How to Give Good Gift Basket

Entering on a cloudy late fall afternoon is a little like stepping into Willy Wonka’s factory. The place is stuffed to the brim with candies, chocolates, cookies, nuts, dried fruit and other sweet and savory treats.

With Chanukah and Christmas just a few weeks away, the store is gearing up for gift basket season. No matter who the recipient – boss, babysitter, best friend or your Bubbe Bertha – nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a good gift basket.

But where to begin? That’s where owner Pam Mittleman comes in. With 26 years in the candy business, nearly 20 of them at the helm of Ain’t She Sweet, this lady knows her way around a gift basket.

“We make hundreds of gift baskets during the holidays,” said Mittleman. She walked me through the store, pointing out the various options.

In addition to the huge selection of pre-made baskets and platters, Mittleman and her elves (a.k.a. employees) are happy to create custom ones for their customers. “We will make anything you want,” she said. 

They also will provide gentle guidance for those looking to put together their own basket or platter.

For instance, how about a Christmas basket filled with colorful Christmas candy, red and green sprinkled pretzels and praline peanuts? Or a platter of dried fruits that are so gorgeous they sparkle like jewels?

For Hanukkah, there are blue and white pretzels, silver balls, gelt and a large variety of kosher items.

Some of the store’s most popular choices include clodhoppers, which are chocolate covered graham crackers; yogurt pretzels in a multitude of flavors; a dizzying array of gummy bears; sixlets, a more colorful version of M&Ms; and mini malt ball mix – “my new favorite,” said Mittleman.

My new favorites are the Amaretto Pecans, which have a dreamy texture and a lovely kick from the liquor. I also liked the Australian licorice, which has a smoother and more rounded flavor than the regular kind. “It’s the Mercedes of licorice,” said Mittleman.

Before I tore myself away from the store, she offered up a few tips for creating a winning gift basket:

1. Get a sense of what the recipient likes, then go from there.
2. Walk around the store and see what catches your eye.
3. Choose a variety of colors and textures, to make an eye-appealing assortment.

To sum it up: gift baskets are fun to open, tasty to eat and great for sharing (if you have to).