Give the gift of Louisiana

This time of year means an extra emphasis on food and treats, but sometimes, not everyone can gather at the same table. If you’ve got relatives who can’t make it home for the holidays, or if you just want to send some friends up north a taste of Cajun country, there are some great local companies that have you covered. Community Coffee: Plenty of Louisiana expatriates crave this quintessential Louisiana coffee, and Community makes it easy to get it to those whose grocery shelves don’t stock it. Gift baskets stuffed with their unique blends are a great way to send the taste of home. And if you’ve got a loved one serving overseas, check out Community’s Military Match program at communitycoffee.com. Strands Café: Rich and buttery sweet, a rum cake can last for months and still be as tasty as the day it was made. Knowing this, the gifted chefs at Strands Café downtown encase their delicious rum cake in a cute, festive and sturdy tin that will survive any shipping trials and tribulations it encounters on the way to its destination. Loaded with pecans and walnuts and drenched in the eponymous liquor, it’ll bring warmth and cheer to friends near or far. strandscafe.com Gambino’s: It’s early for king cakes, that’s true, but the holidays are the season for nostalgia and giving—and you can never have too many king cakes. Gambino’s famously ships their sweet iced cakes nationwide, so even your far-flung family can have fun hunting for the baby on Christmas morning. They also ship their famous pecan pies, drenched in bourbon, praline sauce, or a buttery secret recipe, depending on your giftee’s tastes. gambinos.com Aunt Sally’s Pralines: However your intended recipients pronounce it, your friends and family will find succor in this sweet, caramelized Creole treat. With varieties ranging from “sugar and spice”—made with Tabasco—to sugar-free, for your health-conscious relatives, there really is a praline for everyone. auntsallys.com