Travel with your taste buds and get a true taste of cities like Philadelphia and Seattle, plus spots as far flung as Beijing, London and the Middle East when you order each region’s famous foods or drinks to be shipped to your home. Whether you’re reminiscing about a strong cuppa Arabica coffee, or a towering pastrami sandwich from a NYC deli, it’s possible to — almost — recreate the experience at home.
These 14 treats will leave your mouth watering and are possible to try at home with a mere click of a button.
In the U.S.
Baltimore Crabs
Maryland’s blue crabs are obsession-worthy, and spots like Faidley Seafood have been hawking them in the heart of Baltimore at Lexington Market since 1886. Whether you want to sink your teeth into an award-winning lump crab cake, or get your hands dirty with crab picking in your backyard, you can have Faidley ship a batch direct to your door.
Chicago Pizza
A famed maker of deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza, Lou Malnati’s satisfies your slice cravings anywhere in the world with delivery of its signature pies. The Malnati family has been slinging dough for Chicagoans since the 1940s, and are sticklers for using fresh ingredients.
In fact, a team travels to California each year to personally meet the plum tomato growers whose produce ultimately turns into Malnati’s tangy pizza sauce. Ship yourself (or a loved one) a DIY, bake-at-home pizza kit with toppings that include sausage, pepperoni and spinach.
Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
With a name like Meat Mitch, the barbecue sauce has gotta be good, right? What’s actually a team of Kansas City barbecue aficionados (and multi-award winning pitmasters), Meat Mitch whips up their own unique blend of spices and sauces, like the Steer Season Rub and Char Bar Table Sauce.
Whichever blends you choose, they’re sure to spice up your at-home meats in just the right Kansas City way.
Miami Stone Crabs
Few things (besides Pit Bull, Mr. 305 himself) get Miamians excited like stone crabs. Their firm, sweet-tasting meat looks and tastes like lobster and typically this Florida delicacy is best eaten at the swanky South Beach institution Joe’s Stone Crab, which serves it boiled and chilled with a mustard sauce or melted butter.
But if you can’t make it to the 305, you’re in luck, because Joe’s will ship that crabby goodness your way. Order the “Joe’s Goes Classic,” complete with claws, mustard sauce, crab bisque, cole slaw, creamed spinach and Key lime pie.
New York City Deli
You can take the New Yorker out of the city, but you can’t take away their craving for authentic Jewish deli food. Katz’s Delicatessen is the undisputed royalty of the NYC deli scene, selling epic portions of corned beef, pastrami, pickles and other deli staples since 1888.
Katz’s is no stranger to shipping its food — it’s slogan during World War II was “Send a salami to your boy in the Army.”
Philadelphia Cheesesteak
Yes, Philadelphia’s food scene is known for so much more than the classic cheesesteak, but, yo!
Let’s be honest — if you’re from (or have visited) the Illa, you might be craving the classic sammy of thinly sliced beef, onions and cheese on a long roll — the way only Philly can do it. If so, Pat’s King of Steaks has you covered. The legendary South Philly spot will ship that goodness your way.
New Orleans Beignets
Cafe du Monde is a New Orleans icon, best-known for its airy, powdered sugar-topped beignets, which are a must-eat on every NOLA visitor’s list, and ideally enjoyed alongside a cuppa du Monde’s coffee.
But not being in New Orleans doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the treat from the comfort of your couch. Order a box of Cafe du Monde’s beignet mix and a tin of French roast coffee to be shipped your way and sate your sweet tooth at home.
Seattle Coffee
Grunge music, Microsoft and Amazon aside, Seattle is known for its epic coffee culture, perhaps best popularized by a little brand called Starbucks. But when the urge hits to sip something less ubiquitous — but no less Seattle — order your beans delivered by locally loved spots like Elm Coffee Roasters or Zoka Coffee.
Texas Barbecue
Smokey barbecue is a Texas tradition. With some estimates suggesting there’s more than 2,000 spots to get your ‘cue from, everyone’s got a strong opinion on whose brisket is best.
Still, a few stalwarts continue to stand the test of time — and stand out. Spots like Snow’s BBQ, in Lexington, home to powerhouse pitmaster, 83-year-old Tootsie Tomanetz, as well as Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, repeatedly voted one of the best barbecue spots in the Lone Star State. Both fire up a mean brisket, plus ribs, sausages and more — all available to be shipped straight to your kitchen.
Washington D.C. Half Smokes (and Chili!)
Half-smoke sausages — a combo of ground beef and pork, with peppers — are a local favorite in the capital city, and some of the best can be found at Ben’s Chili Bowl — made famous internationally by visiting luminaries like former President Obama, Anthony Bourdain and Mary J. Blige.
Eat your half smoke on a steamed bun, topped with Ben’s famous pork-and-beef or all-beef chili, mustard, and chopped raw onions. But if you can’t get there in person, settle for having them delivered.
Around the Globe
London Tea and Biscuits
Few traditions in the United Kingdom are held with such reverence as afternoon tea, and the high-end London department store Fortnum & Mason blends some of the most storied and historic brews in town.
Since the early 18th century, Fortnum & Mason has been selling sundries, and has even been affiliated with the royal family. Crafted from handwoven willow and stuffed with copious foods and drink, their hampers are storied, having been shipped over the centuries to spots as far flung as Everest and Iraq.
Paris Croissants and Macarons
The art of baking the perfect Parisian croissant is not to be undersold, and tucking into one of the City of Light’s authentic flaky, buttery pastries from anywhere in the world is possible thanks to Fauchon, a gourmet food company that has been sating Parisian appetites since 1886.
Ship regular, miniature or almond croissants to your abode, and if your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, try a box of airy macarons in flavors like hazelnut, caramel, raspberry and lemon.
Beijing Craft Beer
A string of sophisticated microbreweries with stylish pubs is encouraging Beijing citizens to drink local. Innovative craft beers from local breweries, many spotlighting regional flavors and ingredients, are all the rage, and many can be sampled anywhere in the world.
Great Leap Brewing draws on Chinese traditions and ingredients like tieguanyin tea to produce one-of-a-kind brews. Kick back with a cold one wherever you reside, ordering brews online, like the Silver Needle White Ale and Young Master IPA.
Arabic and Ethiopian Coffees
Across the Middle East, from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Riyadh and Muscat, the act of savoring an Arabic coffee, or qahwah, is a rich part of each country’s culture and a must-do experience for visitors. Bring the strong, earthy flavor home from seemingly omnipresent shops like Cafe Bateel, a favorite across the region.
Similarly, on the African continent, one of the most salient parts of Ethiopian culture is the coffee ceremony, a highly ritualized tradition involving the preparation and consumption of the brew. Create your own version from home by ordering from Tomoca Coffee.
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