Supply chain woes putting a damper on your holiday to-do list? Avoid the lags in stocking at national retailers by going straight to the source and shopping locally for all your foodie friends this year. A number of smaller retailers in the Tampa Bay area specialize in locally and regionally sourced goodies and offer either gift cards or curated holiday boxes for purchase. (Many offer both.)
For the carb lover
For all the carb aficionados in your life, give the gift of bread. Because baked goods tend to fare better the day of, a handful of local bakeries sell gift cards so that your loved ones can shop for crusty, fresh loaves whenever the mood strikes.
A gift card to Atria Cafe in Lakewood Ranch could buy things like sourdough breads made with whole grains milled in-house, fresh pastries and the cloudlike, not-to-be-missed hokkaido milk loaves.
4120 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch. 941-751-1016. atria.cafe.
New St. Petersburg bakery The Crumb Factory specializes in artisan, naturally leavened loaves but also serves a variety of baked goods and pastries. The bakery sells gift cards and will also stock specialty holiday baskets that feature a loaf of bread, a selection of cheeses and cured meats, olive oil, honey and a loaf of the shop’s specialty Christmas bread.
5701 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-623-9830. crumbfactorybakery.com
The bread pros at Tampa’s Jamison B. Breadhouse Bakes sell $25 gift cards that can be used to purchase any of the goods at their usual Saturday drive-through pickup, from their organic country sourdough loaves (which are gluten-friendly, by the way) to their Bavarian pretzels, pumpkin pie croissants and popular vegan chocolate chip cookies.
3615 E Seventh Ave., Building C, Tampa. 813-424-8576. jamisonb.com.
In the coming weeks, fans of Le Clementine Bakeshop will be able to purchase holiday pastry boxes from their storefront inside Pete’s Bagels in St. Petersburg. The boxes will feature an assortment of baker Paulina Gervasi’s most popular pastries, like croque monsieur croissants and seasonal bostock.
2361 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. leclementinebakeshop.com.
For the gluten- and dairy-averse, HaleLife Bakery (with locations in Clearwater, downtown St. Petersburg and South Tampa) sells gift cards and features a wide selection of gluten-free and vegan pastries, breads and specialty cakes.
Multiple locations. 727-265-3372. halelifebakery.com.
For fans of (local) seafood
At the recently opened Tides Seafood Market & Provisions in Safety Harbor, regional seafood, meats and produce are the highlight, and gift cards are sold in any denomination. Owner Jon Walker called the spot a “one-stop shop for local sourcing” and sells everything from Providence Cattle beef and Olivor Heritage Farms pork to pasta sauces made from small-batch producers in Clearwater and produce from several Tampa Bay area farms. The highlight is the fresh, local and regionally caught fish and seafood, though the store also stocks some in-demand items from other coasts, including lobster, cod and salmon. The store will curate personal gift baskets for anyone wishing to assemble an assortment of goodies.
305 Main St., Safety Harbor. 727-699-8433. thetidesmarket.com.
If there are any out-of-state stone crab fans or homesick Floridians craving claws on your holiday list, Miami’s George Stone Crab will ship boxes of the sweet crustacean, tins of Ossetra caviar and key lime pies straight to their doorstep. The company is offering several Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials, too, and ships all over the country via UPS next-day air mail.
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Explore all your optionsFor the carnivores
For the meat lovers on your list, give the gift of sustainably sourced local proteins from one of these small-scale butcher shops.
At St. Pete Meat & Provisions in downtown St. Petersburg, the team practices whole animal butchery and sources primarily pasture-raised meats and products from local and regional farms that emphasize farming techniques free of pesticides and herbicides. Gift cards are available in $25, $50, $100 or custom amounts and can be used for anything in the shop, which also stocks a wide variety of gourmet pantry items.
449 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-350-4721. stpetemeat.com.
At The Boozy Pig in Tampa, another great spot for whole animal butchery, gift cards can be used toward any of the shop’s selection of meats and prepared foods, which includes proteins and dairy products from local Florida farms including Providence Cattle Farms and Trail Bail Farms. Along with favorites like Wagyu steaks and house-made sausages, the spot also offers occasional courses on half-hog butchering, which can be purchased ahead as a gift.
3255 W Cypress St., Tampa. 813-488-5333.
For the veggie lovers
For vegetarians and veggie fans, look no further than Brick Street Farms, where gift cards can be cashed in for a wide assortment of the spot’s coveted leafy greens, all grown in containers using climate-controlled hydroponic systems. Beyond the green goodies like butter leaf, mixed kale and baby romaine, the St. Petersburg depot also stocks a large variety of locally produced foods and household staples, including homemade jams, salad dressings, pickled vegetables and seasoned Florida sea salts.
2233 Third Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-329-6608. brickstreetfarms.com.