Margi Mason, owner of Mrs. Mason’s Co., based in Royal Oak, ships her unique brittles all over the country. You can order via her website and find 14 different brittles, including the popular Chocolate Covered Cherry Brittle, Best Friends Brittle with white and dark chocolate and Bare-Naked Cashew Brittle. Margi said her recipe is unique, producing a brittle that contains no corn syrup or baking soda and that delivers a crisp, but not hard, texture. Order by Dec. 16 to get your brittle by Christmas.

Rich Lockwood is the co-owner of Motor City Gas Whiskey Distillery, a small-batch distillery in downtown Royal Oak. The business has distilled 90 different varieties since its inception in 2015, and currently offers 10 to 20 at its tasting room. The business even has its own farm to grow the grain. Look for Motor City Gas Sweating Bullets bourbon at your local liquor store. It’s Motor City Gas’s first retail product, distributed through Great Lakes Wine & Spirits.

Robin Silveri, co-owner of O’Tooles, and Carlos Cook, the chef, are celebrating the downtown Royal Oak’s 22nd anniversary this year. The eatery features 40 different beers, including many Michigan craft beers, plus a full bar and dishes like O’Tooles famous Reuben sandwich. Patrons enjoy Monday night trivia, happy hour and disc jockey music nights, plus the Irish pub’s involvement in town events like the Woodward Dream Cruise and Arts, Beats & Eats. 

Karyn Kennedy is a longtime healthcare worker who founded Salads For Life, starting with her Vinaigrette LIfe dressing. It’s a refrigerated dressing with no preservatives or sugar, and it can be used as a salad dressing as well as a marinade, dip or even a spread on burgers. Kennedy also makes collard green wraps and salads at Proud Mitten Shared Kitchen in Plymouth on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Order ahead for delivery. Look for her Lemon Zest dressing, which is coming soon. Dressings are available at the Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak. 

Ashley Priest is the self-proclaimed chief spice officer of Saffron & Salt, a home grown condiment business based in Royal Oak. You can find her candied jalapenos, the signature product, in many local stores, plus the Royal Oak, Rochester and Clawson Farmers Markets. And she’s expanded to offer gems like firecracker carrots and sweet burn pickles, plus love bite cream cheese, the latest addition. Ashley’s done the canning for you, and you can enjoy the spoils!