Shopping for local grown-up beverages now extends beyond wine and beer to hard liquor. Four craft distilleries opened in the South Sound in 2012 – making craft distilleries one of the fastest growing beverage trends this region ever has seen (will cideries be next? Please?). Local distillers craft small batches of vodka, gin, whiskey and a handful of other spirits. All have tasting rooms you can visit to try before you buy. Read on. Read more »

Remember how everyone used to give wine as a gift? Here’s something more Tacoma in nature: Growler jugs full of local beer. And something for Tacomans with a sense of humor – hand knitted growler sweaters sold at The Red Hot. Read on. Read more »

Two South Sound cheesemongers can help assemble a platter or gift box packed with Washington cheeses or any other cheese you desire: Kris Blondin of Stink Meat and Cheese in Tacoma (628 St. Helens Ave., 253-426-1347, stinktacoma.com) and Laurie Sanders-Polen of My Cheese Shoppe in Puyallup (202 S. Meridian, 253-841-2011, Facebook). You can find Tacoma cheesemaker Backcountry at My Cheese Shoppe. At Stink, you also can find a broad selection of meats and wines.

I asked the cheesemongers to give advice to News Tribune readers for assembling killer cheese baskets or platters. Here’s how to do just that: Read more »

Clay Richart and Holly Burton Richart had a family recipe for caramel, a love for bacon and lavender and an entrepreneurial spirit. What resulted in 2011 was something wonderfully Tacoman  – Fingerprint Confections.

I spoke by phone with Holly Burton Richart recently, asking her all kind of questions about her Tacoma caramel company. Here are excerpts: Read more »

A basket of jam and honey for a holiday gift says something about you – you either really like carbs or you have excellent taste in breakfast accompaniments. The only thing that’d be missing is a box of Fisher scones mix, but you can always head to the Pacific Northwest Shop in Proctor for those.

Here’s a look at two jam producers and two beekeepers who sell their products in South Sound shops. Read more »

Nothing says “I think you’re awesome” better to a guy than a basket full of smoked meat. The only thing that might make it better is to hand over the gift with a growler (check back Friday for a blog post on gifting growlers).

Blue Max Sausage in Puyallup is one of those off-the-radar businesses that I don’t think gets enough attention for the meats they smoke. Their meat smoking and curing is done on site – they produce smoked sausages, jerky, summer sausage and pepperoni. The sausage company is also a butcher shop. Read more »

Every time I talk to William Mueller – chef-owner of the gourmet breakfast cafe Babblin’ Babs in the Proctor neighborhood – he reminds me that he doesn’t salt anything that comes out of his kitchen. He’s talking about the dishes he creates in his shoebox size Proctor kitchen. One bite of his gourmet breakfasts and you’ll know why – the guy loves his herbs and spices. Mueller and wife Shannon – who does most of the front-of-house duties at the Proctor cafe – began bottling their spice blends and selling them to customers. The Babblin’ Babs spice blends are $8 each or you can buy a three-pack for $20. To find out more, go here. Among the blends are a Greek, Thai, West Indies, all-purpose and a barbecue.

The Muellers are among many around town who make their own flavoring blends. Read on. Read more »

As owner Breeze Wetzel puts it, Madyson’s Marshmallows began out of a child’s curiosity and is now a fledgling business for the Sumner family. Here are excerpts from an interview with owner Breeze Wetzel, who runs the handmade marshmallow business with Brian Wetzel. Read more »