Startland News presents its annual Made in Kansas City Gift Guide. Check out selections from the KC Edibles and Drinkables category below. Have more ideas? Leave them for readers in the comments below.
Add aroma to your favorite amateur mixologist’s repertoire with Boozy Botanicals, a syrup infusion that brings complex flavors to any home bar. Test out 4-ounce versions of three popular sellers — Vanilla Allspice, Rosemary Mint, and Cardamom Spice (“a curry inspired blend of six spices, wrapped in a bouquet of orange blossom and licorice vines”) — with the Baby Boozy Sample Pack. Or let your nose guide you to one of seven 12.7-ounce options.
Maps Coffee Guest Roaster — $175
Six friends walk into a Lenexa roasterie. Ten bags of coffee walk out. A hands-on roasting lesson awaits at Maps Coffee, where a guest roaster will guide as many as a half-dozen coffee enthusiasts through a two-hour, customized roasting journey. The experience yields 10 bags of the class’ unique blend, split between the six participants. While there, pick up some of Maps’ chocolate bars — from 80 percent dark to coconut milk and boozy bars.
Happy Food Co. Meal Kits — $16 to $36
Know someone fresh out of ideas or time for crafting their own dinner at home? Don’t want fast food or dine out gift cards? Happy Food Co. meal kits offer a wide range of flavorful, quick and easy dinner options with servings for typically two to four people — no subscription required. From butter-basted salmon and slow-cooker Asian pulled pork to meatball sliders with couscous chopped salad, and chicken curry, the meal kits are built with locally sourced ingredients pre-portioned for the busy home chef. Check out Olathe-based Happy Food’s new party kits for the holiday season and ask about wine pairings! Kits are available at retail locations across the metro.
Snow & Co. Snow Pops — $1.50 each
It might be getting cold outside, but for those who dream of summer, sweet (adult) flavors from Snow & Co. can make it feel like you’re poolside with a frozen drink in your hand. The Kansas City company features cocktail snow pops in three flavors: Blue Velvet, Mango Unchained and Pink Lady. Pops can be purchased at participating retailers, as well as Snow & Co’s Westport store, which also offers a wide range of cold and hot cocktails, beer, wine and food options.
Kansas City increasingly is recognized for its hip and inclusive culinary scene. Take a bite out of what the city offers with one of Taste of Kansas City’s famed food tours. Indulge with the Lip Smacking Foodie Tour. Drink in in the Prohibition and Cocktail Tour. Let the city’s flavors ride with the Streetcar and Culinary Tour. Civic education never tasted so good!
Ruby Jean’s Juicery Cleanse — $50 a day
Every system eventually needs a reboot — and human bodies are no different. Kansas City’s Ruby Jean’s Juicery offers four cleanse options (beginner, intermediate, advanced and build-your-own). Using fresh fruits and vegetables to detoxify the digestive system and add energy, the cleanse works to break the body of processed and artificial food habits. Choose a plan between three to 14 days with cleanses including six juices per day. Order online or at one of Ruby Jean’s metro locations.
BBQ Addicts’ Bacon Explosion — $45
It’s the viral recipe that nearly a decade ago put Kansas City entrepreneurs Jason and Megan Day at the forefront of exposing KC’s meaty best to a national audience. This holiday season, however, someone else is doing all the hard work. Two pounds of thick cut bacon. Two pounds of Italian Sausage. Burnt Finger BBQ sauce and rub. The completed package now can be purchased frozen at McGonigle’s Market and the Handmade Holidays pop up store at Park Place. (The Bacon Explosion also just landed on the charcuterie plate at Brew Lab in Overland Park.)
Life Equals Superfood Shots — $45.99 to $89.99
Active lives often don’t afford time to plan for balanced eating. KC-based Life Equals’ Superfood Shots are packed with 15 superfoods and antioxidants. The organic, vegan, preservative-free liquid supplements provide half a day’s needed dose of fruits and vegetables. Shipments come in packs of 12 or 24 shots. A 25-percent discount is available with a weekly or monthly subscription.
Spirits of Kansas City — $24 and up
It’s time to put down the Sky Vodka and Evan Williams. You’re not in college anymore. Grab an intoxicating gift distilled from Kansas City’s own entrepreneurial spirit: J. Rieger for the whiskey aficionado. Lifted Spirits for the gin lover. Tom’s Town for the vodka buff with a thirst for history. Union Horse for small batch bourbon. Want to replace Mom’s potato casserole at Christmas? Try Restless Spirits’ limited release, 115 proof, triple distilled Poitin, a potato-based small-pot moonshine.
Check out these gift ideas
• Apparel and Accessories List
• Kansas City Experiences List
• Kansas City Tech List
• Miscellaneous Gift List
