Edmonton stores with the best hostess gifts
Giving your hostess a gift may seem like an old-fashioned tradition, but it is one that should remain a part of our culture. Whether you’re invited to someone’s home for a dinner party or are staying with friends for a week at their beach house, bringing a small token of your appreciate goes a long way. These shops sell unique items guaranteed to get you another invite.
Duchess Bake Shop
10720 124 St NW, Edmonton AB T5M 0H1This French patisserie is one of the best in the country, and any item you choose from here will be greatly appreciated by any hostess (especially since they likely know you had to wait in a long line for it). But, the macarons, in particular, always make a spectacular gift — they’re colourful, delicious and look lovely nestled into a white box. Plus, you can get multiple flavours, so you’re guaranteed to choose at least one your hostess loves.
The Silk Road Spice Merchant Ltd
10818 82 Ave NW, Edmonton AB T6E 2B3This cute spice store is loaded with exotic spices, fragrant sea salts and everyday ingredients that we often find listed in cook books but never seem to have in our cupboard. Stock up on a few key spices and one or two unique ones, bundle them with a ribbon and present them to your overwhelmed hostess. They sell everything from cinnamon sticks and Chai baking spice to Inca fire salt and red alder smoked sea salt.
District Café and Bakery
101-10011 109 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5J 3S8Getting up the morning after a party can be challenging, even more so if you’re the host (the living room isn’t going to clean itself up after everyone leaves). Bring your party host a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans from District Coffee Co so that they can perk right up the morning after the party. Go for a mild, smooth blend if you’re not sure what kind of coffee they prefer.
Paddy's International Cheese Market Ltd
12509 102 Ave NW, Edmonton AB T5N 0M4If a total foodie is having you over for dinner, you can’t go wrong with cheese. Paddy’s International Cheese Market has a lot of new cheeses to fall in love with — you’ve likely never tasted most of their selection. Ask the staff to recommend a few different cheeses that will complement each other for a cheese board, then grab some gourmet crackers from the shelf, and voila! You’re a perfect guest.
The Wish List Gifts Ltd
10464 82 Ave NW, Edmonton AB T6E 2A2This cute, crowded Whyte Avenue shop sells an eclectic assortment of items, including amazing paintings by Canadian artists, socks, mugs, flower lights, locally made chocolate and more. It’s a fantastic place to pick up a unique gift for your friend that has everything — although, can you really say you have “everything” if you don’t have a painting of unicorns fighting in front of a rainbow?
Devine Wines & Spirits
10111 104 St NW, Edmonton AB T5J 0Z9Showing up at a friend’s house with a bottle of wine is a classic, classy guest move, and for good reason — an extra bottle always comes in handy. Whether you bring over champagne to toast an occasion, or a special vintage for the hostess to enjoy, it’s sure to be appreciated. Don’t worry if you don’t know whether your host prefers white or red; instead, pick up a bottle from a country you know they’ve always wanted to visit.
Evoolution
11958 104 Ave Nw, Edmonton AB T5K 0G6If you have a host who loves to spend time in the kitchen, stop by Evoolution for gourmet salts, flavoured olive oil or balsamic vinegars. There are cards at each bottle of oil or vinegar telling you which flavours pair well together, and what foods will go with your choice. You can take a card to go with whatever you buy, so your hostess will know what to do with the dark chocolate balsamic you bought her. Hint: Anything with the word “truffle” in it is sure to be a big hit.
Carbon Environmental Boutique Ltd
12543 102 Ave NW, Edmonton AB T5N 0M4When you’re going to visit a friend who always remembers to bring their cloth bags to the store, and would never dream of not composting, stop by Carbon Environmental Boutique for a gift that they will not only appreciate but will also use. The store has some cool finds, including kitchenware, coffee, chocolate and soaps.
Jacek Chocolate Couture
10140 104 St NW, Edmonton AB T5J 1A7Known as one of the top chocolatiers in the area, if not the whole province, Jacek Chocolate Couture creates lovely, luscious chocolate bars (named after starlets), truffles, sipping chocolate and more. Every chocolate is so pretty that you almost don’t want to eat it, making it the ideal dessert for a dinner party. This is the perfect spot to pick up a gift for the hostess who appreciates gourmet chocolate — or is looking to start an addiction.
Harlow Crestwood
9676 142 Street NW, Edmonton AB T5N 4B2This adorable, chic shop relocated in 2016 and moved into the owner’s other store, formerly called Lyndale Accents. Harlow is where I always stop to pick up unique gifts when I know I want to buy something amazing, but am not exactly sure what it is I’m looking for — although, I do know that jewellery is always a solid bet here. They sell gorgeous earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, in addition to baby items, clothes and house trinkets, such as cocktail sets and scent warmers. Stop here for gifts for the hostess who always has the best-looking barware in town.
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