Whether or not the individuals in your reward listing love domestically roasted espresso, spectacular spices, wine, sake, mezcal or pizza, there’s one thing scrumptious for everybody from a neighborhood restaurant or bakery.
Among the finest presents is a subscription from a few of the nation’s premier wine bars and outlets, together with Ototo in Echo Park and Alta Baja Market in Santa Ana. It’s a present that retains on giving all year long. They’ll ship bottles, or you possibly can decide them up. Or get a pasta-dinner subscription as an alternative. Pizza followers can have frozen pies delivered on to their doorstep.
A lot of L.A.’s favourite eating places are packaging their very own sauces, salsas and spices — and so are we. This 12 months L.A. Occasions Meals collaborated with Burlap & Barrel to create two new zesty spice blends: L.A. Asada for grilling and seasoning meat and greens, and Salty Angeleno for making micheladas and different cocktails and for sprinkling on fruit, salads and extra.
Listed here are a dozen one-of-a-kind presents from L.A. eating places (plus our personal spice blends).
In the event you make a purchase order utilizing a few of our hyperlinks, the L.A. Occasions could also be compensated.
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Ototo Sake Membership
Give a little bit of L.A’.s greatest sake bar to a beloved one this 12 months with a month-to-month subscription to Ototo’s Sake Membership. Each month, members obtain three 10-ounce bottles of sake from Ototo, which gained a James Beard Award in 2023 for excellent wine and different drinks program. Every month Ototo examines a brand new theme — a particular area, brewing approach or model of sake. Ototo contains tasting notes, steered pairings and details about the breweries. You’ll be able to decide up at Ototo’s Echo Park location after the fifteenth of every month. The sake additionally may be shipped inside California for a further price. — Cindy Carcamo
$58 a month at Ototo
Pizza packs from Pi00a
Give the reward of frozen pizza. Melody and Russ Stein’s pizza firm Pi00a (pronounced pie-oh-ah) launched a ghost kitchen in 2023 with their youngsters, Taysia and Rylan. A Deaf- and family-owned enterprise, Pi00a sells Neapolitan pizzas with Asian influences and a mission to supply jobs for the laborious of listening to. Pi00a isn’t a restaurant however pops up throughout Los Angeles and past, baking puffy-edged, char-crusted pizza pies with toppings reminiscent of miso eggplant; soppressata with chili crunch; Hainan hen; and Asian pear with pancetta. The household ships mix-and-match four-packs of frozen pizzas nationwide, with the choice so as to add a jar of Pi00a chili crunch. Additionally discover them within the freezer part at native shops reminiscent of LA Homefarm in Glassell Park, Carla’s Contemporary Market in Highland Park, Yoboseyo Superette in Little Tokyo and Anna’s Joint in Lengthy Seashore. — Betty Hallock
From $64 at Pi00a
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Salsa macha from Socalo
The salsa macha from Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken’s Socalo restaurant in Santa Monica is magic. Gifting somebody a jar is like passing alongside a surprise condiment, able to reworking something it touches right into a taste bomb. The dried arbol, chipotle and guajillo chiles flip chewy with a mild, gradual burn whereas the almonds, sesame seeds and pepitas supply a pleasant crunch. Drizzle it on eggs, use it as a dip to your favourite chips, spoon some onto tacos and burritos, burgers and sandwiches. It’s additionally good on a spoon. You should purchase jars of the salsa on the restaurant. — Jenn Harris
$7.50 at Socalo
(Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria)
A bottle of mezcal from Madre Oaxacan Restaurant and Mezcaleria
If in case you have a buddy who loves wine or spirits, combine it up by giving them a bottle of small-batch mezcal. The historically Mexican distillate is derived from the agave plant, typically utilizing strategies which have been honed throughout generations, with varieties that impart flavors starting from smoky to earthy and acidic. Owned by Ivan Vasquez, Madre celebrates the ancestral delicacies of his Oaxacan homeland, together with mole-filled tamales and tlayudas topped with cured meat. With areas in Palms, Torrance, West Hollywood and Santa Clarita, the restaurant boasts one of the vital intensive mezcal collections within the nation, together with hard-to-find Mexican distillates reminiscent of sotol, raicilla and tequila. Add on a hand-crafted copita for sipping the agave-based spirit. — Danielle Dorsey
Costs range at Madre
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Rooster fry, barbeque, barbecue rub and chili crisp from Alta Pantry by Alta Adams and Locol
A handful of latest merchandise from Alta Pantry can be found for diners who wish to make their very own crispy golden fried hen, tender juicy brisket and different fan-favorite dishes from chef-owners Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson. The hen fry and barbeque characteristic the identical recipes utilized by the restaurant. The dry rub is for Alta Adams’ brisket in addition to the ribs at lately opened Locol. Corbin says the product pairs effectively with smoke and can convey out the distinctive flavors of no matter you’re grilling. Alta Adams’ chili crisp blends Fresno chiles smoked in-house and dehydrated, house-roasted peanuts, porcini mushroom powder and Ethiopian berbere spice. Corbin calls it “crazy good” and recommends utilizing it on eggs within the morning or drizzling it over greens, rice or pasta. The merchandise may be bought within the restaurant or on-line. — D.D.
$7 to $10 at Alta Pantry
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions)
Vanilla-tonka bean maple syrup from Destroyer
At Jordan Kahn’s all-day cafe within the Hayden Tract neighborhood of Culver Metropolis, the strawberry French toast comes with a bowl of whipped crème fraîche surrounded by an ideal circle of sliced strawberries garnished with candied hibiscus. Alongside is a sidecar of vanilla-tonka bean maple syrup, heady with the almond-y, fresh-hay scent of coumarin — a naturally occurring chemical within the seeds of the kumaru tree. (In the event you eat an entire lot of tonka beans, the coumarin degree could be thought of harmful, however a tiny quantity goes a great distance.) You should purchase bottles of semi-illicit tonka-infused syrup amongst different pantry items on the cafe or on Destroyer’s web site. — B.H.
$25 at Destroyer
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions)
Café Cuate roasted espresso beans at Gusto Bread
Arturo Enciso is understood for the naturally leavened sourdough breads and pastries at his Lengthy Seashore bakery Gusto, together with his hueso baguettes and conchas de cacao. However lately Enciso began roasting his personal espresso beans on a Giesen machine at close by Rose Park Roasters beneath his personal label — Café Cuate — featured in lots of the espresso drinks on the intensive Gusto menu, reminiscent of an atolatte (atole plus latte) and the Xicano made with espresso, scorching water and piloncillo syrup. You should purchase baggage of the roasted complete beans to take dwelling, or to provide as presents. Lately, a mix referred to as Cloud Folks mixed two single-variety, high-mountain coffees grown within the Sierra Sur area of Oaxaca. Additionally search for a pink bourbon selection espresso from finca Sierra Morena in Colombia, “gracefully tart.” — B.H.
$19 to $21 at Gusto Bread
Denim work jacket and apron at Chifa
Few restaurant uniforms are as fashionable as Chifa’s, however then, few eating places are co-founded by vogue designers. Humberto Leon, who additionally co-founded vogue model Opening Ceremony, oversaw the employees apparel at his household’s extremely aesthetic Chinese language-Peruvian-Taiwanese restaurant in Eagle Rock. The denim work jacket and lengthy apron are made in L.A. and designed by Leon, who grew up in L.A. “obsessed with this whole Americana vibe.” He created a glance that will mix Americana silhouettes reminiscent of barn jackets however accent them with nods to his Chinese language heritage. The result’s an outsized denim work jacket mounted by frog buttons; lengthy denim aprons, impressed by matriarch “Popo” Wendy Leon’s years in formal catering, additionally use denim and frog buttons. “I think as an Asian American kid, it’s this combination of my two worlds colliding,” Humberto Leon stated. “That’s what Chifa is: It’s about this melting pot of ideas.” — Stephanie Breijo
$95 for apron and $195 for work jacket at Chifa
Mole reward bins at Guelaguetza
Silken, wealthy and aromatic with spices, Guelaguetza’s moles are a factor of magnificence in all their colours and flavors. The James Beard Award-winning Oaxacan restaurant within the coronary heart of Koreatown cooks up a rainbow of moles and dozens of different regional specialties, and because of the restaurant’s retail line of mole starter pastes, imported chocolate, baggage of masa and dried beans, so are you able to. Offered in jars or pouches, Guelaguetza’s mole starters may be bought individually or in reward bins; some reward bins include solely mole, some include beans and masa, and others embrace cookbooks by co-owner Bricia Lopez. I’ve picked up jars of mole starters from the little reward store contained in the bricks-and-mortar, and I’ve ordered a mole reward set for a buddy’s wedding ceremony throughout the nation. It is a gold-star reward year-round, however its warming spices are particularly good for the vacations. Present units can be found for pick-up within the restaurant, however in case you’re delivery them, place all vacation orders by Dec. 16. — S.B.
$15 to $75 at Guelaguetza
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Phin filter at Nam Espresso
Vince Nguyen has devoted the previous few years of his life to popularizing Vietnamese espresso throughout L.A. and Orange County, and now he’s making it even simpler to get pleasure from at dwelling. His East Hollywood espresso store serves Vietnam-grown beans remodeled into pandan lattes, wealthy and foamy egg coffees, ube-cream lattes, sugarcane-juice coffees and past, however the roaster additionally gives his personal branded phin filter, a conventional Vietnamese brewing vessel that slow-drips espresso immediately into your cup. The filters are available three colours — purple, copper or black — and may be bought individually or as a part of a set with a bag of Nguyen’s personal Nam espresso beans. Use a phin for a powerful cup of basic Vietnamese espresso, or go to Nguyen’s recipe web page for extra inspiration whereas brewing at dwelling. — S.B.
$13.50 (or $30 with espresso) at Nam Espresso
Bucatini Pasta Membership Field set
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Pasta Membership reward field or 3-month subscription at Bucatini
Echo Park specialty meals store Bucatini does an knowledgeable job of curating its bevy of pantry gadgets and always-on-trend dwelling items — and the identical may be stated about its new Pasta Membership. Launched earlier this 12 months in collaboration with social media account Pasta Girlfriend, the limited-time subscription service delivers a field stuffed with every thing wanted for a pasta-centric feast every month, for 3 months in a row. Subscriptions may be bought and gifted for 2025’s Pasta Membership, but when a one-time bounty of Bucatini items is what you’re after, the store and Pasta Girlfriend are providing a particular reward field for the vacations. It features a information to internet hosting, desk decor, a hat and different knickknacks along with the same old staples you’ll discover within the Pasta Membership subscription: a recipe and all of the components required to make it, plus a number of surprises. What’s extra, the reward field comes wrapped in custom-designed vacation paper for the festive pasta lover in your life. — S.B.
$125 for the vacation field or $130 for a three-month subscription at Bucatini
Macabre tiki mugs at Dying & Co. Market
Some drinkware is merely purposeful, whereas others are additionally artworks. The latter is very true of the tiki mugs from Dying & Co., the award-winning, trendsetting nationwide cocktail bar with a foothold within the Arts District. It sells consuming vessels so lovely they’re value displaying year-round. Lifting inspiration from mythology, the macabre and even native landmarks reminiscent of L.A.’s personal Capitol Information Constructing (depicted cut up proper down the center as if within the midst of an enormous earthquake), Dying & Co.’s ceramic tiki mugs are darkish and moody — and so they’re launched in gorgeous element and limited-edition drops. Tiki mugs have a protracted, sturdy historical past rooted in handmade ceramics, and these are made in collaboration with designers reminiscent of sculptor and Disney Imagineer Tom “Thor” Thordarson. For the tiki lover or macabre appreciator in your life, skip the mass-market-produced ceramic parrot mugs and go for one thing spooky and small-batch. — S.B.
$120 apiece at Dying & Co. Market
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
Alta Baja Wine Membership
Give your fellow oenophile one thing totally different this 12 months: Mexican wine. Alta Baja Market in Santa Ana has one of many largest collections of Mexican wines within the U.S. Its Baja Wine Membership can ship subscriptions of three- or six-bottle packages 4 occasions a 12 months. Across the holidays you can even buy a one-time three-bottle reward bundle. Alta Baja companions with La Competencia Imports in Los Angeles and delivers a considerate choice of wines from throughout Mexico, together with Baja California and central Mexico. Effectively-known wineries — Casa de Piedra, Bruma or Casa Magoni — are normally included together with smaller and hard-to-find labels, reminiscent of a Nebbiolo from Casa Jipi, an unbiased challenge by Lulú Martínez Ojeda, one among Mexico’s main winemaker in Mexico and likewise vintner at Bruma. — C.C.
$96 to $182 at La Competencia Imports
(Taylor Arthur / Los Angeles Occasions)
L.A. Occasions Meals x Burlap & Barrel spice blends
You’re going to wish to put Salty Angeleno michelada seasoning on every thing. It’s the spice mix L.A. Occasions Meals created with Burlap & Barrel for making micheladas and for utilizing it to rim all our glasses of beer and cocktails. However the spicy-sweet sprinkle can also be improbable on fruit or salads. L.A. Asada is our new spice mix for grilling — smoky with chiles, mesquite and pimenton, it’s additionally the right seasoning for home made tacos and vegetable dishes reminiscent of calabacitas. — B.H.
$11.99 every or $35.97 for all three at Burlap & Barrel
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions)
Wine tote at Adams Wine Store
I do know. You most likely have already got 37 tote baggage. However this one is my new favourite carry-all. Adams Wine Store is the specialty bottle retailer related to restaurant Alta Adams within the burgeoning West Adams neighborhood. Specializing in wines made by ladies and BIPOC producers everywhere in the world and based by sommelier Ruben Morancy, AWS has a range that includes a variety of fun-drinking labels. And guess what? You’ll be able to put these bottles in particular slots that line the within of the tote bag. The bag additionally has a zipper, one other key characteristic, to make sure nothing falls out whilst you’re purchasing. Use it for every thing. — B.H.
$25 at Adams Wine Store
Costs and availability of things and experiences within the Present Information and on latimes.com are topic to alter.
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