It’s easy to put off certain holiday gift purchases until the very last second, but with the complications of shipping and shopping during the pandemic, the odds are stacked against procrastinators. Fortunately, there are still a lot of great gifts out there for folks who need to snag something great for a friend or family member on short notice.
All of these items are related to eating, drinking, and restaurants, and most of them are available for online ordering. The vast majority must be picked up curbside, while a few like virtual events require no face-to-face interaction whatsoever. Those risking it with shipping should read the fine print and select the option that will ensure the item arrives at its destination on time. For more gift ideas visit Eater Shopping.
Food
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Caramel Cake
- $89
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Many people won’t be lugging gifts across state lines this year and that’s okay. Anyone can send the gift of Good Cakes and Bakes treats like this organic Southern caramel cake, a family recipe from chef April Anderson.
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Fancy Dates
- $50
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Of course, metro Detroit has a fancy date shop. Bateel in Birmingham sells gift boxes filled with premium dates and confections. The best part? They’re available for shipping.
Gift Sets
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Gift Boxes Delivered to Your Door
- $33
Prices taken at time of publishing.
An offshoot of Ferndale Project, the Peddler delivery service is offering curated holiday boxes with items from local businesses for delivery and pickup. Folks can choose from themed-boxes for coffee fans, beer lovers, candy fiends, and people who just need to take time for self-care.
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Folk Gift Boxes
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Folk has a diverse selection of gift boxes available for pickup ranging from a “rose box” with with all things pink to a “last-minute box” (very on-theme) filled with items like vermouth, fancy mustard, McClure’s pickles, and coffee. Prices start at $25 and up to $150 depending on the box.
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Christmas Extravaganza Bag
- $150
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Illustrator Maxine McCrann designed this tote, which comes stuffed with items from Rose’s Fine Food ranging from marinated artichokes to chocolate bars to chestnuts. It’s the perfect catchall gift for the holidays. Have it delivered somewhere in Detroit or the metro area on Wednesday, December 23, or arrange to pick up at the shop.
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Schramm’s Mead Box
- $48
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Schramm’s in Ferndale is selling a variety of gift sets feature mead pairings like the “ultimate cherry Coke” or a “Detroit ginger cocktail kit.” Shipping, local delivery, and pickup options are available with kit prices starting around $48.
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Rocco’s Italian Gift Box
- $50
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Rocco’s Italian Deli offers a variety of products for curbside pickup including some curated gift boxes featuring items like Italian wine, charcuterie, cheese, pasta, sauce, and crackers. Kits start at $50 and the boxes are customizable.
Stocking Stuffers
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Underberg
- $2
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Underberg, a German digestif, comes in a tiny bottle that’s perfect for slipping into an adult’s stocking. Batch Brewing Company currently carries Underberg for $2 a bottle. Pick it up curbside and maybe throw in some cans of local beer or a bottle of cider while you’re at it.
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Virtual Baking Class
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Ideal for that person who likes to bake or just really wants to learn how to bake, Sister Pie in West Village is offering tickets to virtual classes for 2021 with themes like “sweet and savory scones” or “seasonal pie.” Dress up the gift a bit with some non-virtual baking tools like a bench scraper or a French tapered rolling pin, available for curbside pickup.
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Virtual Cooking Class
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Chef Omar Anani of Saffron De Twah is now offering virtual cooking classes through the Table 22 platform as well as meal subscriptions. The cost of a class is $25 and folks can pre-purchase the ingredients for $45 (enough to feed four people).
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Fancy Chocolate Truffles
- $12
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Fill a stocking with a four-pack of chocolate truffles made by pastry chef Ben Robison of Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktail. The Oakland offers curbside pickup and delivery within a limited radius and also features holiday items in its shop from the Miracle cocktail pop-up.
Drinks
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A Mixed Pack of Local Beer
- $16
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Give the gift of local beer from Brewery Faisan in Islandview. The brewery is currently offering themed-mixed packs for fans of Belgian beers, hops, or dark, roasty styles. Prices vary depending on the size of the pack and the variety.
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Bitters Set
- $100
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pick up a whole selection of housemade bitters from orange to root beer for cocktail enthusiasts. The shop also features cute pins, barware, and shirts.
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Amaro Sodas
- $36
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Local soda brand Casamara Club specializes in non-alcoholic, herbaceous sodas. It’s made appearances on past gift guides and is a great bet for folks that like a not-too-sweet flavored seltzer. It’s also available for shipping.
Swag
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Jollof Shirt
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Fans of jollof and Yum Village can rep both with this Eat Jollof Rice shirt. It comes available in men’s and women’s sizes and in black and white. There’s even a hoodie. Maybe throw in some spices from the restaurant, too.
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Bumbo’s Shirt
- $16
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Fans of this popular Hamtramck neighborhood bar can proclaim their love with one of many t-shirts available in Bumbo’s online shop. They come in gray, black, and red with a cute retro design and are available for curbside pickup.
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Bikes & Coffee Socks
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Cyclists and coffee fans will approve of these wool socks from Bikes & Coffee in Woodbridge. They’re available by mail but may not make it in time for the holiday.
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Cairo Coffee Shirt
- $16
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Eastern Market neighborhood cafe is selling cute shirts, tote bags, pins, and bags of coffee from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, December 18, through Sunday, December 20.
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Cozy Pack
- $60
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Keep warm this winter with hand-thrown mugs and sweatshirts from Urbanrest Brewing Company in Ferndale. The neighborhood brewery offers curbside pickup.
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Fleece Blanket
- $25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
This Ann Arbor roastery has loads of fun gifts for the holidays including a travel-style fleece blanket that’s perfect for drinking warm beverages outside.
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Cold Truth Sweatshirt
- $40
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Vegan soft serve brand Cold Truth’s fun iconography-inspired illustrations look great on a crew neck sweater that will also keep friends and family warm while eating ice cream this winter.
Bowls, Barware, and Books
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Debbie Carlos Ilog Bowls
- $38
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Warda Patisserie is offering more than pastries and cakes in its online shop. The bakery is also selling gorgeous ilog bowls by artist Debbie Carlos. These hand-glazed bowls are named for the term “river” in Tagalog.
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Cocktail Books
- $18
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Castalia’s full collection of gastronomy and cocktail books are available for in-store pickup. The list of options includes manuals like The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and historical accounts of cocktail culture like David Wondrich’s Imbibe!
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Handmade Cocktail Mug
- $150
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Popular tropical cocktail bar Lost River is selling a variety of mugs for drinking at home including these locally made ones from Hamtramck Ceramck. These are collectable and there’s a limited supply of these mugs for sale.
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Holiday Cocktail Swag
- $35
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Both the Skip and the Oakland are serving carryout and delivery versions of the popular Cocktail Kingdom holiday pop-up juggernaut in 2020. Both bars offer festive drinks to-go and have mugs and glassware available for pickup, delivery, and shipping.
• The 2020 Eater Detroit Holiday Gift Guide [ED]
• Keep Your Bottles of Bubbles Sparkling for Days With These Wine Tools [E]
• All Christmas Coverage [E]
• All Holiday Coverage [E]