5 gift ideas for the local foodie in your life

Linda Williams and her husband Tom craft a line of all-natural caramels using local honey rather than sugar. Curious foodies can see the sweets being made at the couple's shop in Tubac. But the rest of us can go online at untamedconfections.com and order everything from lavender creme caramels to homemade marshmallows dipped in Peruvian chocolate. They also do gift packs like the Margarita Madness for $39 plus shipping. It's a 12-ounce jar of Sonoran Desert wildflower honey, spiked caramels made with organic Mexican sotol and an embroidered bag of artisan salt from Sal de Mar on the Sea of Cortez. 

The best gift in the world is a great meal. And luckily for us, several local restaurants are rolling out special gift card deals over the holidays. A biggie this year is the Downtown Tucson Gift Card, redeemable at dozens of restaurants in the area. On Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, Nov. 28, you can get a bonus $25 if you spend $100. Check it out at downtowntucson.instagift.com.

Other local restaurants with deals include Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria (extra $25 on Cyber Monday/Tuesday), Sauce (extra $5 per $25), Union Public House and Reforma (extra $20 all season), El Charro Cafe and Sir Veza's (extra $22 and $25 respectively) Saguaro Corners (extra $25 all season), Tucson Originals restaurants ($10 for every $50) and Maynards and Hotel Congress (extra $10 for every $50 Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday).

This new south-side distillery, Three Wells Distilling Company, makes small-batch spirits from local prickly pear cactus fruit. The two partners Matt Montgomery and Chris Dudding call the clear unaged product Sonora Silver, and are also currently aging a Sonora Gold in American Oak Barrels. The 80-proof liquor isn't really a brandy or a rum, but lies in a category all its own. See for yourself by picking up a bottle at liquor stores like Plaza Liquors or The Rumrunner. 

For a quick stocking stuffer or a protein element to your gift basket, grab a bag of Grassfed Beef Crisps. The all-natural beef jerky is produced by the team at Double Check Ranch in Winkelman, Arizona, who source only from sustainable farms with open-range cows. The crisps are dried without any preservatives, and flavored simply with ingredients like smoked sea salt and black pepper. Available at Time Market and online at beefcrisps.com

Did you know there's a full-scale commercial kitchenware factory in Tucson? HF Coors has been crafting ceramic plates, mugs and more since 1925, and is currently operating from a 33,000-square-foot factory on the south side. This popular olive oil dish was created by artist Mary Judge to resemble the terraced hills in Umbria, Italy. As you get closer to the center, the olive oil appears darker simply because it's deeper down in the plate. The dish goes for $23 plus shipping online at hfcoorsdinnerware.com, but you can also pick one up at the factory store 1600 S. Cherrybell Stravenue as well as Alfonso Gourmet Olive Oil and Balsamics.