Many people have asked where to find the hostess gift items that I discussed in my ABC's View From the Bay Segment on creating Homemade Hostess Gifts. Many of the ideas that centered around fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheeses and herbs can be found at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market or at many of the other fine Farmer's Markets that have cropped up around the Bay Area. Specifically, the wonderful peaches used in our Peach Chutney came from Blossom Bluff Orchards, the blackberries used in our Blackberry Syrup came from Yerena Farms, the Tamari Almonds from Lagier Ranches, the Mt Tam Cheese from Cowgirl Creamery and the assortment of fresh organic herbs from the Kingdom of Herbs. You can find recipes for our wonderful Peach Chutney and Blackberry Syrup on the View From the Bay Hostess Gifts segment. As a tasty alternative to our Peach Chutney, you might try June Taylor's lovely Quince Paste. It is fabulous with the Mt. Tam!
In our business, presentation makes all the difference. The same is true for gifts. Often what makes a gift special is the container in which it comes. With a little hunting, you can find unique, fun and inexpensive containers everywhere. The under $5.00 bamboo box I used came from Dandelion on Portrero Ave. in San Francisco. Dandelion is one of my favorite places to find unusual,fun and rich looking (yet inexpensive) containers to really finish a gift, giving it that special feeling. Also wonderful is The Gardener at the Ferry Building where I found the the great baskets used on the VFTB segment.
The main thing to remember when considering a host or hostess gift is that it need not be expensive but it will be more memorable if you put some of yourself into it.
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