Moms and mother figures tend to be pretty darn great, so it's not surprising they have their very own day. And whether yours likes cooking or not, a delicious foodie gift is sure to go down a treat.
They've spent time bandaging our booboos and fixing basically everything from hair to hearts to our finances, but this year, those special women in our lives — and all of us, really — deserve a little extra bit of love. The pandemic has been hard, OK?
Mother's Day, which falls on May 9 2021, is the perfect time to get that special bottle, a cute cake or a delicious dinner from one of Toronto's best restaurants. And if you're lucky, you might just get to enjoy these treats too.
You might want to make breakfast in bed — there's a meal kit for that. You might want to get some nice takeout, or maybe some perfectly balanced bottled cocktails.
Whether your mom or mother figure is a cook or prefers just to eat, we've got some of the best Mother's Day gift ideas for food-lovers around. What's more, most of them support independent businesses, and they sure as heck blow supermarket flowers out of the water. Now you've got no excuse...
11 gift ideas for Mother's Day 2021
1. Segura Viudas cava
$15.95
A good-quality sparkling wine is always a treat, and the cava kings at legendary Spanish cava house Segura Viudas know exactly how it's done. A rich heritage and forward-thinking approach to sustainability means these cavas taste good and do good, while the sleek bottles make for an eye-catching table decoration.
2. Scout Seacouterie pack
$99
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On the topic of Spain, the Spanish often crack out a seriously good tin of anchovies — along with cava, natch — for special occasions. For canned seafood that's worthy of a celebration, look to Scout Canning's range of premium tinned delights. You could get one — can we suggest the canned lobster or organic Prince Edward Island mussels — or go the whole hog with their gorgeous set, which includes an acacia board and three stone bowls.
3. AGO Bistro Mother's Day meals
$78 for two
If your mom is on the sophisticated side, rise to the occasion with the Art Gallery of Toronto's Mother's Day Luncheon. Trout filet with wild leek pesto; asparagus salad; and two cans of Lola Bush Sparkling Rosé add some sparkle. Serve alongside a sketch of your ma and it'll basically be the same as eating in the Frank Gehry-designed gallery, right? Available for delivery and curbside pickup.
4. Wonderkind's gift boxes
From $75
The best gifts are all about quality rather than quantity, so if you choose to do one thing this Mother's Day, get one of Wonderkind's gift boxes. These carefully curated sets are, quite frankly, gorgeous. Every single one comes in a keepsake box made out of walnut wood, with a selection of artisanally made goodies designed to delight. There's a whole bunch to choose from, but our favourite is the French Onion Lover's box, with french onion jam, pear and riesling jam, shortbread and all sorts of other treats.
5. A pack of wine from Grape Witches
From $70
Wine! Faithful friend, and a classic gift. But the wines from Grape Witches aren't just any old wines — they're natural, often biodynamic wines, so these wines are basically good for you* (*Alright, they're probably just a teeny little bit less bad for you). There are loads of bottles to choose from, but the Grape Glass (Grape Witches' bottle shop and event space) sells some nice gift packs, too. We particularly like the sound of the 'What's nice white wine in French?'
6. A kit from Cocktail Emporium
From $24
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Whether your mom likes drinks shaken or stirred, you're sure to find something to tickle her fancy at Cocktail Emporium. The clue is in the name: This one-stop booze shop is all about mixed drinks, with kits dedicated to the whisky sour, the margarita, the negroni and so much more.
7. A gift from the Toronto Market
Prices vary
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If you're anything like us, a trip to the market is a truly special occasion: a chance to pick up all manner of tasty treats from local Toronto makers. While it's never going to be possible to recreate the market shopping experience online, you can still get your hands on the market's best artisanal products thanks to its sleek webshop. Shop by vendor, theme, grocery essentials and more; the vendor makes up your purchase fresh; then you can go and pick it up on Thursdays from the designated pickup spot on Dupont. Nice.
8. Café Boulud's Afternoon tea
$60 each
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Crack out your finest china, put the kettle on and practice putting your pinky finger in the air, because your next brew is about to get all kinds of fancy. Café Boulud's Mother's Day Afternoon Tea will furnish you with a ready-made tower of treats, complete with house-made scones and preserves, and a selection of the French-inspired spot's sweet and savoury bites. Lovely stuff.
9. Wine from Grow Wild
$14.95
Okanagan Valley winery Grow Wild gets its name because of the wildflowers found in its vineyards. The wildflowers preserve biodiversity, increase soil health and are a good indicator that the land is fertile and healthy — and is likely to make seriously delicious tipples, too. With elegant design and equally elegant wines, Grow Wild is sure to please even picky palates.
10. West Side Beef brunch box
$160
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West Side Beef is your friendly neighbourhood butcher shop, but instead of a storefront, they’ll ship high-quality, ethically raised meat right to your door. For Mother’s Day, they’re shipping curated brunch boxes across the GTA for one epic at-home meal.
Boxes include West Side’s glorious breakfast sausages, dry-cured, small-batch bacon and plenty of sweet delights from local shops and small businesses. There’s 100 per cent organic maple syrup from Howick Community Farmers, two dozen Ontario heritage chicken eggs , a bag of coffee beans from Vintage Coffee Roasters and more!
11. Marben’s heat-at-home brunch kit for two
From $74
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In the before times, Marben was our go-to Sunday brunch spot for bottomless mimosas and fry ups that felt like they were taken right out of the English countryside. Thankfully you can still experience a slice of their brunch heaven with their heat-at-home mother’s day brunch kit.
This isn’t your average bacon-and-eggs-brekky, instead you’ll find shoyu pancakes, their signature, scrumptious baked beans, Berkshire belly bacon and whiskey marmalade. There’s more included, veggie options and lots of add-ons like a bouquet of flowers, but we’re so hungry we have to stop. Available for pick-up or local delivery on May 7 and 8.
