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Food & Drink

59 picks

Food & Drink · Acquired · 2024
“Dandelion Chocolate. These people are the best. The factory is so freaking cool, and the chocolate is absolutely amazing. They are a part of the bean-to-bar movement... If you're looking for any late holiday gifts or just any good chocolate, I can't recommend Dandelion enough.”
Ben Gilbert, who made this pick
Ben Gilbert, Co-host, Acquired

Dandelion Chocolate

Single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate from the San Francisco maker he and David toured — some of the best chocolate you'll taste, and a great gift.

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Food & Drink · Acquired · 2024
“specifically the Dandelion advent calendar... This is the single greatest advent calendar that has ever been created in the history of mankind. The artwork, the design, the presentation... every day is an ornament that can go on the tree... Then the chocolate inside.”
David Rosenthal, who made this pick
David Rosenthal, Co-host, Acquired

Dandelion Chocolate Advent Calendar

The single greatest advent calendar ever made, in his telling — each day an ornament for the tree, with chocolate from chocolatiers around the country inside.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“They're just a little too pricey to be an everyday nut butter, which makes them the absolute perfect gift.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Ground Up nut butters

Small-batch nut butters in cashew, macadamia, and cardamom blends, priced as a treat rather than an everyday staple.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“You're trying to get your cheese-based sauce to maintain consistency through temperature fluctuations.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Sodium Citrate

The emulsifying salt that turns grated cheese and pasta water into a silky, foolproof cacio e pepe sauce.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“Chorizo Bilbao is a pain to find in stores. Only one place in Seattle sells it.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Chorizo Bilbao

Hard-to-find Spanish cured chorizo for paella, stews, and tapas, now available to order online.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“Kabuto's soba, while not quite as good as the mountaintop spot in Karuizawa, is very delicious.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Kabuto soba (buckwheat) noodles

Buckwheat soba with a markedly better texture than supermarket brands when cooked al dente and shocked with ice.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“If you've been to Calabria, Naples, Sicily, and eaten the spicy foods of those regions, you've had Calabrian chili. This stuff.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Calabrian hot chili powder

Authentic Calabrian chili powder for genuinely spicy Mediterranean dishes, not an American stand-in.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“Cha Cha Matcha provides exactly that: ceremony-grade matcha sourced from Uji, Japan.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

Cha Cha Matcha ceremony-grade matcha

Ceremony-grade matcha sourced from Uji, Japan, for drinkers wary of lower-quality green teas.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“These Momofuku noodles are now a pantry staple for me, and I do use the provided seasoning.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

Momofuku instant noodle variety pack

An instant-ramen variety pack good enough to keep as a pantry staple, seasoning packets included.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“A flick of Liquid Sunshine on any vegetable, roasted, poached, whatever. I mostly use the Deep Black in marinades.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Rhea Goods cooking concentrates (Liquid Sunshine, Deep Black)

Concentrated cooking bases like fermented black garlic and preserved lemon that season vegetables and marinades fast.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“This brand is the best. Or, at least, my most consistent favorite.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Fiasconaro panettone

A consistently excellent Italian panettone, shelf-stable and worth treating like a gifted bottle of wine.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“This gift box has become my go-to gift for new parents, sick loved ones, and any friend who needs a little extra support.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

Soup, bread, and cookie gift box

A soup, bread, and cookie gift box with a metal ladle, a go-to for new parents or anyone under the weather.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“This Latina-owned small business makes delicious canned agua frescas. My personal favorite is Mango Habanero.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

Canned agua frescas

Latina-owned canned aguas frescas in flavors like mango habanero, refreshing with a mild spicy kick.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2022
“The macarons are delicious, and Kayla's Cake's various ecommerce options make their goods easy to buy.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

French macarons

French macarons that ship nationwide, with easy ordering on the bakery site or Amazon.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“Reliable, exceptional quality, beautifully packaged Italian pastries that cost more and are worth every penny.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Marchesi panettone

A reliably exceptional, beautifully packaged Italian panettone that ships well and is worth the splurge.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“In particular, I'm recommending the alfajores. If you're not sure where to start, I like Havanna and Cachafaz.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Alfajores (Havanna, Cachafaz)

South American alfajores from an extensive importer, with Havanna and Cachafaz as solid starting points.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“We tasted all of the different heirloom kernels, and they do have different flavors.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Amish Country Popcorn variety gift set

A sampler of heirloom popcorn kernels with subtly different flavors, a simple shareable treat.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“This gift set offers a taste of single-origin chocolate from three different countries, wrapped in stunning packaging.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate 3-bar gift set

A single-origin chocolate gift set spanning three countries, wrapped in standout packaging.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“Hatch chiles are one of the United States' best contributions to the spice world.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Hatch green chiles

New Mexico Hatch green chiles in whole, chopped, powdered, and salsa forms for the best green chile dishes.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“They also carry Torres' to-die-for potato chips in flavors like truffle, foie gras, and caviar.”
Rand Fishkin, who made this pick
Rand Fishkin, Cofounder & CEO, SparkToro

Torres premium potato chips

Spanish premium potato chips in indulgent flavors like truffle, foie gras, and caviar.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“For about a hundred bucks, you get a porkload of cured ham and a countertop stand.”
Scott Heimendinger, who made this pick
Scott Heimendinger, Culinary inventor; founder, Seattle Ultrasonics

Noel Jamon Serrano with stand and knife

A full leg of cured Spanish serrano ham with a countertop stand and knife, a statement piece for a crowd.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“When it comes to cooking with saffron, you'll know that a little really does go a long way.”
Amanda Natividad, who made this pick
Amanda Natividad, VP Marketing, SparkToro

La Mancha Saffron

Premium La Mancha saffron, a splurge ingredient where a couple of strands go a very long way.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“Nonalcoholic options are essential for the modern host.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Noughty Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Chardonnay

A non-alcoholic sparkling chardonnay good enough to keep on hand for hosting, no apology needed.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“It is truly one of the most ethereal aromas that a human can enjoy and it comes in a pretty tin good for gifting.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea

A jasmine pearl tea with an extraordinary aroma, packaged in a giftable tin.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“They're the GOAT, and David Schomer is responsible for myriad innovations in coffee.”
Scott Heimendinger, who made this pick
Scott Heimendinger, Culinary inventor; founder, Seattle Ultrasonics

Espresso Vivace coffee beans

Single-order beans shipped within a day or two of roasting, with a subscription for peak freshness.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“You can buy this classic Mexican fermented, pineapple, sugar, and cinnamon flavored beverage here in America now.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Tepache Sazon Pineapple

A ready-made take on classic Mexican fermented pineapple, cinnamon, and sugar, no risk of a kitchen explosion.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“Why not try some sal de gusano? They are delightful. They are a delicacy.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Gran Mitla Sal de Gusano (agave worm salt)

A traditional Oaxacan agave-worm salt, a spicy-savory rimming and seasoning delicacy.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“A couple of dashes mimics the acidity of about a half ounce of lime juice.”
Andrew Bohrer, Bartender and cocktail authority

Acid phosphate

A non-alcoholic acidulant that mimics citrus tartness in drinks and cooking, with a soda-history PDF included.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“One of my go-to gifts is kolaches. They're kid-friendly and I have a connection with them through my mom's southern roots.”
Matthew Brown, Guest contributor; Portland-based picky eater

Kolaches

Kid-friendly Texas kolaches that several bakeries will ship out of state, a warm and personal gift.

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Food & Drink · SparkToro · 2023
“I like buying people fancy-ass salt. Jacobsen salt is my favorite, it's from the Oregon coast.”
Geraldine DeRuiter, who made this pick
Geraldine DeRuiter, James Beard award-winning food writer

Jacobsen Salt Co. sea salt

Oregon-coast finishing salt, an affordable indulgence that works as a gift for almost anyone.

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