Ask our chef any food or recipes questions! It’s like having a personal chef at your fingertips!
Food Gifts/Baskets/Clubs
While just about any listing on Food411 would be a welcomed gift, the resources below have created special presentations or offerings. In addition, we suggest visiting any of the categories on our home page and think creatively yourself! How about a complete meal delivered, or a few months of farm fresh produced delivered, create a unique cheese board from one of our cheese resource; a wine direct from the vineyards shouts thoughtfulness, send a selection of coffees or teas; the list is endless. Sign up for our newsletter to get more gift ideas.
For our recent Holiday Gift Picks email click here.
Ask Chef Sylvia
Good Karmal - Beautifully packaged, each with a positive quote of good karma - these handcrafted caramels (karmals)are excellent. This makes a meaningful & delicious gift. Gooey, rich and wrapped with inspirational sayings.
Das Caramelini Salted Caramels - Fleur del sel handmade caramels- Another one of our “scores” from the Fancy Food Show ‘08. We loved the bite size portions and the innovative flavors. Made with das food’s own fleur de sel and locally produced butter, cream and honey. Very sophisticated taste. Outstanding caramels!
Nudo- Adopt a Olive Tree - Adopt an olive tree on their hillside in Italy (a good excuse to go and visit it!) and you reap the olive oil that is produced. On their website, peruse their organic groves & select your tree. They send the recipient an adoption certificate, info/updates on the tree. In the spring & autumn you receive the olive oil (we love the simple, graphic look of the tin that the oil is packaged in – a bonus!) $65 (+ postage & packaging) you’ll receive 3 packages over the year:Adoption certificate/info/update
Spring package (all the extra virgin olive oil from your tree)/Autumn package (three flavored extra virgin olive oils)
[me] & Goji - Fun, healthy & sooo yummy! Design you own custom organic cereal - even name it...on their website you decide the base, add fruit/nuts/seeds. As you add ingredient the nutritional counter updates. Then they hand mix, put in a cool capsule & ship. Give a gift certificate as a gift - makes such a unique gift!
Sun Harvest Citrus - 
- Found this orange grove while exploring Fort Meyers ! Terrfic fresh Florida citrus - Baskets, boxes- this always makes a great gift. Try the honeybells - they are full of juice & so sweet! Once you taste their fruit you will order every year for friends and yourself! They also sell the best key lime pie we have come across. If you get to visit the grove be sure to sample all their delicious fresh juices - heaven!
- Found this orange grove while exploring Fort Meyers ! Terrfic fresh Florida citrus - Baskets, boxes- this always makes a great gift. Try the honeybells - they are full of juice & so sweet! Once you taste their fruit you will order every year for friends and yourself! They also sell the best key lime pie we have come across. If you get to visit the grove be sure to sample all their delicious fresh juices - heaven! 
Chocolate Gourmet - "Damn Good Cookies" - If you're a cookie lover, these are a must. We actually made groaning noises when we were tasting these cookies! Rugalach like you have never tasted, a small sugar cookie with homemade raspberry preserve - ooh soo good. Their "ugly truffles" are unique flavors, yummy. Smart packaging makes these a special gift.
Cafe Le Semeuse Coffee - Award-winning specialty coffee that has a full-flavor, very smooth. It is roasted in small batches at an altitude of 3,300 feet in the mountains of Switzerland: Reduced atmospheric pressure allows the beans to be heated longer without the risk of bitterness. Here at Food411 we sampled both regular and decaf. The decaf was smooth, rich - really great. It actually tasted just like the regular! This is a really great coffee. Order a few packages, throw in a few of their mocha bars and a mug - makes a very wonderful gift.
Fancy Pants Bakery - They create decorated cookies for every holiday or occasion. What is very different about these cookies is not how great they look but that they actually taste delicious!. We have tried so many decorated cookies that taste like cardboard. They are sent in a beautiful box with bow making them a fun gift.
Dean & DeLuca - Epicurean treats for cooking, eating & entertaining. They now offer a terrific feature, create your own custom gift basket. First, pick the basket or container you like, then pick a theme for the basket - the software tells you how many "spaces" are available to fill in your basket & shows all the options to fill the basket. Ingenious!
Santa Fe Basket Company - Specialize in southwestern food baskets. All products used are tasted tested by Patti the owner. She prides herself on the highest quality items and personal service. We sampled several of these southwest specialties - spicy and delicious!
Well Baskets - They specializes in healthy get well baskets and healthy, all-natural and organic gift baskets for birthdays, holidays, etc. We sampled 2 of their baskets, a gluten free basket and an organic basket. Both were well designed and the contained high quality products specific to the "theme". This is a perfect gift idea for anyone interested in healthy eating to those that have very specific illnesses or requirements.
Meduri World Delights - All natural dried fruits. The Meduri's travel the world selecting the highest quality fruit at their peak. Yantai peaches and Shandong apricots from remote orchards in China. Morello cherries from Eastern Europe. Mangos from Thailand. Red raspberries and blackberries from Chile. Lingonberries from Scandinavia. Pink Lady apples from the Pacific Northwest. Very attractive gift selections.
Sugardaddy's - The perfect combination of beauty and taste. These luscious edgeless brunettes and blondies are handmade and hand package into individual containers dressed with a silken gift bag that can be personalized! Our favorite was the mint - yummy!
ABChocolates - A very unique gift - send a chocolate telegram your message made up of individual chocolate letters in a wooden box with an old fashion custom telegram on top. Very special!
Cocoa Connoisseur - Owner Danielle Coleman's passion for cocoa created this unique resource. She has combed the world for the best cocoas and made them available all on one site. What a wonderful gift for a chocolate lover or baker! We sampled the Peppermint Hot chocolate from Ghana - all natural & so yummy. The Mexican Ibarra has a wonderful unique flavor also!]
il Buco - EVOO, balsamic vinegars, sea salts from artisanal producers in Italy - handcrafted wooded boxes. Very special gifts!
Rent Mother Nature - Farm fresh harvests for yourself or as entertaining and memorable gift that helps family farms...Rent a Maple Tree, a Cow, a Goat or any of 20 different crops. Receive a lease document, updates on the progress and the final products at harvest.
Gary Poppins Popcorn - For Gary Seltzer, a Culinary Institute of America grad, his obsession with popcorn has made delicious popcorn in a variety of unique flavors. We enjoyed the sampling these kernels, our pick is the Cinnamon - very delicious (but we only tried a few flavors, so who knows!)
Garrett's Popcorn - Chicago's famous popcorn shop - it is a must stop for all visitors. Family owned, privately grown blend of kernels, popped to order. Most popular flavor is the mix of their Carmel Crisp and Cheese Corn flavors.
Chelsea Market Baskets - High-end creative basket.
Claire-Macdonald - Puddings, confections, sauces, jams - all make good looking gifts.
Arkansas Rice Depot - Help fight hunger and give a gift basket of wonderful rice, soup and chili mixes from this wonderful organization.
Chukar Cherries - Delicious Washington State chocolate covered cherries, great gift baskets combining their chocolates with their fresh cherry sauces, jams, dried cherries & nuts.
Cocoa Designs - Known for their handmade praline almonds, they are roasted dark with crisp-caramel on the outside & cover in dark chocolate & dusted them with ground cinnamon, New Mexican chile & cocoa powder- also in bars.
Zingermans - Make-your-own Reuben kit , gifts of breads, cheese, many great gift baskets.
CC Berries - Customized Real chocolate covered strawberries - from sayings, holidays to corporate Logos! What a unique gift or party favor. They also offer chocolate covered raspberries & cherries.
Lenez - Wine tasting kit - a means of educating your sense of smell and of improving both your appreciation of wine and tasting vocabulary.The reference work for over 25 years. A unique gift.
Tulocay's Made in Napa Valley - What a find! Delicious homemade oils/vinegars/rubs/sauces/glazes, mustards & tapenades, marinades, glazes, rubs. Fresh flavors of the Napa Valley scream through these products. We were fortunate to taste them - these are products that make eating at home delicious & easy. Beautiful gift packages are offered.
Robert Lambert - Fruit Cakes beautifully wrapped in cheesecloth- syrups, sauces, preserved citrus, fruits & relish.
Custom Fortune Cookie Company - Custom homemade fortune cookies.
Fox & Obel's Cookie Dough - Fresh, homemade oatmeal raisin cookie dough in a 6 lb container- by Exe Baker Pamela Fitzpatrick - oats, apples, raisins, pecans and aromatic spices. Many gift baskets.
New England Cheese Making - Cheese making kits, supplies, the 30 minute mozzarella kit makes a fun gift.
The Bachelor's Kitchen - A wonderful resource for the single guy(or anyone just starting a kitchen/cooking) that wants advice with kitchen basics. In addition to being a wonderful resource, they offers excellent "starter" packages for the kitchen. Unique, thoughtful gift for anyone that is in need of the kitchen basics.
The Grateful Palate - Artisan made foods and wine; wonderful unique gifts.
Les Cadeaux Gourmets - They carry something for connoisseurs of all ages; haute chocolates, teas, oils, vinegars, tabletop essentials.
Loveless Hams and Jams - Smoke house ham/jams/biscuits.
Cheryl & Co - Fresh Baked cookie & desserts - gift packaged - many themes.
Elenis - Conversation Cookies make wonderful gifts; hand iced whimsical designs i.e designer handbags, shoe fetish, famous shopping bags, best actors, many more themes. Just beautiful!
Kooki Sushi - This is a unique gift - chocolate/cookies created to duplicate the look of sushi! Packaged in beautiful selection boxes.
The Chippery - Unique Kid's gift - play n' dough; kid colored cookie dough, ready to shape and bake!
Fretzels - Creative chocolate covered pretzels, many flavors, gift packaging.
Knowledge in a Nutshell - Smart Cookie; knowledge in a nutshell. Walnut shaped cookies with trivia questions/answers tucked inside.
The Nutty Cookie - Homemade, over sized very special cookies, gift assortments.
Fraiche Gifts - Fraiche is french for fresh, as in the freshest, most select fruits/delicacies.
Big Sur Bar - A delicious, all natural snack bars. Chewy oatmeal bottom & thick, crunchy, mix of nuts, raisins, coconut, etc, brown sugar & honey . Great gift idea for the sports lover as these are a real energy bar, not the crud you find labeled energy bars. These bars have a cult following that has now been satisfied since they are sold online! If you try one, you will be hooked!
Red Envelope - Gourmet food section.
Candy Direct - Candy bouquets, candy favorites.
Lobsters Online - Ocean fresh lobster or chowders make great gifts.
i love salmon - Smoked fish baskets.
Earthy Delights - Chef's resource; unusual gift baskets.
Stew Leonards - Fruit/baked goods baskets and more.
igourmet - Edibles from 73 countries.
Fauchon - Leading Paris gourmet company, from sweets to Foie Gras.
Manhattan Fruitier - Fruit baskets and fine food gifts.
Esperya - Italian food experience.
CAVIARetc - Gourmet foods web boutique featuring specialty foods such as caviar, cheese, foie gras, oils and vinegars, smoked salmon, specialty meats, truffles.
Harvard Sweet Boutique - Ideal shower, wedding or party favors. Pretty boxes with special ribbons hold cookies, brownies or candies. Owner Sue George bakes all the goodies herself!
Wits End Gifts - (one's) wit's end. At the limit of one's mental resources; utterly at a loss. That's why each basket is imaginatively designed, generously filled and creatively arranged with the highest quality products to reflect your excellent taste and thoughtfulness.
Delightful Deliveries - Single site with wide variety of food gifts; monthly clubs, baskets of every types.
Surprise - Creative gift idea from across the web; great gift finder tool.
Wrapables - Interesting gift ideas for dining and entertainment.
Fill-R-Up - Custom baskets with unique containers.
Decadence Gourmet Cheesecake - Delicious homemade cheesecakes in oh so many flavors made in small canning jars. Not only adorable but this serves as the perfect portion control. It allows you to enjoy the Decadences while staying in control. Perfect gift idea.
Site of the Month
Culinate
For excellent, informative food website - an ongoing conversation about eating well. Articles, cooking tips, interviews, recipes, podcasts, resources, blog posts - will help you put real food into your life. We are big fans of the site!
Editor’s Pick
Effie's Homemade Oatcakes
The "perfect" extra for your tea/coffee. Nutty, crunchy but flaky and not too sweet. We LOVE these cookies. They are extremely addictive.
Featured Products
Redwood Hill Goat Cheese
Their French-style California Crottin with its wonderful rind, and robust, earthy flavor is our favorite. Redwood Hill produces the least processed goat milk products available anywhere. A family farm, they we use a natural approach to animal husbandry to hand craft their award -winning goat milk cheese and yogurt.
AJ Gourmet
Stuffed manzanilla fina olives from Spain, handpicked and stuffed with the finest ingredients, available at AJ Gourmet.
Featured Sites
Jacksonville Mercantile
JacksonvilleMercantile.com is a must see gourmet and specialty foods store. Awesome selection!
Lillie Belle Farms
One of America's Top Chocolate Artisans. Always Organic, Natural and Preservative free.
Chocolate Cravings
Poco Dolce
Their bittersweet tiles are impossible to forget - they are a perfect creation for real chocolate aficionados. Tiny dark chocolate tiles topped with grey salt - each with its own wonderful bits of ingredients such as Aztec chile, ginger, burnt caramel toffee, etc. Their creator Kathy Wiley has master the art of simple chocolate perfection.
