Some of my fave local food and gifting finds!

I love shopping and supporting local artists and producers as much as possible. That’s why I chose a few great local (Ontario) things I love to show off on Breakfast Television Toronto.

The Sweet Escape Patisserie is a wonderful little bakery in the Distillery District.

Pastry Chef and co-owner Michelle makes 30 kinds of sweet and savoury shortbread along with other delicious treats. Make sure you check out her wonderful ice creams in the summer.

One of my favourite hot sauces is SupiCuCu – a popular choice among chefs and food-lovers. It’s packed with flavour and adds a great punch to eggs, pasta, pizza, mixed with mayo or ketchup, brushed on meat or seafood…the options are endless! Grab a bottle for a hostess gift and you’ll stand out from all other guests!

Fresh juices have become more popular in recent years. Greenhouse Juice Co. makes organic, cold-pressed juices that retain more nutrients than other juicing methods. But what I really love is their Green and Pink almond milk with a bit of spinach or beet. It’s delicious and you should try it.

Thomas Lavers Cannery & Delicatessen has an enormous selection of pickles, preserves, sauces, cured meat and homemade pasta. A few jars are great for a brunch or picnic. Also one of my favourite house-warming gifts.

CHOCOLATE! One of my favourites is ChocoSol Traders. They use organic, shade-grown cacao beans to make stone-ground chocolates and drinking chocolates. Check out their other products including freshly roasted coffee beans.

Two great things I found on Etsy.com are Okenshield Delights extracts and thick body creams and body butters. They smell good enough to eat.

Also, Art that Moves does beautifully printed textiles like the cotton linen bread bags that keep your bread fresh and fashionable. This is a great gift for the food-lover in your life.