Gift Guide: 8 Mail Order Menus For The Tragically Homesick

New York Nostalgia
A good bagel breakfast outside of the tri-state area is hard to find. Thankfully, the legendary Lower East Side food purveyors Russ and Daughters will ship a package for eight, overnight, anywhere in the U.S. Expect the booty to include hand-rolled bagels, scallion cream cheese, smoked fish, rugelach and more. Don’t settle for anything less when gifting a New Yorker, because for us, bagels from any other state are worth bupkes. $115, russanddaughters.com

Island Creek Oysters
What’s the next best thing to eating at a New England seafood shack? Having a hundred plump oysters, plucked straight from the icy waters of Duxbury Bay, delivered to the front door. There's nothing like an afternoon of oyster shucking in one’s own kitchen to bring back memories of summer on the beach — no matter how far you might be from the Atlantic. $150, islandcreekoysters.com

Great Lakes Artisan Box
For the person craving a cold, Midwest Christmas, this box of goodies from Zingerman’s is a solid pick. Wisconsin gouda and smoked bacon, Michigan berry jam and the deli’s house made pecan raisin bread are just some of the items chosen to represent the best of the Great Lakes region. $100, zingermans.com

Bay Area Brunch Collection
Food lovers who grew up in the Bay Area will relish this set of sweet and savory scones, muffins and empanadas from Frog Hollow Farm. Also included are three jars of preserves and jams made with their renowned stone fruits. They’ll keep indefinitely, but you’ll probably run out before your next trip back to the Ferry Building. $135, froghollowfarm.com

Joe’s Stone Crab Dinner
Any Floridian away from home would appreciate a culinary care package courtesy of this Miami institution. The restaurant’s “Joe’s Goes Classic” meal includes its famous crab claws, clam chowder, cole slaw, creamed spinach, and Key Lime pie for dessert. You also might want to stuff a stocking with claw crackers for good measure, because mallets are not included. Dinner for two, $216.95, joesstonecrab.com

Salt Lick Central Texas Special
Give the gift of a Hill Country meal, anywhere in the U.S., with this extravagant feast from the world-renowned Salt Lick Bar-B-Que. Their mail-order heat-and-eat package includes a 4-5 pound beef brisket, two racks of pork ribs, one turkey breast and three bottles of their original or spicy barbecue sauce. $139.95, saltlickbbq.com

Captain's Catch Pacific Northwest Gift Basket
SeaBear captures the flavors of the Pacific Northwest with this basket of treats straight from their smokehouse. The package includes smoked sockeye salmon, salmon and halibut chowders and salmon pate. A great pick for the former Seattleite, or anyone who celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes. $109.99, goldbely.com

Cajun Sausage And Gator Meat Sampler
Anyone whose Christmas involves a meal of alligator and Andouille might have trouble sourcing ingredients outside of Louisiana. Solve their dinner dilemma with this soup-to-nuts package of carnivore-friendly Cajun specialties. The cooler includes boudin balls, alligator fillets, and even a four-pound turducken. Just throw it all in the oven and laissez les bons temps rouler. $128.95, cajungrocer.com