We almost exclusively send Enstromes Almond Toffee milk chocolate one pound. Warning do not order for yourself , this is the most addicting candy I have ever seen. Fresh comes frozen.
Batch Nashville has become one of my favorites for food gifts. They specialize in local products and also have batches for Memphis, Austin, & Charleston. They offer a discount on first orders and you can usually get free shipping as well.
Several of the items mentioned in this thread are available at my local high end specialty market. Double check that the items you are purchasing and paying a premium for shipping are truly unique.
Kringle from Kringle.com or o&h bakery. Both out of Wisconsin. Delicious!
Aunt Sally’s for pralines and Tabasco for everything but the sauce you can get anywhere. I love their tin of spicy chocolate and their raspberry chipotle sauce. And I always love pepper jelly.
Several different cheese companies based in Wisconsin offer nice selections- and ship in cold weather.
Jasper Hill cheeses are gorgeous.
In defense of fresh baked goods - must try My Boys Baking in Pennsylvania. The most delicious (and not teeth-breaking) biscotti. Also, cookies/brownies and rugela - that’s all they sell but known for their biscotti. Website just redesigned and easier to navigate but place order by phone if any questions - especially if shipping across country. This is the most delicious food item I send to others. Can’t keep it my my house or I will eat it all. Try it yourself first , you deserve it !
I want to second Nodine’s smokehouse in CT and American Spoon Foods in Petoskey, Michigan.
Second the recommendation for Jasper Hill cheese. I buy it at a local gourmet cheese and specailty shop.
I hate fruitcake, but a few years ago my aunt started sending me one that was really excellent–supposedly made by monks. https://www.gethsemanifarms.org/fruitcake.aspx
So fruit cakes made by monks http://store.societystjohn.com/#!/c/0/offset=0&sort=normal
I have not been there. But the jampot is famous and plenty of people recommend it.
I’m partial to Cherry Republic but that’s because it has a personal connection to our family. I’ve sent the cookies and baked goods to my kids and they have never complained that they were stale. We’ve been to the bakery numerous times and had just baked cookies and pies.
The best Carmel apples, I sent one to my D for her birthday. http://www.sweetshop4u.com/Caramelapples-s/1590.htm Honeycrisp apples, I saw that they still had apples for thanksgiving but I’m not sure how much longer as honey crisp have a pretty short shelf life as far as apples go.
I decided on the Enstrom’s toffee. Besides the 3 recommendations it got in this thread, the reviews online were consistently amazing. I didn’t dare order any for myself because I’d eat the whole box.
Great choice. I am actually glad that MIL no longer sends them as it really is addicting.