Gourmet Gift of the Day Blog

One of my favorite television shows is “Top Chef” on the Bravo network.  The head judge, Tom Colicchio, claims that “everything tastes better with bacon” and I tend to agree with him.  For example, I adore sea scallops – but wrap them in bacon and it’s like a little taste of heaven!  Which is why this appetizer is perfect for our upcoming New Year’s party.

Each year the neighbors in our cul-de-sac get together for a New Year’s Eve party.  Most of us have small children and none of us want to be on the dangerous winter roads that night, so we gather at someone’s home for appetizers and cocktails.  The kids have fun watching a movie or playing board games, and the adults don’t have to worry about finding a babysitter or driving home after having a few drinks.  This year I predict my bacon-wrapped scallops are going to be a huge hit!  Appetizerstogo.com sells 100 pieces for $111.69, which is a bit more than I would normally spend but I am going to keep some for a special Valentine’s Day dinner for just myself and my husband.  Shipping is a very reasonable $13.95, and if I were to order 3 items shipping would be free.

My boss’s family has a tradition of serving Beef Wellington for Christmas Eve dinner.  This year, dinner will be hosted at his house and he has chosen to change things up a bit.  He wanted to prepare a different entree but still include the traditional family dish, so he has ordered these Beef Wellington En Croute appetizers to include in this year’s holiday dinner.  He ordered this item in advance so we could taste-test them at the office.  Much to everyone’s delight, the appetizers were moist and delicious, and the beef was perfectly cooked.  These gourmet bites are precooked, then flash frozen and shipped via FedEx overnight delivery to ensure freshness.  We received 50 pieces for $108.99, and shipping costs were free (since my boss ordered 3 or more items).  They were simple to prepare as well – we popped some into our toaster oven for 20 minutes and were rewarded with a tender, flaky crust and a moist beef tenderloin inside.

Have a little fun with your holiday party this year with this red and green striped tortelloni!  Offered by Alfonso’s Gourmet Pasta, the stripes are actually made from dough that has been infused with fresh spinach and tomatoes.  No artificial coloring is needed to make this festive pasta, which is stuffed with a savory combination of parmesan, romano, ricotta, mozzarella and provolone cheeses along with Alfonso’s secret mixture of herbs and spices.  A 5 lb package of this flash-frozen pasta can be overnighted to you for $34.95 plus the cost of shipping (which will vary depending on your proximity to their location in Miami).

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.