Buy Food And Gifts At Epicure Imports Open Warehouse Sale, Guidi Marcello In Santa Monica, And La Espanola In Harbor City
Give tastes from Europe for the holidays
Whether it's for a knockout gift basket for your food-obsessed friend or something for your own party platter, these off-the-beaten-track European shops have it all.
Epicure Imports only opens its doors to the public six times a year; this weekend is one of those times (Friday, 1:30 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Aisles are filled with goodies like Bovetti chocolate bars ($5.50), Le Saunier de Camargue Fleur de Sel ($7.50) and Edmund Fallot mustards ($3). In the apartment-size refrigerator (pictured), there's Brillat Savarin brie, Urbani white truffle butter and terrific amounts of foie gras. It's like a French Costco–great prices and plenty of free samples. 6900 Beck St., North Hollywood; 818-985-9800
'Tis the season for panettone at Guidi Marcello: Festive, gift-worthy boxes of the light, sweet Italian bread fill the front of this hidden Santa Monica shop. You'll find classic versions with raisins, and others with candied figs and chocolate chips. For savories, there are beautiful, bright-green Castelvetrano olives ($8), unique Italian dried pastas in every shape imaginable, and frozen pumpkin ravioli ($10) that are perfect with a butter-and-sage sauce. 1649 10th St., Santa Monica; 310-452-6277 or guidimarcello.com
This time of year, La Española is more than just a stop for chorizo and house-made sausages. In addition to the Rolls Royce of hams–jamón ibérico de bellota–this Harbor City shop also carries sweets and snacks like Pablo Garrigos Ibanez turron, a sweet nougat made with Marcona almonds ($24). Top a basket off with Regañas crackers ($3.50) made with fruity olive oil, and some Queso Afuega'l Pitu ($16), a soft, crumbly cow's-milk cheese laced with hot Spanish paprika. 25020 Doble Ave., Harbor City; 310-539-0455 or laespanolameats.com