Just because you aren’t headed to California right now doesn’t mean that the Golden State can’t come to you—by way of its coffee roasters, craft breweries, creameries, hotel spas, and other entities.
Indeed, plenty of made-in-California businesses are still shipping their wares, so we’ve created a shopping list of fun and practical items that might just brighten the spirits of those stuck at home.
Edibles
Farm to Fork in a Box, $85
SacTown Bites, a Sacramento-based food tour company, has launched an artisan subscription box program that supports local farmers, chefs, and makers. These monthly curated boxes—called “Farm to Fork in a Box”—feature hard-to-find and small-batch products that showcase the bounty of the Sacramento Valley. Quarterly and annual subscriptions are available.
3 Packages of Black Pig Bacon, $49.50
You can’t feel bad about adding bacon to your daily diet with this sublime version from the folks behind Sebastopol’s Zazu Kitchen + Farm. It’s sustainably raised, free-range, and dry-cured with brown sugar for roughly three weeks.
Pop Pie Sampler, Cake Monkey, $75
This L.A. bakery has won fans for its thoughtful renditions of old-school store-bought treats. The Pop Pie sampler comes with 10 pop-tart-like pastries, in flavors such as blueberry, brown-sugar-and-cinnamon, and chocolate almond.
Sampler Pack, Temecula Olive Oil Company, $28
Your sauté pan will love this trio of oils from the Inland Empire olive oil company that grows 48 kinds of olives; this combo includes Olivum, Citrus Reserve, and Roasted Garlic Reserve.
Cowgirl Creamery Deluxe Collection, $100
Taste all four of the acclaimed Point Reyes creamery’s aged cheeses, paired with locally baked Cowgirl Creamery olive-oil-and-sea-salt crackers. It comes with a nifty wooden cheese board and cheese papers.
Santa Maria Seasoning and Pinquito Bean Kits, Susie Q’s, $17 and $8.50
Channel the flavors of the Central Coast’s barbecue scene with this garlic-and-pepper-rich seasoning and its classic side dish. “Susie” is Susan Righetti, part of the family behind Far Western Tavern, a mother ship for Santa Maria–style cuisine.
Christopher Ranch Pickled Garlic, Garlic World, $7
The Central Coast town of Gilroy bills itself the Garlic Capital of the World, and Garlic World is a nerve center of garlicky goodness. These pickled garlic cloves can be chopped up for cooking or, if your palate is so inclined, eaten whole.
Carmel Gift Crate, Casa de Fruta, $49
This goodie tray from Hollister’s mega fruit stand features five kinds of dried fruit—including walnut-stuffed jumbo Medjool dates—and has a serious shelf life.
California Nut Pack, Simonian Farms, $35
Make all the jokes you want about going nuts at home—but there’s no disputing that the Fresno area is a treasure trove of California’s nut crops. This two-pound box features local cashews, toffee peanuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, and walnuts.
Potables
Space Dog IPA, FiftyFifty Beer Works, $12 for a 4-pack
You’ll be the hit of your video-chat happy hour with this American Porter, brewed with hand-toasted oats and molasses. And it’s got beer-geek street cred: This Truckee-based brewery won Brewing Group of the Year at 2018’s Great American Beer Festival.
Surf City Still Works Four-Bottle Collection, $129
This Huntington Beach–based distiller will make you feel like you’re enjoying a cocktail on the beach with these surf-themed bottles: The pack comes with California Gin, Shorebreak Vodka, Surfrider Rum, and Pierside Bourbon.
Flower Fields Coffee, Bird Rock Roasters, $75
Add some spring magic to your java with this limited-edition coffee from the La Jolla roaster, which channels flavors of honeydew, white grape, caramel, and candied hazelnut. It’s made with beans from Carlsbad’s Flower Fields, which boasts of being the first coffee bean grower in Southern California.
For Your Home
Lemongrass & Sage Aromatherapy Candle, Spa at Torrey Pines, $24
Inhale and you’ll feel like you’re having a spa day at La Jolla’s Lodge at Torrey Pines, the ocean-bluff resort where an aromatic fire is always burning in the lobby fireplace.
Stack Mug, Heath Ceramics, $31
Give your morning coffee or tea some serious flair with this artful two-tone mug, created by the legendary Sausalito potter whose tiles adorn restaurants all over the Bay Area.
Palm Springs Life Pool Towel, Destination PSP, $80
Bring a little mid-century modern panache into your daily routine. This design was created by artist Jim Isermann for the recent Modernism Week, the annual celebration of Palm Springs’ rich architectural landscape.
Madonna Inn goblets, $14 each
Travelers love the unabashedly colorful San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn—see its Caveman, Love Nest, or Daisy Mae rooms, and these signature goblets from the dining room. Pouring your five o’clock beverage, or even your morning OJ, into one of these glasses makes any day one worth toasting. Available in a rainbow of colors and iridescent sheens.
Beer Soap, Siskiyou Brew Works, $5
Tired of fruit-scented hand soaps? Try this earthy bar, made with the ales and lagers of this McCloud-based brewery located in the Shasta Cascade region.
For the Kids
4D Vision Shark Anatomy Model, Out of This World, $27
Offer some science lessons at home with this cool (and somehow not gross) model from a nerd-friendly toy store in Mendocino. This kit showcases a shark’s 20 detachable organs and body parts (you can also choose a horse).
DIY Metal Robot, Art of Play, $30
Looking for afternoon projects for the kids? This little robot toy from a beloved San Diego store comes as a single metal sheet of laser-cut pieces that your junior engineer and metalworker can assemble.
Frank Stella Puzzle, LACMA Store, $40
Granted, the kids may not know a whole lot about abstract artist Frank Stella, whose work is on display at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. But this 750-piece puzzle of his colorfully geometric painting Firuzabad will keep everyone occupied and adds flair to any tabletop while it’s in progress.
Viva La Vida Double-Sided Coloring Pencils and Sketchbook, DeYoung Museum, $19
Let your young artist get busy with these double-sided pencils and sketchbook featuring artwork by Petra Braun, saluting Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. An exhibit of Kahlo’s work will be on display at the San Francisco museum later in 2020.