I want to eat all the best things without cooking or leaving my home.
October 9, 2017 10:01 AM Subscribe
Inspired by this comment from someone who had a superb Chicago deep dish pizza delivered to them in LA, I'd like to hear about your great experiences ordering prepared food from restaurants or suppliers around the US (or even...the world?!).
I'm especially interested in ordering food that I can't realistically make at home as a pretty good home cook, e.g. things that require specialty equipment or ingredients, or are just a huge pain to prepare in a normal kitchen.
I understand this kind of awesome comes at a premium: Lou Malnoti's pizza (from the linked comment) charges $20-$30 per 9" pizza, for example. For the purpose of experimentation, let's assume price is no object.
Not particularly interested in the home meal prep services like Blue Apron.
I'm especially interested in ordering food that I can't realistically make at home as a pretty good home cook, e.g. things that require specialty equipment or ingredients, or are just a huge pain to prepare in a normal kitchen.
I understand this kind of awesome comes at a premium: Lou Malnoti's pizza (from the linked comment) charges $20-$30 per 9" pizza, for example. For the purpose of experimentation, let's assume price is no object.
Not particularly interested in the home meal prep services like Blue Apron.
Best answer: Katz's pastrami or another long cooked/smoked meat product like BBQ brisket?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:17 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:17 AM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: You can have "Pittsburgh's famous burnt almond torte" shipped.
posted by librarianamy at 10:26 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by librarianamy at 10:26 AM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: You can get a lot of New Orleans/cajun food delivered!
We get Thanksgiving turducken every year from Cajun Grocer and it's amazing.
We also get Mardi Gras king cake. There are a ton of places that do it, and everyone has their favorites. I like Caluda's King Cakes--they have the Randazzo's classic recipe, but their website is easier to use and pricing is transparent.
I haven't done it myself, but I've been to a bunch of crawfish boils outside of Louisiana where they've shipped live crawfish. It's not for the faint of heart, and you have to have the equipment and know what you're doing, but it's deeeelish.
posted by radioamy at 10:31 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
We get Thanksgiving turducken every year from Cajun Grocer and it's amazing.
We also get Mardi Gras king cake. There are a ton of places that do it, and everyone has their favorites. I like Caluda's King Cakes--they have the Randazzo's classic recipe, but their website is easier to use and pricing is transparent.
I haven't done it myself, but I've been to a bunch of crawfish boils outside of Louisiana where they've shipped live crawfish. It's not for the faint of heart, and you have to have the equipment and know what you're doing, but it's deeeelish.
posted by radioamy at 10:31 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You can get pasties mailed to you (regional treat of the northwest Midwest, never had them mailed but can confirm they are still delicious after freezing and reheating).
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:33 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:33 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor sells a lot of things online, including a Reuben sandwich kit.
posted by FencingGal at 10:37 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 10:37 AM on October 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I've ordered some of the most awesome boudin and tasso from Johnson's Boucaniere in Lafayette, Louisiana, via Fedex.
I've also received a case of Blenheim Red Cap ginger ale from South Carolina as a gift from my wife, because I love it so much and she is nice. It's difficult to find down here in Texas.
Shipping on these is a killer, but sometimes there is no substitute for the flavors.
posted by Mr.Krotpong at 10:46 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've also received a case of Blenheim Red Cap ginger ale from South Carolina as a gift from my wife, because I love it so much and she is nice. It's difficult to find down here in Texas.
Shipping on these is a killer, but sometimes there is no substitute for the flavors.
posted by Mr.Krotpong at 10:46 AM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: our local fancy cheesemonger sells fresh baguettes from the Parisian baker, Poilane, and will offer to arrange for loaves of sourdough and pain levain to be shipped to you as well. Their charcuterie is also shippable and pretty great.
posted by bl1nk at 10:47 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by bl1nk at 10:47 AM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: My best friend sent me a Boston cream pie for my birthday. It was so good.
posted by coppermoss at 10:56 AM on October 9, 2017
posted by coppermoss at 10:56 AM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: It's not really ordering, as per your ask, but I had a friend from NYC who seemed to time his return flights from NYC to PDX in order to show up at midnight (right when the party started warming up, right?) with bagels, or cannoli, or some other food unobtainable in its true form outside of NYC proper.
Doing this is in itself not amazing - what was remarkable was the sheer number of cannoli he managed to bring back. I.e., he'd fly back with empty suitcases and only the clothes on his back, and come back with enough cannoli to share with seventy-five people.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 11:03 AM on October 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Doing this is in itself not amazing - what was remarkable was the sheer number of cannoli he managed to bring back. I.e., he'd fly back with empty suitcases and only the clothes on his back, and come back with enough cannoli to share with seventy-five people.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 11:03 AM on October 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: So. Many. Best. Answers. These will be super-great gifts/treats. Keep 'em coming!
posted by nosila at 12:34 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by nosila at 12:34 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: Someone once ordered me a Pecan Coffee Cake from Collins St Bakery. It didn't make much sense, since neither of us is from Texas, but it was extremely good and big enough that I hosted a brunch for twelve people that weekend and still had a lot of cake afterward.
posted by dizziest at 12:46 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dizziest at 12:46 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A friend sent us a king cake from Sucré for Mardi Gras this year, and it arrived still moist and delicious. Such a treat!
posted by me3dia at 1:25 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by me3dia at 1:25 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Rendezvous ribs, Corky's barbecue, Benton's Country Hams, Tucker Pecan, the original Central Grocery muffuletta, Georgia scuppernongs
posted by notquitemaryann at 1:30 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by notquitemaryann at 1:30 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: You can get Carnegie deli cheesecake shipped to you.
posted by motioncityshakespeare at 1:56 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by motioncityshakespeare at 1:56 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: Some options for Texas style kolaches. The fruit filled are traditional czech, but it's the savory sausage and cheese that make me homesick.
posted by politikitty at 2:13 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by politikitty at 2:13 PM on October 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You can get all sorts of NY treats delivered from Zabars.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 2:32 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 2:32 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: Check out Goldbely - they ship tons of different regional specialties. From Miami, you can order Joe's Stone Crab, the best crabs in America (fight me, Maryland people)
posted by tatiana wishbone at 3:01 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by tatiana wishbone at 3:01 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: Also, as an ex-Cincinnatian, I can take or leave Montgomery Inn ribs, but you can get Skyline Chili and Graeter's ice cream shipped to you.
posted by coppermoss at 4:27 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by coppermoss at 4:27 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: This is my favorite New York cheesecake--S & S cheesecake, made in the Boogie Down Bronx, and it's kosher!
posted by zorseshoes at 4:55 PM on October 9, 2017
posted by zorseshoes at 4:55 PM on October 9, 2017
Best answer: The crumb cake from Crumbzz bakery in Forney TX is fantastic.
posted by CathyG at 10:41 AM on October 10, 2017
posted by CathyG at 10:41 AM on October 10, 2017
Best answer: Not only can you order Lou Malnati's Pizza from here, but you can also order Garrett's popcorn, Portillo's Italian Beef and Vienna Hot Dogs.
My Texan Brother-In-law sends us a box from Cooper's BBQ every year for Christmas, for which we are very thankful.
Collin Street Bakery, as mentioned above, has wonderful NY style cheesecake and world-famous, traditional fruitcake (assuming you like fruitcake).
posted by sarajane at 1:34 PM on October 10, 2017
My Texan Brother-In-law sends us a box from Cooper's BBQ every year for Christmas, for which we are very thankful.
Collin Street Bakery, as mentioned above, has wonderful NY style cheesecake and world-famous, traditional fruitcake (assuming you like fruitcake).
posted by sarajane at 1:34 PM on October 10, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by capricorn at 10:16 AM on October 9, 2017 [3 favorites]