Here are some Philly foods and other treats you can ship nationwide for the holidays
Send friends and loved ones a cheesesteak, a pretzel-making kit from DiBruno's, the city's best bakery treats, and more.
From cheesesteaks to whoopie pies to make-your-own Philly pretzel kits, the city is filled with delicious treats you can ship nationwide. Here are some options to check out before the holidays.
For more gift ideas, check out our ultimate Philly holiday gift guide.
Chocolate
Price: Varies by product
Philadelphia has a rich history with sweets, churning out candy since the early 1800s. Today, the city brims with artisanal chocolate makers and sweet shops, most of which ship nationwide. For some extra-Philly options, check out Aurora Grace’s Gritty Bar ($8), Lore’s LOVE sculpture chocolates ($4.95 to $7.95), or Mueller’s Liberty Bell truffles ($29.95, but currently sold out) and Milk Chocolate Liberty Bell Lollipop ($5).
There is also plenty to browse online from Shane Confectionery, the oldest continually-run candy shop in the country.
Order at: Aurora Grace: auroragracechocolates.com/collections; Lore’s Chocolate: loreschocolates.com/product-category/uncategorized; Mueller Chocolate Co.: muellerschocolate.com; Shane Confectionery: shanecandies.com/shop
Coffee
Price: Varies by roaster and product
Whether you’re a diehard La Colombe drinker or a fan of Philly’s smaller coffee shops, you can share a cup of your favorite coffee with friends nationwide. Gift a monthly Ultimo subscription, a yearly ReAnimator subscription, a Rival Bros. blend benefiting city nonprofits, or a La Colombe draft latte variety pack. Greenstreet and OX ship beans, too. Our picks? The Vietnamese coffee brew kit from Càphê Roasters and the 24-hour cold steeped cold brew concentrate from Nilaa.
Order at: Ultimo: ultimocoffee.com/take-action; ReAnimator: reanimatorcoffee.com/collections/all; Rival Bros.: rivalbros.com/shop; Greenstreet: greenstreetcoffee.com/shop; La Colombe: lacolombe.com/collections/all-drinks; Ox: shop.oxcoffee.com; Càphê Roasters: capheroasters.com/shop; Nilaa: nilaacoffee.com/buy-coffee
Cheesesteaks
Price: up to $159 for a four-pack
We’ll let you choose the winner of the best gift-able cheesesteak debate. There are plenty of options. Online marketplace Goldbelly ships cheesesteaks from Pat’s, Jim’s, Donkey’s Place, Campo’s, John’s Roast Pork, Joe’s Steaks, and beyond. There’s even a vegetarian option, Questlove’s signature Impossible Meat cheesesteak.
Cheesesteaks are delivered as make-your-own kits or fully assembled sandwiches (with whiz on the side), frozen and shipped with ice packs. Storage and reheating instructions are provided. Most options keep for a couple days in the refrigerator or up to two months in the freezer.
Order at: goldbelly.com/philly+cheesesteak
Baked goods
We all deserve a cookie. Or a whoopie pie. Or a whole box of treats. Here are a few popular Philly spots that make it easy to send baked goods to loved ones. Consider gifting yourself while you’re at it.
Price: From $26
Well-known for its Argentinian cookies, Jezabel’s offers two varieties of its buttery alfajores. The first features classic shortbread-style cookies sandwiching dulce de leche and finished with shredded coconut. The second has dulce de leche between two chocolate-dipped cookies sprinkled with rose petals. A combo box has three of each. Cookies come individually wrapped inside a box with a bow.
Price: $38 to $120
Metropolitan curates all sorts of gift boxes, including those for chocolate lovers, the bread heads, and snack enthusiasts. Its Breakfast Box includes lemon pound cake, local honey Metropolitan coffee, a loaf multigrain, a pound of gluten and dairy free granola, and blueberry preserves.
Price: $49.95 to $99.95
A James Beard Award semifinalist, Essen owner Tova du Plessis has garnered a following for her Jewish specialties, like chocolate-halvah babka, challah, and chocolate rugelach. She’s packaged some of her most popular items into gifts boxes on Gold Belly, including a Jewish Bakery Sampler ($89.95) and a Choose Your Own Two-Pack ($65.95).
Order at: Jezabel’s: jezabelscafe.com/orderonline; Metropolitan Bakery: metropolitanbakery.com/collections/gift-boxes; Essen: goldbelly.com/essen-bakery
Other gifts
Poi Dog Huli Huli and Guava Katsu sauces, plus Chili Peppah Water
Price: $9 to $42
Beloved Poi Dog offers a variety of its sauces online. There’s the newly dropped Huli Huli Sauce ($17), which is made with sweet pineapple, savory miso, fragrant Chinese five-spice, to add a deep, sweet umami flavor to your veggies and burgers.
The Chili Peppah Water, a staple condiment in Hawaii, lends a moderately spicy, vinegary tang to all sorts of food. It’s made with local hot and sweet peppers brewed in vinegar, with hints of ginger and a saltiness from Hawaiian Sea Salt. “We say, ‘Chili peppah water over everything,’ and ‘everything’ refers to rice, meats, macaroni salad, and vegetables,” says former Poi Dog co-chef and owner Kiki Aranita. Get a bottle with a bottle of Guava Katsu, a Japanese-style barbecue and dipping sauce, in the Sunshine Set ($23).
You could also get the barbecue set for all three sauces ($39).
Order at: Poidogphilly.com
Di Bruno Bros. Gift Baskets
Price: Varies by product
An Italian Market staple for more than 80 years, Di Bruno Bros. makes it easy to gift cheese, charcuterie, and other specialty fare. For a foodie splurge, check out the Italian Market Crate ($169.99), filled with a variety of signature items, from smoky meats to olives to barrel-aged balsamic vinegar to a hunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano. The Taste of Di Bruno basket is a smaller and cheaper alternative ($74.99). Or to gift a Philly DIY experience, consider the Philly Soft Pretzel kit ($89.99), which includes the ingredients and instructions for making pretzels, along with mustard, cheese spread, and pepperoni.
Order at: dibruno.com/explore/the-culinary-pioneer/holiday-gift-guide
Fox & Son Gluten-Free Mini-Funnel Cake and Corn Dog Kits
Price: $12.99-$29.99
Shopping for gluten-free friends? Reading Terminal Market’s fancy corn dog stand has you covered. Fox & Son offers a variety of 100% gluten-free kits and mixes online, including a make-your-own corn dog kit ($15.99) as well as their best-selling mini-funnel cake kit ($34.99).
Order at: foxandsonphilly.com/shop
This article has been updated since first published. Steven White and Hira Qureshi contributed to this article.
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