As the hectic holiday season swirls around us like blustery snowflakes, make sure you take the time to find the right gifts for your loved ones. To help, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite items and experiences that we think will put smiles on faces this holiday season.
OVER THE RAINBOW – Shopping Experience
There’s a reason that Over The Rainbow has been the go-to place for premium denim in Toronto for the past four decades. They are the best. The Carman family has built their business on excellent customer service and are known for being the first to bring certain trend-setting brands to Canada. They keep a large stock of clothes for the cool kids in their newly opened, state of the art space in the Manulife Centre. If you aren’t in Toronto, you can shop on their extensive online retail store. If you need a gift for that fashion-forward person, a gift card to Over The Rainbow will give them the shopping experience they desire.
CRAIG’S COOKIES – Holiday Gift Box
Yum. Here in the Notable Life office, boxes of a dozen Craig’s Cookies barely make it in the door before being gobbled up. If you aren’t yet familiar with Craig’s over-the-top cookie creations, order a box for a loved one and make sure you are there to help them taste them all. The Holiday Mix is a limited release which brings classic flavours of the season to cookies: Candy Cane Shortbread, Cranberry Bliss, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, Mint Brownie, Gingerbread White Chocolate, and Holiday M&M’s. CAlso, we must mention that the creative force behind these cookies creations, Craig Pike, is the founding Artistic Director of That Choir. He is conducting That’ Choir’s Carols on December 17th and 18th, a fun night of your favourite carols and holiday music.
HAMMAM SPA – Transformative Treatments
Hammam Spa is consistently recognized as one of the best spas in the GTA. Inspired by ancient Eastern spas, their locations blend old world charm and modern sophistication to transport guests to a new realm of relaxation and rejuvenation. Spa experiences are an excellent gift, because everyone enjoys their time in the spa, but are often hesitant to splurge on themselves. Do it for them. Hammam has many gift card options, or book an appointment for you and a lover to have a romantic spa day.
MIONETTO PROSECCO
Holiday parties, dinners, brunches; stocking stuffers; quiet time with family; you can never go wrong with Mionetto Prosecco. Here at Notable, we always have Mionetto on hand to share and have a deep appreciation for that bold orange label. It’s versatile, it’s delicious, and it’s an outstanding value. If you can find their Prestige Collection Prosecco Rosé, make sure you grab a bottle or three of that as well.
KOOZA – Cirque Du Soleil
Tickets to a Cirque Du Soleil show is a gift that keeps giving, as the experience lives in your heart and mind forever. Tickets have just gone on sale for KOOZA, coming to Toronto this spring. KOOZA is an homage to traditional circus, seen through a prism of wonder and spectacle that only Cirque Du Soleil can provide. Explore the different ticket options, from VIP to Family Offers. Whatever you choose, thrills are guaranteed.
PHANTOM CREEK – Holiday Sparkling Gift Box
If you want to elevate your bubbly game, break away from the cliché brands that are touted in rap songs and get into something truly spectacular with Phantom Creek’s first ever sparkling wine releases. Both made in méthode traditionnelle, picking up rich brioche notes from extended aging on lees for 47 months. The 2017 Brut seamlessly blends the lively finesse of Chardonnay with the depth of Pinot Noir. The nose shows bright and expressive fruit, with ripe lemon and golden apple, along with toasted hazelnut and subtle, harmonious sweet spices. The 2017 Brut Reserve shows delicate, elegant fruit, led by lemon and crisp green apple lifted by orchard blossoms and acacia. There’s added richness and complexity from aging in neutral barriques for 11 months prior to blending. Get a set of these bottles for that person with a discerning palate, and for yourself!
SHERRY PIPANO – Personalized Jewelry
Sherry Pipano is our go-to for personalized jewelry. Tasteful, timeless designs, excellent quality, reasonably priced, and hand made in Toronto. For a loved one, chose an initial bracelet, memory pendant, engraved ring, or one of the many other choices available on their website. There’s always a special feeling wearing a customized piece. Get something special, and support a chic Canadian entrepreneur.
ALIDA TEQUILA
You may have noticed, we are big fans of Aguamiel Tequila around here. Aguamiel has recently re-branded as Alida and is once again on shelves in time for the holidays. Move fast though, this stuff tends to sell out quickly. Bartenders love it for the perfect blend of smooth and bold that plays so well in cocktails. Connoisseurs love the big notes of cooked agave and pleasantly peppery finish. Neophytes love the softy entry and hint of sweetness and tropical fruit. If you are looking for a gift for a tequila lover, don’t get caught up in the Casamigos hype. Alida blows it away.
AMAZON – Kindle Scribe
Amazon is obviously an amazing place to get any present for any person. But our favourite gift to get on Amazon is still the Kindle, and the new Kindle Scribe is our new favourite of the e-readers. Why? Well it’s also an e-writer, and does an amazing job of creating the tactile experience of pen and paper. The slightly larger size also feels luxurious to read from. The kindle scribe is our pick for that reader and writer in your life. But make sure to browse the wide selection of Kindles, across a wide price range, to find the perfect gift.
AMARULA
Ooo, this is our new favourite cream liqueur. Sorry Bailey’s, you’re out. This South African import uses a spirit made from the fermented Marula fruit. Amarula is decadent with a balanced sweetness and gentle fruitiness that we find more pleasant than the punch of whisky in other cream liqueurs. This is a perfect holiday drink. It’s lovely simply over ice. It’s also fantastic with coffee or hot chocolate, poured over ice cream, in eggnog, or however you wish to try it! Aaaaand, if dairy isn’t your thing Amarula has recently released a vegan-certified plant-based version using coconut cream. So good! Give yourself a bottle of Amarula this holiday!
DETOUR COFFEE – Coffee Subscription
Before any presents can be opened, there must be coffee. Starting in a back-alley garage in Dundas, Detour Coffee has grown over the last decade into one of Canada’s premier coffee roasters. They have masterful blends and a curated selection of single origin coffees, all carefully roasted to maintain the unique characteristics of the bean. Their Punch Buggy espresso flows freely in our office, but we also enjoy their coffee subscription options, which also make an excellent gift for the coffee aficionado in your life.
NODO – Italian Feast
There are many outstanding Italian restaurants in Toronto, but we always seem to keep choosing Nodo. They are a perfect balance of sophisticated and casual, the menu is diverse and delicious, the service is always on point. Nodo has four locations across Toronto and they manage to create space for robust family meals and romantic dates in each. The gorgeous new Liberty Village location has a fantastic bar and an open, inspiring space to enjoy Italian wine and dishes that range from classic to daring. Call them to set up a gift card, or book a reservation for a holiday dinner.