All I Want for Christmas is ...

WITH THE HOLIDAYS UPON US, WE AT SAN ANTONIO RESTAURANTS WANT TO HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR FOODIE FRIENDS. WE REACHED OUT TO SOME FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE OFFERING.

Naco Mexican Eatery is offering several really cool and unusual gift packages for Christmas this year. The first is a Champurrado kit. Champurrado is a chocolatebased drink prepared with either masa de maiz, masa harina, or corn flour, piloncillo, water or milk, and occasionally containing cinnamon. Anise seed, or vanilla. Ground nuts, orange zest, and egg can also be added to thicken and enrich the drink. Basically, a thick and creamy hot chocolate drink. Naco has put together everything you need to make Champurrado in a cute, clear glass jar perfect for a holiday gift.Only $8.00 per jar! They also sell their salsa trio for $35 and gift baskets filled with goodies for only $25. One of the more interesting things Naco offers is a whole turkey, either fully cooked or uncooked with a deboned and stuffed breast! That’s right. It still looks like a traditional turkey platter but there is no bones in the cavity! Naco will prepare it for you fully cooked or unbaked but ready. Both come with gravy, bread and Cranberry sauce.$165 ready for the oven and $190 fully baked and ready to eat! https://www.nacomexican.com/

This beautiful restaurant/museum/store is on the property of Pioneer Flour Mill and is the former home of the founder of Pioneer Carl Guenther. The home was built starting in 1858 and has been added on to through the years. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Wednesday – Sunday featuring items made from Pioneer mixes. They are well known for their sweet cream waffles for breakfast and Champagne chicken enchiladas for lunch! On the third floor of the building is a nice gift shop featuring San Antonio based gift ideas such as beautifully packaged Pioneer mixes, cooking aprons, Guenther and Sons Christmas ornaments and much more. Go for breakfast but be sure and stop by the store to pick up some great gifts. https://www.guentherhouse.com/

Star Chef has the tools the chef in your life really wants. From the very top specially made culinary knives to cutting boards to kitchen tools it is all here. The owner, Dominic Besson. Is a trained chef and he understands which knife is best for each job and can help find the perfect shape and weight to fit the chefs' hands.How about sharpening knives? Star Chef uses a proprietary system of knife sharpening to correct and sharpen any knife including serrated knives, scissors, and food processor blades.Gift certificates are available for all sales and services. https://starchefstore.com/

Don’t tell anyone but several of our friends are getting a beautiful Bison Tomahawk Steak for Christmas! What a fun and unusual gift! Apache Spirit Bison sells all parts of meat from their stock of bison raised at their own ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Receive 10% off of your order and Free delivery on orders over $75. Visit their website: www.apachespiritbison.com/SAGOLD - the discounts will be automatically applied!

Many wonderful local restaurants are offering full dinners and tamales for Christmas. We can’t list them all but here are a few for your consideration. Aldaco’s , 20079 Stone Oak Pkwy

For only $22.95 Aldaco’s serves up a delicious Pork Tamal Casserole which includes 12 pork tamales covered in Tex-Mex enchilada sauce, then topped with drained Borracho beans. https://www.aldacosrestaurants.com/

Eddie’s sells tamales all year round but in December they get fancy with both chicken tamales and bean & jalapeno tamales! The Thousand Oaks location contains a full bar, and they are offering for the holidays, a Frosty Eddie. It’s a blue drink with a candy cane garnish. Fun! https://eddiestacohouses.com/

Las Chiladas is well known for their great food and fun weekend comedy shows but they are also known to be a great place to pick up fresh Tamales. Las Chiladas makes pork, chicken, bean & cheese, and cream cheese & jalapeno tamales and will sell them by the dozen or ½ dozen. Call for more information. https://www.laschiladas.net/