Just Picked

Last Minute Gift Ideas - Stocking Stuffers

Who enjoys the last minute hunt for stocking stuffers?  These are some of the most fun gifts to give (and yes - get!).  We still have plenty of great items that are perfect for the stockings.

You can't go wrong with chocolate and candy.  We've got so many different varieties, some from local New England companies such as Taza, Equal Exchange, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates and Lake Champlain.

 
 
 
 

And we have our own line of Fruit Center chocolate bars

 

Here's a couple ideas for the kids - our friends at Ginger Betty's have a Make-Your-Own Gingerbread Man kit that includes a large gingerbread man cookie, frosting and plenty of candy to stick on the cookie.

 

We also have our own hand-dipped caramel apples

 

For wine lovers, we have half-bottles of great wine and wine accessories

 
 
 

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Everyone has their opinions about holiday shopping - some enjoy every moment, others not so much.  Whatever your personal feelings, take heart in the fact the Fruit Center has you covered.  Even just five days before Christmas, we've got plenty of gift options for everyone on your nice list.

Stonewall Kitchen Gift Sets

 

Traditional Holiday Treats

 

Gift Ideas for the Kids

 

 

 

Here's a special gift for wine lovers: we've got Veuve Clicquot at an amazing price. See our monthly flyer for our sale price.

 

Centerpieces and Decorative Plants

 

Fruit Baskets and Gourmet Gift Baskets

 

 

Locally-made Items

 
 
 

Don't forget, we've got party platters and gift cards as well. 

Happy Holidays from everyone here at the Fruit Center!

 

New Items: Hildon, Nicky's, Falafel Republic and our own chocolate

Hildon Mineral Water

Until recently, you could only enjoy this English mineral water at a particular Boston restaurant (the restaurant that sells "seafood legally", wink, wink). Available in both still and sparkling varieties, Hildon is extremely proud of their product, including their glass bottle design - there's a whole page on their web site devoted to it. That's not a knock - it just goes to show the level of detail this company puts into it's product. And it's certainly reflected in their water.

Nicky's Dipping Oil

For all it's mystique and contributions to New England culture, you don't always think of Martha's Vineyard as a source of great food products. Here's one that will change that perception. From Vineyard Haven's Nicky's Italian Cafe come Nicky's Dipping Oils, a line of flavored oils that will add bursts of flavor to any number of dishes, not to mention a simple piece of dipping bread. Look for four varieties: Classic Italian Herb, Zesty Lemon, Piccante and Nero's Revenge.

Falafel Republic

Another local product from right down the road in Needham, MA, is this Middle-Eastern staple. Falafel Republic crafts fresh falafel with a simple list of ingredients. And their products are gluten-free, dairy-free and have no trans-fats.

Fruit Center's Own Chocolate Bars

After much investigation, and loads of sampling, we finally found a chocolate bar that was worthy to put our name on. Introducing the Fruit Center's own chocolate bars in both milk and dark varieties. They passed our rigorous inspection, so we hope you enjoy them too.  Let us know what you think by commenting here.

What To Give That Someone Special on Valentine's Day

Here's a virtual tour of what the Fruit Center is offering this Valentine's Day:

Happy Valentine's Day!
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 

The Saveur 100 - What You'll Find Here at the Fruit Center

Last week, we mentioned Boston.com's "food staff's favorite things of 2009" in our post about baby bok choy. This week, our friend Ron Cardoos, food importer and owner of Mt. Vikos, tipped us off to Saveur Magazine's "The Saveur 100", a wrap-up of their reader's 100 best food finds of the past year. Many of the top picks are restaurants, chefs and kitchen gadgets, but several of the top picks are available right here at the Fruit Center. What Saveur-endorsed items will you find here? How about Malbec Wines, South America's signature grape that's growing in popularity due to it's lush flavors and reasonable price-points. Then there's Herbs de Provence; a perfect blend of some six herbs that adds amazing flavor to a variety of dishes. They also highlight wonton wrappers, lemon curd (we've got a tasty one from Stonewall Kitchen) and bulger.

One more product on the Saveur list - one that Ron imports from Spain - is Ines Rosales Olive Oil Tortas. We've featured these tortas many times in our stores (you may have seen our front-end displays or sampled them in our gourmet department). They're so unique in both flavor and texture - slightly sweet with a hint of anise yet light and crisp. And, for 100 years, they've been made by hand (see the photo below). Try them with tea, coffee or a light-flavored cheese.

New Item: Hallowed Herbs Scones

Tea is riding a huge wave of positive press these days. You're probably aware of all the health benefits associated with drinking tea. You may also have heard that there seems to be a revival of tea houses, those quaint cafes steeped in tea culture and offering small pastries and light bites. Our friend Lisa Tavakoli has had some success with her own tea house, Hallowed Herbs, based in Quincy.

Not only is Lisa a tea fanatic, but she also knows her way around the kitchen. Case in point: her delicious home-baked scones. Fresh, moist and flavorful, these scones are perfect with your morning coffee, as a midday snack or, of course, with a cup of tea. Look for Blueberry Coconut, Cranberry Walnut and Currant Orange in our gourmet bakery section.