Time for the annual Coquitlam Farmers Market Christmas gift list: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, 633 Poirier St., Coquitlam.
You can put together an multinational basket of ingredients for an adventurous cook.
Amazing Foods spice blends takes you to India, Bali Bites peanut sauce takes you to Indonesia, Ca Croustille’s croissants will have you wandering Paris and Cocoaro Craft Chocolate travels the world with its single-origin creations. Maybe Japan? Koji Fine Foods will have their Koji Salt and its refillable miso soup boxes. And you can even have a Japanese dessert from Kanadell Japanese Bakery.
Do you have a breakfast fan on your list?
A loaf of organic bread from Bread Affair would be amazing paired with a tub of Golden Ears Cheesecrafters’ award-winning Neufchatel and jam from Coquitlam River Cannery or spiced apple butter from Pavana Orchard. Vlad’s Apiary has local honey to make your toast even better.
Or maybe you have a single person who isn’t a fan of cooking for one. Simply Delish will be there with its outstanding soup and chili mixes. Pair three of those with a half dozen Sweet Thea scones and some Island Jerky, and you have the makings for a few great meals
If there is a health-focused foodie on your list, you can create a special parcel for them. Bone broth from Ela Made Me Do It, protein bars from Whey Kitchen, power truffles from Artisan Nutrition and baking mixes from Sugar Free Kitchen would make a nourishing gift.
For the bartender on your list, Kics Lemonade (that’s me!) has syrups that are great for cocktails, Coquitlam’s Mariner Brewing will be on hand with its fabulous suds, as will Paper Brewing; Craft Wilder Kombucha is a stellar mixer, Sea Cider and West Coast Cider have crisp sparkling ciders, and John Spice is wonderful for rimming a Caesar glass. And if you want to eat your alcohol, check out Drunken Chocolatier’s infused treats.
All that shopping making you hungry? Stop by Royal City Donuts for a great big piece of deliciousness to keep you fuelled. Or perhaps a smaller treat, Greek Honey Ballz-Loukoumades. Oh Sweet Day will be there, too, in case cheesecake is more your style. Fanny will also have her shortbread and cookie boxes.
Need more snacks? Gary’s Kettle Corn will be on site. If you really need a meal, Big Red’s Poutine can take care of that. And if all you need is a caffeine hit, Biscotti Joe will be brewing up fresh coffee all day — check out the hot chocolate, too.
Moving on from the food gifts, maybe you need jewelry for someone. Cyrena Jean Jewellery has the coolest array of mix-and-match pieces so you are sure to find just the right one while Dee’s Jewelry Box offers the perfect place to put it.
Clay with Val and Penny Swanson Pottery have a great array of handmade pottery items to fit any budget. How about a small piece of pottery with a bar of soap from Mediterra Soap Company for a thoughtful gift? That is what I always have in my bathroom. Or perhaps the simple lines of the soap from PoCo Soap Co. suit your esthetic better? Either way, you get cruelty-free products.
Dis Da Bomb bath bombs fit in this theme, too, and your purchase supports the Community Ventures Society — a double gift. Rounding out the bathroom theme is Einai Designs. While Nadine has so many cool products, her hair towels are amazing.
I always mention Art Cards by Valerie as the perfect way to top off your gift but the cards can be a gift themselves as they are lovely for framing, too. More art is available from Sun Earth Moon; a new vendor, Kelsey takes her inspiration from nature and donates partial proceeds to pancreatic cancer research in honour of her mom.
The last four vendors are so unique, I can’t find a way to link them…
Fresh-N Home pouches solve a couple of common home problems… odours and fruit flies — a great little stocking stuffer.
Earth Paws Pet Products has healthy treats for the fur babies in your life. My pups love the sweet potato chews.
Mama Bear Essentials focuses on children’s clothing but let me tell you, its adult stuff is amazing. From dresses and rompers to super soft bamboo slouch hats, you can get lots of gifts here.
Personal Touch is another lovely new vendor. They bring a delightful freshness to the market with their array of succulents — great for the green thumb in your life (or the black thumb, for that matter).
Karen Curtis is the Lemonade Lady (www.kicslemonade.ca) at the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam farmers markets. Her column runs monthly.
