New York Magazine

(Photo: Dwight Eschliman)

The Savory
1. Honey Bean Coffee Beans
If you can’t get your hands on this year’s “It” bean—the $130-a-pound La Esmeralda Special— try the up-and-coming Honey Bean from a nearby Panamanian farm ($17 for a twelve-ounce bag at Café Grumpy, 224 W. 20th St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-255-5511).

2. Marlow House Bitters
Home mixologists will love these micro-batch citrus bitters, made in-house by Marlow & Sons’ resident tinkerer Tom Mylan from the rinds of oranges, grapefruit, and pomelo, plus secret herbs and spices ($15; 81 Broadway, at Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-384-1441).

3. Lassi Spices
Replicate Indian dishes at home with Lassi’s freshly ground spice blends like garam masala, heady with cumin, cardamom, and coriander, and the shrimp-rub-ready Bengali five-spice ($3.50 per three-ounce bag; 28 Greenwich Ave., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-675-2688).

4. Cloth-Bound Grafton Cheddar
That old wax-sealed denizen of the holiday gift basket gets a cloth-bound, cave-aged makeover, courtesy of Vermont’s Jasper Hill Farm in its new role as affineur ($20.99 a pound at Saxelby Cheesemongers, Essex St. Market; 212-228-8204).

5. Taïm’s Harissa
Taïm uses its house-made harissa to flavor its falafel, but you can use the pungent, paprika-packed Tunisian condiment on anything ($8.75; 222 Waverly Pl., nr. W. 11th St.; 212-691-1287).

6. Red Hook Rye
Spirits specialist LeNell Smothers expects the third batch of her signature rye whiskey to arrive after Thanksgiving, but act fast: The first shipment of the stuff—spicy and rich, with a peppery bite—sold out in two days ($110; 416 Van Brunt St., nr. Van Dyke St., Red Hook; 718-360-0838).

7. Keith’s Farm Shallots
What better gift for the practicing locavore than a bag of organic New York State shallots? Farmer Keith Stewart’s rocambole garlic has gotten all the glory, but one should never underestimate the importance of a great shallot vinaigrette ($5; Union Square Greenmarket).

8. Blue Ribbon Bakery Market Pickled Peppers
Hot and piquant, these chopped serranos and jalapeños will perk up a sandwich or kick-start your morning eggs, just like they do the bakery market’s scrumptious egg toast ($5; 14 Bedford St., nr. Downing St.; 212-647-0408).

9. Channing Daughters Wine Club
Surprise your budding oenophile with a bi-monthly shipment of two Long Island wines, produced by a rule-breaking vineyard that plants seldom- seen-in-these-parts grapes like Muscat Ottonel and Blaufrankisch. One-year minimum (631-537-7224).

Related:

• Archive: “Guides”
• Articles by Robin Raisfeld | Rob Patronite
• Table of Contents: Nov 26, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!