<p>What are your favorites? </p>
<p>I’d like to send my MIL something for xmas. This is her first Christmas without FIL who passed away early this year. What have you had good experiences with? I’m leaning toward some time of sweet goodie…but maybe not!</p>
<p>[American</a> Spoon Foods](<a href=“http://spoon.com/]American”>http://spoon.com/)
[Swiss</a> Colony](<a href=“http://www.swisscolony.com/home.jsp?ogn=p69441893&code=XA1997&source=k70&link=p69441893]Swiss”>http://www.swisscolony.com/home.jsp?ogn=p69441893&code=XA1997&source=k70&link=p69441893)
Not sweets, but [Omaha</a> Steaks](<a href=“http://www.omahasteaks.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=19&SRC=AE2668&ITMSUF=APC&sem=netelixir&&ne_ppc_id=765&ne_ad_id=711793&gclid=CKLA4q-5xJ4CFQiA5QodChiKqA]Omaha”>http://www.omahasteaks.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=19&SRC=AE2668&ITMSUF=APC&sem=netelixir&&ne_ppc_id=765&ne_ad_id=711793&gclid=CKLA4q-5xJ4CFQiA5QodChiKqA)
[Smokehouse</a> Salmon](<a href=“http://www.smokehouse-salmon.com/]Smokehouse”>http://www.smokehouse-salmon.com/)
[Schwans[/url</a>]
[url=<a href="http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/]Junior’s">http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/]Junior’s</a> Cheesecake](<a href=“http://www.schwans.com/]Schwans[/url”>http://www.schwans.com/)
And [url=<a href=“http://www.qvc.com/cd/pdf/FoodCatalog_1009.pdf]QVC[/url”>http://www.qvc.com/cd/pdf/FoodCatalog_1009.pdf]QVC[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Harry and David have wonderful fruit/sweets/meat baskets and boxes. Their pears are out of this world. They have about every conceivable combo you could want. They also have fruit packages that are delivered throughout the year. That might be a nice way to let your MIL know that she is in your thoughts throughout the year.</p>
<p>Being from NYC, we love to send from Zabars.com. Always yummy.</p>
<p>I have to plug my local CSA, which produces small batches of chutneys, fruit vinegars and such good enough to have caught the eye of the NYT and WSJ. [Tait</a> Farm Foods](<a href=“http://www.taitfarmfoods.com/first50.html]Tait”>http://www.taitfarmfoods.com/first50.html) Their gift collections are gorgeous.</p>
<p>A couples of favorites:</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.zingermans.com/]Zingerman’s">http://www.zingermans.com/]Zingerman’s</a> | Food by Mail | Gifts & Sundries<a href=“A%20midwest%20version%20of%20Zabar’s–it’s%20been%20around%20forever.”>/url</a>
[url=<a href=“http://www.heritagefoodsusa.com/farmers/index.html]Heritage”>Our Farmers]Heritage</a> Foods USA<a href=“Anyone%20who%20loves%20meat–great%20site%20that%20was%20started%20by%20the%20Slow%20Food%20Movement%20in%20US–local%20farmers%20bringing%20back%20dying%20breeds.%20I%20buy%20turkeys%20from%20these%20folks.”>/url</a>
[url=<a href="http://www.bissingers.com/]Bissinger’s">http://www.bissingers.com/]Bissinger’s</a> - Gourmet Chocolate, Holiday Chocolates, Chocolate Truffles, Sugar Free Chocolate<a href=“Possibly%20the%20best%20chocolates%20around.”>/url</a></p>
<p>I’ve ordered food gifts for my relatives from all of these places and have never had problems with the orders or deliveries. One year I ordered from Williams Sonoma and it was only after Christmas that the company informed me that items I ordered were out of stock–and I didn’t wait until the last minute. To me, reliability and ease in using the website is as important as the quality of the food items.</p>
<p>I second
Omahasteaks.com especially the premade chicken sampler for a single eater. My mom loves them.</p>
<p>and I like Harry and Dave, too, but the baskets while beautiful, seem to be too much for one person… great dorm gift tho!</p>
<p>I second the Zingerman’s suggestion!! Yum… I wish someone would ship me something from there for Christmas!</p>
<p>If you want a true test of whether the edible gift is any good, send it to my inlaws and I’ll tell you whether or not they complain…believe me, there is something wrong with everything we send!</p>
<p>I love Edible Arrangements - like a bouquet or plant, but with carved fruit & chocolate. It’s beautiful, creative and delicious!</p>
<p>Missiepie, lol, that is what I’m afraid of. I want to send something GOOD, and somewhat unique…or I may hear about it for the next umpty-ump years! :)</p>
<p>I posted this on the '13 thread this fall when folks were sending fruit to their colllege students, but it’s fitting here, too, from Everybody Loves Raymond:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To the OP, I would not buy anything that she could not eat by herself, or serve to a small group of people that might come to her home for the holidays. I think that getting a large crate of fruit, where only 4 pieces will be eaten and the rest will remain to rot is not only a waste of money, but rather depressing. </p>
<p>I have elderly relatives that enjoy shopping at Costco. There are 2 of them and they still end up with half a crate of rotting peaches. I feel that if they cannot eat it, it is not really that much of bargain even if they need to pay more by the pound at a green grocer or supermarket. They’ll only buy what they will consume.</p>
<p>Ok, missiepie, we cross posted, and the story from “Everyone Loves Raymond” said it better than I ever could!</p>
<p>Highly recommend American Spoon Foods. There stuff is top notch and since most of it is jam, jelly, dried etc. it is a good bet for someone who lives alone since they can keep it. Their cherry products are to die for, but we love the winter compote.</p>
<p>[Burdick</a> Chocolate - gourmet handmade confections; artisanal and world class quality (800) 229-2419](<a href=“http://www.burdickchocolate.com/default.asp]Burdick”>L.A. Burdick Chocolates | 35 Years of Craftsmanship and Creativity)</p>
<p>Yummy chocolate and I have always adored their chocolate mice - almost too cute to eat…almost…nomnomnom.</p>
<p>Burdick ^^^^ ---- absolutely the BEST American Chocolate.</p>
<p>Nope, this is the best American chocolate:</p>
<p>[Fran's</a> Chocolates](<a href=“http://www.franschocolates.com%5DFran’s”>http://www.franschocolates.com)</p>
<p>Devine Delights in California makes the most beautiful and tasty petit fours (and forgive my spelling, I am having a moment) and truffles. They are a bit pricey but I started sending them when two of my favorites aunts hit 80 (one is 90 and one is 87), and they were delighted. I send them to myself on occasion too. They are on-line, but I love talking to the charming ladies who take orders.</p>
<p>I like the Popcorn Factory
[Popcorn</a>, Gifts - The Popcorn Factory](<a href=“http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/]Popcorn”>http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/)</p>
<p>[Popcorn</a> Snowman Snack Assortment - The Popcorn Factory](<a href=“http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/popcorn-snowman-snack-assortment.product.302247.21280]Popcorn”>http://www.thepopcornfactory.com/popcorn-snowman-snack-assortment.product.302247.21280) - nice mixture of edibles.</p>
<p>I, too, like Omaha Steaks. They have very nice gift selections to choose from.</p>
<p>DMD77— I will assert that you are WRONG. But I would encourage you to send me a box of Frans to prove yourself correct.</p>