As we were putting this holiday issue to bed in mid-November, we were hearing a lot about supply chain issues that were sure to disrupt the gift-giving season across the U.S.
Even as far back as October, consumers were being warned not to waste time starting their holiday shopping. “Those Gifts You Want for the Holidays? Don’t Wait Too Long,” read the headline of an article in the business section of the Oct. 19 edition of The New York Times.
This made us think even more about the magazine we are releasing this week.
In many ways, the North Fork is a perfect place to be when the supply chain is threatened elsewhere. The East End is really its own gift-giving ecosystem, with makers from Riverhead to Orient and points south creating everything from the food and wine on our tables to the ornaments on our trees and the candles in our windows.
We hope that’s clear in what’s reflected in the pages of this month’s magazine.
After all, it’s in a recently renovated space on Main Road in Southold where a well-known pastry chef from France is baking bûche de Noël that is sure to make one of his holiday traditions something your family might embrace for years to come. Our guide to Long Island wine clubs and Alie Shaper’s essay on orange wine might also inspire you to drink something different when you sit down for Hanukkah or Christmas dinners and pop a cork to ring in the new year.
Of course, there are also plenty of ideas here for gifts you’ll want to share — with many and every single one available for purchase at a local shop or online retailer. This holiday season, help a loved one prepare locally raised oysters with a new shucking kit or hang a print from an area artist. Or purchase one of our recommended experiences, from a cellar tour at a Mattituck vineyard to a subscription for blooms from an Orient flower farm.
Supporting the people featured in our magazine this December — and in many other recent issues — helps the North Fork continue to thrive as a place for creativity and singular experiences.
So many people have worked hard to make each issue of northforker possible.
But this month, we want to thank you, the readers who continue to support us and our partners in the business community. May we continue to be there for each other for many more holiday seasons to come. That is the North Fork way.
