Macy as a sanctimonious anti-smoking senator from Vermont who has a collection of maple-syrup bottles in his office.

NEWYORKER: Thank You For Smoking

But the industry is growing in western Canada and Alaska, and it's being studied as a possible add-on venture for maple syrup producers across the northeastern United States.

WSJ: Birch syrup explored as add-on to maple industry

The artisanal dry goods are a mix of local (hand-labelled bottles of upstate maple syrup) and imported (Sicilian anchovies in salt) the stuff gift baskets are made of.

NEWYORKER: Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria

For his second contribution to this column, he shares a recipe for deep-fried pancakes with a warm cream and raspberry maple syrup.

WSJ: Martin Picard's Fried Pancakes With Warm Maple Cream Syrup | Slow Food Fast