My daughter has found a family from her college (son attends) that is very generously going to host her for her internship this summer. I wanted to put together a gift basket for them. So far I have NM beef jerky (best ever), Japanese rice crackers, and gourmet gummy bears. I would like to add a bottle of wine, but am not a wine connoisseur. The mom likes margaritas (daughter has checked out their Instagram), but obviously I can’t send that. Anyone have any ideas for a nice wine? Or other items? They also like the Washington NATS, but I can’t think of a unique item to reflect that. Thought I might add a few bottles of gourmet sodas in cool flavors. Other than that, I’m at a loss.
The family is saving her thousands of dollars in housing costs, so I do want to show my appreciation for that in ways beyond a few snack items.
For the margarita theme, you could get some really good margarita mix (Williams Sonoma has some, but I’m sure there are other places also) and some tequila.
You could send a couple of Nats hats.
Regarding wine, in my experience red wine drinkers will also drink white, but not all white wine drinkers will drink red. If you have a price range, I’d just ask a person at the wine store to recommend something.
I would turn it into a watching baseball snack basket. Add to the items you already have … popcorn, peanuts, maybe a lap blanket of their fav team. You could also add a margarita bottled mix or rimming salts/sugars and some salsa and chips
I’d put in things from your area - spices, salsa, local wine/beers, snacks. We’re from Colorado so would do different salsas, beers, margarita mix stuff, etc.
If you wanted to do a Nat’s themed basket, you could get the family tickets to some games, a gift card to someplace near the stadium for pre=game dinner, some things for a game night at home (often there are playing cards, board games available with team logos).
Thanks Two. We’re in SW VA, so not a lot of unique local food items that I can think of. I was working in NM a few months ago and could have found tons of interesting items while I was there, but now I’m back here and it’s pretty bland.
I did learn about a secret stash of Hokie stones on campus and may check that out now that the students have left. I’ve seen people give pieces of them for graduation gifts. My daughter and their son are both Hokies.
If they make margaritas with it, I would suggest that high end tequila may be overkill. Certainly you don’t want to go bottom of the barrel, but you are covering much of the taste with the mix.
What about a book about baseball? Or something regional in a general sense? Just in case you want more than just food…or add a tea towel, pottery bowl for the popcorn…
Perhaps do two gift baskets? One upon arrival and one upon departure?
I think that gift baskets can also be nice when you get someone something they wouldn’t get themselves, or to pamper them a bit. So the nice margarita mix, tequila, rimming stuff would all be nice. Restaurant gift cards would be nice. But gift cards to nice grocery stores or places that have ready-to-go meals and meals you can just throw in the oven when one is too tired to cook but doesn’t want to go out. A nice bath/shower gel or lotion can also be nice, but I wouldn’t have the scent be too particular unless your family finds out what scents the hosting family likes. A gift card to a spa is also nice.
I like this idea. If this family is saving you thousands in housing costs (to include food costs, too?), then I would think some very significant gift cards would be suitable. I look at gift baskets with the items others mentioned as being more suitable to a much shorter stay than what your D will be doing.
