Gift guide: 8 food and drink gifts made in Nevada
Johnathan L. Wright
For the @RGJTaste holiday food and drink gift guide in 2018, we're going local-local.
Local, as in available from a Northern Nevada retailer — and local, as in made in Nevada. Think graveyard spirits, sourdough essentials, Ayurvedic cleanses and other suggestions for the food and drink enthusiast on your list.
CEMETERY GIN
Support Nevada history through better imbibing. Cemetery Gin (90 proof) is crafted by Frey Ranch Distillery of Fallon (known for its potent hooch) on behalf of Virginia City. Sales benefit the restoration of Virginia City graveyards. RIP sobriety.
About $40-45 for 750 milliliters. From Total Wine & More, Raley's Keystone Avenue, Raley's Wedge Parkway, Cowboys Liquor Carson City and other retailers.
FOIE GRAS DINNERS
Laurel Pine of Laurel Pine Living Luxury, a Reno purveyor of gourmet goods and culinary tours, will create (for up to 20 people) custom five- and six-course menus featuring foie gras, truffles, seafood and other swanky ingredients.
The dinners are presented at the Flavor Studio, the Living Luxury event space in South Reno. Indulge, then hit the roasted cauliflower the next day.
From about $159 per person. Contact Pine at info@enjoyfoiegras.com.
BASIN AND RANGE WINE
Basin and Range Cellars makes wine using only fruit from its high-elevation vineyard in Minden. The winery cultivates unusual, Franco-American hybrid varietals that flourish in Northern Nevada's high desert climates.
The wines range from a dry-style La Crosse, a white wine, to a fruit-forward frontenac red to a golden late-harvest wine made from the brianna grape.
$16-25 from Basin and Range Cellars tasting room, 415 E. Fourth St. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
MARK ESTEE GIFT BOX
The Reno Local Food Group gift box, from chef Mark Estee's company, includes a bottle of red or white, plus two housemade salamis — like a Calabrese pork version with wine — from Liberty Food & Wine Exchange.
But the main event is the four $50 gift certificates to each restaurant in the group: Liberty, Chez Louie (in the Nevada Museum of Art), the Union in Carson City and Overland Restaurant & Pub in Gardnerville. It's dining out, north to south.
$200 from 775-336-1091
BLOODY MARY TWO-PACK
Cue weekend brunch. The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery now offers a two-pack featuring its East Slope Vodka and its bloody Mary mix batched in house.
The vodka is made with Sierra snowmelt and local grains. The Mary mix mingles filtered water, tomato, distilled vinegar, molasses, cane sugar, lemon, tamarind and more. Bloody delicious.
About $42 for two 750-milliliter bottles at the Depot, 325 E. Fourth St., and at Costco (call store to confirm)
SOUTH INDIAN FOOD
Owner Anitha Pagidi expertly cooks the foods of her native region at Maya's South Indian Cuisine in West Street Market. The small lunch menu, served daily except for Mondays, showcases vegan, vegetarian and organic dishes.
Pagidi just introduced Maya's gift certificates so you can treat your favorite cuisinistas to a flavorful passage to India.
Purchase gift certificates at the restaurant, 148 West St., in West Street Market
AYURVEDIC CLEANSES
Local Davidson's Organics sources from one of the top organic tea producers in India, with farms stretching across the Himalayan foothills. The Ayurvedic Infusions line of tea bags features blends designed to promote energy, better digestion and more.
The blends are based on Ayurveda, the traditional Hindu system of medicine. The Infusions come as individual blends or as assortments in a box or wooden tea chest.
$4.95-25.95 at Davidson's Organics, 665 Spice Island Drive, suite 101, Sparks
BREAD MIXES AND STARTERS
GrandMa's mixes are made in Carson City. There are mixes for cornbread, sourdough pancakes and sourdough bread, as well as a sourdough starter kit. GrandMa's products come in cozy burlap bags.
The mixes would make great stocking stuffers individually or a fine gift as a set of four.
From the Flag Store, Sign & Banner, 155 Glendale Ave., suite 9, Sparks
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Johnathan L. Wright is the food and drink editor of RGJ Media, part of the USA Today Network. Join @RGJTaste on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.