Out and About

Out and About's favorite foodie gifts

Still looking for the perfect gift? Out and About has a few suggestions!

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Kathy Hanrahan, Out
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RALEIGH, N.C. — Out and About loves celebrating local businesses, and this is the perfect time of the year to shop local!

Here are some of our favorite North Carolina made gifts:

For the foodies

Chapel Hill Toffee (Chapel Hill) - The Graves family has been making this tasty treat for years. In 2006, the business made its retail debut at Southern Season in Chapel Hill. Now they are available in more than 400 retail locations across the country. You can also purchase the toffee online. For every box sold, a donation is made to Dina's Dynasty Ovarian Cancer Fund.
Kandy Apples by K (Raleigh) - Kimberly Battle was an accountant when her husband's love of candy apples led to a surprising new career path. Now she makes delicious candy apples! She opened a brick and mortar location in north Raleigh at 6320 Capital Blvd. last year. Definitely try their apples and grapes!
Chad's Carolina Corn (Winston-Salem) - This gourmet popcorn comes in a variety of flavors, including Buffalo Wing and Dill Pickle. You can find it locally at Lowes Foods, Carolina Pottery, Southern Season, Foster's Market in Durham and Butcher's Market in Cary and online.
Southern Supreme Fruitcake and More (Bear Creek) - It all began with their Nutty Fruitcake, which was sold for the first time more than 30 years ago at a Raleigh Christmas show. The business has since grown to include more than just their delicious fruitcakes. They also offer jelly, nuts, chocolate, candy, relish and gift boxes online and at their store in Bear Creek.
Big Spoon Roasters Nut Butters (Durham) - This Durham-based company serves up delicious nut butters! While the jars will cost you more than the average container of JIF, they are so worth it!
Carolina Kettle Chips (Raleigh) - We love these chips! Definitely try the Crab Boil and Jalapeno Queso flavors. N.C. State graduate Josh Monahan and his sister Jacey started this company in 2017. A nickel from every 2 oz. bag sold and a dime from every 5 oz. bag sold are donated to the Food Bank.
Redneck BBQ Lab Rubs and Sawse (Benson) - If you can't make it out to Benson to enjoy this great barbecue restaurant, you can still get your hands on their rubs and famous "sawse" at retailers including Carolina Pottery, Carlie C's, Butcher's Market and Sweet Tea and Cornbread's pop-up shop in Cameron Village.
Redneck BBQ Lab sauce and rubs
Moravian Cookies- Salem Baking Company has a great selection of these classic cookies. We like the chocolate flavor.
Wonderpuff (Durham, Morrisville) - For Jackie Morin, sugar is a way of life. Morin and her husband, Rem, started gourmet cotton candy company, Wonderpuff, several years ago. The business will have its first permanent location at Boxyard RTP. Until then, you can order their delicious gourmet cotton candy online.
Food Maps - The Great N.C. BBQ Map, The Great Carolina Fried Chicken Map and the N.C. Beer Map are great stocking stuffers to help prepare for that summer road trip. You can find them at DECO in downtown Raleigh and at Sweet Tea and Cornbread at Crabtree Valley Mall.
Ginny O's Cheese Straws (Raleigh) - These straws are delicious and even caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who featured them in her magazine.
Tonya's Cookies (Chapel Hill) - We are big fans of these crispy pecan cookies, which come also come in white chocolate, chocolate and peppermint chocolate.
Left Bank Butchery (Carrboro Farmers Market, Saxapahaw and Raleigh) - Gift the gift of meat this holiday season at this butcher, which is Raleigh’s only completely local, whole animal butchery and charcuterie shop.
Sweet Neecy Cake Mixes (Raleigh) - Annette "Neecy" Council grew up watching her mom (the famous Mildred Council aka Mama Dip) make cakes from scratch. Council's collection of cake mixes are delicious and easy to prepare.
Hand-crafted cocktail bitters from Crude (Raleigh) - Kick your cocktails up a notch with these locally made bitters available online and at locations across the world.
Carolina Moonshine from Pinetop Distillery (Raleigh) - Founded in 2014, this distillery offers this moonshine made with locally-sourced corn, wheat, rye and barley. They also make Carolina Gin.
Bruce Julian Bloody Mary Mix (Charlotte) - A Chapel Hill native, Julian owns and operates Bruce Julian Clothier in Charlotte, where he perfected his Bloody Mary mix. His dad, local menswear legend Milton Julian, is featured on the label.

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