Comments on: Best mail-order food?

Question: Best mail-order food?

shivohum — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:34:53 -0800

What are the finest mail-order food goods available at reasonable prices? I'm talking best bread, brownies, cakes, fruits, frozen pizzas, cookies -- any recommendations for extraordinary food at not-exhorbitant rates.

By: rolypolyman

rolypolyman — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:44:28 -0800

You can get a pretty good chocolate sampler from chocosphere for about $25 or $30. They are one of the most respected retailers of gourmet chocolates. I got a sampler a month ago just on a whim and still haven't finished it all. My wife went absolutely nuts over the Michel Cluizel bars.

By: cribcage

cribcage — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:59:22 -0800

Ultimate Lasagna, as famously prepared by Chef Massimiliano Bartoli at the now-closed Miss Williamsburg restaurant in Brooklyn. This mail-order version of Chef Bartoli's lasagna was featured on the Food Network last year; and although the restaurant has since closed, I spoke with an employee last month who said that shipping would resume for the "ultimate lasagna" later this spring.

Disclaimer: I've never tried it.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:02:55 -0800

Mmmm, Michel Cluizel...

To get back to the question, you're probably going to find that a lot of good mail order food is expensive, for several reasons:

- Good food in general tends to be expensive.

- Making a perishable item, like food, to meet an erratic demand (like mail order) is time-consuming. Sourcing ingredients to meet an irregular schedule is time-consuming.

- Shipping food so it gets to you before it's past its prime is expensive.

That said, here are a few recommendations.

Harry and David is a reliable source. Some of their stuff is pretty pricey, but they do have an under $20 category.

Amai Tea and Bake House isn't extravagantly expensive, but the per piece (or per cookie) price ends up being relatively high. Great baked goods and beautiful packaging, though. Would make a great gift.

Slashfood had some recommendations on mail order cheesecake.

And keep in mind the shipping charges... they can really add up.

By: peeedro

peeedro — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:15:32 -0800

Any wine of the month club is sure to please. You will discover vintners that you can't resist.

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:20:39 -0800

Little Creek salad dressing is amazing. I have no relationship with the owners, although they live nearby. Try the original--you'll be hooked. Donna's dad received the Order of Canada for building the ice roads.

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:38:31 -0800

Zingerman's has some really nice stuff.

By: janell

janell — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:42:20 -0800

Peets coffee sells tasty coffee and some reasonably okay tea by mail. Their tea belnds are much better than their single-variety teas.

By: frogan

frogan — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:51:51 -0800

Penzey's Spices is not really food, per se, but it's definitely the gourmand's friend.

By: goetter

goetter — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:58:44 -0800

Tuna Guys canned fish. Truly superior albacore, and much cheaper bought by the case than singly. It will forever spoil you for the overcooked, broth-and-gum-added mainstream brands.

By: GaelFC

GaelFC — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:03:13 -0800

Wolferman's are reportedly THE best English muffin.

By: toxic

toxic — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:11:59 -0800

(Total agreement on Wolferman's)

Zabars has the best bagels, knishes, rugelach, and other New York delicacies.

By: rossination

rossination — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:47:55 -0800

Pete's Caramels are supposed to be amazing. The dude who sells them (Pete) is a high schooler. You can get a sample for a dollar, and he'll refund your dollar if you write a testimonial about it.

By: rossination

rossination — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:48:39 -0800

Forgot the price. $20 for a batch (which is "at least a pound"), including shipping.

By: artdrectr

artdrectr — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:13:42 -0800

Enstrom's Almond Toffee.
Oh sweet baby jeezus. It should be illegal, but I am very very glad it's not.
Don't judge the awful 1940's box graphics. It's what's inside that will blow your mind.

By: spasm

spasm — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:15:47 -0800

Ippodo Tea Company in Kyoto has been selling some of the best tea in the world for hundreds of years.

By: crazycanuck

crazycanuck — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:23:55 -0800

If you are in the US, try CanAm peameal bacon. It is truly excellent, as good or better than real Canadian stuff.

Keep in mind that many (US and Canada-based) internet shops have only domestic delivery on food due to FDA regulations. Coffee and tea cross the border without issue, though.

By: LadyBonita

LadyBonita — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 03:19:20 -0800

I agree, Enstrom's toffee is extraordinary. We gave it out to guests at our wedding.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 05:19:59 -0800

Burger's Smokehouse if you're into meats. Their website doesn't do their print catalog (which is amazing food porn) justice.

By: nevers

nevers — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:08:09 -0800

Cookies from ruby et violette are so good.

By: phatkitten

phatkitten — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:15:25 -0800

Seconding Harry and David; their fruit is great. Especially the pears!

By: spinturtle

spinturtle — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:57:22 -0800

Raye's
Best. Mustahds. Evah.

By: j-dawg

j-dawg — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:08:59 -0800

Modjeskas from Dundee Candy in Louisville. (Their Bourbon Balls are also some of the best around.)

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:55:13 -0800

Gambino's Bakery for Mardi Gras King Cakes.

By: JonnyRotten

JonnyRotten — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:06:16 -0800

Not to threadjack, but does anyone know anywhere to mail-order sushi supplies (especially flash frozen fish) I live far inland, and not near a large city, so no fishmonger.
I know Alton Brown just mentioned this as a method on the recent episode of Good Eats (Wake up little sushi).

I'll second Wolfermans, their muffins blow my mind.. My grandfather orders me a sampler box every year for my birfday.

I also mail-order tea from Rishi, and 'enjoying tea'.

By: jadepearl

jadepearl — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:14:56 -0800

I can vouch for the salty goodness that comes from the Bacon-of-the-month club which has other gifts but it is all about the hog. You can also buy from the artisan bacon people directly as well.

By: niteHawk

niteHawk — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:24:02 -0800

Vosges Chocolate is a real favorite around here.. yes they are a bit pricey, but seriously worth it - the juxtaposition of different flavors that Katrina makes sounds weird on paper, and is absolutely fantastic in taste.

By: spec80

spec80 — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:27:10 -0800

I love Fat Witch brownies. Everyone that I've sent them to loves them.

By: jerryg99

jerryg99 — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:40:44 -0800

Dale and Thomas Popcorn ... YUM!

By: onhazier

onhazier — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:46:20 -0800

Rowena's cakes are what I send when I need to do something a little different. I've sent her Almond Rose Cake several times when I can not attend a funeral. They've always been well received.

By: Pressed Rat

Pressed Rat — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:01:35 -0800

Holy shit, Collins St. Bakery in Corsicana, TX, home of world-famous fruit cake, but the Apricot Pecan Cake is to die for. Forget the price, you MUST have some. Trust me on this.....

By: Monkey0nCrack

Monkey0nCrack — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:55:31 -0800

I second Wolferman's. The BEST.

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:03:07 -0800

Zingerman's.

By: cribcage

cribcage — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:53:03 -0800

Graeter's famous French pot ice cream. If I were limited to one flavor of ice cream for the rest of my life, I'd strongly consider their chocolate chip; and I'm nearly certain my fiancée would pick their caramel.