more articles like this

Local Gifts
updated: Jun 22, 2012, 2:36 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

We are going to visit friends in Washington State and as a hostess gift, want to bring a very "local item"- nothing they could possibly find in their own locale. Culinary products, or t-shirts from local restaurants come to mind. Your recommendations, please!

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 290509	2012-06-22 02:39 PM
Local wine, olives, nuts, avocados, oranges!
COMMENT 290512	2012-06-22 02:43 PM
I agree with the wine suggestion. Also, SB Olives, or maybe a gift basket with a couple of those things and a local photography book on SB. Chaucers has a lot of self-published local books on our area.
COMMENT 290514	2012-06-22 02:47 PM
wine and/or SB tee shirts - KMart has a good selection at a good price
COMMENT 290516	2012-06-22 02:51 PM
Washington State has some great wineries. Bringing California wine is unnecessary. You might as well bring California apples. Fruit, honey, condiments are usually welcome.
COMMENT 290517	2012-06-22 02:56 PM
Granola?
COMMENT 290519	2012-06-22 03:04 PM
Tar from Haskell's beach!
COMMENT 290520	2012-06-22 03:04 PM
I live in Washington State........We need sunshine!!
COMMENT 290521	2012-06-22 03:08 PM
How about taking one of the "less fortunate" hanging out on State Street.
ELAZ	2012-06-22 03:09 PM
How about treats from The Chocolate Gallery in Goleta! LOVE their goodies!
COMMENT 290527P	2012-06-22 03:15 PM
Goodland Kitchen has some delicious locally made edibles...pickles, jams, even a s'mores kit with artisan marshmallows.
COMMENT 290529	2012-06-22 03:17 PM
Tri tip.
COMMENT 290530	2012-06-22 03:19 PM
OG Kush
COMMENT 290532	2012-06-22 03:23 PM
526- I've lived here 50+ years and still can use suggestions/recommendations for many, many things.
COMMENT 290533	2012-06-22 03:24 PM
My first idea was also the beautiful photography book that Chaucer's sells, I believe it's the 'Book of Santa Barbara.' At one point they had signed copies and may still. You could then see if any of the pictures showcase one of the food or art suggestions on here.
COMMENT 290534	2012-06-22 03:26 PM
I've suggested Shalhoob's beef jerky previously, for meat eaters. It is the bomb. And lightweight for travel!
COMMENT 290535	2012-06-22 03:28 PM
A bottle of California wine is always a welcome gift. I would go to the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort and buy a bottle from his winery and a little coonskin cap to fit on the top. They are so cute! The other suggestions of SB olives and avocados and SB chocolates and maybe SB Biscotti would complete the perfect gift basket.
COMMENT 290536P	2012-06-22 03:34 PM
@535, you can visit me any time with those goodies!
COMMENT 290537P	2012-06-22 03:34 PM
A jar of water from the bird refuge? Bet they don't have anything like that around there. Not on purpose anyway.
STACE	2012-06-22 03:44 PM
Something from the gift shop at the SB Historic Society - corner of De La Guerra and SB Streets. They have a wide selection of great SB gifts in every price range. Unlike the SB Art Museum many of the items at the Historic Society are SB specific. And your $ goes to support the museum - a true local treasure!
SEEDLADY	2012-06-22 03:57 PM
really fresh Organic pistachios from Santa Barbara Pistachio Located in no SB Co on highway 33 not far from Cuyama. Call them to find SB retailers. They are SO GOOD!
EDHATBARBARA	2012-06-22 04:18 PM
Chocolats du CaliBressan has a shop in La Arcada and they are delightfully wonderful -- they accompany a bottle of pinot noir or bubbly beautifully. A box of delights from Andersen's Bakery on State Street (or one from a Danish bakery in Solvang) is also a welcome gift. The Botanical Gardens have lots of lovely plant ideas and any purchase made there benefits the Gardens. There's a great olive oil place in Los Olivos; C'est Cheese has wonderful gift items along with nice cheese packages; there used to be a lovely hand dipped candle shop in Solvang -- so many possibilities abound!
DAYLIGHT	2012-06-22 04:23 PM
Visit the Santa Barbara Sunday Beach Arts & Craft Show, where you will find a large selection of items made by Santa Barbara artisans.
COMMENT 290556	2012-06-22 04:28 PM
A t-shirt is a great idea since you can get good food/wine anywhere (plus if you're flying, you'll want to avoid liquids). How about one from Endless Summer, Brophy's, SB Film Festival, San Ysidro Ranch or Sandpiper.
COMMENT 290561	2012-06-22 04:51 PM
I always make a gift bag with a good bottle of olive oil from farmers market, a bag of crostini toast crackers and a Santa Barbara tea towel.
COMMENT 290562	2012-06-22 05:02 PM
Bring them one of our homeless. We have a few to spare.
COMMENT 290565	2012-06-22 05:08 PM
Take them an abandoned Panga. Just go hang out on the beach and you can take your pick.
COMMENT 290569P	2012-06-22 05:14 PM
A local restaurant t-shirt (and kind of like bringing sunshine) is one from Endless Summer Bar-Cafe at the harbor. Locally owned, with an image of the classic movie scene with surfers and the sun.
COMMENT 290575	2012-06-22 05:53 PM
sun
LIZTISH340	2012-06-22 06:31 PM
I have a wonderful cube from the airport gift store that folds and unfolds with scenes of SB. I love it! It's small enough to fit in one's hand. I live here and it makes ME smile. Check it out!
COMMENT 290584	2012-06-22 06:49 PM
a post card of what they are missing.
COMMENT 290596	2012-06-22 07:40 PM
I second The Chocolate Gallery. Their Texas Crunch is out of this world.
COMMENT 290598	2012-06-22 07:48 PM
LOVE those Endless Summer T shirts.....they would probably love to wear them in their dreary, rainy weather, it would certainly brighten their day!
COMMENT 290602	2012-06-22 08:25 PM
Cherimoyas and avocados. They don't make those in WA! You can get perfect cherimoyas from the IV Food Coop.
NEIGHBOR	2012-06-22 11:08 PM
Are Edhat bags & t-shirts still available at SB Arts?
COMMENT 290633P	2012-06-22 11:41 PM
Magic Dust from the Hitching Post ... oh, and a bottle of Highliner.
COMMENT 290646	2012-06-23 06:59 AM
A pound of Santa Barbara Roasting Co. coffee! Always a hit with my friends and family!
COMMENT 290647P	2012-06-23 07:02 AM
I second SeedLady's suggestion. I always bring organic Santa Barbara pistachios--always the plain, salted organic and then one or more bags of the flavored ones (usually Hickory Smoked). If I need to send a "Santa Barbara" gift, I also send Santa Barbara pistachios (in that case, I order them online and have them shipped). Everyone that I have given these to has loved them and, coming from back East, there is just something somewhat exotic in my mind about pistachios grown locally here in California!
SEEDLADY	2012-06-23 07:20 AM
a true local would be a paid subscriber...
GBOB	2012-06-23 07:59 AM
"SUMMER SOLSTICE" T-SHIRT, HAT, "HEAL THE OCEAN" STUFF, BOTTLE(S) OF LOCALLY-PRODUCED WINE....
COMMENT 290673	2012-06-23 08:28 AM
Will Edhat just add this to the Referrals page already? We've had this conversation SO many times... Google, people!
MESARATS	2012-06-23 09:16 AM
Atomic horseradish (can get at Smart and Final) Shallob or Ray's beef jerky, dried pinquito beans (at Tri County)All are easy and light for packing.
TRAVELIN	2012-06-23 09:38 AM
SB flavored pistachios have been a favorite gift I've given to relatives in Seattle, as well as in Asia. The SB olives are also great. Both can be purchased on Sat am at the Farmers' Market.
COMMENT 290704	2012-06-23 09:45 AM
Neal Graffy's "Santa Barbara Street Names" book.
COMMENT 290708P	2012-06-23 10:03 AM
A copy of local sculptor Bud Bottoms' new book, "The Story of Santa Barbara's Dolphin Fountain" -- Chaucer's and Book Den have it! Or any book from local book publisher Summerland Publishing (many local authors).
COMMENT 290713P	2012-06-23 10:17 AM
Not original, but as a former Washingtonian, I immediately thought, "Sunshine!" Also, to poster 537, there are many, many bird refuges in Washington, at least Western Washington, so I don't understand your reference.
COMMENT 290716	2012-06-23 10:21 AM
How about a cardboard homeless sign?
SBARTS	2012-06-23 10:57 AM
Hi Neighbor-yes Edhat tees are available at SB Arts in La Arcada Court next to Chocolats du Cali Bresson. You can also find handmade gifts by 50 local artists there. The variety is incredible. Help support the local economy and artists.
SBARTS	2012-06-23 11:02 AM
Ah yes, SB Arts has a local book section of signed books with 5 of Bud Bottoms books including his new one on the dolphin fountain plus Neal Graffeys "Street Names" and many more. Yes all are signed and can be personalized!
COMMENT 290732	2012-06-23 11:34 AM
Santa Barbara biscotti. You can get a big box at Costco for a reasonable price. Goes good with Santa Barbara roasting company coffee.
EDSUP	2012-06-23 01:58 PM
Amen to Seedlady! Locals support.
COMMENT 290752P	2012-06-23 02:40 PM
I second 732...SB Roasting company coffee and SB biscotti. I usually make a basket and throw in a few cups with a SB Roasting Company Logo.
COMMENT 290803	2012-06-23 05:54 PM
The custom stone coasters of SB are beautiful and there are some with different wines, you can find them down at the art show on Sundays I think. I have given these several times to out of town guests and they have always been a hit!
COMMENT 290806	2012-06-23 06:35 PM
chocolate gallery in goleta, wine for sure, olives. Bring something to eat...everyone can share. And not something they can buy there. Books are nice but not everyone wants to read about street names in a place they don't live or visit regularly. That'd be good for someone just moving to SB.
COMMENT 290808P	2012-06-23 07:17 PM
Whenever I have wanted something local and unique, I always have good luck at SB Arts in La Arcada. They have stuff from local artists, not made in China stuff that says Santa Barbara on it. And Yeah - I got my Edhat t-shirt there, too!! =]
COMMENT 291134	2012-06-25 09:06 AM
OP here. thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I have lived here for a while now, but really don't get out and shop much, so this helps refresh me as to what would truly be "local items". So far, the flavored pistachios, t-shirts from (specifically) Endless Summer, and cherimoyas are items that I had not considered, and will be tucked between my clothes when we depart next weekend! Thanks to all!

44% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.

*** One comment was removed from this thread by the Edhat Board Nanny for violating Edhat Comments Board policy. Click Here to see it.