Maine-Made Gift Guide: Food for Thought

Here at The Maven, we're wild about eating locally, and we think there's no better last-minute gift than Maine-made food products. Think about it: You can pick them up almost anywhere, from the corner store to Hannaford to your neighborhood gourmet shop (if you're lucky enough to have one). And who doesn't love to receive food? Here are a few of our favorite giftable edibles:

• Oyster River wine, made in Warren, is so good it hurts. Your friends and family will love you if you show up with a bottle — not that they didn't love you before. Click here for retailers.

• Pair that wine with a round of Seal Cove Farm chevre and you'll be good to go. This creamy, dreamy cheese has just the right bite (in other words, even people who don't traditionally like goat cheese will like it). For a list of retailers, click here.

• Have you ever met a foodie who doesn't love high-end salt? We've long been fans of Quoddy Mist (we buy it at Rooster Brother in Ellsworth), and we're intrigued by the offerings from Maine Sea Salt Co., especially the flavored blends and the smoked salt (for a list of retailers, click here).

• If you have not tried Marnee's Cookies, made in Bath, you're missing out. They're huge. The packaging can't be beat. And unlike most store-bought cookies, they taste fabulous. The Euphoria (cranberries, white chocolate, pecans) is very "Maine," but we prefer Nirvana (chocolate chips and toffee). 23 Elm St., Bath, Marnees.com.

• What do you buy for the foodie who has tried everything? Ann Marie's Secret Sauce. Made by hand in Bangor, this sauce transforms plain meats into gourmet meals — we adore it on pork tenderloin. As sauce-mistress Ann Marie Orr says, the secret ingredient is love. Awww. For a list of retailers, click here.

• We've said it before and we'll say it again: the Chex Mix at Megunticook Market in Camden is as good as Grandma used to make. Plus, if you buy a few bags and repackage it at home, nobody will be the wiser. 2 Gould St., Camden, MegunticookMarket.com

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