Gourmet Gift of the Day Blog

I have never had the pleasure of tasting rack of lamb, but I intend to do so very soon!  I have been scouring websites looking for the best deal, and the highest quality because I do not want my first experience to be with an inferior product.  Through my research, I found what I believe to be the best option at Schaul’s Signature Gourmet Foods.  Their rack of lamb has gotten excellent reviews and is offered at a fair price.  Their 2 lb package is described as being “perfect for an intimate dinner for two”, and can be purchased for $149.95.  Now I just have to find a chef to prepare it to perfection, because I would hate to burn such a beautiful and refined cut of meat!

For your next gourmet dinner party or romantic dinner date, start the evening with a rich Duck Liver Mousse.  The silky appetizer is made of fresh duck livers marinated in port wine and fully cooked so all you have to do is spread it on a crisp cracker or slices of french bread.  Follow up this delicious appetizer with stuffed cornish game hens, wild rice pilaf and a chocolate truffle torte for dessert.

Many websites offer Duck Liver Mousse, but I have found the best customer service at earthy.com – where 7 oz sells for $9.00 plus shipping.

If your New Year’s Resolution includes trying new flavors, then this Kangaroo Loin Fillet is just for you!  Kangaroo is very high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, which makes it a great choice if part of your New Year’s resolution also includes healthy food choices.  Kangaroo is commonly eaten in Australia but is a delicacy in the US.

If you have eaten venison, the flavor of a Kangaroo Loin is similar in taste and consistency.  Kangaroo is best if served medium rare and can be quickly seared in a hot pan with olive oil.  Be sure not to cook the meat too long as it tends to dry out because of the very low fat content.  You can try a 2.2 lb Kangaroo Loin Fillet for $39.60 from exoticmeats.com.

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.

If Thanksgiving is more of a scaled-down affair at your house, consider this delicious alternative to the standard turkey and stuffing feast.  Skinlesss, white meat chicken is wrapped around a tasty dried cherry and sage stuffing that mixes with the natural chicken juices when cooked.  This dish is simple to prepare, attractive to serve, and combines two of the main components of a traditional Thanksgiving meal in a modern way.  This Chicken Ballotine serves 4-6, and can still arrive in time for Thanksgiving for just $31.95 plus shipping.

Two years ago at the office holiday party, one of our vendors sent a 10 lb, spiral-sliced ham.  All we had to do was heat it and slice the tender pieces off the bone.  The Honey Baked Ham Company has a secret recipe glaze that they coat each ham in, so when we cooked it the glaze turned crunchy and soaked sweetness into each piece.

Started in 1957, the Honey Baked Ham Company has grown from a single Detroit store into a nationwide chain serving up holiday-style goodness to families year round.  The founder of the company developed a unique curing and cooking procedure that produces a tender, juicy selection every time.  He also was the first to spiral slice his ham, giving it a fancy appearance and making it easy to cut perfect servings for every member of your family.  For this year’s holiday gather, I suggest the 10 lb, spiral-sliced half ham, delivered anywhere in the continental U.S. for only $95.95.

Impress your significant other by preparing them a Parisian-inspired gourmet lamb dinner – featuring a juicy, tender lamb shank glazed with rosemary & mint sauce, and served with a side of creamy spinach & artichokes.  You can also choose the remaining parts of your four-course meal – including a bread, soup, dessert and a beverage (either coffee or tea).  They will never have to know that you didn’t spend hours making this yourself – the entire meal can be ready to eat in 30 short minutes!

For $89.95, Gourmet Station will help you create the perfect gourmet meal, will include floating candles to highlight your table, after dinner mints, even tips on the perfect wine to accompany your dinner.  I have saved this website to my favorites, and very carefully instructed my husband on the details of ordering so the next time we have a “date night” and it is his turn to cook, he will know what to get for dinner!  The choices and combinations on this website sound exquisite, and I can’t wait to try their Margarita Cheesecake.

The meal choices range from Parisian to Cajun to Americana, and you can mix and match with their simple ordering grid.  Shipping is a very reasonable $19.99, and the gourmet blog associated with this webpage offers great dinner party tips.

I will be the first to admit that my cooking skills are a little “hit or miss”.  I have to be in the right mood to cook, and even then the food doesn’t always cooperate with me.  So to still be able to serve a great meal on the nights that I would consider a “miss”, I signed up for the Twelve Month Dinner Sampler from Home Bistro.  We have only received the first 2 month’s meals so far, but I have been very pleased!  Each month centers around a different theme (poultry, pasta, seafood, New England, etc) and contains 8-10 generous servings of a gourmet meal that’s ready to heat and eat.  The first month we recieved 4 different poultry dishes, the second month had 5 of the Chef’s Favorite dishes, and next month we can expect 4 beef dishes.  We are billed $88 per month (plus $19.95 S&H), so for less than the price of eating at a gourmet restaurant we can enjoy gourmet quality meals in the comfort of our home!

Whether you’re hosting an elegant dinner party, an upcoming holiday meal or a plain old Saturday night, add these gourmet roasts to your table and watch everyone’s reaction!  Offering only the best Kansas corn-fed beef, Kansas City Steaks has long been a favorite of my extended family.  We have enjoyed this Prime Rib Roast and Chateaubriand for a number of get-togethers.  The site also gives tips to prepare each roast perfectly, and suggests a wine that will compliment the flavor of the meat.  For $139.95 plus shipping, you will receive a 4.5 lb Prime Rib Roast and two 2 lb Chateaubriand roasts (which is filet mignon in roast form), along with Kansas City Steaks prime rib rub and steak seasoning.

Growing up on a dairy farm, steak wasn’t really considered a delicacy.  Now that I have to purchase all our meat, steak is a rare dinner item – especially since the boys would rather have pizza rolls!  However, I splurged on these Boneless Strip Steaks for a special anniversary dinner and we weren’t disappointed.  We grilled these steaks to a perfect medium rare, and enjoyed them with a baked potato and some steamed vegetables.  The steaks had a rich flavor, with just enough marbling to make each bite tender and juicy.  Certified Angus Beef seems to have a stronger flavor than the steak I remember as a child, but I loved that the steak needed absolutely no seasoning.  In fact, it was almost a crime when my husband covered his with steak sauce!  Luckily, I ordered a pack of 8 – 8 oz. steaks (priced at $89.95) so we have a few more to enjoy later.