Every year, we present ideas for thoughtful gifts that support local businesses, artisans and artists. Some are advertisers. Others are folks whose products caught our eye. You can spend as little as a few bucks to hundreds of dollars, but whatever your budget, shopping at your local bakery, bookstore, farmers market, small restaurant or local business keeps your money in the community. We encourage everyone to think outside the big box and spend where it makes a difference: in our own backyard.
Sara Averbook Kaplan and her Miami Beach Botanical Garden Coloring Book
Books and Coloring Books
Miami Beach Garden Coloring Book
WHAT: Sara Averbook Kaplan, who illustrated our award-winning Bananas cover last fall and whose sons Sam and Simon are the stars of O, Miami Poetry Festival’s Poetry in Pajamas event every April, takes us on a coloring book tour of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Frankie the Flamingo leads the journey. Look for illustrations of the human characters at the Garden, too.
HOW MUCH: $10
WHERE TO BUY: At the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Stop by during their annual Botanical Bazaar Dec. 14 and pick up lots of other fun gifts.
The Miami Coloring Book
WHAT: 52 pages of illustrations and brief descriptions that tell the story of Miami through its people, places and environment, including the Seminole, Julia Tuttle, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, bananas, native butterflies, Little Haiti and Little Havana.
HOW MUCH: $14
WHERE TO BUY: Online and at the Legion Park Farmers Market on Saturdays.
Pin Pan Pun Subiendo el Volumen + El Cuban Coloring Book
WHAT: ¡Te la comiste! More clever Cubanisms from the folks who brought you Pin Pan Pun, a handy illustrated guide to Cuban dichos. The coloring book is perfect for kids who may already know what “La Chancleta” means. Instructive for all South Floridians. They also sell holiday stickers and cards.
HOW MUCH: Pin Pan Pun Vol. 2 $18.95 plus shipping; El Cuban Coloring Book $10.95 plus shipping.
WHERE TO BUY: Online (special holiday deals available through Dec. 2).
Subscription to your favorite edible magazines!
WHAT: Subscribe to edible South Florida – and other titles in the US and Canada! Yes, we’re a free publication, but you can subscribe to have four issues delivered via first-class mail.
WHERE TO BUY: Edible subscriptions
Collectibles
Handcrafted Figurines at Fruit and Spice Park
WHAT: One-of-a-kind figurines created from seed pods, dried flowers and other parts of subtropical plants at Redland Fruit and Spice Park. A little story explains the parts that were used in handcrafting each named figurine. Made on site so 100% local, highly collectible and truly adorable.
HOW MUCH: From $10
WHERE TO BUY: At the gift shop at Fruit and Spice Park, where you can also find local honey, botanical books and other unusual items. If you can’t make it in, call to find out which figurines are available.
Food and Drink Events
Key West Food & Wine Festival Tickets
WHAT: Waterfront tastings, winemaker/chef collabs and local events that present an authentic taste of Key West. This year’s event – One Island, One Ocean, One Earth – highlights environmental sustainability and features the art of Andreas Franke.
HOW MUCH: From $35
WHERE TO BUY: Key West Food and Wine Festival
Key West Food and Wine Festival
South Beach Wine and Food Festival Tickets
WHAT: Five days of dining, drinking and fun with celeb chefs and renowned wine and spirits producers at various venues in South Florida from Feb 19-23. Spend as little as $25 (for Foodie Movie Night in the Park events, hosted by celebs like chef Jacques Torres or Valerie Bertinelli) or $400 for Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best, and many events in between. The website makes it easy to search events by price, day and type of event.
HOW MUCH: From $25
WHERE TO BUY: SOBEWFF
VeritageMiami Craft Beer Tasting, Brunch, Interactive Dinner
WHAT: Series of fundraising food and craft beer events that support VeritageMiami, where proceeds benefit United Way of Miami-Dade and its work in education, financial stability and health. If you want to entertain a group of people, and support a worthy cause at the same time, you can buy a table. Chef Michael Schwartz heads up the brunch (Mar. 15) and chef Giorgio Rapicavoli headlines the interactive dinner (Feb. 28).
HOW MUCH: Varies
WHERE TO BUY: VeritageMiami
Sunday Brunch at Taste of Redland
WHAT: Monthly Sunday brunches under the banyan, with live music and multiple stations of dishes made with locally harvested produce, fresh Florida seafood and grass-fed Florida longhorn beef.
HOW MUCH: Adults $99, kids $25, under 6 free
WHERE TO BUY: Taste of Redland
Baked Goods
Pamela Wasabi Vegan Baked Goods
WHAT: Vegan and gluten-free cakes, cookies, brownies and other treats made with high-quality ingredients from artisan baker Pamela Wasabi
HOW MUCH: Starts at around $20 (Psst: Use code EDIBLE for online purchases for a discount.)
WHERE TO BUY: Shop online or find at retail locations including Panther Coffee, The Plantisserie, Mima Market, The Golden Hog on Key Biscayne, Love Life Time Out Market on South Beach, Vegan Fine Foods and Green Bar and Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale.
Pamela Wasabi
Zaytouna Foods
WHAT: Started by Syrian refugee women who resettled in South Florida, Zaytouna (featured in our winter 2018 issue) has branched out, selling their Middle Eastern baklava and ghraybeh (cookies) in Whole Foods Markets in South Florida and offering a host of products online, including chocolate zaatar bark, chocolate walnut baklava, maamoul with dates, marzipan, labne balls in olive oil, and Aleppo laurel oil soap.
HOW MUCH: From $10
WHERE TO BUY: Whole Foods Markets in Pinecrest, South Beach, Pembroke Pines, Palm Beach Gardens and in Orlando, and online.
Zaytouna gift box
Farmers Market Finds
Who needs a mall when you can shop at your farmers market? For an extra-special gift, pack a basket or reusable bag with artisan foods, produce, honey, plants, skin care products and other local finds.
Arsht Center Farmers Market
WHAT: Market Mondays features local produce, Honi Lifestyle’s wide variety of honey products, and other artisans. Chef Allen hosts a plant-based farm-to-table dinner for a reasonable $30 or $48 with wine pairing. Reservations here.
WHEN AND WHERE: Arsht Center Mondays 4-8:30, with free parking in Lot C
MORE INFO: Adrienne Arsht Center Market Mondays
Honi Lifestyle
Southwest Community Farmers Market
WHAT: Local produce from Urban Oasis and Farmer Fred is a welcome gift. Farmer Fred also sells homemade goat soap, bread and kombucha. Martica’s Sweet Creations include chocolate chip cookies and magic pie. Gifted By Nature sells skin care products, including moringa hand and body sugar scrubs, cedar and eucalyptus insect repellent and body and face care kits.
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturdays 9am-3pm at Tropical Park, Bird Road entrance
MORE INFO: Southwest Community Farmers Market
Gifted by Nature sugar scrubs
Community Farmers Markets in Broward
WHAT: At these greater Fort Lauderdale markets, pick up local Farmers Market honey in a wide variety of flavors, plus CBD-infused honey (handy gift boxes, too); Happy Dog Bakery pet treats; classic pastries from JW Pastry; plus artisan foods and plants.
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturdays at Plantation Heritage Park; Sundays at Tamarac Veterans Park; Thursdays at Broward Health Imperial Point
MORE INFO: Community Farmers Markets
Pinecrest Farmers Market
WHAT: Good gift-friendly selection of artisanal products, including baked goods from Zak the Baker; kava from Big Kahuna; turmeric tonic from LNB Groves; kombucha from Counter Culture; popcorn from Incredible Kettle Corn; fermented products from Angry Booch; plants and orchids; ceramic wares and prepared foods.
WHEN AND WHERE: Sundays 9-3 at Pinecrest Gardens
MORE INFO: Green Market Co-Op
Wine
Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe
WHAT: Proprietor Jeffrey Wolfe not only knows his wines and what to pair them with. Thanks to decades of experience in the industry, he’s also savvy about South Florida restaurants, foods and pretty much anything else. His commitment to supporting small family growers is one of the reasons his quarterly column is especially valuable. You can shop online, but when you visit his store, you’ll probably get to see his friendly golden retrievers.
HOW MUCH: All prices
WHERE: 124 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
MORE INFO: Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe
Tropical Fruits and Vegetables
Robert Is Here
WHAT: You know this iconic family fruit stand’s tropical fruit shakes, guacamole, Cuban sandwiches and pyramids of neatly stacked mamey sapotes. Why not share their tropical fruits with friends? Share the flavors of South Florida and ship seasonal treats, like dragon fruit and passionfruit, chutneys and salsas, even hot sauce.
HOW MUCH: Prices vary
MORE INFO: Shop online or visit their fruit stand in Florida City on the way to Everglades National Park.
Taste of Redland
WHAT: Redland-raised fruits and veggies and local honey shipped fresh from the harvest. Seasonal choices in the winter include limes, dragon fruit, Thai guava, sapodilla and avocado. Check during the rest of the year for other seasonal favorites, including mango, lychee and longan.
HOW MUCH: Prices vary
MORE INFO: Taste of Redland
Hungry Harvest
WHAT: Buy a gift card for this produce delivery service that saves foods from going to waste and supports the Lotus House Women’s Shelter. Their produce includes lots of options – different sizes, prices and types, like organic-only. These cards are especially good for last-minute purchases since they transfer via email.
HOW MUCH: Gift cards start at $15 denominations
MORE INFO: Hungry Harvest
Hungry Harvest food delivery
For Home and Garden
Aragon 101
WHAT: Erica Guzman’s charming home design shop is freshly updated, with an expanded cooking class kitchen and a carefully curated selection of housewares, cookbooks and unique finds at all price points. Beautifully designed cruets, cutting boards, utensils, serving dishes, glassware and more make perfect gifts. Or consider her popular cooking classes, but buy now – they sell out quickly.
WHERE: In the heart of Coral Gables, a block north of Miracle Mile
MORE INFO: Aragon 101
Isabel Fine Home Accessories
WHAT: Exquisite and highly personal collection of housewares and local artwork, glassware and serving dishes and fun items that spark joy for givers and recipients.
WHERE: 7334 Red Road, South Miami
MORE INFO: Isabel Fine Home Accessories
Miami Beach Botanical Garden Gift Shop
WHAT: Botanically themed products, candles, clothing, accessories, seeds, books for young and old, all items exquisitely curated, open when the Garden is, in a relaxing and gorgeous tropical setting. On Dec. 15, their annual botanical bazaar highlights artisans plus offers food and drink for a special experience. Ellen Kanner, award-winning author, Soulful Vegan writer and recipe developer presents Holiday Treats with Seasonal Produce: cooking demo and book signing.
WHERE: Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive
MORE INFO: Miami Beach Botanical Garden
Chocolate
Cao Chocolates
WHERE: Their shop is 9800 SW 77 Ave., Pinecrest; their bars are found at Milam’s Market and other retailers. Or buy online.
MORE INFO: Cao Chocolates
Garcia Nevett
WHAT: Sisters Susana and Isabel Garcia Nevett make all their fine chocolates by hand using Venezuelan chocolate.Their chocolates have been awarded prizes by Good Food Awards Academy of Chocolate and International Chocolate Awards
WHERE: South Miami at 7312 SW 57th Ave., or shop online
MORE INFO: Garcia Nevett
