CJAD 800AM at 8:40am – Gift Baskets
Q1: There comes a time in every gift shopping list when you hit the wall. It’s either because you realize you have run out of time or because you really cannot think of anything to get that person.
Call up one of the gift basket companies. Gift baskets have come a long way since someone wrapped up some fruit and nuts in a wicker basket and covered it with plastic wrap.
Q2: How will I know if it’s right for the person on my list my list, what are the kinds of things you find in gift baskets?
These companies listed have learned how to take the likes, interests or taste buds of your gift recipients and turn them into a gift basket. Sure, they still fill them with chocolate, cookies and toiletries, but you might also find ones with: soup, pedicure supplies, martinis, anti-oxidant food, movies, gardening tools or sugar-free delights, all beautifully and precariously piled into a basket, a fry pan, a car, a vase or an Adirondack chair, for example.
Go to their web sites and see what they have, go in person and pick out things.
Q3: It’s good to keep the shopping local, so can you tell us some of the places we can order baskets?
La Premiere Compagnie de Paniers is a basket company which lives in a huge gift store. The shop is chock full of gourmet food items, kitchenware and gifts. Baskets are easily assembled from the jams, hot sauces, condiments, Rogers chocolates, scented items, toys, gifts, housewares and much, much more. Look for the little tasting bowls and crackers to try out new products, the candy corner or feast on their own 5 year old cheddar, sausages made by the Mennonites, and their homemade fudge.
Location: 300 Bord du Lac at St. Joachim St., Pointe Claire.
Phone: 514-695-7038.
Hours: Mon- Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-6
www.thepanier.com
Cornucopia, the oldest gift basket company in town (since 1977) is located in a warehouse. Most ordering is done from their online catelogue but you can come here and select your items too. This company offers baskets ($29.95 to $300) in a kid’s riding toy, a wicker chest or lunch bag. Send a cinema lovers, an anti-oxidant, wine and cheese, a martini one, an organic or gluten-free choice, a low-fat one in a salad bowl, a personal care kit, some fresh fruit, the chocoholic or one just for the kids.
Location: 85 de Castelnau St. West at St. Urbain St.
Phone: 514-276-4712 or 800-977-4712.
Hours: Mon-Friday 9-5 and by appointment.
www.cornucopia.ca
Procrastinators: lst date to be sent in Montreal area: Tues Dec 22, up til the 24th you can pick up things in person at the warehouse.
Q 4: Are there any other kinds of baskets we can send?
Why not send a healthy delicious cheese basket from La Fromagerie Hamel at the Jean Talon market? This cheese shop with 600 cheeses on view, open since 1961, is always bustling. Baskets ($40 & up) should be ordered at least 2 days ahead, and can have other items added, such as wine, bread dippers, herb teas, dried fruit, chocolates, oil and vinegar, jam or terrines.
220 Jean-Talon est at Casgrain
Phone: 514-272-1161
Other locations: 2117 Mont-Royal e. (514-521-3333); 9196 Sherbrooke e. (514-355-6657); Repentigny, 622 Notre-Dame (450-654-3578);138 Atwater (514-932-5532).
www.fromageriehamel.com
Procrastinators: Montreal area: 2 days ahead. Out of town: a week ahead