By Nicole Bayne
One dozen varieties of every meat lover’s favorite slice of pig and two gift baskets from the best of the state (including Barboursville wine).
Virginia Hospitality ($57.95)
“We sell a lot of gift baskets. In fact they are what we sell the most of,” says owner of Fredericksburg’s Made In Virginia Store Kathryne Mitchell. “This was the first one that came to mind. An old-time gift basket, tried and true.”
Virginia Hospitality features turf: Virginia Country Ham from S. Wallace Edward & Sons, as well as surf: she-crab soup from Blue Crab Bay. Other items include wine from Barboursville Vineyards, peanuts from Appomattox River Peanut Company and two Wissie Cakes from Virginia Beach. / 920 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg
A Taste of (Northern)Virginia ($76.99)
Need a gift to demonstrate all flavors Northern Virginia? This gift basket from The Curious Grape in Arlington includes “some of our favorite Virginia products that we sell and enjoy ourselves all of the time,” says president and CEO Suzanne McGrath.
The set contains Olli Tartufo Salami with truffles, a spicy Maya Bar and pistachio toffee from Tim Gearhart’s Chocolates in Charlottesville, sweet potato chips and dill pickle chips from Route 11, Blenheim regular and extra spicy Ginger Ales, Foggy Ridge Cider‘s “Handmade” Apple Cider and Barboursville Pinot Grigio.
The Pinot Grigio is “one of our best-selling Virginia wines,” says McGrath. However customers can choose whatever Virginia wine they want to put in the basket, so depending on the wine, pricing will vary. Call (703) 671-8700 to order. / 2900 S Quincy St, Arlington
12 Days of Bacon ($180)
Red Apron Butchery’s new gift basket 12 Days of Bacon is available for pick up starting tomorrow (must be purchased online) at any of Red Apron’s three locations: Union Market, Penn Quarter and Mosaic District.
Red Apron Butchery’s new gift basket 12 Days of Bacon is available for pick up starting tomorrow (must be purchased online) at any of Red Apron’s three locations: Union Market, Penn Quarter and Mosaic District.
Here’s the breakdown:
Atomic Bacon: pork belly cured with brown sugar, cayenne and Calabrian chile flakes; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Buckboard Bacon: made using the same neck muscle as capicola, cured for two weeks with sorghum, roasted garlic, brown sugar and cayenne; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Canadian Bacon: pork loin brined for seven days with brown sugar, black pepper, fenugreek, juniper, thyme, rosemary and bay leaves; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Chocolate Bacon: pork belly cured for two weeks with maple sugar and Valhronna Bitter Sweet Cocoa; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Cinnamon Bacon: pork belly cured for two weeks with maple sugar, cinnamon and a burnt cinnamon stick; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Coffee Bacon: pork belly cured for two weeks with brown sugar and Ceremony Coffee Roaster‘s Destroyer Espresso; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Face Bacon: pork jowl cured for two weeks with brown sugar, salt, cayenne, pink salt, black pepper, allspice, juniper, cinnamon, ginger and bay leaves; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood.
Guanciale: pork jowl cured with black pepper, clove, allspice, nutmeg, red pepper flake and juniper; aged for 10 months
Ginger Bacon: pork belly cured for two weeks with maple sugar, ginger juice and ground ginger; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Old Bay-con: pork belly cured for two weeks with brown sugar and Old Bay; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Pancetta: pork belly cured with black pepper, clove, allspice, nutmeg, red pepper flake and juniper; rolled, tied and left for four-to-six months
Red Apron Classic Bacon: pork belly cured for two weeks with brown sugar, salt, cayenne, pink salt, black pepper, allspice, juniper, cinnamon, ginger and bay leaves; smoked over a mixture of apple, cherry and mesquite wood
Each bacon slab is 12-16 ounces of individually wrapped pork ready for freezing or storage if necessary. Red Apron is also offering The Brunch Basket and The Grill Basket. / 8298 Glass Alley, Merrifield
