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Posts Tagged ‘Gourmet Food Gifts’

Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets – Three Steps to Worry Free Gift Giving

October 29th, 2009 Janell Oakes No comments
Wine and cheese gift baskets make elegant holiday gifts, and you don’t have to be a wine expert to give them.  Use the tips I offer below to create perfect wine and cheese gift baskets for any occasion, made more personal by tailoring the type of wine to the individual or group receiving it.  Whether giving wine and cheese gift baskets to clients, neighbors, or that special someone, they are personal and versatile gifts that can accommodate just about any budget.
The Basics of Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets – Step One: Style Alert
The first thing you want to do when putting together personalized wine and cheese baskets is think about who you’re giving to and choose wines that fit their style and are appropriate to the occasion.  Then consider which cheese pairs best with your wine choice (don’t panic – this is easier than it sounds!).  The gold standard for pairing wine with cheese is simple: Serve red wine with hard cheese (such as an Aged Cheddar, Vintage Gouda, or Parmesan) and white wine with soft (think Brie, Muenster, or Goat Cheese). You can follow this guideline and never go wrong but for some stand-out combinations, consider these suggestions:
When invited by friends or family to a traditional holiday meal, I like to thank my hosts with wine and cheese baskets that compliment the classic turkey dinner.  Two wines that never fail to please are Gewurztraminer and Bordeaux.  These pair well with Havarti, which is a relatively mild cheese with broad appeal.  Most people think of corporate gifts as stale and generic so, to create memorable wine and cheese baskets for clients, I like to go beyond the typical (without going too far out on a limb).  Rather than the typical Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay with Cheddar, try regional combinations such as Spanish Tempranillo and Albarino with Manchego.  For friends with a sweet tooth, send them wine and cheese gift baskets with a nice Muscato, which stands up beautifully to the salty flavor of Gorgonzola.  There are also those occasions that call for all out decadence.  Celebrate those moments with Champagne and something rich and creamy like Triple Creme Brie or Chevre.
Personalized Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets – Step Two: Location, Location, Location
Personalizing a wine and cheese gift basket by highlighting a location is another easy way to make your gift special.  Evoke memories of a romantic get away by giving your significant other a bottle from the same region as a favorite vacation, or welcome newcomers to the neighborhood with wine and cheese baskets featuring local wares.  Even if your area isn’t known for wine, you may be surprised by what’s available.  In inhospitable climates, people have been making fruit wines for years. More recently, winemakers across the country have begun sourcing their grapes from better growing regions and producing amazing local products.
Creative Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets – Step Three: The Label Link
Perhaps the easiest way to take wine and cheese gift baskets out of the generic gift category is to look for a label that has meaning to you or the people on your list.  Winemakers have gotten increasingly creative with their labels in recent years.  Look for bottles with a splashy image or catchy name. For instance, my brother works for a company who’s logo includes an image of a griffin.  In the wine and cheese gift baskets he put together for his clients, he included a bottle of Grifone Sangiovese to reinforce that image.  For the wine and cheese gift baskets I gave to my favorite group of girlfriends, I chose a sassy label picturing a 1950’s era femme fatale and included an invitation to a much needed girls-night-out.
Take these ideas and run with them.  No matter what the occasion, wine and cheese gift baskets make fantastic gifts as long as you get a little creative and keep it personal.
Categories: Gift Baskets, Gourmet Food Gifts Tags: , , ,

Why It Makes Sense to Buy Gourmet Foods Online

August 19th, 2009 RRS No comments

You need to find a specialty coffee for a friend or that one, specific type of olive oil that a favorite recipe calls for. Do you trek down to your local grocery store, cross your fingers and hope they’ve started stocking gourmet foods right alongside the Heinz ketchup? Or do you crack open the laptop and start clicking?

Here’s why you should be buying your gourmet foods online instead of off:

Bigger Selection

Big city or small town, your local grocery stores aren’t going to have everything and they’re certainly not going to have it all in one place. What’s more likely to happen is that you’ll spend an afternoon driving from specialty store to specialty store looking for each and every specific gourmet food item you need. At the end of a long day, you may or may not have everything you need or you’ve been forced to settle for inferior ingredients.

By doing your gourmet food shopping online, you have access to a wider selection of products all in one place. Instead of motoring around town, you can do all your food shopping from your desk. It’s convenient, fast and you don’t have to leave the house.

Easy to Find

Stop wandering the aisles aimlessly trying to find that perfect box of chocolates. When you’re online shopping, you just type in what you’re looking for, hit the search button and you’re off to the races. Instead of hunting and scouring the bottom shelves of a grocery store, you can find gourmet food items fast.

Better Prices

For the most part, you’re going to find better prices buying gourmet foods online as opposed to specialty stores. Instead of paying for the overhead costs associated with running an actual store, online gourmet food sellers can pass those savings on to you, the consumer. Yes, you’ll pay for shipping, but those costs are often comparable or lower than what you’d spend on gas and time hunting down these products yourself.

Ship Directly to Gift Recipients

A good portion of gourmet food purchases are intended as gift items (if they make it that long). So, what’s easier? Driving across town, hunting down a selection of sauces, olive oils and marinades, packaging them so they won’t break and then mailing them out to a friend or simply clicking “Buy” on a website, entering your recipient’s mailing address and calling it a day?

Where to Find and Buy Gourmet Foods Online

Gourmet food gifts can be found through Restaurant Wired’s large selection of specialty ingredients, unique corporate gifts and discounts on gourmet food gifts. Find gourmet gift baskets, restaurant recipes, restaurant gift certificates, gourmet gifts, and gourmet foods all online at RestaurantWired.com.

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Gourmet Food Gifts & Corporate Gift Options

July 27th, 2009 rostinreagorsmith 2 comments

Gourmet food gifts are the perfect corporate gifts and offer personalized gift options which are appreciated by everyone . They can communicate your heartfelt thanks and fondness in a package that will be remembered long after its contents have been enjoyed. Whether you’re buying them for a friend, relative, or for a corporate gift, mail order food gifts can fit any occasion perfectly. If you have never considered ordering gourmet foods online, you may discover that you’ve been neglecting one of the hidden gems of culinary delight.

Gourmet Gifts Ideas For Every Occasion

One of the key advantages of buying mail order food gifts is that they fit any occasion. They make ideal housewarming gifts, anniversary and birthday presents, and Father’s Day gifts. You can give a food basket to congratulate someone for a job promotion, graduation, or to celebrate the launch of a new business. Mail order food gifts can be used to express thanks to an office colleague or to congratulate a business partner for securing a new account.

Everybody loves gourmet foods. While many people search relentlessly for the “perfect gift,” a custom-designed wine and cheese basket might convey the right message. Regardless of the event or occasion, food basket gifts are always enjoyed and remembered.

Food Basket Gifts Can Meet Any Culinary Taste

Have you ever experienced the frustration of searching for a unique gift for a person who has everything? Mail order food gifts eliminate that frustration. The sheer variety of items and food combinations can match any person’s unique culinary taste. For example, a Robiola Bosina cheese paired with a light chardonnay might suit a loved one’s specific pairing preference. On the other hand, a box of carefully selected butter caramels or pecan turtles may be more appropriate. You can buy mail order food gifts to match any circumstance and palate.

Some people enjoy Italian food while others prefer healthy meals. Some enjoy wine while others prefer chocolate. Millions of people have cultivated a strong fondness for seafood, pizza, fruit, and gourmet meats. There are several companies online that specialize in customized mail order food gifts for every taste imaginable.

Elegance And Style With Wine And Cheese Baskets

While mail order food gifts can suit any occasion, few can match the grace and sophistication of wine and cheese baskets. Some baskets are focused on particular combinations with Merlots or Zinfandels paired with a sharp Jack cheese. Others showcase several wines with a variety of French cheeses forming the backdrop. From budget-friendly combos to premium selections, mail order food gifts that pair wines and cheeses are always appreciated. Plus, the pairings convey a uniqueness that makes the gift stand apart from others.

The Convenience Of Mail Order Food Gifts

Shopping online has dramatically changed the retail landscape. Rather than spending hours visiting malls and specialty food shops, millions of people are ordering mail order food gifts on the internet. In many cases, it is the only way they can order specific items, such as caviar, lean meat cuts, and certain chocolates and confections. In other cases, it’s a matter of convenience; they can peruse gourmet gift ideas online at a time that suits their schedule, not the business hours of local shops. The companies which sell mail order food gifts will gladly send them to your home or directly to the person to whom you intend to give them.

Mail Order Food Gifts Offer More Flexibility

The flexibility you’ll enjoy when choosing mail order food gifts for your friends and family allows you to customize your gifts for each person. For example, your parents might be delighted with mocha truffles while an office colleague might enjoy a premium fruit and wine basket. One friend may be grateful to receive an Italian cheese plate while another prefers smoked and cured meats. There is a staggering assortment of mail order food gifts that you can order online.

Whether you need to find the “perfect gift” for a loved one or want to avoid the holiday tumult at your local mall, a basket of culinary delights is an ideal solution. Unique, convenient, and always enjoyed, mail order food gifts are a fantastic way to celebrate any occasion.

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