Shop local in Hamilton and Burlington this holiday season for the perfect foodie gift
Lake & Oak Tea Co.:
Lake & Oak Tea Co. is a female-powered wellness brand obsessed with fostering self-care rituals through their delicious Superfood Teas & Superfood Latte Blends. Owner Meredith Youngson created Lake & Oak Tea Co. in 2018 when she was looking for a natural solution to some of her health problems. These teas are simply divine and every cup you enjoy just makes you feel great! Meredith told us all about her teas: We pack every sip with adaptogens, superfoods & powerful plants for a blissed-out body and mind. Things you will never find in our blends? Sugar, sweeteners, or fillers - we let the plants speak for themselves." Order online here: shoplakeandoak.com/ You can select delivery or pick up at their Hamilton warehouse located at 110 Frid St.
The DSRT Company:
The DSRT Company is a small-batch gourmet chocolate business that focuses on inventive dessert-themed chocolate bars crafted layer by layer. Owner Summer Badawi's TikTok account https://www.tiktok.com/@dsrtco will make you hungry for chocolate for sure. We chatted with Summer, and she spoke passionately about her products: We bake and make fillings from scratch in-house where the bars are packaged and sent off to be enjoyed locally and internationally." Orders are primarily placed online and shipped or picked up from their Main Street location. They are planning a space so clients can visit them in-store. Order online here: thedsrtcompany.com/
Ward IV Coffee Bar:
One of the coolest bars and cafe in the east end of Hamilton, owner Sarah Kupferschmidt puts together cocktail kits that are both tasty and fun. These cocktail kits are perfect for a holiday gift, host gift, or even for your events," Sarah said. Their cocktail kits feature collaborations with other local and small businesses and all the kits come boxed and wrapped and include ready-made cocktails. For example, you can enjoy our Cotton Candy Delight which includes a tub of Candiwerx cotton candy and candy garnishes to add to the ready-made cocktail." Ward IV has partnered with such businesses as The DSRT Company, Candiwerx. Detour Coffee, Crown Point Candles, Crafted Tarts, and many others. Visit the cafe at 1441 Main St. E., Hamilton. For a complete list of their cocktail kits check out their website here wardfourcoffeebar.com
Buzz:
Every home cook needs an excellent quality apron, and you can get just that from Buzz in Burlington. Owner Rebecca Orlowski makes handmade gifts for all ages. Included at her shop are cute chef aprons for the mini chefs in your life. She also makes some patterns where you can get matching mini chef/big chef aprons. To have a look at her beautifully hand-crafted designs, visit her on Instagram at instagram.com/whats.thebuzzz.
The Platter Company:
A night off from cooking makes the perfect gift. Jacqui Cronin owner of The Platter Company - Gourmet Market in Burlington is a haven for gourmet food. Jacqui explains, our retail location in Burlington is an old school market where visitors can wander and choose from an array of artisanal products, charcuterie for two, fine cheese, olives, frozen prepared meals, appetizers, sandwiches, quiche, dips! Everything is made in-house in small batches with no preservatives."
The Platter Company Gourmet Market now ships their frozen gourmet prepared meals and appetizers anywhere across Ontario. Each meal is carefully packaged and frozen to preserve freshness. Stock up a loved one's freezer with a gourmet meal delivery. Order arrives right at your door ready to heat and eat. The Platter Company Gourmet Market is located at 175 Plains Rd. E. in Burlington. Head over to their website to see how to order: theplattercompany.ca/
Dawson's Hot Sauce:
If you are in Hamilton, you likely have a bottle of Dawson's Hot Sauce's hand-crafted sauce in your fridge already. This family business is owned by a father and son duo, Bruce, and Brodie Dawson. Their sauces have made international waves and you can often see celebrities trying their sauces on the extremely popular show, Hot Ones." Their massive line of hot sauces will surely satisfy any spicy fan on your shopping list. Bruce explained that their sauces are a fan favourite because they are not a slap-in-your-face spicy but the perfect balance of heat and flavour that really compliments whatever dish you use it on. Visit the Dawson's Hot Sauce team at 435 Barton St. E., Hamilton, or shop online on their website here: dawsonshotsauce.com/
Joyce Leung is a food writer and blogger who lives in Hamilton. Find her teaching Asian cooking classes around the city when she is not dining out and trying all the delicious restaurants of Hamilton. Joyce will not write about any organizations she has a separate business relationship with. You can reach her at joyce@joyceofcooking.com