Most people buy some gifts for loved ones in December. After this hard year, this is a great time to exhibit some creativity in your gift giving and really make it one from the heart - and from Louisville.
Though the Mall of St. Matthews is busting with values for national chain retailers, Louisville residents can Give a Gift from Kentucky and support local artists. This Kentucky Crafted program, launched by Governor Steve Beshear, features gifts offered by artist-members of the Kentucky Arts Council who have a variety of jewelry, ornaments, pottery, prints, available for gift giving. Many of these artsy gift suggestions are included in the Kentucky gift guide.
If you want to offer your friends a sample of the many tastes of Louisville, there are many excellent ethnic shops that offer the ingredients to make unique baskets. You just need to decide what palate you want to create, buy an assortment of foods, and assemble them in a basket or even better in a pan or serving dish often used to prepare and present the food you are giving. Here is what you can do.
Suppose you want to go with Italian: Deli meats, sausages, cheese, homemade pasta, authentic spices all make for delicious basket from Lotsa Pasta on Lexington Road. Line your container, whether it be a basket or a hand painted pasta bowl, with some traditional red and white checked napkins and you're all 
set. Want your gift to be more upscale? Add a bottle of wine. Make sure to shop hungry so you will have an excuse to order a delicious Italian sandwich to go.
What about Mexican? There are at least five Mexican markets, plus many other stores with Mexican selections, which offer the fresh vegetables, sausages, and sauces, plus the tortillas, tostadas, and desserts to make a delicious Mexican meal. Don't forget to add a tortilla press and some Abuelita Chocolate . Can't make it to Preston Highway or Third St. where several markets are located? Valu Market at 5301 Mitscher Ave also carries a good selection of Mexican, Asian, and other ethnic foods.
Whether you Asian tastes are stuck on Chinese or you like neighboring cuisines, Louisville offers the supplies to cook like a native:
• Chinese - Oriental Grocery, Bardstown Rd.
• Korean - Oriental Supermarket and Gift Shop on Gilmore Lane
• Indian - Shalimar on S. Hurstbourne Parkway.
• Filipino - Lanceta Oriental Food and Gifts, Breckinridge Lane
• Vietnamese - Binh Phuoc, Third St.
Louisville is also home to Russian, eastern European, and African markets. Louisville also has several restaurants that specialize in the cuisines, so you can even include a gift certificate to an area eatery that serves that type of food for inspiration before your gift recipient cracks open the basket.
Whether you want to buy a gift crafted by Louisville artisans or put together a basket of goodies found in stores here, you will have a gift to remember for people you want to remember.
For great Louisville real estate, contact Mollie Younger of Younger Group Real Estate. We know Louisville!
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