga Chocolate, lots of spices and other goodies. They also always have on hand a seasonal supply of Kelly’s Cookies! And it’s owned by a young female entrepreneur. You should check it out sometime when you’re in Schenectady. ????
Kelly! I need to go! And yes to selling Kelly’s Cookies … I absolutely will check it you!! Thanks for writing. I saw the write-up in Your Niskayuna, and I’ve been dying to go ever since. Maybe this weekend. Hope you are well!