Local Assets

DeLuca’s Specialty Foods, Cooking School & Restaurant
Where foodies’ dreams are made

This favourite destination for foodies is a year-round treat, but come the holidays, the wish lists of culinary devotees seem to grow and grow and grow. DeLuca’s is packed with irresistible goodies for food lovers. If you have one on your list, the choices are endless.

Panettone
DeLuca’s is panettone central during the holiday season. This sweet bread, formed into a cone shape and often laced with raisins, is a traditional treat from Italy. Carla DeLuca says that it’s great for breakfast, dessert and well, basically any time of the day.

“It often gets served when people drop by to visit during the holidays. A little espresso and a nice slice of panettone makes a great little treat,” she adds.

All of DeLuca’s offerings are imported from Italy. Panettones start at around $15 and can range up to $60 for recipes that include fine chocolate and other irresistible ingredients.

Oil and Vinegar
DeLuca’s selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars might be the best in the city. And you’ll never see a look of disappointment on a foodie’s face if a gift of oil and vinegar is under the tree. It’s easy to be swayed by fancy bottles, but DeLuca says her favourite is the moderately priced Masserie di Sant’ Eramo, which has both a selection of oils as well as vinegar. Add a fancy bow to the duo and you’ve got the perfect gift for your host. Extra virgin olive oil is $23 and balsamic vinegar is $30.

Gadget Gifts
It just makes sense that a shop devoted to fine foods would also stock the tools to create some spectacular dishes. Look above the produce section to see a staggering selection of stovetop espresso makers, ranging from $20 to $90. DeLuca’s also has Panini presses, pizza pans and even a cheese grater with a figurine of a soccer-playing bear mounted on top ($19.99).

Science Lesson
Molecular gastronomy is the new culinary frontier. The adventurous foodie on your list will love a kit from Cuisine R-Evolution. The mixology set includes everything for making caviar beads, light airs and gelified alcohols. The culinary kit will have them experimenting with spherification, gelification and emulsification. It’s okay if you don’t understand any of it, as long as you get a dinner invitation out of the deal. Kits are $54.99 each.

For Chocolate Lovers
Linger a little bit at the check-out and you’ll find perfect stocking stuffers for chocolate lovers. It’s impossible not to love the eye-catching packaging of teainfused bars from The Tea Room. Take your pick from a dark chocolate bar infused with raspberry rooibos or a milk chocolate treat infused with honeybush caramel tea. At $3.49 each, you can probably buy one for yourself too.

The Perfect Card
If the choices in store are just too overwhelming, a gift card will do the trick.

Adds DeLuca, “They can be used for everything from cooking classes to treats at the pasty counter.”