Gourmet Christmas Gift Baskets

Custom gourmet Christmas gift baskets go beyond simply sending a holiday greeting to business associates, family, and friends. Taking the time to carefully select and order tastefully appointed presents instead of mailing nondescript cards speaks volumes about the heart of a true giver. Recipients will be delighted to receive baskets that reflect their personal tastes or professions. Savvy salespersons have long ago learned that the fastest way to gain and retain clients is to give a unique gift which makes a lasting impression. Account executives and corporate sales reps give gourmet Christmas gift baskets to special clients as a way of saying thank you for doing business with them all year long. Even a Scrooge of a supervisor can't help but smile over a delectable gift basket or candy bouquet.

Over 2,000 years ago, God gave the greatest gift of all in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). More precious than gourmet Christmas gift baskets are the souls of men and women saved through an acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8). The Christmas season is the perfect time to not only celebrate the birth of Christ, but also to assess one's spiritual life and personally receive the true gift that was so freely given to all mankind.

Deciding what to include in a gourmet gift is simple. Online shops offer selections in every price range and to suit every taste. Shoppers can choose from several menus depending on budgets, or order custom designed varieties from an assortment of tantalizing items. Designer baskets can be fun and whimsical, sophisticated and elegant, feminine or masculine. Any delectable delicacy that can fit inside a container can be used to create a one-of-a-kind present. Instead of a single gift, baskets full of goodies and Christmas candy bouquets keep on giving. Each carefully selected delicacy can be luxuriously savored over several days. Recipients can choose to slowly devour each morsel of candy from bouquets or boxes. Most baskets come artfully arranged in decorative tins which can be re-used to hold special treasures.

Custom designed baskets full of gourmet chocolates, fresh-ground Columbian coffees; rich and aromatic Swiss cocoas; fresh seasonal citruses; assorted aged salamis; and hard cheeses from the finest specialty shops send a special message that lasts beyond the season. Fun and whimsical gourmet baskets for the young at heart can contain spun sugar trees and striped candy canes designed into Christmas candy bouquets. Sophisticated and elegant arrangements come chock full of an assortment of dark and milk chocolates wrapped in silver or gold foil and placed in a metallic container. Add a bottle of sparkling grape juice and two gold dipped goblets for a romantic touch.

Gourmet presents designed with females in mind may include a taste-tempting sampling of chocolate truffles, chocolate covered angel food cakes, or chocolate-filled pretzels. A bottle of designer bubble bath and perfume, along with a certificate for a trip to her favorite spa is sure to delight. Men go absolutely ape over containers brimming with a selection of aged salamis and sausages, smoked cheeses, crackers, and gourmet popcorn. The guys will love snacking from a bountiful holiday goody basket during football games. And when it comes to gourmet Christmas gift baskets, don't forget health-conscious friends and family members. Low-cal and sugar free snacks such as granola, trail mix, dried fruits, and holiday nuts packed in a rustic tin with natural raffia, holly, and citrus leaf garlands make an awesome gift for the naturalist on your list. An unusual basket idea for a bookworm, movie buff, or do-it-yourselfer is to tuck a bestselling novel, Oscar-nominated movie on DVD, or a home improvement CD inside a holiday basket full of favorite edibles.

Christmas candy bouquets are a unique way to group several tempting treats. Any sort of packaged or wrapped candy can be used. Striped candy canes; chocolate covered trees; silver, gold, red and green foil wrapped chocolates or peppermints; sugar-free lollipops; chocolate truffles; and white chocolate coins are all great candidates for a candy bouquet. So many kinds of candies to choose from might make deciding which ones to include in Christmas candy bouquets a tough decision. Why not try a theme-based arrangement? Bouquets made from gourmet candy canes, gingerbread men, gum drops, and sugarplum fairies create a Christmas fantasyland. Arrangements crafted from white chocolate wrapped in white and silver foil and adorned with white and silver sprays and iridescent bows would make a delightful treat for a special ice princess. Tiny gift boxes with a single chocolate truffle tucked inside and placed on long stems would make an amazing holiday presentation, not to mention an exquisite to-die-for dessert.

Because most online florists will be swamped during peak holiday seasons, it's best to order Christmas candy bouquets and gourmet Christmas gift baskets at least two days in advance. Online shoppers sending baskets and bouquets overseas or to European destinations should also allow for ample shipping time. Internet florists can usually accommodate foreign and domestic orders, but requested selections may not be available in offshore locations. Most florists who deliver outside of the United States will carry menus of available items, but shoppers should check in advance for policies and pricing. Reputable stateside florists collaborate with an international network of flower shops to ensure that customer orders are filled and delivered to satisfaction. Holiday gourmet baskets and bouquets can be paid for with a major credit card accepted in both foreign and domestic locations. Smart shoppers can make Christmas giving simple and sweet by sending online holiday baskets and bouquets.

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