Hey, did you realize that it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday? Are you scrambling to figure out what kind of gift to get for a Mother in your life? Here’s a list of some of our favourite gift ideas to make the Moms feel special.
Tickets to KURIOS by Cirque Du Soleil
For Mom’s who value experiences, this is the perfect gift. A mind-blowing display of human ability, mixed with humour and wonder and magic and music. It’s impossible to convey the thrill of seeing Cirque Du Soleil live, you just have to go. Their show, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities, has just relaunched in Toronto after a pandemic-induced hiatus. We were there at the opening, and it is a night that will stay in our hearts forever. Right now, KURIOS has a Wow Your Mom promotion; buy three tickets and get one free for mom. Also, visit @notablelife on Instagram for a chance to win four tickets!
Omakase
If Mom is a sushi lover, treat her to an omakase experience. Omakase translates to “I leave it up to you”, and in this case you are leaving it up to the sushi chef to decide each morsel that you eat. Last autumn, some of our Notable team had an omakase dinner at Ato, which is a meal that still lives vividly in our minds and on our taste buds. Months later, we will randomly start discussing a piece of sushi Chef Linh crafted for us. Not all omakase meals are created equal. For example, Ato is owned by a seafood distribution company that has unparalleled access to fresh and rare fish and their chefs are true artists. Do your research, read reviews, and seek advice from friends in-the-know to find the best omakase experience near you. Be prepared for an expensive dinner, which makes this perfect for a special occasion. The experience is the most rewarding when you can sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef create each piece. If you want to get a feel for omakase, check out the fantastic film Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
Yeti Rambler
The Moms we know around here like their coffee HOT. But they are also super busy, juggling a million important things, and sometimes it can take a whole day to get through a cup of coffee. The Yeti Rambler seems to have mystical abilities to keep beverages hot for weirdly long periods of time. It’s not the cheapest tumbler on the market, but our experience and all the reviews suggest that it is worth every penny.
Breville Barista Express
If mom loves her latte and has aspirations to make her own, the Breville Barista Express is a fantastic value espresso machine. It comes complete with everything you need to become a home barista, including an integrated burr grinder, tamper, frothing pitcher and more. It’s an intelligent, compact design that looks good sitting on the countertop. Also, very user-friendly compared to the more industrial options out there, which can also be thousands of dollars more. There’s really nothing else on the market that compares in this price range, around 1K with taxes. It’s a perfect gift for a mom who wants to get serious about their espresso at home.
Coffee Subscription
While we are talking coffee, a coffee subscription is a fun gift. Get in-season, freshly roasted coffee delivered to your door each month. There are many great roasters across the country who offer subscriptions, from Fernwood Coffee in Victoria, to Anchored Coffee in Dartmouth. One of our favourites is Coffee Club from Detour Coffee Roasters in Dundas. They have a variety of subscriptions to choose from, available in three-month intervals, and are running a Mother’s Day sale.
Whispering Angel
If it’s going to be Rosé All Mother’s Day, definitely make it Whispering Angel. This Provencal rosé from Château D’Esclans is perfect for a special occasion. Dry, smooth, and lush, this is an elevated rosé that is winning fans everywhere.
Cirka NO4 Whisky
If spirits are Mama’s thing, check out the recent release, Whisky NO4, from Cirka. Cirka is relatively new on the scene and is the first Québec micro-distillery to produce spirits from grain to glass. They set out to craft artisanal small-batch whisky, and while they were waiting for the aging process to complete they have also been turning out award winning gin and vodka. And now, we are loving their whisky. We got an early release of Whisky NO4 and can’t wait to get our hands on more. This one is a nice Canadian alternative to fine Bourbon. It’s made of 95% St. Jean corn with a dash of Yamachiche rye to give dimension. It’s an inviting, easy sipper, with notes of dried apricot and honey-roasted nuts, complemented by a hint of spice. Order from SAQ or directly from Cirka’s website.
Läderach Chocolate
Of course, there needs to be chocolate on Mother’s Day. We always encourage you to find the local chocolatiers and give them your business. But, we’ve also kinda fallen in love with the Swiss chocolate establishment, Läderach. Specifically, their ridiculous barks, dubbed FrischSchoggi, which translates to “fresh chocolate”. They load this fresh chocolate with everything from perfectly roasted hazelnuts, to cornflakes, to ginger and quinoa. Läderach is unique amongst large scale chocolatiers, in that they control the production from bean to bark. Meaning, they are sourcing and processing the cocoa beans they turn into chocolate. If you aren’t near their shops you can order directly from Läderach’s website. If you order today, it’s likely it will be here in time for Mother’s Day.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Even if mom isn’t a tech nut, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones are always a good thing to have. Whether she wants to listen to her favourite podcast or playlist in peace, take a zoom call without distractions, or watch a movie on the airplane, noise-cancelling headphones are the key. There are so many options available, at a wide variety of price points, with various uses in mind. A little research will help you find the right one for Mom. If you are looking for something lux, one of our favourite pairs is the Sony WH-1000XM4