Gourmet Gift of the Day Blog

When I was younger, my friend’s mother once served us pierogi for an after-school snack.  Ever since, I have tried to find a recipe to make this myself.  I’m not the world’s greatest cook so I haven’t been able to duplicate the taste, but these pierogi I found from A Pierogi Lady are nearly identical to the homemade goodness of many years ago!

Polish Pierogi are a type of dumpling, and this site offers 5 different flavors - saurkraut, potato and cheese, potato, bacon and cheese, farmer’s cheese, or potato and onion.  After conferring with my family we opted for the Potato, Cheese and Bacon variety.  36 piergi cost $27 plus $28 shipping.  Even with the seemingly high shipping cost, my whole family loved these appetizers and we will be ordering more!

We boiled the frozen pierogi in salt water for about 8 minutes until they rose to the surface.  After letting them sit for a minute to cool, we cut into them to discover a hot, cheesy, savory treat!  This ended up being dinner for us one night because the boys asked me to cook another helping of pierogi rather than making a main dish!

There are two distinguished types of French Escargot available - Helix and Achatines.  Escargots Achatines are usually served in a garlic butter sauce, and are a larger species so there is more meat in each shell.  Contrary to what may people think, Escargot is a high-protein dish with a very low fat content and a taste similar to albacore.

For my first experience with Escargot Achatines, I chose the 3.5 ounce container from Terroirs D’Antan, France. The snails were already cleaned and prepped, so all I had to do was slide the pan into a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.  The garlic-flavored appetizers were delicious, with a light flavor and smooth texture.

Overnight shipping was spendy for this item, but overall this was an excellent experience and I look forward to having them again!

Fall brings thoughts of hot, steamy meals like hearty soups and chowders.  For a genuine New England Clam Chowder experience, I recommend visiting Bay Shore Chowders online store.  Their award-winning selection contains hand-shucked sea clams, fresh cream, and a combination of vegetables and spices that forms the perfect heart-warming meal for a cool autumn evening.  Flash frozen with no preservatives, the chowder can be overnighted to your door for as little as $29 (plus shipping).  I ordered the 6-pack, and received 6 - 20 oz frozen containers for $42.  Shipping was a bit expensive ($46), but the chowder was phenomenal!  Creamy and delicious, our neighbors thanked us again and again for inviting them to join us for dinner.  We complimented the chowder with a simple red wine, and the result was a gourmet meal that felt as if we had a chef visit our home and prepare his absolute best.

With pasta made fresh daily, flash frozen and shipped around the world, Cupini’s has quickly earned a reputation as having some of the best Ravioli on the market!  Based in Kansas City, Frank Cupini opened his first family restaurant in 2003 and has since expanded to 5 restaurants in the Kansas City area.  Their wild mushroom ravioli starts with homemade pasta and is filled with a delicious combination of Shitake, Portbello and Porcini mushrooms.  Available in a 5 lb size for $75, Cupini’s offers free shipping on orders of $150 or more.

Highlight your next date night with some premium fresh caviar. Choose from White Sturgeon, Siberian Sturgeon, Farmed Osetra or Beluga Hybrid. Ranging in price from $148 to $169 (plus overnight shipping), Caviar Star will send 2 ounces of their highest quality caviar, 16 mini blinis, 8 ounces of creme fraiche and a mother of pearl serving spoon. All you need to add is a bottle of champagne by the fireplace to create your romantic rendezvous.