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Featured in this articleBest Cookies
Last Crumb Core Collection
Read moreBest Brownies
Killer Brownies Best Seller 8-Pack
Read moreBest Tinned Fish
Fishwife Starter 7-Pack
Read moreBest Caviar
Imperia Caviar Kaluga Hybrid Reserve Caviar
Read moreHunting down the best food gifts is serious business, and I treat it with the care it deserves. I’m a foodie in an area of the country best known for its tavern-style pizza and not so much its fresh seafood or world-renowned bakeries. That’s all fine and dandy, but what if I’m craving cookies so sinful only a populous city could conjure them? Thanks to the magic of the internet, it’s all at my fingertips. Whether you’re treating yourself or someone else, our top picks—like the aforementioned cookies, from Last Crumb—arrive safe and sound to your doorstep in ready-to-eat condition. The world is your oyster (and I mean that quite literally, if future testing has anything to say about it).
Be sure to check out our other tasty buying guides, including the Best Chocolate Boxes, the Best Meat Subscription Boxes, the Best Meal Kits, and the Best Coffee Subscriptions.
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I looked for food gifts that had actual gift options (like packaging or messaging); nationwide, smart shipping; an easy ordering process; and options to suit every palate. I looked for a mix of affordable gifts and luxury gifts, with an emphasis on exemplary companies that are set apart in one way or another compared to competitors in the same space.
A Note on Shipping Speeds and Costs
Be aware that shipping speeds and costs may vary based on your location and any retailer promotions. Your mileage may vary! When in doubt, shop early for the best chance of on-time arrival without exorbitant shipping costs.
Best CookiesLast Crumb
Core Collection
Last Crumb’s cookies are expensive. But they’re so damn delicious. I love the luxe gift-box packaging and cheeky branding (for example, a 24-pack is called a DiCaprio), but I love the cookies even more. There are 12 flavors in the Core Collection, with additional flavors coming around as limited-edition offerings. They can be microwaved or heated in the oven before eating, and the individually wrapped, sealed cookies can be kept on the counter for two weeks or in the freezer for two months.
I tried Last Crumb cookies in Everything but the Candles (a birthday cake flavor bursting with rich vanilla icing and tons of sprinkles); The Floor is Lava (a chocolate lava cake that’s sweet but cocoa-forward, slightly bitter, and best enjoyed over the course of a few hours, one bite at a time); and What the Velvet, which was my favorite of the bunch. The red velvet confection was sticky, gooey, chewy, chocolatey goodness complete with a cream cheese center that elicited noises I won’t describe here. The cookies are thick and decadent, and they’re made with high-quality ingredients like slow-churned Plugrà butter with an 82 percent butterfat content, premium chocolate from Barry Callebaut, and freshly ground Tahitian vanilla beans. I’ve eaten a lot of cookies in my life. I’ve never eaten a cookie like these before.
Shipping Speeds and Costs2-day delivery and custom date delivery is $25. Overnight delivery is $40. Overnight delivery is only available if you place an order Monday-Thursday by noon Pacific time. Shipping is free on orders over $100.Additional Shipping DetailsCookies are not packed in a cooler box. They’re baked to order and individually sealed.Best BrowniesPhotograph: Louryn Strampe
Killer Brownies
Best Seller 8-Pack
Killer Brownies are, in a word, scrumptious. They’ve got layers and layers of flavor—yes, they’re sweet, but they’ve also got a little kick of salt; rich, nutty, toasted butter; even the floury, breadlike notes are delicious. The brownies are thick, soft, chewy, and melt-in-your-mouth. They’re available in a myriad of styles, including layered with buttery, salty caramel or paired with an M&M-studded blondie bar that encompasses everything good about vanilla. Depending on the option you choose, they’ll arrive in a gift tin or a gift box. You can heat them or freeze them—mine thawed perfectly after being frozen for two weeks, though they can keep for up to a month if stored properly. The individual brownies are also massive. Each one weighs around a third of a pound. Smaller, bite-size desserts are available, too. Word to the wise: Don’t look at the calorie counts. Just enjoy the brownie, preferably with a glass of milk.
Shipping Speeds and CostsShipping is free. Choose your delivery date during checkout.Additional Shipping DetailsIce packs are included if necessary.Gift OptionsGift options and messaging are available. Arrives in a gift box.Best Tinned FishThere’s a good chance every tinned fish enthusiast has heard of Fishwife, but I’d be remiss not to include it in this delicious list. These are not your grandpa’s sardines. Or mackerel filets. Or juicy, smoky hunks of salmon. Fishwife gets it right, down to the smallest details, like the gorgeous packaging. (Ordering via the Fishwife website gets you the option to snag gift tins, which look absolutely adorable). The tinned fish flavors are to die for. My favorite is the Smoked Salmon with Fly by Jing Sichuan Chili Oil—the spicy, slightly crunchy chili crisp complements the fish perfectly. The Sardines with Preserved Lemon are also scrumptious, with a sour bite that elevates the experience to something special—even if you’re still just pairing the fish with a saltine cracker.
Every tin has thought and care behind it, from the hand-packed albacore tuna, which is packaged at a traditional Spanish cannery, to the Cantabrian anchovies, which are sourced from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery. Fishwife even offers recipes to help you use its tinned fish in imaginative new ways. If you’re shopping for someone who prefers savory over sweet, Fishwife is worth checking out.
Shipping Speeds and CostsStandard ground shipping costs $10. UPS 2nd Day Air shipping costs $19. Shipping is free on orders over $75.Additional Shipping DetailsMost products do not require refrigeration and don’t arrive in a cooler box. If refrigeration is required, ice packs will be included.Gift OptionsGift tins are available. Gift notes are available for an additional dollar.Best CaviarPhotograph: Imperia Caviar
Imperia Caviar
Kaluga Hybrid Reserve Caviar
I admit that I was influenced to try this by TikTok. And I regret nothing. Caviar has this aura of mystery and intrigue, and Imperia leans into this while also making caviar feel more accessible than it would if you ordered it at a restaurant with a snooty waiter peering down their nose at you. Case in point: I ate mine with crème fraîche, chives, and kettle potato chips. While wearing pajamas. In bed. And every single mouthful was fantastic, and nobody was judging me based on my ability to pronounce things or whether or not I knew how to open the tin (which I didn’t until I googled it). This little container of fish eggs is sourced from river beluga, or kaluga, at sustainable fishing farms.
It can be kept in the fridge for up to three weeks, unopened, though the company recommends consuming it within a week of purchase; It should be consumed within 48 hours once opened. You can shop add-ons, too, such as a mother-of-pearl spoon, which doesn’t impart any flavors that could alter the experience. And the experience is downright fantastic. The caviar is pleasing to look at, with a dark-brown and amber hue, and the flavor is like the ocean concentrated into a tiny drop—in the very best way. The eggs are large and mild, with a buttery, nutty flavor, a salty kick, and a velvety texture that pairs well with blini. Or potato chips. You do you.
Shipping Speeds and CostsCustom delivery dates can be chosen at checkout. Flat-rate overnight shipping costs $30. Shipping is free on orders over $300.Additional Shipping DetailsCaviar is shipped with cooling packs and a FreshTag which indicates whether or not the items stayed cool during transit.Gift OptionsGift sets are available. Gift messaging is available at checkout.
