The Gift of Good Tastes

Friend, you can't eat gifts. Well, maybe some gifts, like a cheese ball or one of those chocolate yule logs. But in the main, most gifts are inedible (some of those cheese balls included). And yet it's the edible gifts that receive special attention this time of year. A big-screen television or a dangly diamond object generates an awed "ooh," but a delicious treat is the gift everybody eventually gathers around. And that's when the lasting part of the holidays — the memories — are made. Objects come and go, but families and friends sitting around a table blissfully stuffing faces and laughing — that's Christmas. So make sure you budget time for the Maplewood Farmers' Market Pre-Holiday Sale. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood; 314-241-2337 or www.schlafly.com), the usual purveyors of high-quality foodstuffs (baked goods, fresh produce, honey, savory meats) have their stalls set up indoors and are ready to make your holiday dreams come true. Admission is free, as always, and beer, the official lubricant of the holiday season, is just a few steps away if you feel the need to toast your good fortune.
Sat., Dec. 22, 2007