Sweet on the Holidays

Know someone with a sweet tooth? These six treats, all produced here in the East Bay, will make the perfect stocking stuffers or hostess gifts for the foodie in your life.

Photo by Jennifer Martine

Published: November 18, 2011

Pictured: Clockwise from top left.

Clarine's Florentines

$10 for six
Crunchy almond brittle coated with Guittard bittersweet chocolate.
clarinesflorentines.com.

Vice Chocolates
Bar With Ginger

$5
Venezuelan dark chocolate spiked with spicy candied ginger.
vicechocolates.com.

Donsuemor Peppermint
Bark Cute Cakes

$17 for 20
Airy chocolate cake topped with white chocolate and infused with peppermint.
donsuemor.com.

Cornology Caramel With a
Whole Lotta Nuts Popcorn

$6.95 for six cups
Gourmet popcorn mixed with made-from-scratch caramel, almonds, and extra-large peanuts.
cornology.com.

June Taylor
Christmas Cake

$50
Traditional English fruitcake spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
junetaylorjams.com.

CiCi's Italian Butterhorns

$9.99 for eight
Sugary, buttery, hand-rolled cookies made with cinnamon and walnuts.
cicisbutterhorns.com.

CLICK HERE for a round-up of some other great food-related holidays gifts.

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Faces

LL COOL J at Making Waves Academy

Richmond’s Making Waves Academy welcomed two-time Grammy Award winner LL COOL J to the school to have a discussion with the students. The recording artist spoke about the importance of education, his path to becoming an entertainer, and the impact his upbringing had on his success. At Making Waves, 5th- to 12th-grade students receive a rigorous, holistic education to prepare them for college and beyond.

Pure Muir Gala

In honor of its 30th anniversary, the John Muir Land Trust hosted a very special incarnation of its annual gathering. Conservation leaders and thousands of supporters came together at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez to celebrate with live music, fine wine, gourmet food, and an auction.

Notes and Words

This one-night-only fundraiser at the Fox Theater in Oakland ultimately raised more than $3 million for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, thanks to its all-star lineup of performers and speakers, which included Ryan Tedder of One Republic and actress Helen Hunt.

Swing to Freedom Gala

The Rotary Club of Lafayette hosted a benefit for the nonprofit New Day for Children. The Alamo-based organization works to aid the recovery of American girls rescued from sex trafficking through a variety of services, including psychological, educational, and other restorative programs. The fundraising event included a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner, and a live auction.

Faces of Wildlife

Fans of the Lindsay Wildlife Experience got wild at the museum and wildlife hospital’s annual soiree. Held at Danville’s Blackhawk Museum, the night saw some of Lindsay’s animal ambassadors join the mix as guests danced to music by The Cheeseballs following a full dinner catered by Scott’s Seafood Walnut Creek and both live and silent auctions. Funds from the event support Lindsay’s goal of connecting people with wildlife by saving animals’ lives and providing up-close animal encounters for visitors.

Concord: Stronger Together Gala

For the past 18 years, Concord’s Monument Impact has been a force in the city, serving its vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities. Recently, the nonprofit center hosted its Stronger Together gala to celebrate the work that volunteers, local businesses, unions, and others have done to support immigrants in the East Bay. Among those honored for their contributions were volunteer English tutor (and onetime San Francisco Giant) Rob Andrews, former board member Margaret Hanlon-Gradie, and John Muir Health.

Ziggurat

The Oakland Museum of California’s gardens overflowed with more than 250 guests during this yearly fundraising gala. Guest chefs Reem Assil and Barbara Llewellyn provided the scrumptious bites, while the auction offered bidders experiential packages. In keeping with the current Queer California: Untold Stories exhibit, the evening’s entertainment featured Oaklash, a drag and queer performance group.

Black and White Ball

In celebration of its six years of providing free transportation to cancer patients in Alameda County, Drivers for Survivors hosted its yearly ball in Pleasanton. The entertainment was top-notch, including Marcie Dodd (previously seen in Wicked on Broadway) and accomplished pianist Carol Weiss; the keynote address was given by Dr. Laura Esserman.

Sparkles and Spurs

Denizens of the East Bay headed to Round Hill Country Club in Alamo and kicked up their heels to support Hospice East Bay at the annual Celebration of Care Gala, raising around $200,000 to aid the nonprofit’s programs and services. This year’s theme, Sparkles and Spurs, meant that the more than 300 guests came dressed in their cowboy-best, sporting boots, Stetsons, and chunky belt buckles.

Ragin’ Cajun

The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation, which offers alternative treatments to patients with cancer, welcomed over 320 sponsors and supporters to its annual Ragin’ Cajun event. The Tri-Valley bash featured an African–inspired feast and music.

The Art of Travel

To celebrate its spring campaign The Art of Travel, Neiman Marcus hosted a fashion show at its Walnut Creek location. Entrepreneur Sheryl Grant and social media influencer Sydel Curry-Lee (whose famous family members in attendance included her brother Stephen Curry) spoke at the event, which featured sips, bites, and the opportunity to shop the latest trends with help from jet-setting fashion experts as well.

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Sweet on the Holidays

Know someone with a sweet tooth? These six treats, all produced here in the East Bay, will make the perfect stocking stuffers or hostess gifts for the foodie in your life.

Clarine's Florentines

Vice Chocolates Bar With Ginger

Donsuemor Peppermint Bark Cute Cakes

Cornology Caramel With a Whole Lotta Nuts Popcorn

June Taylor Christmas Cake