Michele StuevenWhether you’re looking to heat things up, warm the soul of a loved one or fill the house with seasonal aromas, the holidays are all about spice. We’ve got some local stocking stuffers and hostess gifts that will bring joy and spicy inspiration into any kitchen.
Created by Chef Nicole Andrea Guzman, the Mystic Meals line of seasonings and hot sauce range all the way from sweet to savory. Everything from vanilla rose berry and chocolate cinnamon sugars to Louisiana hot sauce, her organic spice mixes come in a variety of blends including Cocoa Coffee BBQ Blast, Curry in a Hurry, Mystic Shawarma, Sicilian and citrus herb. Mystic Seasonings are made in small batches and can be customized without salt, sugar, onion, garlic, etc. No preservatives, fillers, or anti-caking agents are used. For 10% off at checkout, use the discount code: Mystic Meow.
Courtesy Strings of Life
Melbourne-inspired West Hollywood café Strings of Life has a few of their favorite items available for purchase, all made here in Los Angeles. Their grocery items are a great gift for Angelenos looking to support neighborhood restaurants and include unique items like SOL-Raccha sauce, strawberry rose geranium jam, tomato chutney, everything bagel seasoning and the crowning glory – fragrant chili crisp. Crunchy bits of chili flakes mixed in oil just manageably spicy enough and the perfect topping for everything from eggs to ice cream.
Bring joy and Danny Trejo into the homes of loved ones this holiday by sending a Trejo’s Tacos Holiday Gift Basket available online while supplies last. The $100 bundle includes a signed Trejo’s Tacos Cookbook, Trejo’s Hot Sauce, Trejo’s Coffee Beans, and a $50 gift card to Trejo’s Tacos in a reusable Trejo’s Tote Bag. Trejo’s Tacos is also offering a $50 gift bundle, which includes the cookbook, coffee beans, and tote.
Arguably one of the best teas on the market, Tea Forte is offering a limited-edition holiday collection of Warming Joy, which includes blends of cherry marzipan, harvest apple spice, raspberry ganache, sweet orange spice and winter chai. All teas in the Warming Joy Gift Set, Presentation Box, Petite Presentation Box, Single Steeps Sampler, and Petite Tea Trees are Kosher certified. They also carry an exciting line of teaware and a pyramid-shaped Warming Joy Advent calendar with numbered doors opening to 24 tea infusers.
Former Crustacean Chef Tony Nguyen and wife Jessica Osbourne have added to their line of Chef Tony Official Drip Sauce spicy chili sauce made from Calabrian and Southeast Asian chili peppers. New to the collection is an all-purpose spice blend and a limited classic drip with added Périgord black truffle.
Sprinkle Chef Tony Nguyen’s all purpose spice blend on California spiny lobsters before broiling (Michele Stueven)
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