Make It Personal With Gourmet Foods Gift Baskets

There isn't a better way to say a genuine thank you or a sorry than with gourmet foods gift baskets. The fact that these foods aren't enjoyed on an everyday diet makes it special and speaks of your intentions. There are hundreds of goodies that can be chosen to form a gourmet goodie baskets. Here are some of them:

- Wine: Good food and wine have always been great companions. A typical wine/beer gourmet food basket would include a classic wine, some gourmet cheese and crackers. Some gift shops allow customers to customize their wine bottles by etching them with logos, text, images, renderings, etc. These can be used as a promotional item, especially to announce a product launch.

- Cheese: These are usually included in the gift baskets with wine. You can choose from a wide variety of cheese, including new cheese, flavored cheese, aged cheese, blue cheese, cheese assortments, and even cheese serve ware.

- Ice creams: Who wouldn't love delectable ice creams and sorbet that melts in the mouth? You can choose from a wide variety of flavors from the exotic (made with vanilla beans from Madagascar) to the simple (chocolate caramel).

- Chocolates: Chocolates are another favorite choice of gourmet gift baskets. You can choose from a wide variety of truffles, cookies, candies, Easter bunnies, brownies, chocolate covered berries and nuts, tiramisu caramels...the list is endless. Chocolates are a favorite among companies looking for corporate gift ideas. These can be customized with the company's logo and brand name as well.

- Fruits and vegetables: Gift baskets with exotic fruits and vegetables are sure to be loved by the health conscious. Rustic fruit preserves, rare truffles, tropical fruits, olives, vegetable spreads, pickled vegetables are some of the ingredients that make up an exotic fruits and vegetable basket.

- Meat: Hams, bacon, hickory smoked meat, cured sausages, tenderloin, salami, and foie gras are all favorites in a food gift basket. You can also choose to include spiced leg of lamb. For a little extra cost you can buy organic meat that is free from chemicals.

- Seafood: Seafood is a popular choice for gourmet food baskets. But gifting these can be a little tricky. Because sea foods tend to perish easily, you will have to be very sure that the food is preserved well. Caviar, lobsters, clams, anchovies, shrimps, smoked fish, tuna, crab meat, calamari, salmon fillets, mussels, are some of the popular ingredients in a seafood basket.

The author of this article reviews gourmet foods gift baskets and other gift baskets offered by gift companies. She also writes articles to help people buy the best corporate gift baskets.

Gourmet Barbecue - My Personal Favorite

Lest anyone misunderstand the intent of this article, let me say up front that I, in no way, am knocking the men and women who comprise the fine dining industry. I am not casting aspersions on the food, quality of food, quantity of food and character of anything served at a gourmet restaurant. There is definitely a place for fine food dining in this country!

Barbeque however, is one of the great delicacies of the south, no matter whether its chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket or pork chops. My personal favorite, barbequed pork ribs are rarely, if ever, found on the menu of fine dining restaurants. That omission is an indication of how this great food item is discriminated against by gourmet restaurants.

Maybe the barbequed rib has just not climbed its way to the top of modern culinary society yet. My thoughts are that it is just too good to be placed on the same menu as a "Pan Seared French Cut Pork Loin Chop served with baby new potatoes and a cheery medley of spring greens."

Imagine opening the menu at any stuffed shirt restaurant where the dinner meals start at $50.00 per person and reading down:

"Tonight's house specialty is Honey and Soy Glazed Sea Bass, garnished with tiny sprigs of rosemary. Sides are delightful broccoli crowns steamed with basil and tarragon. A creamy garlic mashed potato with fresh clipped chives round out the meal. Our wine cellar is excellent"

Just below this you might find other offerings to temp your pallet such as:

Macadamia Nut-Crusted Mahi Mahi with Tropical Fruit.

Rack of Ellensburg Lamb with Pinot Noir-Thyme Sauce.

Somewhere near the bottom of the menu you should see in proud bold, block lettering: "Hickory Smoked Rack of Ribs! Slow cooked in a hickory smoker for 3 -4 hours, these pork ribs will fall off the bone as you lick the barbeque sauce from your fingers. Hand rubbed into the meat we feature an assortment of spices: garlic salt, salt, pepper, oregano, chili pepper, cayenne pepper, and onion pepper. While the meat is cooking in the smoking chamber it is kissed with our own secret red sauce."

This sounds a little uppity for the good old barbequed rib doesn't it? Ribs, chicken and the like have been relegated to the kitchens of Ma and Pa diners and rib houses that specialize in barbeque. Most of these restaurants are packed with faithful customers most of the time; especially on the weekends. Barbeque aficionados are a loyal crowd. When they find a place they like, they keep coming back for more!

Why then is barbeque not highlighted on the menus of the finest gourmet restaurants in America? Portions! That's the key. In most places of fine dining, the portions of any one thing are ridiculously small. On the other hand when you leave a barbecue joint you're holding your belly because you're stuffed. No small amounts of food here!

Why then do they have portion control at fine dining joints? I think the gourmet food people stumbled onto something a long time ago that the barbecue business has yet to realize. The entrees and appetizers at most of these places are quite expensive. Add that fact that most of the meals featured are weird! They're not usually something that we would prepare at home, so frankly, no one knows how each item is really supposed to taste.

Then, because gourmet restaurants blatantly keep their prices at extortion levels, we feel that whatever they feed us is wonderful because it costs so much! It simply has to be good! Most of us would have to carry our lunch to work for a month in order to pay for one night out with Chef Pierre. That being the case the meals must be wonderful regardless of what our tummies are telling us.

That's it in a nutshell. Serve very small portions, make it so that no one knows if it's good or bad, make it expensive and put the knives and forks in the correct positions. It can then be called gourmet.

Even though in the south every red blooded American male thinks he can cook the best barbecue in the world, we still enjoy going out to eat someone else's cooking and enjoy the ambiance of knotty pine paneling and vinyl table cloths that would enhance any dining experience. Maybe it would make a difference if there was a maitre d' to seat us as we entered the establishment.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: [http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Mail Order Food Gifts Offer Personal Convenience and Unique Corporate Gift Options

Mail order food gifts are a fantastic way to express your affection or appreciation for another person. 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.

Gourmet Gift Baskets 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 Ordering Gourmet 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.

Gift Baskets Offer More Flexibility

The flexibility you'll enjoy when choosing gourmet foods online 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 gourmet gift or want to avoid the holiday tumult at your local mall, a gift 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.

Mail order food gifts can be found through this resource for Gourmet Foods Online. Restaurant Wired notes unique corporate gifts and discounts on gourmet food gifts. Find solutions for gourmet gift baskets, restaurant recipes, restaurant gift certificates, gourmet gifts, and gourmet foods online at http://www.RestaurantWired.com.