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1. DRESS IT UP DRESSING—“Old Family Recipe Makes Fortune for Local Woman” could soon be the headline for the Washington-area resident who makes this dressing. The vinai-grettes are shelf-stable for a month. They taste like you just made them. In red wine (my favorite), champagne, and apple cider. 9 oz. jar for $8.99.

Bethesda, Md.; V, MC, AE; Dec. 17 www.dressitupdressing.com

2. PATISSERIE POUPON—Classic French pastries for those who demand only butter. Tiny palmiers are crisp pastry sprinkled with sugar that leaves just the slightest touch of butter on your fingers; 36 for $12. The less famous but even more delicious kouign-amann is a crisp, buttery, sticky Breton pastry of bread dough folded with butter and sugar. 6 for $24.

Baltimore and Washington V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 19 www.patisseriepoupon.net

3. BISCOTTI GODDESS—A slightly softer version of traditional Italian biscotti allows you to enjoy them without dunking and still not chip a tooth. I liked vanilla almond, toffee pecan, orange cranberry, and lemon poppy. Packages of 12 any combo $20.

Charles City, Va., V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 17 www.biscotti-goddess.com

4. RED TRUCK BAKERY—Brian Noyes always offers something perfect, like the soft, moist Shenandoah Valley Apple Cake with a light maple glaze; 12 slices $24. Or tender cranberry-orange muffins with just the right bal-ance of sweet, tart, moist, and crunchy. 9 for $24.

Warrenton, Va.; V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 12 www.redtruckbakery.com

5. OLLI SALUMERIA—Seven varieties of richly flavored dry-cured pork salamis—from garlic to fennel seeds—make a grand antipasti plate and they keep for a long time. As good as any import. 6 oz. Four per package $57; five-pack $68.50 incl. shipping.

Manakin-Sabot, Va..V, MC, AE; Dec. 17 www.ollisalumeria.com

6. KARENKAY’S CAKES—This is the perfect gift, especially if you want to pass it off as your own. It looks homemade and tastes like an old family recipe. Old-fashioned, moist orange pumpkin cake with spices, orange zest, and butter with lots of pumpkin flavor is $65 and serves an army of at least 20.

Silver Spring, Md. V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 11 www.karenkaycakes.com

7. B. HALL, BAKER—Handmade whoopie pies, each about 2 ounces, look like little ver-sions of the commercial kind but taste nothing like them. Yummy French lemon with lemon curd; coffee caramel with homemade dulce de leche; dark chocolate with cream cheese; chocolate with raspberries. Butter, eggs, and milk are local; $34 a dozen.

Washington, D.C. V, MC; Dec. 12 www.bhallbaker.com

8. LANGDON WOOD—Whiskey barrel-aged Pennsylvania maple syrup gives a little kick to ice cream, pancakes, waffles -- even great as a dip for apple slices. 8 oz. $12, 12 oz. $18.

Washington, D.C. V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 18 www.langdonwood.com

9. THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY—The people known for their Virginia Chutney have branched with especially successful results. An 11-oz. jar of hot pepper jelly ($6.50) is sensational, even for those who were served hot pepper jelly with everything

all their lives. Add Cranfiggi chutney to the shopping list (10 oz. $6.95). A holiday 3-pack ($19.95) can include hot pepper jelly.

Washington, Va. AE, V, MC; Dec. 17 www.virginiachutney.com

10. SOCIETY FAIR—Try any and all of these at the latest outpost for the celebrated chef of Restaurant Eve Cathal Armstrong.

Eammon’s mix for Irish whiskey 12 oz. $16

Cosmo mix; add vodka and triple sec 12 oz. $12

Cocktail onions 12 oz. $4.99

Green pork sausages with mustard greens and chard $5.99 lb

Montbeliard pork sausages, cold smoked with cumin $5.99

Pate de compagne: with gin soaked currants pork, brandied apricots and pistachio, or rum raisin. $14.99 lb

Pate en croute with pork, figs soaked in Armag-nac, pistachios, $18 lb

Alexandria, Va. V, MC, AE,D; Dec. 17 www.societyfair.net

11. CAROLINE’S CAKES—Flavors change seasonally. I loved the 7-layer lemon cake that is sweet, tangy, and very handsome. Serves up to 20 $58

Annapolis, Md.; V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 18 www.carolinescakes.com

12. BAYOU BAKERY—Porkorn gives new life to the bacon craze. This porKorn is covered in caramel, bacon, and Virginia peanuts and gets a tiny kick from cayenne. 5 oz. $8

Arlington, Va. V, MC, AE, D; Dec. 17 www.bayoubakeryva.com

HOLIDAY gift guide

MARIAN BURROS

This gift guide highlights the best of the Capital Foodshed’s producers, who continue to deepen the bench of the locavore movement. Stock up for last-minute gifts or send them to someone with a special appreciation for locally made, artisanal goods.

(Shipping not included unless specified. Order by date specified to ensure Christmas delivery.)

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Put your holiday gift budget to the best use by buying products from local farmers, independent businesses, and artisans. You’ll not only get thanked by your giftee, but you’ll be supporting the local economy and food system, too. Here, the Foodshed staff shares its collective holiday wish list.

HOLIDAY staff picks

S P E C I A L S E C T I O N

1. Wear your local love—organic and U.S.-made t-shirts that show your sup-port for farmers.

Green Label Organic www.greenlabel.com

Brand of the Free www.brandofthefree.net

2. You won’t wear out your welcome if you bring this with you:

FEAST! BOX TO GO

Green Goddess dressing, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Virginia cheese straws, and Gearhart’s choco-lates made especially for Feast!

www.feastvirginia.com

3. The cacao for this chocolate hand-made in Gaithersburg, Md., comes from the organic farm owned by the chocolatiers.

SPAGnVOLA CHOCOLATES spagnvola.com

4. Never show up empty handed. This Virginia sparkling gives the French stuff a run for its money.

Thibaut-Janisson Sparkling Wine www.tjwinery.com

6. The gift that gives all year: sign them up for a local CSA. Weekly deliveries from the farm means they will think of you at every meal. Now is the time—many fill before spring. To learn more about CSAs, go to food-shed.org.

5. Warm up a winter morning with the perfect gift for breakfast lovers:

Wildwood’s Hickory Syrup wildwoodshickorysyrup.com

Wade’s Mill Pancake Mix www.wadesmill.com

Radical Roots Pumpkin Butter www.radicalrootsfarm.com

Tokie Snows (gluten-free) Pancake Mix www.tokiesmixes.com

Taste Virginia Strawberry Jam www.virginiafoodworks.org

7. Feed their brain, too, with a library fit for locavores.

Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie

Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin

8. Give the gift of bold flavors— the perfect addition to the pantry.

Shenandoah Spice Company Island Jerk Seasoning www.shenandoahspicecompany.com

Gordy’s Pickle Jar: Sweet Pepper Relish www.gordyspicklejar.co

Gaucho Green Chimmi-Churri Sauce www.gauchogreen.com

KimKim Korean Hot Sauce www.ashmanco.com

Palcha Products Soycha www.palcha.com

Bone Doctors’ Original Barbecue Sauce bonedoctorsbbq.com

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