Author: Shawn Parola

We are so excited to introduce R&J Toffee to our product line and to you, our supporters! We met Joel recently, toured his awesome facility, did lots of taste testing and even visited his company at the San Jose Harvest Festival. What can I say? This company is exceptional in every way. They are a family owned business, selling in only the finest stores.There are no preservatives, it’s a delicious treat, and it doesn’t even stick to your teeth. They recently won the 2015 International Chocolate Salon’s Best Chocolatiers & Confectioners in America 1st Place Gold for both Best Tasting Toffee and Top Toffee, for the second year in a row!  We are so impressed and even more excited that they are located in our home town, San Jose!  Let us know if you’d like to try it or include it in your gifts. For the holidays, we are featuring 2 sizes: a 4oz box great for including in your gift baskets or a 1lb gift box great for an addition to a large gift or as a stand alone gift with a holiday bow. Take a look at R&J’s story! We know you’ll love this very special chocolate almond toffee as much as we do! Shop for it now!

I have to admit that it is pretty cool that San Jose, and our surrounding areas (San Francisco, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, & others) have become such popular destinations. We do have great weather,  even with the nasty drought situation! But,  I think a lot of the recent surge in travel to the Bay Area,  may be due to business travel. With businesses like Facebook, Google, Apple growing & thriving in our little part of the country, it’s really no wonder! With all of this attention on our area, we’ve also experienced a greater demand of locally themed products. We love our local vendors and are excited that people want to share our local flavors and keepsake items. So, here’s our Bay Area gift baskets with some California themed thrown in. Let us know how we can help you share your local pride! We can customize your baskets for you!

We are located in San Jose. You can pick up here or we deliver to the local area. Learn more about our San Jose gift basket delivery service here.

Well, it’s the end of the school year, and we have a rush on gifts for teachers. It’s really no wonder, they do the amazing job of educating our children, and lots of them…at the same time. If you’re like me, you really cannot imagine that task on a daily basis. It takes a special kind of person, that’s for sure. We get asked to create all kinds of gifts; small, chocolate, themed, related to hobbies, accompaniments to gift cards, you name it! We realize it is important to show your appreciation for the people that hold this special place in your children’s lives. We’re here for you to make it easy! Welcome to summer! 

  It always makes me laugh when someone asks me if we can put their gift basket in something besides a basket. Turns out, we really only use true baskets for about 30% of our gift baskets. Some really love the traditional look of a basket. But, truth is, there are unlimited options if you crave something different. Now, if you’re concerned that you need a more serious business look, I’d recommend a magazine rack, trunk, tray, or metal beverage tub. They still have that beautiful, corporate look, just with a little twist! 

But, if you really want a very different look, you can add something totally unexpected. And, here’s where your creativity is the only limitation. Often thinking outside the box can allow you to use a container that is very useful or really drives home a theme. Some of our most memorable containers include: a garbage can, ottoman, garden hose, backpack, ice chest, blanket, stadium seats, and so, so many more. Fun stuff!  So, hope we inspired you! If you’re stumped on creating a gift un-basket, give us call. We’re always happy to help! Share with us your ideas on what you think would make the most creative gift ever. If we use it, we’ll send you a gift, and it definitely will not be in a basket!