Kosher gift

October 17, 2006 9:22 AM

Friends are moving from London to San Francisco today. I want to send something to their hotel room for when they arrive. They're kosher. Can anyone recommend somewhere that'll deliver something (a) delicious (b) kosher (c) suitable for two jetlagged people with a baby to an address in central SF, ideally with a website?

I'm not looking for restaurant food -- I don't know that they're going to be at the hotel when the delivery arrives -- or anything that needs cooking. Normally I'd send a bottle of champagne, but that's not kosher, and I know nothing about kosher wine. All advice, suggestions gratefully received.

posted by Hogshead to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

Harry and David has yummy yummies and same day delivery in SF. Certainly many of their baskets are kosher, but here's the one called "Kosher Basket."

If you can find someone who delivers alcohol, Baron Herzog makes Kosher bubbly.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:42 AM on October 17, 2006

Also, Mollie Stone's offers delivery. They're a market with deli and prepared entrees.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:01 AM on October 17, 2006

You could try Zingerman's or consult this list.
posted by plinth at 1:18 PM on October 17, 2006

Best answer: Why don't you call the hotel and arrange to have room service to their room paid for by you. That way they can be presented with a "And dinner in your room has been paid for by Mr. Hogshead!", get to order it when they arrive, choose it themselves, and don't have to go out after flying in from London.
posted by The Michael The at 2:54 PM on October 17, 2006

Response by poster: There I go, attacking a problem head-on when I should have been thinking laterally. Thanks, TMT, that's perfect.
posted by Hogshead at 3:51 PM on October 17, 2006

Sorry, this is a little late, but... How kosher are they? Many things from room service are probably kosher at the ingredient level, but if your friends are extra-double-serious about it, they might also want their food to come from a totally kosher kitchen with the two sets of dishes, etc.
posted by expialidocious at 10:17 PM on October 17, 2006

If they're kosher then room service won't be able to help them.(*) My experience has been that most hotels don't know anything about kosher food. I consider myself lucky if the concierge knows the name of a kosher restaurant.

I'd go with Ambrosia Voyeur's first suggestion if you don't want them to have restaurant food, but they'll probably be very grateful if you can identify some kosher restaurants that deliver.

(*) I guess room service could deliver a fruit basket and some sodas, but that's about it.
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:25 PM on October 17, 2006

Zabar's, Zabar's, Zabar's!

This is the gift basket my mom sends me every few years or so. It has the best Nova anywhere and comes included with great New York bagels and cream cheese. While the basket is not labeled as Kosher, the Nova most definitely is. I would check with them to see what parts are not Kosher. Everything is wrapped separately, so it is easy to exclude once you know what is what. No cooking and it even comes with ice packs and a styrofoam cooler for the refrigerated items.

Also, if you want it self-contained, arrange with the concierge (not room service) to get a local place to deliver. Izzy's was the only place I could find, but I can't attest to their quality.
posted by JLobster at 1:44 PM on October 18, 2006