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Buffalo-themed gift ideas for the foodies on your list

Nov 30, 2015 | Lifestyles

Provided by Buffalo Bites Food Tours

One thing you’ll always hear about Buffalo — from residents and visitors alike — is what an amazing selection of restaurants we have! While that is surely something to be proud of, the entire Western New York region is also becoming well-known for its incredibly fresh produce, locally produced food products, brewing and distilling industries, and a handful of amazing wine trails.

Mix in a growing nationwide trend to shop small and local, and you have a lot of tasty options for the food junkies on your holiday list. Whether conducting our Buffalo Bites Food Tours or just exploring our community, we’re always on the lookout for unique and tasty culinary gifts. Following are just a few of our favorites.

For the foodie who loves to cook
One of our favorites stops is D’Avolio Olive Oils, Vinegars & More, and with stores in Buffalo, Clarence, East Amherst, Ellicottville, Lewiston and Williamsville, you won’t have to travel very far to reach your destination. D’Avolio’s offers more than 50 handcrafted extra virgin olive oils and delicious balsamic vinegars that are guaranteed to make your mouth water! For the dietary conscious, they also have a variety of healthy options, not to mention a lot of great recipe ideas online and in-store. Mangia!

For the foodie into the craft beer craze 
Decades ago, Buffalo was home to numerous legendary breweries such as Simon Pure and Iroquois. In recent years, breweries have been returning to the Western New York landscape in record numbers, led by suds producers such as Big Ditch Brewing Company, Flying Bison Brewing Company, Community Beer Works, Hamburg Brewing Company, Rusty Nickel Brewing,  Resurgence Brewing Company, OFW Brewing Co. and several others. Many offer tours, tastings and special events at their facilities at little or no cost. You’ll also find their offerings everywhere from bars and restaurants to beverage, convenience and grocery stores. A freshly filled growler with a set of pint glasses will make a terrific gift. Or, how about a beer-making kit for the brewing fanatic? Throw in a bag of salty pretzels and you’ve just made someone very happy! Cheers!

For the out-of-town foodie/expat
We don’t know about you, but when our out-of-town friends and family return to Buffalo, they don’t leave without one or all of the following: Sponge candy, Weber’s Horseradish Mustard, Bison Dip and Sahlen’s Hot Dogs immediately come to mind. When they’re in town, it’s inevitable that we’ll stop at local markets and specialty shops such as the Lexington Coop for breads and cheese, Purr-fect Tea & Gift Emporium, Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market, and Globe Market for custom gift baskets. Speaking of the Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market, we’re pleased to hear that WNY’s favorite seasonal marketplace will now be available year-round when they move indoors — to Buckham Hall on the SUNY Buffalo State campus — from December through April.

Your favorite Buffalo foods can also be ordered 365 days a year and shipped to any destination from sites such as Buffalofoods.com and https://store.citymade.com/, so there’s no reason whatsoever to go without your favorite food fix.

For the sweet tooth foodie
Oh, wow. There are just so many great options … in fact, too many to list. So, we’ll leave you with two of our all-time favorites: Watson’s Chocolates and Firefly Cupcakes! A candy-making tradition for 70 years, this chocolatier is especially well-know for its famous sponge candy! And, they’ve grown to now include eight WNY locations.

Located in East Aurora, home of the Roycroft Campus, Firefly Cupcakes offers festive cupcakes, cookie trays and more, and they feature new flavors each week! Best of all, they ship nationally, too.

For the foodie who likes to explore
And finally, for the foodie who likes eat and explore, treat them to tickets for a Buffalo Bites Food Tour! Our three-hour guided walking tour of Buffalo’s Elmwood Village and the Village of East Aurora will fill your head with historic facts and your belly with the flavors of these welcoming communities. But don’t take our word for it — here’s what they’re saying about us on TripAdvisor:
• “This is one of the best tours I have participated in. Laura, our guide and company founder, did an amazing job of keeping us well fed and well informed.”
• “Buffalo Bites Food Tours was a wonderful way to spend time with our friends, learn interesting facts about Buffalo and taste some GREAT food.”
• “What an amazing way to spend an afternoon! As an out of towner it was a great way to experience the culture of such a fantastic city, both through food and history.”

For more information and ideas, please visit Buffalo Bites Food Tours today at http://buffalobitesfoodtours.com/.

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