Hors d’Oeuvres, main courses, side dishes and dessert. Were you asked to bring a food item to an event? What unites people no matter the occasion? Food, that’s precisely right. Just as monetary gifts are widely favored for special occasions, so is food. Learn where to find the best food items below.

Fantastic Food Finds

This year will be marked with many special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and everything in between. Consistent with the occasion, one should know where to go to purchase food items for these unique life-changing events. So, why not have all bases covered beforehand, from soup to nuts?

Following is a list of sites you may want to bookmark, as it helps to know where to go in a pinch, to take the guesswork out of guessing:

• Omaha Steaks;
• Williams-Sonoma;
• Godiva;
• Housley’s Century Oak Winery;
• The Peanut Roaster;
• Mrs. Fields;
• Gertrude Hawk;
• Figi’s;
• Asher’s Chocolates;
• Harry and David;
• Shari’s Berries;
• Dean & DeLuca;
• The Swiss Colony;
• Carlo’s Bake Shop;
• GourmetGiftBaskets.com;
• Hudson Valley Winery;
• Crumbs Bake Shop;
• My Favorite Muffin;
• Edible Arrangements;
• Coldstone Creamery;
• The HoneyBaked Ham Co.

Crossing Food off the List

By making these places your go-to spots, it will look like you spent a gargantuan amount of time picking out your gift. The best part is that nobody has to know you’ve already done your research. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.

Whether you are seeking to bring something simple or a little more extravagant to your event, there are ample options to find what you need; freeing up your time to pick out other things, let’s say your wardrobe.

-Kimberly Williams