This time of year can feel like a mad sprint to the finish line, as our excited countdown to the big day suddenly morphs into a panic-inducingly small amount of time to secure everything on the list. Whether you still have holiday gifts to grab, Christmas cocktails and bar carts to prep or items in your shopping cart to purchase, we’ve got you covered.
The big meal isn’t the time to skimp on sub-par ingredients. Level up your cooking game with some of the best olive oils in the game and cocktail olives that provide the pièce de résistance for the perfect martini. And don’t forget the art of the snacking game: Guarantee the satisfaction of your guests (and reduce stress levels for hosts) with enough treats to keep hunger at bay.
Above all, don’t stress out. There’s always time for a break and if you’re hosting, remember that you deserve a treat as well. Some of Toronto’s best bars have transformed into winter wonderlands and festive popups for the season, which sounds like the perfect place for some last-minute entertaining inspiration.
Foodism's favourite grocery finds of 2024
Transform any average brew into a sweet, creamy barista-level creation with International Delight’s caramel macchiato cold foam. It’s the perfect topper for hot and chilled drinks alike.
Add super grains to breakfast with Joyfull Millets, a nutritious and crunchy muesli. We love the decadent choco and nut flavour, with rice flakes, oats and raisins.
Allow Manoomin Maple to reintroduce itself: The 2022 collaboration from DavidsTea and Indigenous-owned Tea Horse is a black tea that features manoomin (wild rice) harvested in Northern Canada with notes of maple, vanilla and berries.
Hitting your daily nutrient goals is easy with this bone broth instant coffee. Not only does it have 15 grams of protein, but it’s also rich and creamy with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
The morning after a holiday gathering is meant for taking ‘er real easy. Save yourself a whole whack of mixing with Flourish in festive Gingerbread flavour. Just add milk or water to this pre-made pancake and waffle powder and you’ll have a delicious, fluffy and protein-packed breakfast in no time. Flourish comes in a wide range of flavours, too.
Founders Olivia Petrou and George Stanchev are bringing Greek heritage and a love of antipasto to the masses. Olive & Fig hand-delivers beautiful, delicious spreads within the GTA, so you can focus on the grazing.
Eataly, the global Italian grocery, has launched its first pasta line using only heirloom Italian wheat and mountain spring water. The pasta comes in classic shapes like spaghetti and penne rigate, and is slow-dried to lock in flavour.
This basil tomato sauce gets its oomph from pecorino. Made from sheep’s milk, the hard, crumbly Italian cheese imparts buttery notes along with a zesty sweet spice to this sauce. Use it on your favourite pasta.
Make a restaurant-quality plate of pasta in a flash with this heavenly vodka sauce. Calabrian chilis turn up the heat — just add some cream and dig in.
Move aside, truffle oil. This zero-waste lobster oil, made by renowned chef Jerome Ferrer in Montréal, uses eco-friendly methods so you can add a touch of gastronomy to dinner.
Ever wondered if you have the stamina to complete the Hot Ones challenge? Québec-based La Pimenterie will be igniting celebrities’ taste buds with their Queso sin Queso and the Scoville-tastic Forbidden Fruit this season — and you can try them for yourself.
We’re big fans of anything shrunk to a freezer-friendly size for panicky weeknight dinners. La Presserie, known for its smoothies, salad dressings and cocktail mixers, now has a line of tasty Asian-inspired vegan soups (Pho, Ramen, Tom Yum) that can be microwaved and on the table in minutes.
This decadent collab, between Montréal brands Camellia Sinensis and Chocolat Dicitte, combines premium Peruvian chocolate with the distinct roasted notes of Hojicha green tea.
What if your olive oil not only had a distinct taste of place but could also combat the planet’s rapidly diminishing olive groves? Abandoned Grove’s One Tree One Bottle Program produces limited-edition, small-batch olive oil that makes for a truly unique foodie gift and conversation starter. Each bottle is sustainably crafted from the olives of a single tree, grown on a rescued olive grove in Tuscany. A single tree yields two bottles of extra virgin olive oil per year: one for your table, and one for the grove's community, which in turn drives positive change. Perfect for drizzling, dipping, or just showing off, it’s a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves good quality olive oil. Adopt a tree before December 24 and you’ll receive this year’s harvest, plus tasting notes and pairing recommendations by Abandoned Grove's founder and international olive oil specialist Fil Bucchino.
This balanced blend of four cold-pressed oils is so versatile that you can use it in almost any recipe. Heat-resistant up to 400 F, it’ll be your new best friend in the kitchen.
Make a better choice for your morning cup of joe with these organic fairtrade coffee beans. Birch Bark Coffee Co., a First-Nations-owned and operated business, sources this dark roast from a farmer-owned cooperative in Latin America. Grind, brew then savour comforting notes of dark chocolate, pepper and a smoky finish.
Made from purple corn, a superfood, this jalapeño-cheddar snack packs a serious punch of throat-tickling spice. It’s completely vegan, too, so everyone can enjoy.
Suffering from digestive issues shouldn’t mean meals lacking in flavour. We’re digging this mild salsa made with fresh tomato from Fody Foods, a gluten-, lactose- and bloat-free brand.
Put away the food processor and get snacking with Tre Stelle’s pre-whipped, ready-to-eat feta dip. Spread it on bagels or dunk your favourite veggies.
Take your taste buds to the tropics with Haribo Tropifrutti. The colourful gummies — in flavours like pineapple, pomegranate and passion fruit — are bursting with flavour and have a soft centre.
Hydrate and have a tasty treat with this popsicle-flavoured drink mix that’s packed with electrolytes.
We’re always surprised at how many ways you can enjoy Nordica’s two per cent cottage cheese. It’s a bonafide superfood; add it to your favourite desserts, pasta and even shakes for a big boost of protein, plus tons of healthy vitamins and calcium.
Billed as the first of its kind to launch in Canada, Violife’s dairy-free cream cheese block will get you the perfect smear on your morning bagel. It can be baked or whipped, too; with a flavour profile and velvety smoothness that replicates traditional cream cheese, it’s a home cook’s new best friend.
This holiday season, we’re giving our martini the glow-up it desperately deserves, starting with these salty and moreish olives, hand-stuffed with blue cheese.
You can snack freely with Wonderful Pistachios’ unshelled jalapeño lime nuts. The light kick of heat, complemented with zesty lime, is addictive.
This Québec company has been fermenting and pickling traditionally for over 40 years. Bubbies’ roster runs from sauerkraut to horseradish, but we can’t quit these crinkled pickle chips.
CBD is rarely tied up in a healthy bow, but Jublee was created with well-being in mind. All flavours (Blueberry Lavender, Banana Chocolate) are made without animal products, gluten or added sugar.
Turn your charcuterie game up a notch with this tapenade using Provençal olives. Spread onto crackers or corn on the cob, or spoon over scrambled eggs.
Move over peanuts, there’s a new kid in town. Packed with protein, healthy fats and antioxidants, Healthy Crunch’s delicious Super Seed butter blends sunflower seeds and is sweetened with maple syrup.
