What foods do you HAVE to mail order?

[Chowpatty]

I'm not talking about once in a while trying something on whim -- I'm talking about, what foods that you love are absolutely unattainable in your vicinity so you regularly order them by mail (or even once a year for a holiday treat)? For instance, despite living in L.A. which has enormous choice in food, I find myself ordering popcorn from Fireworks Popcorn because I just can't find a reliable place to buy unpopped popcorn. What about you?

[tiffeecanoe]

A variety of Dutch Foods...

Hagelslag and Chocoladevlokken (chocolate topping for toast, sprinkles and flake style)
Gerookte paling (smoked eel)
dropjes! (salted licorice)
Remia Frites sauce
Verstegen brand spices

[veggielover]

After a trip to San Francisco's Ferry Market, I now order Rancho Gordo beans and Rigoni di Asiago apricot fruit spread. I have tried the other flavors of jam but in my opinion, only the apricot flavor is special enough to order.

[HillJ]

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/produc...

Has anyone tried this pancake mix from Vosges yet?

[YAYME]

Cheese, I order strange and wonderful cheeses from Igourmet.com, really now the only thing you can order from them

[decolady]

I live in an ingredient deprived area, so order many things online. Off the top of my head:

Penzeys herbs and spices
an Irish boiling bacon for St. Patrick's Day
Greenberg's smoked turkey either during the winter holidays or for 4th of July
Sciabica olive oils
Cheeses from iGourmet
Fiori de Sicilia from King Arthur Flour

I'm sure there are more.

[fauchon]

Vignalta Sale Alle Erbe (Herbed Salt) from Corti Bros in Sacremento...Rosemary, garlic, sage, pepper, fresh farm-raised herbs (not dried) mixed with veneto sea salt. This stuff is transcendantly delicious, imperative on roasts, steak, vegs, even eggs & hamburgers...the Corti newsletters is a food addict's delight, too, offering items you simply don't see everywhere. Google will turn up other sources for Vignalta but I first tried it because of Corti's description & have stayed loyal to them. Plus their newsletter is amazing...

http://tinyurl.com/ya9fldk

Additionally, I order tea from uptontea.com, specialteas.com and harney.com

[Emma47]

I order Upton teas, vanilla beans and spices from Penzey's, Vella's dry jack cheese from Sonoma (can't get it in St. Louis). Also for the holidays we ordered from IGourmet and found a fabulous cheese - Brillat Savarin Affiné. It was truly wonderful. Oh yes - dried porcini mushrooms from Surfas.

[AngiePangie]

Great thread--I'm loving this one! I order dried pasta from Pappardelle's. Their pesto mix is perfection: four flavors, four different shapes tossed together in perfect harmony. It's got sundried tomato, black pepper, basil, and garlic parsley. I also love the lemon-parsley malfadine.

http://www.pappardellesonline.com/ser...

The other item I can't find in L.A. is speculatious spice mix from Germany. They use it to make speculoos cookies (Biscoff is a version of these). It's only available there during the holidays so my peeps stock up on it and send me enough to last the whole year. Basically it's cinnamon, dried lemon peel, nutmeg, anise, allspice, and some other wonderful spices blended together. I put it in my coffee every morning and I use it as a pumpkin-pie and pumpkin-cheesecake spice. Love it.

[Jon1856]

For fish: www.seabear.com
Cheesecake: & fruit cakes: http://www.newskete.com/shopping/shop...
Newskete is also very well known for their German shepherd dogs and dog training.

[MeffaBabe]

Birds cookies- in GA... delicious raspberry, key lime and benne crackers.... addicting... difficult not to eat the ENTIRE tin of cookies...

[catsmeow]

Croissants from Williams Sonoma. I found out about them from the Boston CH board (good croissants don't exist in Boston). They come frozen. The night before I want them, I take 2 mini croissants out and they rise overnight. Baked at 350 for 15 minutes the next morning and they're the best! It's a good thing they take 8hrs to rise, I'd eat a lot more than 2 they're so addictive! They also come in regular sized plain as well as chocolate.

[Phoo_d]

These are now our Christmas morning breakfast tradition. What a treat!
Phoo-D
http://www.phoo-d.com

[ctflowers]

I have to mail order hot pickled okra. I live in CT, and can't find it anywhere here.

[tinymango]

wow, this really makes me think. i live in virginia and have hot pickled okra in every single grocery store round here, easily. it would be really upsetting if i couldn't find it. i would totally be mail ordering it, too.

my must-orders: maple sugar, the apricot jam from welovejam.com, penzey spices, good prosciutto/serano/pancetta (NONE around here!)

[yahooer]

Zwiegel's Red Hots from Rochester. I can't believe nobody's mentioned these before. There's nothing like them here in the South. Their White Hots are supposed to be more popular in upstate NY, but they don't really do it for us. I brought back 8 packages from Wegman's when I was there.

Also, Anderson's tomato soup from California. Great comfort food.

[annabana]

great thread, great suggestions. each year Marion Burros does her best of mail order holiday list for the NYTimes and she has never steared me wrong. Look for it in the next few weeks.

[DriverPhil]

Dutch licorice direct from Holland. That way I can get the varieties that I like!

[steinpilz]

I order masutake mushrooms from Oregon and game birds from d'Artagnan in the fall, it's now about time for this, and just today I was thinking of ordering crabcakes from Faidleys in Baltimore. I've ordered tea several times from Murchies in BC, another thing I've thought of ordering is green chilis from NM.

[jroxybabe19]

Round Pond Olive Oils and syrups. Delicious!

[whirlygirly]

Lately I've been having a hard time finding Sun Maid baking raisins in the grocery stores. I hope they haven't been discontinued! I just bought 24 packages from Amazon, that should last me a couple months at least.

[yahooer]

Mostly comfort foods. Zwiegel's Red Hots from Rochester (I know, most people want the white hots, but my husband craves red. Once got split package half red, half white but they don't do it for me, I'm a confirmed Nathan's girl.) Also My-T-Fine chocolate pudding, Lawry's Havana lime and garlic marinade, Anderson's tomato soup and when we're feeling flush, Kobe beef briskets for pot roast that tastes like it used to. Funny how practical memory goes as I get older but tastes from my childhood remain strong.

[Fleur]

We live in NYC where everything is available...well, almost everything.

Every year we order an amazingly delicious Smoked Turkey from Greenberg's Smoked Turkeys in Tyler Texas. It is so delicious, it is hard to describe. The Gobbler won't win any beaty contests though, but the meat is luscious and rich.

We have had Smoked Turkey from other places, gotten them as gifts...but nothing compares to Greenberg's. The fcat that they are lovely, helpful, friendly people to deal is a plus.

http://www.gobblegobble.com

[Jesdamala]

I am going to agree with all you have said about Greenbergs! Fabulous!

[Fleur]

Do you have any favorite things to do with leftovers? I always order a larger one than needed, and freeze the extra for a rainy day.

I have made a Smoked Turkey Waldorf Salad, and slivered Smoked Turkey on Little Biscuits.

Any other way to use this luscious bird would be appreciated.

[MsMaryMc]

Lynne Rossetto Kasper, who hosts The Splendid Table on public radio, has an email list. Last year she sent out a recipe for turkey enchiladas with a creamy green sauce, and said it was especially good with leftover smoked turkey. She was right--the blend of flavors here is amazing!

http://www.casagordita.com/turkeyench...

[Jesdamala]

I have made this casserole, but using chicken, and added a bit of cream to the filling, and it is sensational! Yet to try it with smoked turkey, as there isn't much left over from our Greenberg orders! This is truly the ultimate poultry casserole, in my opinion!

[Outerspace]

Fleur, next time you get a Greenberg's bird, make soup out of the carcass! I keep the skin, bones from the drumsticks, and the main carcass, and throw them into the soup pot with my normal soup fixin's. A nice twist!

[RGC1982]

I order canned smoked Salmon from the Pike Place Market in Seattle to keep in my pantry. Just mix it with cream cheese and you have an instant appetizer with crackers. Can't get it here in Texas. Sometimes it's just the perfect snack, and I like all the varieties -- Coho, King, Sockeye.

I wish I COULD get: Char Su Pao (steamed, then baked pork buns) from Chinatown in New York, and those hard, black pepper biscuits from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx (referred to as "friselli"). Any ideas on who might supply those?

[JayVaBeach]

* DIDIER GOUBET JAMS - particularly the Apricot or the Chestnut.

www.didiergoubet.fr

* DEAN & DELUCA COFFEE - Georgetown Blend - monthly coffee order.

www.deananddeluca.com

[Babette]

I like Purcell Mountain Farms for organic dried beans, whole wheat flour, dried cherries, apricots, & dates.
http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com/index.htm
For toffee:
http://www.enstrom.com/category.aspx?cid=16&SC=GENST
For fresh fish & smoked salmon:
http://www.cityfish.com/
Another reliable smoked salmon site:
http://www.portchatham.com/

[veggielover]

Does anyone know where to order roasted hazelnuts with honey and 5 spice powder? We ate them in Harrison Springs, British Columbia a few weeks ago and I could kick myself for not bringing some home. If I don't get a response, I may put the question on the Western Canada board.

[LindaWhit]

Try Penzey's for 5-spice powder...can't help on the honey-roasted hazelnuts (but they sound good!)

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzey...

[Soup]

Dates, you cannot find decent majooles anywhere on the east coast.

Season's coming around the corner, can't wait. Yum.

[Jeanne]

Mackey's Ferry blister fried peanuts, flame thrower peanuts, cajun peanuts in the shell, milk chocolate covered peanuts, peanut brittle and creamy peanut butter (just a few of their selection). Makes great gifts and I love their products. Luckily while visiting family it is only a 30 minute drive to their store - so I can pick them up without having to order them.

http://shop.mfpnuts.com/index.php

[fryrose]

I just ordered chili dusted pecans and cinnamon pecans from Stahmans in New Mexico. I am also trying to find Mrs. Maltz's knishes-love the little potato/jalapeno ones. And a moment of silence for my favorite caramels from Annedore's in Kansas City that closed this year:(

[Philly Ray]

In the irony of all ironies, I have to mail order my favorite chocolates by John and Kira (see website).

http://www.johnandkiras.com/site/Welc...

What is the irony? They are made in Philadelphia and I live in Philadelphia, but they have no retail setup or outlet. Therefore, I pay the same shipping costs as someone would if they had them shipped to California (shipping costs are based on total purchase price no matter what the destination).

But they are FANTASTIC!!!!

[HillJ]

..and Philly Ray, oh so beautiful! We order every Valentine's Day!

[Indy 67]

If I'm reading the product list correctly, their 10 chocolate flavors are available in milk chocolate only. Is this correct?

[Philly Ray]

Actually, I think the ganache is made with milk chocolate. But I'm not 100% sure if the "coating" is dark or milk chocolate. You could email them and ask.

But at any rate, these are some damn fine chocolates!!!! I swear that the mint ones taste like you plucked a leaf off of the plant and chewed on it.

My wife just got me a box of the new fig "pumpkins" and their new caramel "honeybees" for my birthday. MMMmmmmm.

[monavano]

I order pierogies from www.buffalofoods.com. They carry Nowinski's pierogies. Also order from Pierogies Plus in Pittsburgh.
The Washington DC area doesn't really have ANY Polish stores. :(

www.piealamona.blogspot.com

[veggielover]

I just went on line and noticed that Buffalo Foods carries Sahlen's hot dogs, my all time favorite hot dog.

[Richard 16]

Fish for and sashimi and sushi from sushifooods.com and Catalina. I can get salmon, swordfish, and tuna (usually yellowfin, but recently they got in a whole bluefin. (I still have wonderful otoro in the freezer) from Bob's Seafood here in St. Louis.

Question: Does anyone know if any of mthe stores ipn the big Japanese market in Chicgo ships?

[Candy]

Johnny Harris' BBQ Sauce from Savannah
Harrington's Cob Smoked Bacon from Vt.
Perdery's pure ground chilis, Tx mean't to do that today
Anson Mill's Grits and Carolina Gold rice and rice grits

If I could find them at a reasonable price including the shipping I'd order split top NE hot dog rolls.

[chocchipcookie]

We love that Johnny Harris BBQ sauce-not your typical sweet sauce. And those split top buns are sooo good-wish we had them in the South!! On our annual summer trip to Syracuse, we always bring the big cooler so we can pack Hoffman's hotdogs (red & white) and of course some split top buns.

To repond to the original post, I mail order Lobsters from Lobster gram www.livelob.com and coconut clusters from Sarris's Candies in Canonsburg, PA
www.sarriscandies.com . (sorry, quite haven't figured out how to copy/paste the exact link-computer illiterate here). Oh, it worked......

This is a great thread! Me and my visa are going to go crazy this season!!

[FoodChic]

I order lobster too, but i order from a place called Maine Lobster Direct.
They literally plug the little buggers out of the water and stick them in the mail.
They are wonderful and all their prices include overnight shipping..

http://www.mainelobsterdirect.com/Cat...

[HillJ]

http://www.gingerpeople.com/
If you love fresh ginger, give the Ginger Company a try.
The ginger jam and ginger chews are our fav but the dressing, marinades and baked goods are divine too.

[Candy]

Love all of the Ginger People products. I get panicky if i don't have a bottle or two of their ginger juice on hand.

[HillJ]

Ginger juice is great! Especially if I'm nursing a head cold!

[LindaWhit]

Or Ginger Shrub from http://www.taitfarmfoods.com/index.html - lordy this stuff is good in lemonade and drizzled on Fage yogurt with blueberries or strawberries!

[jamielynn]

Thought of another one:
During Mardi Gras I send/order King Cakes!!!
www.haydelbakery.com

[sweetnspicy]

Sanders ice cream toppers. It is the best stuff there is!!! Ice cream is not the same with out it.
http://www.sanderscandy.com/index.htm

[chocoannie]

When I travel to Pennsylvania, I bring back bottles and bottles of Gazeebo Room Salad dressing--without a doubt, the best dressing/marinade ever! The regular Greek dressing is incredible, but I do sacrifice a little and buy the "lite"--it's still pretty darn good!--can't find it here in NJ!

[sonofoodie]

Stone-ground cornmeal from Dexter's Grist Mill in Sandwich, MA. It makes the best cornbread, johnny cakes and galette dough in the world. It comes in a really cool cloth bag, too. Totally worth the effort.

[Jimbosox04]

I order almost monthly Bavarian Pretzels (Bretzeln) from www.bavariasausage.com , these are original bavarian pretzels that are shipped to you 1/2 baked and you just finish them in your oven. My wife is from bavaria and there is no other place that I have found that sell AUTHENTIC bavarian pretzels than this place. I even asked the owner for the recipe and he said "We don't make them, we import them from Munich" , also they have delicious bratwurst,roulladin, Kraut, and many other Bavarian Specialties.

[fryrose]

Jimbo, I just followed your link and called my sister--it is a road trip to Madison in October. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this link. I am at home recuperating and I thought I was losing some weight, but between this and the croissant trail I am following, no such luck.

[Jimbosox04]

sorry for the late reply, you will definitely not be dissappointed !! If you only knew how long of a search I had to get an authentic bavarian pretzel after coming home from my in-laws in Germany. These are even better because you get to finish them off in your oven and eat them while they are still warm. At most bakeries in Germany there are lines waiting for the fresh bretzeln ;-) If you are familiar with the cuisine I also have a recipe for obatzter which is usually served with the pretzels as a nice cheese spread. If you are interested in it just give me a shout and I will post it here for ya.

[Querencia]

Great thread, good suggestions. Here are mine: 1) Black walnuts from Hammon's; 2) Almond macaroons from Fralinger's; 3) Chocolate-covered marzipan dominoes from the Elk Candy Company; 4) See's chocolates; 5) Royal Riviera pears from Harry & David. All online.

[Allstonian]

Unfortunately, Elk Candy Company seems to have gone out of business.

[Will Owen]

White Lily Flour, since they stopped distributing it west of the Rockies. Dry-cured pork products - Niman Ranch bacon is dry-cured and pretty good, but it's barely smoked and too lightly seasoned, so I stock up when we visit Nashville, and buy online from Early's the rest of the time. And Dreamfields pasta - our local stores carry only the spaghetti and penne rigati, so I have to online-order elbows, linguini and lasagna.

[amyzan]

When I drive east of the Mississippi, I always bring home White Lily products (and Weisenberger Mills, if I've gone to KY.) I've only flown the last couple trips, and am on my last 5# bag, so hope to make a trip home to KY before long. Dad has offered me my grandmother's cookie jar, so I have another incentive, too!

[Jesdamala]

Cheesecake from The Carnegie in NYC! We order for birthdays, holidays and for no reason at all because that craving takes over!

[sweetnspicy]

I love Carnegie Cheesecake! I worked at a restaurant in Virginia who used to serve it! They would lay the slice on its side then carmelize sugar on top, and drizzle a creme anglaise, and raspberry sauce it was so good. I wish I didn't live 3000 miles away now.

[Jesdamala]

Oh, does that sound good! We have been ordering it online for years! Going to order one today in celebration that our older college guy is here for a week! I just may try something like the version you described. I often make a raspberry sauce to drizzle over it! Such yum!

[RGC1982]

What about Junior's Cheesecake? Have you tried it and do you think it is similar?

[Jesdamala]

I have tried Juniors....and no, I don't think they are similar. I don't know how to describe Carnegie other than it is firm toward the outside getting a bit creamy toward the middle, not overwhelmed by the crust. It has a nice density and fabulous flavor, sweet but not cloyingly sweet by any means. This is my take on it. My younger son never, ever liked cheesecake until he had some at a friend's house that he loved, and when I expressed surprise that he liked it, he said "mom, a fork stands up straight in it."mmI immediately called the friend's mom and asked where it came from, and she said mail ordered from Carnegie. Ironically, for three recent years I was bi-coastal (My home is on the West Coast, where NY cheesecake is non existant), and my NYC apartment was only blocks from The Carnegie. Now, I am back to mail (or calling or online) ordering! Love making a raspberry sauce to accompany it. Yummmmmmmmm. Try it!

[amyzan]

I would love to hear if anyone knows a source for reasonably priced organically grown dried apricots from California. I am about fed up with the turkish ones, as they have no flavor. I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy several pounds when I was in San Francisco last fall and at the farmer's market. I've looked at the website for the market but the grower's shipping charges are rather high for dried fruit. (It's not chocolate!) I may have to make another trip and bring an extra suitcase.

[hollyeve]

I don't know if they are organic, but The Wine and Cheese Place in St.Louis (ph# 636 227 9001) sells California apricots. I am sure they would ship to KC.

[emily]

Trader Joe's around here carry dried CA Blenheim apricots. Hmmm, not sure if they're organic, though.

[amyzan]

Yeah, we don't have Trader Joe's here in KS or western MO. I'll be making a trip to CA at the end of the month, where there are TJs. I'll look for them and pack them home, thanks!

[debby]

www.diamondorganics.com has several kinds of dried apricots. I once ordered fresh fruit from them and they were very helpful. The recipients of the fruit said it was good.

[bigsuff]

I'm a Detroit native stranded in Seattle, and so my staples of Coney Dogs, Faygo pop and Better Made potato chips now have to be provided by an online supplier. The Faygo and Better Made do fine, but there's nothing and I mean nothing like a hot fresh coney dog and fries from Lafayette Coney Island.

[hollyeve]

I order Yoki brand Pao de Queijo mix. I became hooked on those little cheesey breads in Brazil, and the mix comes pretty close to what I had there. My SIL says they sell it at her grocery store in CT, but I have not seen it here in AZ.

[sonofoodie]

What grocery store? What town in CT?

[whs]

Discovered Blue Crab Bay Co. Crab House Nuts in Charleston, SC. I order two 40 oz tins and eat them until my pants feel tight. They're sprinkled with a crab seasoning that has a spicy kick, and the peanuts are premium size Virginia specimens. http://www.bluecrabbay.com/

[pie]

I have to order the heirloom dry beans from Rancho Gordo. They are the best ever!
http://ranchogordo.com

[cmarie]

which beans do you recommend?

[pie]

I like all of them! Especially the Ojo de Cabra Bean (Goat's Eye) and the Red Appaloosa Beans. I like to cook them with some onions, garlic, and chipotle pepper flakes. So good.

[sonofoodie]

I was ordering infused olive oil from Stonehouse in CA (Lemon & Lime). Totally addicted. I was buying it by the case and giving it away like water, just to turn people on to this amazing flavor. Now I'm down to the last bottle, and I go to order more, and told there is no lemon flavor. They had a bad crop this year. I am beside myself!

Also, I was buying Lavender Maple Syrup from Moosewood Hollow in Vermont. This stuff was amazing, too. It went well on everything and I would add it to lots of recipes, from smoothies to salad dressing. Again, I went to order another 6 bottles or so, and they tell me they discontinued that flavor. Is it possible I was the only person to ever buy this particuar item? What am I to do?

This happens to me all the time...I get addicted to something I can no longer attain. It's very saddening.

[ExercisetoEat]

It might not be quite the same but Trader Joe's carrys a lemon infused olive oil that I have shipped to myself several times. It's definitely an addictive oil for cooking! Nothing else can quite do the job when you want it.

[sonofoodie]

I went to TJ and I couldn't find this lemon infused olive oil. When I asked the captain, they said it was not an item they carried or ever heard of. What state are you in, ExercisetoEat? I'm in Connecticut and it's probably not an east coast item.

[ExercisetoEat]

Hmmm, that's strange. I've found it at stores in Chicago and Minneapolis, and also have had people ship it to me from Washington state. It's a TJ's branded item...so maybe your local store can order it in? It is a great value for the price. There is someone on Ebay who sells and ships TJ's items for a small fee, perhaps you could find it there as a last resort. I've always been able to sweet talk someone into shipping it to me.

[sonofoodie]

Thanks. I will take a look at special ordering it. (Just another food I have to mail order...)

[LindaWhit]

Just because it's a TJ's branded item, I don't think they all sell it. It depends on their "local" distribution center. East Coast is distributed from one area, West Coast from another. I do recall it took several years for East Coast TJs to get the pom seeds in the little tub in the refrigerated section as compared to the West Coast availability.

[Fuffy]

Exercisetoeat (or anyone else), could you tell me how you use the lemon infused oil? Do you actually heat it and fry or roast with it? Thanks.

[Carrie 218]

Lemon-infused oils tend to be used as finishing oils or in combination with good vinegars for dressings. Once they are heated up, much of the flavor dissipates.

My favorite is made by DaVero as they crush Meyer Lemons along with the olives and extract the oils from both fruits. Many others actually "infuse" lemon juice and/or the oils from the rind into the olive oil which can make it go rancid faster.

[ExercisetoEat]

I agree with Carrie 218 below. Infused oils are better for low or no heat uses. I love using mine in hummus, tuna fish, salad dressings, and in anything else where a subtle lemon flavor but not the acidity of lemon juice would be nice. I'm actually surprised at how much I do use it. I just went through a whole bottle in a few months!

[sonofoodie]

I use the lemon olive oil drizzeled over salmon, then I poach it in the oven. Lime is nice added to guacamole (but just a little bit). Orange olive oil can nicely flavor a roast chicken. They are also delicious for making vinaigrettes, or adding to your pestos. Plain olive oil just isn't enough sometimes.

[danna]

I'm SO addicted to orange infused oil. I like it on tomatos, salads, hummus, grilled chicken, plain pasta, roast eggplant, I dip bread in it....so far I have not poured it on ice cream ;-)

[HillJ]

Also super drizzled on ricotta cheesecake and olive oil muffins.

[sarvey]

Try O Olive oil, many citrus varieties.

www.ooliveoil.com

[sonofoodie]

I have tried "O". It's all good, but very expensive...$12-$14 a bottle. A little out of the price range I'd like to pay.

[Candy]

I buy "O" vinegars and olive oils at TJMaxx for about $4.99/bottle. They don't always have it of course but when I see it I buy it. Not like it is going to go bad if the bottle is sealed so I usually have it on hand. Also the Boyiajian oils that are so very dear.

[sarvey]

I've found O products at TJMaxx too and they are just fine! I even gave them away as gifts one year.

[Candy]

It is crazy not to shop those food aisles. You just never know what is going to show up. I got really really luck one day and found a bottle of Saba. Be still my heart!

[amethiste]

I second that. I bought a bottle of bourbon vanilla for $6. I've also bought specialty candies, olive oils, and coffees. I occasionally find good deals in the cookware/ tableware isle as well. Ross and Marshals are good sources as well.

[catsmeow]

I also use O olive oils and their vinegars too. I've found them more often at TJ Maxx's sister store Homegoods. I just stocked up on their unflavored, orange, and lemon. It was 6.99/bottle in the Boston area. To stock up, I went to a few different Homegoods because they don't always have it, and when they have a few bottles at one store in the area, they usually also have it at the other area ones.

[sonofoodie]

I finally tried the "O" Lemon Olive Oil (purchased at HomeGoods). It was good, but not great for that price, about $6. So I went searching on the web again. I came across two other brands, DaVero Sonoma and Consorzio. The DaVero was almost $30 a bottle. At that price, it better come in a goldleaf bottle. Honestly, I can't figure out why it's so expensive. The Consorzio was considerably less, $22 for 6 bottles, so I ordered the Consorzio. It came today, and it is very good. I am betting the quality of the olive oil is not as high as some others, but I'm using it as a flavor enhancer, so I'm perfectly happy with it.

http://www.consorzio.com/catalog/orga...

[HillJ]

Moosewood Hollow has a new distributor. Give them a call. We order syrups (including lavendar) twice a year. I had not heard any of the flavors were discontinued. Our last shipment was May...have you contacted them recently?

[sonofoodie]

I called the MH distributor directly...as recent as two weeks ago. That's who told me they no longer will make/carry the lavender flavor. It's being discontinued :-(

[HillJ]

sono, that is a bummer. We added the lavendar in everything from tea to shortbread cookies :(
but tyou for the heads up!

[Candy]

That is kind of funny, they stop carrying something that is getting popular again. The latest issue of Imbibe magazine has an article on making your own Lavender liqueur.

[HillJ]

Sounds interesting..hmmmmm.need to do more research!
Lavendar grows well in NJ

[Candy]

It is a new magazine. Maybe only 3 issues published so far. It is not just about alcohol but all sorts of drinks. i picked up a copy out of curiosity and was impressed enough to go to their website and subscribe.

[HillJ]

Candy, I just visited the site and I liked what I saw. May subscribe as well.

[sonofoodie]

Candy...thanks for the info on Imbibe. I love the idea of infusing floral-like flavors to everything from whipped cream to tea to cookies. I buy my culinary lavender online, as well. If there's a will, there's a way, right? I will definitely check out the website for Imbibe.

[Candy]

Glad you both were impressed. It is one magazine that won't get recycyled. I really was impressed with my first issue. Now I have to remember who I loaned mine to.

[clepro]

Not a maple syrup, but Golden Fig makes a fabulous lavender syrup that I've used on and in pound cakes, granitas, whipped creams, lemonaids, etc etc. They also offer a vanilla almond syrup and a new one, Fall Harvest--or is that Autumn Harvest?--with cinnamon, cloves, orange and lemon peels, vanilla bean, cloves, star anise and juniper flavors. Their website http://www.goldenfig.com/1 will be updated in a month or so to show the products, but in the meantime you can order via the phone number listed on the site. Infused vinegars and sugars too. It's all great.

[sonofoodie]

I went to Golden Fig website. Looks like some interesting items. It may easily be on it's way to my mail order list. Thanks for the link, Clepro.

Can anyone tell me anything about Floss Halva? A friend just gave me a taste she bought at a Hungarian deli in the Hartford area. I can't find it anywhere closer to southern CT, so it may be an internet find. It has a cotton-candy like consistency, and comes in pistachio flavor. Very curious stuff.

[Jeanne]

Lowell Farms jasmine rice from Texas - can't get it on the east coast.

www.lowellfarms.com

[Jen_in_NJ]

It's sad, but the sauces from Quaker Steak and Lube in PA. I love them with chicken and shrimp.
http://www.quakersteakandlube.com/def...

[tubman]

Stadium Mustard from Cleveland. Gulden's just doesn't cut it.

[mollyomormon]

Snackmaster's turkey jerky now that Trader Joe's no longer stocks it and Pain is Good bloody mary mix.

[veggielover]

All veal bratwurst from Kuhn's delicatessen in Chicago and frozen sour cherries from Coloma Frozen Foods in Michigan.

[captbob]

This is kind of like asking people where their favorite fishing hole is...not sure it benefits the audience to participate. But I'll throw in: a special brand of Virginia ham and low-gluten pizza flour.

[amyzan]

How does it not benefit the poster? I'd think businesses will do better the more orders they have. They'll have more profit, be able to source new products, improve their website perhaps, etc.? It's not as if many of these businesses will actually run out of product or go out of business if they get more orders. Please explain.

[captbob]

Certain products are great simply because they are hand made, or made in very small batches, and are affordable because they haven't been discovered. There are farms in Virginia and North Carolina that produce amazing hams, equal in quality to the finest produced in Italy or Spain, but aren't selling at $50-$100 a pound because they aren't known outside their local community. And I ain't tellin' neither ;-)

[amyzan]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm actually from Kentucky, lived in NC for several years, and I think I know a few of the hams you're talking about. Definitely a good secret to keep, lest they start charging $90/ham.

[swissgirl]

I order Hibiscus C Blend tea from Peet's Coffee. I try to stock up on my yearly trips home but during the year, I usually need to replenish.

Kroger and other nearby supermarkets have also stopped selling my favorite brand of veggie hot dogs. Fortunately, I can order (by the case) from Amazon.com.

[LJS]

I have not found a source outside of Italy for powdered fish stock...invaluable for making seafood dishes.I mean who has frozen fish stock hanging around? My little tin of this gold dust is getting low so, I have to find an online source OR go to Italy--h-m-m...what to do?

[fauchon]

Could you substitute bottled clam juice?

[JungMann]

Really? They sell Knorr fish bouillon at my downscale market.

[MysticYoYo]

LJS, Amazon sells "Bonito Fish Soup Stock" and "Dried Shaved Bonito Flakes" I haven't tried them, but they each cost under $7.00 US.

[amyzan]

I imagine that Italian fish bouillion is much milder and more delicate than broth made from katsuoboshi, the dried shaved bonito sold at Amazon. Most bonito is skipjack or other tuna, or a variety of mackerel, and has a strong flavor. It's intended to be added to very hot, but not boiling, kombu broth, and strained relatively quickly. I don't think it'd make a good substitute.

Surely there's something on the market that's more suitable? I've seen frozen and jarred shellfish and fish stock concentrates at places like Dean and Deluca. Maybe they'd work?

[Candy]

Kitchen Basics sells Seafood Stock in cartons. No additives, preservatives etc. Just pure fish stock...it contains no shell fish. You can order it directly from them if none of your grocery stores sell it

[stopurmakingmehungry]

I vote you go to Italy!

[stephen]

Pretzels from PA!

I live in Toronto, but absolutely must order some "Unique Splits" every six months or so. If we drive to NJ to visit family I can be trusted to bring back to Canada lots of pretzels, potato chips and TastyKake pies over the border. Once I actually mentioned them to the border guard because there was so much.

[Carrie 218]

I live in San Francisco and one would think that we would have everything. Well, I'd be really impressed with anyone who could tell me where I could go and buy Moutarde du Violet (grape must mustard).

I also order a considerable amount of game meat from D'Artagnan. While California is good on providing game foul, mammals are considerably harder to obtain.

[cowlbelle]

PB2 from Belle Plantation.

[foodie909]

Black and white truffles, and truffle oil every Fall. Nov 1 like clockwork.

[Fuffy]

Foodie909. Where do you get good black and white truffles and truffle oil?I once bought a truffle from Fairways NY and it was so old and tasteless I never bought one again.

[GeoffD]

My regular mail order items:
Spices from Penzeys
"More than Gourmet" reductions
Posole
My favorite wines

[beachmouse]

We're also regular Penzey's customers. The grocery store doesn't cut it, and no spice shops out in our neck of the swamp.

[MsMaryMc]

Pastry flour, from King Arthur--they sell their all-purpose and bread flours in the local supermarkets, but not pastry flour (theirs, or any other brand). Nothing like it for pie crust, and I like it for scones and shortbread, too.

[LJS]

Don't order it on line but can't bake without it and pick up all sorts of King Arthur flour products whenver we go to the US.

[jamielynn]

Oh! Turduckens too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turducken

[rayrayray]

country hams. just can't seem to get the real thing in canada.

[JungMann]

Living in New York, you'd think that I could anything I've ever wanted, but that's hardly the case. It often happens that I can't track down key ingredients for some ethnic foods, but off the top of my head, I know that if I want real Chicago-style pizza or Italian beefs, these have to be ordered online. I've also developed a hankering for white hots which, being an Upstate NY specialty, one would imaging would be plentiful here. Not the case at all. I've also gone nearly batty trying to find pimiento cheese, Lifeway bread, Viennese pastries (i.e. whipped cream tortes, Sachertorte, Dobostorte, etc.) and buttermilk donuts.

[stopurmakingmehungry]

I live in Los Angeles, and before I discovered Chowhound and was able to find a suitable substitute I would order deep dish pizza from Giordano's in Chicago. I've also ordered gourmet pot pies from Z-Pie in Placerville, CA and butterscotch krimpets from Tastykake, but I've gotten my fill of those for a while.

[michele cindy]

what are white hots?

[femmenikita]

I believe it's a regional name for a certain type of pork sausage that's eaten in a bun like a frank or a braut

[JungMann]

White hots are a type of casing-less uncured pork sausage. Initially I thought they were bratwursts, but when I bit in, it was totally different from any sausage I had had prior. They're also essential in a Rochester specialty: the garbage plate.

Also, I second Virginia hams. I have a cousin who sends us authentic Virginia hams for Christmas.

[jamielynn]

N.O. Brew
www.nobrew.com
Addiction for sure

[HillJ]

love NO Brew!

[fauchon]

I order my teas from uptontea.com ... always fresh, huge selection, excellent cs... the other tea vendor I use is specialteas.com ... there's just no way to find the quality & selection anywhere else...

[amyzan]

I order from Upton, too. There are tea shops an hour's drive away, but they're overpriced and the tea's often not fresh. What's available at the co-op thirty minutes away isn't as good quality as Upton, though the price is fair. Upton's shipping is so reasonable and quick (2 days from Massachusetts to Kansas on standard ship) and their product and selection so consistently good that I have no reason to shop locally for tea.

[liu]

I also order tea online; my current favorite is Teance in Berkeley.
Although I am in the Los Angeles area, I never find the teas in the various stores as interesting, of high quality or fresh as those I order online.

I am beginning to notice that the specialty stores and markets are increasing their selection. For example, Whole Foods is now carrying some Rishi teas (matcha and oolong in individual packets) that are really good. Still, nothing is equal to the quality of teas that one can find online.

[amyzan]

Yeah, the Whole Foods here carries Rishi, but they are frequently stale. This is probably because they don't turn over very quickly in Overland Park, Kansas. I can't see Kansans drinking a lot of oolong or green, which is most of their selection. I have bought when I saw someone restocking and knew it was fresh, and what I had was good. But, that's once in a blue moon...

I did have some tea from Palais de Thes in Beverly Hills this summer, and it was fresh and tasty, and not terribly overpriced.

[LJS]

I, too, order tea...in my case, Marks and Spencer Extra Strong (bagged) Tea. They used to have outlets here in Canada, got hooked and can't give it up.

[burbgirl]

I recently became a huge tea drinker and discovered the incredible difference between the junk in the g-stores and "real" tea. I've ordered a bunch from Adagio.com.

[HillJ]

burbgirl, have you given the display/blooming teas a try? Adagio has a limited selection but if you visit: http://www.teaposy.com/ you can pick from an umlimited selection of gourmet blooming teas. Enjoy!

[Allstonian]

Tamales from Pedro's Tamales in TX, as an annual birthday gift for my hubby, who's originally from TX/CO/NM. We order 10 or 12 dozen and stash them in the deep freeze, and they make up an accompaniment to an enchilada dinner once a month or so.

Also chocolates from See's - at Christmas time they put in a few kiosks around the Boston area, but they only sell a limited selection of pre-packages stuff, so if I want their fabulous Bridge Mix or a custom assortment, I have to mail order.

[karin]

See's-yes-I lived in SF for 10 years and then moved back to NY. Every Christmas my husband gets me a couple of pounds of See's which I eat super slow over the next few weeks.

[Amuse Bouches]

When I lived in NY I used to mail order See's every Easter -- Jelly Bird Eggs and easter eggs. I had to move closer!

Now, I make do with mostly local (but I live in L.A., and I can find a LOT of stuff) but get my parents to bring me Fortnum and Mason tea every time they go to London (at least once a year).

[Westy]

Kreuz market roast prime rib. None better. A great 1x or 2x a year treat.

[cheftori]

I have a favorite Spice Shop in Denver. Great product, Plus the couple that owned it is cool. I miss it!
I now live just north of Boston. While I'm sure there are good spice shops here it just would not be the same.
Please check out their web site: Savory Spice Shop (dot) com

[LindaWhit]

Cheftori - if you're near Arlington, I suggest going to the Penzey's store to get your spice fix. Or go into Christina's in Cambridge.

[callmijane]

I love Savory Spice!!! I do a 70$ or so order every year.

[danna]

Lobel's beef. There is no substitute.

Valhrona cocoa powder in bulk from Chocosphere.

Up until Whole Foods opened last year, I had to mail order olives and Fluer Vert cheese.

Fresh Mozzerella. Yes , I can buy some locally, but it doesn't even seem like the same product I get when I order from Murray's.

[big john]

Salt from SaltWorks.com their smoked salt is awesome but not cheap.

[Janet]

We have family mail or bring us Zesta crackers. They are not sold in the San Francisco area.

But the most important item is Ky country ham. We order that from Broadbent's in Cadiz, KY. www.broadbenthams.com

[Alan N]

I know it's been 3 years since you wrote this, but what about zesta makes it shipworthy?

[meatn3]

Vanilla beans. I can get them locally but they are so expensive! I had run out & was going to purchase one from the bulk herbs/spices at my local natural foods place & it would have been over $15! For just one! I use them fairly often & Penzeys has the price & quality that I've found.

[alias wade]

Is there a city in the country where you don't get ripped off for vanilla beans? $5 each at whole foods? come on! Mail order is the only way to go. A place called JR mushrooms has great ones, 5 for $7, free shipping.

[rjp]

Sahadis is a wonderful, middle eastern originally, grocer on Atlantic avenue in Brooklyn. They have great vanilla beans at very fair prices.

[ipsedixit]

Not mail order, but every time I have friends going to (and returning) from Taiwan, I make sure they bring back some "fruit salt" and preserved plums.

[flyerfan182]

I dont mail order these but call my Grandparents whom live in Canada for them to send me
Shreddies Cereal, Eat More Candy Bars, and Coffee Crisp! Truely three delicacies we dont have in the US!

[funkymonkey]

Coffee Crisp is the greatest candy bar of all times. every time i go to canada (rarely), i bring back a stash and if someone i know is going up there, i beg for some. thank god for the canadians.

funkymonkey
http://thebestbite.blogspot.com/

[thenurse]

I'll be in Nashville next w/e if anyone wants anything from Canada!!!

[zunzie]

I see Coffee Crisp all the time in NoCal.

[MKatrinaToo]

Where, Zunzie, where?

[debby]

Fog City News at 455 Market Street in San Francisco has them.

[Parrotgal]

Me too! I love when you can get Halloween packages with mini bars. Don't get there often enough; I'm almost out!

[blackoak]

I live outside of Wilmington, NC now and, oddly, the gas station up the street carries Coffee Crisp bars (although the wrappers are yellow - for some reason I remember them being red - I'm probably remembering wrong). Since World Market carries Aero Bars and Crunchies (and Hob Nobs, Jelly Babies, etc., that I'm used to from the U.K.), all I have to order now from Canada are packs of St. Hubert's Sauces, Red Rose Tea, and Laura Secord Chocs (plus, if I can ever find a supplier, spruce beer - if they still make it).

[LindaWhit]

You can't get Red Rose tea where you are, blackoak? I'm positive I've seen it up here in New England. I could certain check for you if you want (Email in profile).

Funny story - my parents and friends were in a NYC Chinatown restaurant many, many years ago, and one of my parents' friends loved the tea they were served with their meal. She asked her waiter what the name was, and he said "Ledlows". She looked all over for it, asking everyone she knew. My mom searched for her as well, until finally,several months later after she had said to my Mom in a phone conversation that the waiter must have been trying to avoid telling her their secret tea, Mom realized he had said "Red Rose." :-) My mom's friend was very happy.

[buttertart]

The US Red Rose isn't the same as the Canadian, the teabags are bigger and the blend much better in the Canadian RR.

[LindaWhit]

Ahh, thank you, buttertart. Thought about that after I had posted, but didn't come back to ask.

[buttertart]

It was our tea at home, my mom used to send me boxes right up until the time she died. Miss it! (not to mention, her.)

[buttertart]

I haven't had Laura Secord chocs in ages, are they still that good? Used to love their pyramid plain milk chocolate, mint crisps, mint and caramel with marshmallow...anything nut /crisp/chewy...

[vorpal]

Along those lines, I find Aero bars are quite popular with my American friends who come up to Canada.

I love Shreddies... don't know what I'd do if I had to move away from Canada! And I find they're virtually impossible to explain to people who don't know what they are... they become convinced you're talking about shredded wheat.

[flyerfan182]

COMPLETELY agree with you on the Shreddies! Everytime I talk about them people go "o u mean shredded wheat" im like "no sorry not the same thing"

however, i have seen coffee crisp available at cost plus market

[bbqboy]

Could you describe them for us non-canucks? Now I'm intrigued.

[tubman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreddies

While the name evokes shredded wheat, they're more closely aligned with Chex cereals.

[eatfood]

What's "fruit salt"?

[amyzan]

I'm not ipsedixit, obviously, but she/he may be referring to a mixture of sugar/salt/chile (plus various other spices in different places) that is common all over Asia. People often dip pieces of fruit or jicama into this seasoned salt and eat it as a snack. I read about it in "My Bombay Kitchen," a Parsi cookbook but haven't tried it yet.

[jillp]

Speckled Heart Grits from Calloway Gardens. I believe Candy will agree.

Which reminds me that I am out of them and need some!

[fauchon]

What are Speckled Heart Grits? How do you cook/serve them?

[jillp]

S. H. grits have the germ of the corn kernel in them and are a coarser texture with far more flavor than quick grits or instant grits. You can combine them with all sorts of things to make a wonderful side dish; once I inadvertently used them in my cornbread and was delighted by my error.

They will take a bit longer to cook, of course, but it's well worth it.

[Candy]

Oh I have to include you and Agnes in my next order from Anson Mills. You will be a convert. Next time you are over remind me to get some out. They even smell better uncooked than any other grits I have had. They are very fresh and ground to order. Not going back to Callaway Gdns. or I might for every day grits. You won't want jackp to know the price of the Anson Mills.

[ArikaDawn]

There is nothing that I personally order, but my friend from Dublin who now lives in FL orders black and white pudding every month from foodireland.com.

[flyerfan182]

this may sound funny but i love dunkin donuts coffee.

as i live in los angeles, we dont have the dd, so i order it online.

however, target has just started selling it!

another big thing i order is giordanos frozen pizza from the best deep dish pizza place in chicago, ill!

[ekammin]

Mexican food, from Internet sources like Mexgrocer. Toronto is a great city, with a very varied selection of foods, but the Mexican food selection in local supermarkets is simply awful (unless you are crazy bout Thick and Chunky salsa).

[saacnmama]

Mailing Mexican food reminds me of when I was growing up in Ohio and my aunt in Arizona used to send us boxes of taco shells, and probably some kind of flavoring/spice packets my mom would use to make 'Mexican' dinners. It was pretty special. She also sent oranges from the tree in their back yard.

[jroxybabe19]

wow I love DD also! I cant believe target has it now! thats great!!

[LisaN]

I also saw it in this weeks Vons flyer

[Suzy Q]

Our Costco also sells DD coffee.

[JayVaBeach]

Doesn't sound funny at all; in fact, when I'm running low on my Dean & Deluca stash, the next best thing is Dunkin Dount's coffee - believe it or not, DD is making a splashy comeback here on the east coast. Virginia is seeing many "DD cafes" popping up - thank God, as I'm not a Starbucks fan at all! I'm hoping for the trend to grow as I have Dunkin Donuts stock .... Hallelujah!

[revsharkie]

I can't get dashi anywhere near here. I looked at the Asian groceries in Storm Lake. Nope. They had no idea what I was talking about.

Looked in Sioux City. Nope. Omaha and Des Moines: nope. Finally ordered it. But now I can't figure out where I put it.

I also can't get those Manischewitz dry soup mixes that come in the cellophane tubes. I can get a few flavors at the Dahl's store in this really cool ethnic area in Des Moines, but not the "vegetable soup with mushrooms" flavor that was one of my favorite cheap dinners in college.

[dorilou]

I live in brooklyn and can get those Maniscewitz soups in the tubes if you want them. My mom made those while I was growing up and I remember they were pretty good.

[justin_mjn]

I just checked out the Fireworks Popcorn website. I've never seen those different varieties. Is there a specific type that's recommended? Right now, the best popcorn I've found around me (philly) is the bulk stuff at whole foods.

[Chowpatty]

Yes, I ordered the sampler pack and didn't really care for any except the Savanna Gold, which was excellent, so I've reordered 4 lbs. of it. It's not that expensive, but the shipping is kind of pricey.

[winedude]

I actually had the same problem finding good popping corn in Boston, and ended up ordering from www.amishcountrypopcorn.com. If you put together a big box (I selected 12 different kinds, in one pound bags), the shipping is a flat $4.10, which is a good deal. The corm was great, I liked most of them, and my kids and guests thought the choices were really fun.

[Chowpatty]

My Savanna Gold popcorn arrived and it is as excellent as I remembered -- super tender and slightly buttery tasting. And the 4 lb. bottle should last a pretty long time, assuming I slow down my current nonstop popcorn consumption a bit.

[jinet12]

Black and White cookies from NY or this cookie company that makes them, and items from the Chukar Cherry Company in Seattle..mostly for gifts....Other than that, I can almost get everything from either Whole Foods or Central Mkt...

[JayVaBeach]

I think that southern Virginia , i.e. Virginia Beach/Norfolk are finally getting a Whole Foods, but still must drive 3.5 hours to Georgetown (DC) for the nearest Dean & Deluca, so in the meantime, I must order the following:

* DIDIER GOUBET JAMS - particularly the Apricot or the Chestnut.

www.didiergoubet.fr

* DEAN & DELUCA COFFEE - Georgetown Blend - monthly coffee order.

www.deananddeluca.com