Looking for tasty gift ideas for someone to shop for? Check out these Rhode Island foods
There's a lot to be said in favor of gifting food.
First, it can be nostalgic, bringing back memories of days on the beach or family dinners. Second, it's a great opportunity to shop locally. Third, it's a pretty affordable gift. Fourth, it's something you can give with some certainty the recipient will actually use. And fifth, it doesn't take up a lot of space in people's homes.
If any of those sound appealing to you, we've rounded up some Rhode Island food gift ideas. Try rounding up a few into a taste of Rhode Island gift basket or use them as gifts for family, friends, coworkers or whoever else is on your list. Heck, some of these would even make great stock stuffers.
Get a little salty
A literal taste of Narragansett Bay, Newport Sea Salt is hand-harvested from the waters of Brenton Reef, along Ocean Drive in Newport. The salts are harvested by veteran Matthew Mullins, who came up with the idea for Newport Sea Salt after falling in love with Italian finishing salts while stationed in Naples. When he came back and needed a new supplier, he discovered the fast-moving, shellfish-rich water along Aquineck's Island's rocky coast was the perfect spot to start making his own. Newport Sea Salt sells pure, rosemary and thyme, butcher's blend, fire salt, and Bella Napoli salt. For gifting purposes, we recommend the "build your own" 3-pack for $39, which comes in a gift-ready box. Bonus, a portion of the sale goes to Save the Bay.
Bring the Olneyville New York System Wiener sauce home
The special sauce that tops Olneyville New York System has been a secret since 1946. But, there is a way to make this Rhode Island favorite at home. For just $5.50 purchase the spice blend and follow the recipe on the package, with your choice of wiener, to make the classic Ocean State dish at home. It's not quite the same ambiance as the restaurant, but it is the next best thing.
Indulge in some Coffee Milk
While Autocrat Coffe Syrup is the standard (and just $15 on Amazon for 32 oz.), for a gift might we recommend going with a slightly more upscale version. Dave's Original Rhode Island Coffee Milk Syrup is premium stuff. Made with specialty grade Brazilian coffee, roasted at their Narragansett roastery, it's cold brewed then simmered with cane sugar and cassava root into a thick amber syrup. It's $12.75 for a 16 oz. bottle.
Bring back a taste of summer
For the person in your life who always wants to go to Del's, gift them some of the packets so they can make it at home. They come in lemon, watermelon, blueberry and lemon tea. A bonus of making them at home is you can use them to make a cocktail if you're looking for something a little extra. For a gift, we're partial to the classic lemon flavor. Get an 8-pack on Del's website for $15.
Gift the old-fashioned comfort of Johnny cakes
Johnny cakes are a beloved Rhode Island tradition, and while they might be associated with a May Breakfast, you can have them any day of the year. For the truest Johnny cake, the best option by far is Kenyon's Stone Ground White Corn Meal, which is the oldest operating manufacturing business in Rhode Island. A one-pound box is $6.90 on the Keyon's Grist Mill website.
Give them the whole Narragansett experience
It would be hard to pick just one item from Iggy's – how do you pick between clam cakes, doughboys and their fish n' chips? – so we're not going to. They've gathered together the mixes for all three dishes in their Gansett kit for $20. It even includes the clams.
Sweeten their food with some Aquidneck Island Honey
Giving honey as a gift has meant many things over the centuries. It's been used to celebrate peace, as a symbol of abundance, as a way to wish good health, happiness and a long life. Plus, local honey – like the sea salt above – carries a bit of the region in the flavor. For a local option, we like Newport-based Aquidneck Honey. On their website, you can order a three 1/2 pound jar gift box for $30.
Spice things up with some Rhode Island Red Hot Sauce
Add some spice to their life with the Rhode Island Red Hot Sauce. The sauce will add a bit of heat without overpowering your food, and is one of those condiments people will reach for again. A 5-ounce bottle is $5 at ShopRhody.com.
If you are a Rhode Island business that would like to be considered for future gift guides, email Katie Landeck at klandeck@gannett.com with a little information about what you sell.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island food gift guide: Classic local foods for a taste of RI
