Candis R. McLean
Holiday Gift Guide
• 2SP Brewing Company: To keep the holiday tradition alive, Delaware County neighbors and friends 2SP Brewing Company and Wawa have partnered yet again for the highly anticipated release of Holiday Reserve Coffee Stout. Available at select Wawa locations, 2SP Brewing Company in Aston, PA, and across the four-state region of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey at select distributors all holiday season long. That beer buff on your shopping list? This one is for them.
• Art in the Age: Art in the Age has hit the nail on the head this year for imbibers across all holiday shopping lists with the addition of their new gift packages featuring all-inclusive DIY cocktail kits.Available now through the holidays for purchase online and via curbside pick-up, Art in the Age’s gift packages include three cocktail kits: Martini Gift Package, Old Fashioned Gift Package, and Beginner Bartender Gift Package, as well as the ultimate Art in the Age fan package, including branded glass, flask, tote, mug and more. All packages are available for $120 on their website. In addition, Art in the Age offers a variety of spirits, bitters, shrubs, glassware, books, and more available for purchase online or in-store.
• Forsythia: Forsythia has crafted a stellar gift basket fit for the most discerning foodies on your shopping list. The robust holiday gift basket includes cheese, saucisson sec, house-made pasta and sauce, macaroons, truffle honey, jam, fresh-baked Forsythia focaccia, and a bottle of wine, for $100. Orders required one-day in advance of pick up. Available for online ordering now until Monday, December 21, and ready for pick up on Wednesday, December 23. Additionally, Forsythia is offering a gift card special. Guests who purchase $500 total, receive an additional $100 gift card to enjoy themselves, or as an added gift!
• Jet Wine Bar: Jet Wine Bar, Philadelphia’s “global vineyard,” is offering holiday bundles perfect for the wine connoisseur on your list, consisting of a stellar selection of wine gift packs and a premium cheese package. There are five wine gift packs to choose from, and each pack has three bottles included. The bundles are sorted by Black Owned/Operated, Female Winemakers, Orange Is the New Wine, Au Naturel, and Rosé All Day, and range in price from $55 – $99. As for the assorted cheese and accouterments, the package consists of three kinds of cheese, house-made pimento cheese, two buttermilk biscuits, pickles, and jam, for $25. Additional holiday gifts include gift certificates and Jet Wine Bar t-shirts, stickers, and tote bags. Red and green tissue paper is available as gift wrap for all holiday bundles if desired. All of the above offerings are available now for purchase online, in-store, or over the phone. Pick up is available until Friday, December 24.
• The Little Hen Market: The Little Hen Market, a popular French-BYOB turned prepared foods and gourmet market in Haddonfield, NJ, is the one-stop-shop for the at-home cooks and aspiring chefs on your list. Choose from an extensive selection of gourmet cheeses, charcuterie offerings, and up-scale kitchen accessories as well as professional-grade French cookware from de Buyer USA. Gift certificates are also available online.
• Philadelphia Brewing Company: For the beer lovers on your holiday shopping list, you’ll want to hit up Philadelphia Brewing Company, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and largest breweries. From pale ales to porters, Philadelphia Brewing Company offers an array of craft brews that are sure to impress. Treat your loved ones to a six-pack of Kenzinger Pilsner or Walt Wit Belgian-Style White Ale this holiday season and win the award for best gift-giver. Available now in single bottles, six-packs, and cases for in-store pick-up and online ordering. Check out their website for merchandise including growlers, glassware, t-shirts, and more.
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Senor Grinch’s Taqueria
Another holiday pop-up has taken over the city. Don’t miss your chance to experience Senor Grinch’s Taqueria. The casual and colorful eatery is serving up the holiday spirit with over 50,000 lights, inventive tacos, and modern Mexican cuisine. The Grinch-themed menu features hot and cold cocktails and mocktails, food specials, and more.
Outdoor dining, takeout, catering, and delivery are all available through Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Door Dash daily starting at 11:30 a.m. Cocktails will not be available to-go. The pop-up is located at 4410 Main Street in Manayunk and will run through Saturday, December 26.
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Walnut Street Holiday Market
Walnut Street Cafe’s market, Walnut Street Market, was born out of the first wave of COVID-19 pivots. The market serving grab-and-go food and drinks, locally sourced pantry staples, and florals will be getting an over-the-top, festive makeover for the holiday season. Walnut Street Holiday Market features pre-packaged seasonal treats like peppermint bark and peanut brittle, giftable cocktail kits, locally made ceramics from Felt + Fat, gift cards to local businesses, fresh wreaths, seasonal florals, and more. All of this, paired with Walnut Street Cafe’s newly winterized outdoor patio area now home to additional heaters, a spacious tent with windows, holiday decor, and cozy vibes. Since the holidays are all about giving back, the holiday market will also be collecting donations of unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots.
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Fork’s Wine Club
An institution quite passionate about bringing excellent wines to the public, Old City’s Fork has also launched a Wine Club and subscription. Two options are available, one boasts exclusively natural wines, while the other will bring you new discoveries from lesser-known regions of the Old World. Enjoy a different bottle every week for four weeks. Fork’s beverage team has curated a fantastic lineup that showcases sustainable farming practices and a minimal intervention approach to winemaking. The subscription includes four bottles of wine in total, to be picked up once a week for four weeks, and will include reds, whites, and the occasional sparkling or rose.
Wines are available for pick up at Fork Restaurant every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Participants can choose when to start and can pause at any time. The subscription also entitles the club member to a 5% discount on all in-store and online bottle purchases.
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MilkBoy South Street Launches Rock Salt
MilkBoy South Street is launching a super tricked out streetery dubbed Rock Salt — paying homage to Philly’s grittiness, the holiday season and MilkBoy’s music roots, all at once. Rock Salt will have heaters for every table, gobs of holiday decor, gold and platinum records that speak to MilkBoy’s recording studio, and more.
The inviting outdoor tables are fully covered and will be marked by a stellar playlist prepared by MilkBoy’s own Jamie Lokoff and updated regularly in a nod to MilkBoy’s recording roots. Lokoff’s opening playlist is comprised of hundreds of holiday favorites. Think Christmas in Hollis from Run DMC to Father Christmas from The Kinks.
Hot spiked beverages currently offered at Rock Salt include Rock ‘n’ Rye Toddy with Rock and Rye, honey, lemon, clove ($13); Fireside Cider, warm apple cider with Fireball ($12); Boilo — a traditional Western PA coal miner concoction with whiskey, lemon, orange, clove, allspice berries, cinnamon, raisins, clover honey. ($14); Hot Buttered Rum — essentially start making pie crust but instead of baking, add rum and hot water ($13); and an array of hot chocolates including S’more Please, with Kahlua, Caramel Liquor, salt, topped with marshmallows; Peanut Butter Sundae, with Skrewball Whiskey, Bailey’s.
“We wanted to create a space that’s on-brand for MilkBoy that does what we do — lift spirits and offer a fun escape — while at the same time providing a socially distanced and responsible good time,” said MilkBoy partner Jamie Lokoff. “I had a lot of fun putting together our first playlist that focuses on awesome holiday tunes and it’ll evolve musically as winter goes on.”
The venue’s full menu is available in its sturdy well-constructed streetery, along with a full array of offerings from the bar, and even legendry cheesesteaks from neighbor Jim’s Steaks, which may be enjoyed at Rock Salt tables with a purchase of food or beverage.
It’s currently open Monday through Wednesday 3 p.m. – 10 p.m., and Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will remain on-site all winter long with additional specials, playlists, and more.
You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected].
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