The Oneida County Foodie Gift Guide: Ricky’s Top Holiday Picks!

Hi guys, my name’s Ricky, aka @rickysnacksalot. I have a food gram where I like to post all my favorite foods from local restaurants and anywhere else I travel. I never know what to buy people for the holiday season so I’m hoping this Foodie Gift Guide sparks some ideas and at the very least encourages everyone to shop local this holiday season. From one foodie to another, happy holidays, friends!

Clinton:

• Almost Local: Ok, you can walk in here and find a gift for anyone. BUT, my favorites have to be their hot chocolate, craft cocktail sets, homemade popcorn, and teas. Oh, and the real star is the truffle everything bagel seasoning. Also offering custom and pre-made foodie gift boxes of coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn and more, aka one less thing to wrap
• Paddywacks: Mike’s Hot Honey!!! Yes, they have my all-time fave, who knew! Any foodie knows you can add this to pizza, breakfast sammies, etc.… The options are endless. They also carry cookbooks and the most adorable festive decor
• Dreamy’s Candy: It’s in the name but get your candy here, peeps! They offer the cutest packaging (no wrapping, our fav!) and offer nearly any type of chocolate you can think of. The perfect spot for stocking stuffers or host favors!!
• Dawn Marie’s Treasures Vintage & New Gifts: You never know what you’ll come across in this consignment shop! Recently, they had vintage glass cocktail shakers, glassware, & a Murano Italian punch bowl. Plus, grab Joe’s Jerky, Shaw’s Maple products, Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce, honey & more
• Evolve Gifts: Who doesn’t want to be eco-friendly!? Stop by Evolve for eco-friendly kitchen supplies such as beeswax food wrappers, reusable shopping totes, and festive baking sprinkles
• Clinton Cider Mill: Get maple/pumpkin/apple everything here. From maple syrup, maple candies, pumpkin butter, maple BBQ sauce, apple sauce, and more, they truly have it all. Oh, and pick up some soup and a pumpkin walnut cookie while you’re there because #treatyoself

Utica

• The Compound: Get your favorite foodie anything Truff from The Compound. Truff hot sauces and oils are the gift every foodie wants to buy themselves. Don’t buy this off Amazon, get a grilled cheese, buy some Truff, and support local! Also be sure to check out their mushroom-growing kits, Hot Little Biscuit mixes, & so many more unique items!
• Utica Coffee Roasting Company: Get your favorite coffee fanatic bagged coffee and a cute matching mug here. My favorite flavors are Half Moon, Apple Pie, and Wake the Hell Up (plain). If your coffee fanatic doesn’t own a Chemex, it’s time to fix that this holiday season! It is the superior and only way to brew coffee and be a true coffee snob. They also carry Shaw’s Maple Syrup products

• • Shameless plug: use rickysnacks10 for 10% off online bagged coffee orders

• Utica Bread (Clinton, New Hartford, Utica): Not only can you get the best everything bacon cheddar croissants here, but get your fave foodie some fancy flavored olive oil, bread making kits, Syracuse Salt Co. sauces, and cutting boards
• Colozzi’s (New Hartford & Utica): Wine glasses, festive baking dishes, platters and plates, dip bowls, mugs, chocolate pizza & more
• Oneida County Public Market (Utica): Visit their holiday markets (Dec 10^th & 17^th) in Union Station and choose from a variety of vendors selling products such as local coffee, gourmet bacon, jerky, hummus and fermented goods, local produce, cutting boards, pickles, jams and jellies, baked goods, bread + lots more

Rome, Vernon & Sherrill:

• Superofficial Drinks (Rome): Truly a one stop shop here with olive oil, local honey, local maple syrup, Szechuan chili crisp, tribute pepper oil, chili pepper oil, chocolate bars, drinking chocolate, tea and coffee making equipment, and more
• The Bakehouse Cafe (Vernon): Prepackaged coffee and Hot Stuff hot sauce. If you’re here you might as well get a cinnamon roll too, thank me later!
• Liberty Tabletop (Sherrill): The only flatware still manufactured in the United States, stop in here or order online for the food/cooking/baking lovers in your life. Choose from flatware, cutting boards, glassware, bakeware, kitchen tools & more
• DiBella’s Gifts of Rome (Rome): Another spot who puts together awesome baskets filled with great products! Customize your own or choose from products like baked focaccia bites, seasoned pretzels, fried peppers, cheese, oils, turkey joints, mustards, olives, pasta sauces and more

North Country:

• Adirondack Cheese Company (Barneveld): Cheese spreads, blocks and wheels, a variety of gift boxes, Croghan bologna & NYS maple syrups
• Awesome Country Farmhouse (Boonville): Truly something for every style of food lover you know. Products ranging from seasoning blends/rubs, dips and spreads, chili, chowder and soup mixes, bread and baking mixes, pickles, salsas, oils, marinara, fermented foods, salts and more

Bonus Ideas:

• com: One gift card that’s easy to use at multiple locations! Redeem at Babe’s at Harbor Point, 72 Tavern & Grill, Aqua Vino, Tailor & the Cook, Kookie’s Q, and others
• Artisanal Cheese: A cheese membership, hello, need I say more?! Also carrying gift boxes and baskets ready to ship (with options to pair with red or white wines), customizable gift boxes & more. Could that be any easier?
• Ship an O’Scugnizzo pizza: Always a great gift for the holidays, especially for anyone who moved away but still misses the infamous upside-down pizza! Ship anywhere in the continental U.S.; they ship a bake-at-home pizza with the toppings of your choice and all you have to do is bake. Be sure to check their shipping date info! And for the sweets lovers, ship a pastries bundle too