448564 Sun Oct 07 14:04:08 -0700 2007 40 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 3012662 i would like to send a very generous friend of mine who lives in the bay area a food gift by mail. the closest experience i have to mail order food ( and not fruit) is the bad holiday gift baskets vendors sent to my office and they're usually not very good. i was thinking of send her cookies or some sort of baked goods. can any suggest a decent food mail order? i was going to order from mrs. beasley or diamond organics but i've only sent fruits from the latter. what about harry and davids? any input would be greatly appreciated! thanks!! Sun Oct 07 14:04:08 -0700 2007 17438 trolley 1 3012667 The fruit from Harry and David's is beautiful - I'd make sure to do all fruit, and not a basket that includes other things, which I invariable give or throw away. Sun Oct 07 14:05:21 -0700 2007 3012662 10985 MMRuth 2 3015409 I ordered pears from Harry and David's and they were terrible. I called the company and they sent another order (free). It was a good gesture, however, the pears were still terrible. Mon Oct 08 13:29:25 -0700 2007 3012667 105378 vtt7 3 3015522 Sorry to hear that .. Mon Oct 08 13:53:00 -0700 2007 3015409 10985 MMRuth 3 3018604 Generally speaking, it has been my experience that Harry & David fruit shipments are excellent. On a couple of occasions, the fruit has been much less than excellent- and with one phone call, a brand new shipment is on its way. No questions asked. I give them credit for that. Tue Oct 09 12:04:33 -0700 2007 3015409 102095 vvvindaloo 4 3019072 That's been my experience, too--the fruit has been divine, both in flavor and appearance. But I agree with MMRuth--their other food products aren't as good. They have a few outlet stores around the northwest, and I've mostly been disappointed with food I've bought there. And I got some of their chocolate truffles as a gift last Christmas that were waxy and pretty much inedible--and it takes a LOT to put me off chocolate! Tue Oct 09 13:55:13 -0700 2007 3018604 27327 MsMaryMc 5 3019080 Agreed - takes a lot for me to throw out chocolate! Tue Oct 09 13:57:37 -0700 2007 3019072 10985 MMRuth 5 3019191 I do not like their non-fresh fruit food products at all. Tue Oct 09 14:28:24 -0700 2007 3019072 102095 vvvindaloo 1 3012670 Also - if chocolate would be welcome, the chocolates from Kee's are incredible: www.keeschocolates.com One of my favorite places in Manhattan. Sun Oct 07 14:07:40 -0700 2007 3012662 10985 MMRuth 2 3016634 Here's another chocolate site that is AWESOME!!!! http://www.johnandkiras.com/site/Welcome_business.htm Mon Oct 08 20:02:47 -0700 2007 3012670 10753 Philly Ray 3 3234394 You can't go wrong with chocolate. Kee's is absolutely fabulous. As are the chocolates from Jacque Torres, also in NY (www.mrchocolate.com) . I've ordered them for my wife several times and never been disappointed. I wasn't aware that Kee's did mail order. I will check that out. Mon Dec 24 09:07:56 -0800 2007 3016634 124339 bnemes3343 2 3234398 I went to this link (have been there before) and do not see anyway to order Kee's chocolates on-line. Am I missing something? The only way I've been able to get their chocolate is to schlep into the city (a pleasure anyway). Mon Dec 24 09:09:59 -0800 2007 3012670 124339 bnemes3343 1 3012687 I don't know if it would fit exactly with what you have in mind, but in case it might and/or for the sake of the search engine and posterity, how about a gift box from Hell's Kitchen restaurant in Minneapolis? http://www.hellskitcheninc.com/hellskitchenpeanutbutter.html Their housemade peanut butter is fantastic and their sausage bread which is, remarkably, more like a quick bread than a savory bread, is quite celebrated. It doesn't sound that great when you read the ingredients, but it is. I love their cocoa, too. ~TDQ Sun Oct 07 14:15:40 -0700 2007 3012662 12005 The Dairy Queen 2 3012726 looks fun. unfortunately, she's a vegetarian and i think i'm looking for more of a feminine or fancy looking packaging and items. maybe unusual chocolates? she is definitely a foodie. Sun Oct 07 14:31:26 -0700 2007 3012687 17438 trolley 1 3012732 Manhattan Fruitier delivers most, but not all, of it's gift baskets to the Bay area. Not only are the contents always excellent, their packaging is simply unsurpassed. I used to give these as corporate gifts and heard from many that they the were the lovliest they'd ever received. Ooops. Forgot to add link: http://manhattanfruitier.com/ Sun Oct 07 14:33:39 -0700 2007 3012662 11407 JoanN 1 3013178 maybe dean & deluca(very pricey, but delicious stuff) or zingerman's in Michigan look like they have fun stuff Sun Oct 07 18:35:55 -0700 2007 3012662 60805 cmarie 2 3013297 The Creamery at Washington State University produces their Cougar Gold Cheddar that I think is the best cheddar produced in the United States, at any rate. I think it is available only through them. See their website for a description, shipping information, etc. Sun Oct 07 19:41:23 -0700 2007 3013178 54222 ekammin 3 3016765 Mmmmmmmm...I'll second the Cougar Gold rec! Mon Oct 08 21:10:49 -0700 2007 3013297 27327 MsMaryMc 3 3238979 I haven't heard of this cheese before. May I ask why you think it is the best cheddar in the country? There's lots of competition for that claim! Wed Dec 26 21:59:59 -0800 2007 3013297 136188 Outerspace 4 3240029 I'll have to do some research and get back to you (mmmmm...tasting every cheddar made in the country...), but I know already that Cougar Gold is damn good! Thu Dec 27 10:34:52 -0800 2007 3238979 27327 MsMaryMc 5 3240448 Somebody I know brought this cheese to a vacation house we shared, and it was really, really delicious. Really! Thu Dec 27 12:30:08 -0800 2007 3240029 18755 howboy 1 3015499 If she weren't already in the Bay Area, I'd suggest jams or marmelades from June Taylor. Fabulous stuff! I haven't mail-ordered from them, but I did send a friend to get some when he was in SF/San Jose. The fruit conserves he chose for me were divine. Since she's so close to these delights, see this thread for other ideas: What foods do you HAVE to mail order? http://www.chowhound.com/topics/431702 Anne Mon Oct 08 13:48:00 -0700 2007 3012662 12541 AnneInMpls 1 3015562 Jaques Torres in New York does wonderful chocolates (my wife adores them). http://www.mrchocolate.com This time of year, they'll do two-day shipping so the shipping cost isn't so bad. Mon Oct 08 14:01:29 -0700 2007 3012662 80141 ccbweb 1 3017933 Really good, interesting chocolate- definitely a favorite of mine: http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/ Also, Mariebelle Chocolates in NYC- they also have hot chocolate (the Mexican hot chocolate is amazing) and teas: http://www.mariebelle.com/ very feminine and beautiful packaging- I save all the tins to keep my other misc. items in. Tue Oct 09 09:41:07 -0700 2007 3012662 122570 teamuse 2 3018573 www.ohdanishbakery.com and the www.byrdcookiecompany.com are 2 of the absolute best places to order for gifts. The food is so delicious- I may have to order some for myself. The raspberry items at both are to die for... Tue Oct 09 11:58:00 -0700 2007 3017933 12606 MeffaBabe 1 3018743 my FAVORITE place to send gifts from is www.zingermans.com. they have so many delicious, unique things there-- ive sent gift baskets (that i choose what goes in), special cheeses, they also put together like a "reuben sandwich" package. my best go-to gift though are the really delicious pear and fig mostardas. every time i send someone a jar of it, they just go crazy for it. its like a mustard scented pear or fig jam... its so good with cheese... please try it. and, i dont know how important this is to you, but zingermans has, by far, the best customer service of any mail order ive ever worked with. one time a package was stolen from the apartment building i was living in, and when i called them to replace the order, they replaced it themselves... for free. Tue Oct 09 12:39:03 -0700 2007 3012662 57206 elnora 2 3240149 A differing view: I was given a Zingerman's gift card a couple of years back, and began ordering from the company a couple of times a year. Their products are generally the best or among the best in class. However, two factors have ensured that for the time being they've lost my custom. Firstly, Zingerman's prices are somewhat high. In some cases, items have crept up in price; in others, the prices are simply astronomical. In shopping elswhere, I discovered that, for example, a liter can of Alziari olive oil (and if you haven't tried it, you should) is actually less expensive at Williams-Sonoma -- an outfit not usually noted for sensible prices. Secondly, and more problematically, Zingerman's shipping prices are ridiculous. My last purchase was to use a $30 gift certificate; I selected three items. Shipping was $14! To compare, let's look at another food concern, Pfaelzer brothers (http://www.pfaelzerbrothers.com/). A few years ago, during my dad's final hospitalization, we ordered Christmas dinner from Pfaelzer's, not knowing if I would be home or in any shape to cook. (This is the item http://www.pfaelzerbrothers.com/DinnerPlanner.asp?Category=Create%20Your%20Own%20Dinner and it was really good). At Pfaelzer's, you have to order $100 worth of food to reach the shipping cost I paid Zingerman's for $30! And they're both here in the upper midwest with me. So, while I love their products, I'll not be doing business with them for awhile. Thu Dec 27 11:10:45 -0800 2007 3018743 113176 jmckee 1 3021143 I like dancing deer cookies. We've gotten them sent to us from other offices, and the quality is excellent. http://www.dancingdeer.com/ Wed Oct 10 08:05:08 -0700 2007 3012662 49650 makonna 1 3023241 Fran's dessert sauces (Seattle chocolate maker) -- I like the chocolate and raspberry best. Of course, anything chocolate from her is good. (please bring back the figlets...please!) I sent them to my Step-mother for Christmas about five years ago and she has requested them every year since...and then my sisters complained when I didn't send them jars as well. http://www.franschocolates.com/catalog/product.asp?cid=5 Wed Oct 10 16:50:02 -0700 2007 3012662 15250 sebetti 1 3025547 i just heard about a company that allows you to "adopt" an olive tree for a yearly fee...and they send you all the produce - the olives & the oil - from it. i think it's a pretty cool idea. granted, it wouldn't be appropriate for anyone who's trying to eat locally...but if you already buy olive products from italy, they might as well be your very own! i think it's a great gift idea, and definitely worthy of the the $130 price tag. http://www.nudo-italia.com/what_is_nudo Thu Oct 11 11:32:54 -0700 2007 3012662 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 3025925 That reminds me of another site I found a while back--they let you "lease" all sorts of things and send you what they produce--an oyster bed, a goat, a maple tree, a berry patch... http://www.rentmothernature.com/ Thu Oct 11 13:05:34 -0700 2007 3025547 27327 MsMaryMc 3 3026556 what an awesome, unique idea. thanks for posting the link! Thu Oct 11 15:30:04 -0700 2007 3025925 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 3026848 yes, thanks to everyone. these ideas are also great for the upcoming holidays! Thu Oct 11 16:55:15 -0700 2007 3026556 17438 trolley 1 3234382 Just came across your post now so I know its to late for this season but for next year or whenever the occasion might arise....My top gifts that I like to send when I need something xtra special is stone crabs from Joes Stone Crabs in Fl. (include the key lime pie if you can but the stone crabs on their own always makes a nice gift). The other thing I send is the Porterhouse steaks from Peter Lugars. Their amazing! The champagne truffles from Teucher chocolates are great too. Agree with other recommendations of Manhattenfruitier, Zingermans, Dean and Deluca, and chocolates from Jaques Torres. Also love Enstroms toffee. (Reread your post, and saw you wanted baked goods..well in that case, Zingermans would be good.. I've sent bread from there before and had lots of positive feedback as well as their famous sourcream coffeecake. Dean and Deluca also put together a basket for me with a lot of baked goods and cookies. P.S. I don't like Harry and Davids although my friend sends pears every year from here and swears they are wonderful as do many other people, nor do I like the Omaha Steaks at all and would definately not send. Mon Dec 24 09:03:18 -0800 2007 3012662 64520 chocolate 1 3234524 There is a tiny Catholic monastery in the Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. They provide various unusual gift baskets of home made cakes, jams, etc.. The website is: www.societystjohn.com/jampot.jp Please check it out. Bob Mon Dec 24 10:06:24 -0800 2007 3012662 107452 SonyBob 2 3240184 Also, try the Trappist Abbey at Gethsemani, in Kentucky (www.monks.org). These Cistercian monks and priests make outstanding Trappist cheese, Bourbon fudge, and their outstanding Bourbon fruitcake -- the best I've had since Mom died. Their online shop is at www.gethsemanifarms.org. And they pay shipping (see my gripe about Zingerman's above)! Thu Dec 27 11:19:24 -0800 2007 3234524 113176 jmckee 2 3261332 just wanted to second this suggestion - they have an amazing array of jams and baked goods. Fri Jan 04 12:19:04 -0800 2008 3234524 95292 marina13 1 3241659 Today I received a gift of absolutely delicious cookies from a place I had never heard of but which I have now added to my own gift source list. Google "Byrd Cookie Company". It's been in business in Savannah GA since 1924. The cookies sent to me are "Key Lime Coolers", intensely citrus-flavored and very buttery, just perfect little cookies. Thu Dec 27 20:21:10 -0800 2007 3012662 15521 Querencia 1 3265430 I saw two interesting mail order treats on the Food Network, and they are: www.sugardaddys.com www.galaxycookies.com Sat Jan 05 19:10:53 -0800 2008 3012662 151241 mimosa1 2 4300911 oh nice suggestions! Tue Jan 06 10:51:28 -0800 2009 3265430 245995 grabtrees 1 4300444 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. Tue Jan 06 08:43:25 -0800 2009 3012662 151970 Jon1856