We hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving full of delicious dishes, fabulous wine and great company. We had quite the family feast at Dylan Prime where we took full advantage of their 1-bottle per person no corkage fee BYO policy. Now it’s time to get shopping. We have compiled here some of our ideas for festive foodie holiday shopping. We’ve included some of the season’s best shopping events, holiday markets, and our favorite gift ideas for everyone from the wino to the couch potato in your life. We’ve also included some of our favorite spots around the city to take a much-needed shopping break from the masses. Christmakkuh is around the corner!

Shopping Events/Markets:

-          Uncork New York at City Winery, December 6^th 2-6 p.m.:  At this New York wine and food tasting, you’ll be able to shop while enjoying the music of a jazz trio led by guitarist Steve Salerno.  Tickets are $45 and include wine and food sampling, as well as a souvenir wine glass.  You’ll be able to sample over 100 wines from Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Finger Lakes and taste foods from New York farmers, food producers, and local restaurants.  Check it out here >>

-          Gifted, A Holiday Market:  The folks over at Brooklyn Flea are coming into Manhattan (20 E. 4^th St. at Lafayette) for a holiday marked with 50 vendors, including Brooklyn Brew Shop (home beer making kits).  Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29; Wednesday-Sunday, Dec. 2-6 and 9-13; and Every day Dec. 16-24^th.  Check it out here >>

-          A Holiday Gift Bazaar at Astor Center:  This Saturday, December 5th from 2-6pm stop by Astor Wines for a holiday wine tasting extravaganza. Get a little tipsy while you shop for wine gifts. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Check it out here >>

-          A Bloody Good Holiday at the Shops at Columbus Circle: If you find yourself shopping in or around the Time Warner Center this Saturday, December 5th, then stop by Porter House New York, Landmarc or A Voce between 12-5pm and get $5 bloody marys. This deal is open to all who print out their Circle of Taste eBlast, show their membership text message or sign up with their bartender on the day of. Become a Circle of Taste Member Here >>

-          New Amsterdam Market:  New Amsterdam Market is back on December 20^th from 11 am to 4 pm at South Street (btw Beekman and Peck Slip).  They have not announced their list of vendors yet, but you can check here and a list of farmers, producers, distributors, purveyors, and other vendors should be up soon.

-          The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park:  The holiday shops are already up at Bryant Park and while you shop, indulge in some of the “holiday treats” available for purchase, including chocolate truffles by Max Brenner, Augustin’s Belgian waffles, the Sweet Shop’s candied apples, Lovin’ Eat’s cookie sandwiches, Kettle Corn, and some chocolate fondue at Choco Loco.  Drop in at Celsius bar for a nice shopping break and warm up with a Snowcap cocktail (kahlua mocha, absolute vanilla, hot chocolate and whipped cream) while watching all the ice skaters go by.  Open Daily until January 3^rd (M-F: 11 am- 8 pm, Sat: 10 am- 9 pm, and Sun: 10 am- 6 pm). Check it out here >>

-          Union Square Holiday Market:  Now, we love the green market already but we especially love to head to Union Square around the holidays to visit the over 100 gift boutiques at the Union Square Holiday Market. It’s open until December 24^th, and you can find fun gifts, gourmet food, baked goods, etc. from 11 am to 8 pm (M-F), from 10 am to 8 pm (Sat.), and from 11 am to 7 pm (Sun). We checked it out this past weekend and there are lots of good food options this year. A Wafles & Dinges stand, a new cookie stand, a German bratwurst stand, a cider stand, an Italian coffee stand and more.  Check it out here >>

Our Favorite Gift Ideas:

-          For the entertainer, check out Mollydooker’s Party in a Box.  You’ve gotta love this concept and these wines.  Get 6 bottles of the award-winning (absolutely delicious) Mollydooker wines with a wine tasting kit and instructions on how to host your own wine party.  Check it out here >>

-          For the reader (and nyc foodie), check out the new book New York: The Big City and Its Little Neighborhoods, “a must-have guide to 20 of the city’s most distinctive ethnic enclaves.”  It is a guide created by seasoned New York natives that is designed to “capture the spirit of each neighborhood by offering tips on where to eat, shop and visit off the beaten track in all five boroughs.”  Andy and I have our copy and we’re excited to hit up Greenpoint’s “Little Poland” (I love fresh, homemade pierogies), Astoria’s “Little Athens,” Brighton Beach’s “Little Odessa,” Greenwich Village’s “Little Britain,” and Harlem’s “Little Senegal” with this book in tow. Check it out here >> 

-          For the hardcore wino, Crushpad’s Fusebox.  It is a wine blending kit that contains instructions, equipment, and four wines from highly-rated Spectator vineyards in Napa.  You can try out your own custom blends and guess the blend of the mystery wine.  I got this for Andy a while back and think it’s a fabulous gift.  If you want to take it up a notch (from $79 to $435), check out the Fusebox + Custom Case Gift - the recipient gets to create a case of their own high-end, custom-blended Napa wine and design their own labels. Check it out here >>   

-          For the truffle head, a great stocking stuffer is the Napa Valley Honey Truffle Mustard for around $5.  Andy loves to have his sandwiches made with a hint of truffle, and I like to add the mustard to my homemade vinaigrettes.  Check it out here >> 

 Another idea is a white & black truffle oil set (especially to use with some scrambled eggs on Christmas morning).  Truffle salt is another tasty option, but if you want to go all out, then pick up some Fresh White Alba Truffle at Dean & Deluca ($410 per ounce).  If you’re doing that, may as well throw in a Truffle Shaver too.      

-           For the meat lover, how about some Jamón Iberico de Bellota hams from the black Iberian acorn fed hogs of Spain or some quality Grass Fed Local Beef (but be prepared for a trip out to CT if you want to get it from Laurel Ridge Farm).

-          For the foodie who is obsessed with the local chef scene, how about a gift certificate for an upcoming chef tasting and event at De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy’s Herald Square (8th Fl). Andy went to an event featuring Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner of Wallsé and Blaue Gans and loved it. You get amazing insights into what makes local celeb chefs tick as well as generous tastes and wine pairings. Not to mention you see firsthand some of the techniques local chefs use in preparing their specialty dishes. It’s like sitting at the chef’s table. There are some great chef events coming up: a special holiday brunch with Chef Gavin Kaysen (Cafe Boulud) on 12/6, Gabrielle Hamilton (Prune) on 12/9 and more. Check them all out here >> Info on gift certificates here >>

-          For the person who loves to eat out, a gift certificate is always a good idea…especially since there’s always a chance you could get invited when they decide to use it. You can get 20% off your gift certificates to a B.R. Guest Restaurant purchased online now until December 15^th. Through December 4th, Pampano and Maya are offering a free $25 gift card with each purchase of $100 or more in gift cards.

-          For the fried who loves to cook and try new things, the Indian Culinary Center on West 23^rd is offering a 2-for-1 holiday special. When you register for a class in December you get to bring a friend along for free.  All classes include cooking demonstrations, recipes, and an amazing sit down Indian feast. Classes that run from December 14 – 20 include: Vegetarian Delights, Simple, Healthful and Economical Meals, Elegant Seasonal Dinner Party, Shop and Cook in Little India, Create your Favorite Restaurant Meals, An Elegant Vegetarian Meal to Entertain With, Kebabs and Tikkas, and a special evening featuring the Street Foods of India and Henna Body Art.  Vegetarian options are always available and students are welcome to BYOB for the dinner portion of the class. Click here more info >>

-          Lastly, for the couch potato, check out the After Hours with Daniel series DVDs.  We love season one in New York.  You become a guest at one of Daniel Boulud’s late night, after service dinners with some of the world’s best chefs and food loving celebrities as they kick back, have some (actually, a lot) of wine, and share their stories.  Check it out here >>

-          Another favorite show of ours is Zane Lamprey’s Three Sheets.  Check out seasons 1-3 available on DVD, and Zane will guide you through the world’s drinking cultures as he downs local booze (throughout the world), learns local drinking games and culture, and really just parties hard.  Check it out here >>

-           If your loved one is a reality food show freak and would like a tee shirt announcing that he has a culinary boner, the Top Chef shop is for you. You can also pick up some knives, a board game, and frozen food.  For the Food Network fans, hit up the Food Network shop for cookbooks, cookware, cutlery, DVDs, etc. 

Our Favorite Places to Escape the Shopping Masses:

Rolf’s French Bavarian Brasserie:  It does not get more festive than this German (now French Bavarian) eatery located in Gramercy on 21st and 3rd Ave.  Picture yourself dining or drinking inside a giant Christmas tree. 

Waterfront Ale House: The birth place of our favorite egg nog ever!  Head to 30th and 2nd Ave  for Sam’s Serious Egg Nog (made with 3 rums + bourbon)- it is by far the most serious egg nog in town  AND you can share this holiday treat, because they serve this magic by the bottle.  Also be sure to try the Anchor Christmas on-tap.

Zum Schneider:  People have a tendency to break out in Christmas song at one of our favorite Biergartens on Avenue C and 7th Street.  Maybe that’s because they host carollings every year, with song book and back up music (Check It Out Here).  This year their hosting four of ‘em on each Sunday before Christmas from 1pm on. Even if you miss the official carolling, Zum Schneider is a fun festive place to knock back some serious steins of German brews and to perform your own drunken rendition of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.

Standings: This EVill beer bar on 7th St. above Jimmy’s No. 43 is celebrating “Holiday Bash ‘09″ on Wednesday, December 16th with 4 holiday spiced beers and get this — free BURGERS from Paul’s Da Burger Joint. More info here >>

Rattle ’N’ Hum: December is already a month of shopping madness, so why not make it a month of drinking madness, too? The city’s best beer bar is celebrating its belated 1-Year Anniversary with a Cask Ale Festival from December 3-7. Then on December 15th, it’s time for the 1st Annual Winter Beer Extravaganza. Heck, you might as well kill two birds with one stone and try to join Rattle ‘N’ Hum’s prestigious Mug Club. You have 30 days to drink 40 styles of beer on tap to become a member. If successful, you receive a Mug with your name on it that hangs behind the bar ready for active duty.

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