San Francisco Food Gifts for Father’s Day

If you’re like us and love giving and receiving, high-quality food gifts then this post is for you. This Father’s Day, show Dad how much you love and appreciate him with any of these local, San Francisco Bay Area food products. From small-batch chocolates to traditional Chinese dumplings to fermented preserves, we’ve rounded up our top food gifts that are, dare we say it, 100-percent delicious and Father-approved.

So whether he’s an avid foodie, a somewhat-adventurous eater, or is a “boils water” kind of cook, these food gifts are fit for the king of the castle—or at least the ruler of the man cave.

Photo Courtesy of Dandelion Chocolate

San Francisco Food Gifts #2

High Tea

• What: Cannabis-infused organic tea from Kikoko
• Price: Starting at $22
• Where: Order online
• Various San Francisco dispensaries

Tea time is not just for ladies anymore, especially when it comes to Kikoko’s cannabis-infused teas. Now, before you get all freaked out over a bit of Mary Jane, 1.) it’s legal in California and 2.) Kikoko uses the finest ingredients in order to create healing cannabinoid products.

The Berkeley-based company offers four teas with varying CBD and THC ratios, as well as infused honey sticks to help make the perfect spot of tea. You and Dad by no means need to be cannabis experts in order to enjoy this food gift. In fact, Kikoko provides a ton of information and literature to make sure you are educated on the teas before partaking in a Tea-H-C party.

So if Dad is a newbie looking to alleviate a bit of stress and anxiety, give him the Sympa-Tea, or if he’s having trouble sleeping perhaps a warm cup of Tranquila-Tea for a solid night’s rest. Or if you’re not sure what’s ailing him, give dad a gift box of all four of Kikoko’s teas for a Father’s Day food gift that’s hella dank. kikoko.com.

Photo Courtesy of Far West Fungi 

San Francisco Food Gifts #4

The Dumpling King

• What: Premade, frozen scallion pancakes and dumplings from Kingdom of Dumpling
• Price: Starting at $2.79
• Where: 2048 Taravel St., San Francisco

Perhaps one of the cheapest Father Day food gifts on this list, the expertly prepared dumplings, steam buns, and pancakes from Kingdom of Dumpling’s wholesale location in San Francisco are nothing short of awesome. While the wholesale shop is nothing terribly impressive to look at, it’s what they’ve prepared and frozen (at your convenience mind you) that really counts. The food here is made with care, and precision perfected out of years tradition and plenty of practice.

Whether your dad is into pork, chicken, beef, lamb, or veggies there’s a dumpling out there for him. All he has to do is fry it up in a pan. And for just a few meager dollars, you can gift dad a savory, chewy, flaky scallion pancake, too. Heck, go wild and get him five pancakes, because he’s worth so much more and dim sum.

Photo Courtesy of Cowgirl Creamery

San Francisco Food Gifts #6

Give It Some Tonic

• What: Tonic water kit from Oaktown Spice Shop
• Price: Starts at $18
• Where: Order online, 1224 Solano Ave., Albany & 546 Grand Ave., Oakland

If your dad is an aspiring mixologist looking for the latest and greatest ways to beef up his home bar, then you definitely need to get him this food gift for Father’s Day. Oaktown Spice Shop owners John Beaver and Erica Perez have been lovingly curating the gorgeous spices in their Lake Merritt store since 2011. Pick up one or all three of the tonic kits—including an original, elderflower, and lavender option—for your Pa to experiment with. Each kit comes with a recipe card and all the natural botanicals and spices needed to create homemade tonic water that’s better than the stuff out of the bottle.

While we understand the convenience of ordering one of these (aka all of these) kits online, we encourage you to stop into either of the spice shops for a truly immersive experience. The smells circulating through the shop are incredible as glass jars filled with exotic spices and herbs line the walls all the way up to the ceiling. And if you are wondering what the difference between pink and black peppercorns is, Beaver and Perez are happy to explain. oaktownspiceshop.com.

Photo Courtesy of Dana Plucinski

San Francisco Food Gifts #8

Plum Perfect

• What: Ume plum jam and syrup from Yumé Boshi
• Price: $14.50 & $17.99
• Where: Online & Various San Francisco retailers

If being a winner of two 2018 Good Food Awards is any indication of how great this food gift is then we think Dad will approve. Made with locally-sourced California ingredients and crafted using artisanal and traditional Japanese methods, Yumé Boshi’s syrups and preserves are just like grandma used to make, that is if your grandma hails from Japan. With the goal of saving the disappearing art of Japanese preserve making, founder Ayako Iino couples traditional methods with modern culinary techniques to produce her high-quality umeboshi (a special fermented plum).

The results are complex preserves and syrups that instantly drop you off at salivation station. The ume plum jam is a little tangy, a little floral with a hint of bitterness that begs to be poured on top of vanilla ice cream, or, heck, eaten with just a spoon right out of the jar. The syrup, on the other hand, makes a killer cocktail full of assertive fruit flavors without the cloyingly-sweet aftertaste. And if Dad isn’t sure what to do with such a versatile food gift, Yumé Boshi offers plenty of suggestions on their website. yumeboshiplum.com.

Love Stretchy Pants?

If you’re digging what we’re dishing up, you might like any number of our culinary experience. To see and eat at some of the best places in SF check out any of our Stretchy Pants Food Tours.  All of our experiences make great gifts too (hint, hint; wink, wink. Happy Father’s Day!)

—Lauren Bonney

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