The foodies on your holiday gift list will savor delicacies made in Sonoma

Gastronomic gifts are perfect for those challenges on your holiday shopping list, such as the person who has everything. There is no need to guess hat size, what could possibly go with your Aunt Marge’s decorating scheme or where you can and cannot ship wines. All you have to do is choose from the Sonoma Valley’s bounty, pop a bow on it and stick it under the tree or in the mail.
Chefs Roger Declercq and Bill Weber founded Sonoma Gourmet in 1990 with the concept of producing restaurant-quality condiments and sauces for the retail market. In early July they re-located their production kitchen and offices from Cotati to Sonoma. Their Dip-N-Toss, pasta sauces and salad dressings are available at Sonoma Market, Whole Foods and the Glen Ellen Village Market, as well as in a number of specialty shops.
Sonoma Gourmet’s premium pasta sauces are cooked in small batches; most of the ingredients are grown within a 200-mile radius of its bustling production kitchen. The products are available in a diverse variety of flavors including: onion portabella, red clam, roasted fennel, and three cheeses. Declercq and Weber developed Dip-N-Toss to be used as either bread dip or as a lighter sauce for pasta. Flavors like basil-Parmesan, garlic-rosemary and tomato-basil can be used to create a signature pasta dish.
Ten distinct flavors of salad dressing – balsamic vinegar, Caesar and low-fat raspberry- walnut – come in 375 ml wine bottles and make for presents that are not only thoughtful, but also easy to package.
The gourmet segue from vinegar to oil is almost too simplistic. In 1995, olive growers Deborah Rogers and Ed Stolman created the Olive Press and opened their shop in the historic Jack London Village in Glen Ellen. Last May, they moved to a Sonoma location adjacent to Jacuzzi Family Winery. The unique facility, with its state-of-the-art Pieralisi processing equipment, was designed to create award-winning California extra virgin olive oil for local growers, those who are both commercial growers and hobbyists.
An impressive selection of olive oil, as well as balsamic vinegars, cured olives and tapenades are available in Olive Press Tasting Room and Gift Shop or online. Many gift sets have been assembled for easy gift giving and shoppers are welcome work with the shop’s gift experts to create an original gift box combination tailored for that special someone. The Olive Press Sampler, with 250 ml one bottle each of Arbequina, Koroneiki, Olive Press Master Blend and Sonoma Valley Blend olive oils comes in a sturdy wood crate ($80).
Remember the four-legged creatures on your list by snatching up some of the incredible homemade treats available at Three Dog Bakery in downtown Sonoma. All baked goods are free of refined sugar and sodium and are made from natural ingredients. Special order holiday cakes are available in carob, peanut butter or carrot cake flavors and may be decorated to your specifications ($14 – 22).
Special holiday treats, like a peanut butter stocking doggie cookie ($5), twisted red and white candy cane cookies ($2.25), a soft cake gingerbread man dipped in unsweetened vanilla and a decorated carob brownie ($2.50) can be purchased, wrapped and shipped from the store. The creative rawhide wreath ($9.95) will add a bit of holiday spirit to any pet’s collection of toys.
Sonoma Gourmet, 21787 Eighth St. E., www.sonomagourmet.com.
The Olive Press Tasting Room and Gift Shop, 24724 Hwy. 12/121, 707.939.8900; www.theolivepress.com. Open 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily.
Three Dog Bakery, 526 Broadway, 707.933.9780. Open Mon. – Sat. 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.