Homegrown eats: 5 gift ideas for New Brunswick foodies

"Something that I like to recommend on Christmas is a Kir Royale, which is usually bubbly champagne with [crme de cassis], but we can do a nice version here, a little less expensive with a sparkling apple wine from Pre-d'en-Haut, [Verger Belliveau Orchard] with a little bit of La Monarque Rouge which is a cranberry liquor from Distillerie Fils du Roy around the Acadian Peninsula, and touch of maple syrup, so technically we're covering all the bases of a good New Brunswick product. You can adjust the acidity and the sweetness level for a nice sparkling cocktail with the maple syrup."

Tip: "To make it even nicer, you put the cranberries in the freezer, and you add that to the glasses for a nice decoration."

Ratio: 4 or 5 ounces of apple wine, dash of cranberry liquor, approximately a tsp of maple syrup (adjust to taste).

"If you really want to impress your guests lately a famous caviar producer, Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar from Saint John they've started to offer three different types of caviar which is local and sustainable.This time of the year is a good time to maybe get a few people to enjoy that kind of stuff and you buy a tasting pack with a nice bubbly from Benjamin Bridge in Nova Scotia, which makes some of the best sparkling wine in Canada compared to champagne, I guess."

"When the water is really cold like it is now, the oysters are just perfect. When you serve it raw with a dash of lemon, you can pair it with sparkling wine, but even just with a nice refreshing beer. Here I select La Messe Blanche [Distillerie Fils du Roy] and Mallet Oysters from Shippigan. This time [of year] they're very meaty, actually quite saline, they're very salty. So, you have it with a white beer, a very nice pale ale."

• Noel said at Adorable Chocolat in Shediac, "they're making dark chocolate and I bought a box, it's called 'Taste of the Sea.' So, dark chocolate and caramel with sea salts. You get the sweet and salty, and with a brown beer or a stout a sweeter, lighter beer instead of a port you cango with a nice beer like Winter Warmer from Picaroons or the Barley Wine from Fils du Roy. Those are some pairings you can go a little outside the box and surprise your guests with."
  
• "Most people think that most cheeses only go with red white, but that's actually quite the opposite.Most cheeses do better with white wine and beer is also a great option."
  
  Tip: Look for companies like Fromagerie Au Fond des Bois near Rexton.

Listen below tohear more about Nol'sfood and drink suggestions for the holidays.