Serious Eats
Seriously Delicious Gifts for Mom
I often find myself in a quandary trying to figure out what to get my wife or mother-in-law for Mother's Day. How do I get myself out of it? By ordering something seriously delicious online or by phone that I can serve easily for a Mother's Day breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Alternately, if you find yourself unable to be with your mom on Mother's Day you can have any one of these shipped to her so she can enjoy a foolproof Mother's Day repast. All of the following can arrive at your doorstep or your mom's by Saturday if you order today or tomorrow morning.
Granola and Scones Breakfast Gift Box from Zingerman's
I am all too familiar with the high quality baked goods made at the Zingerman's Bakehouse, so I can vouch for the quality of everything in this particular gift box. I don't know about the catalogue copy, though: "A homemade Sunday morning Mother’s Day breakfast always seems like a better idea in theory than in practice. Something burns, something’s soggy, something’s lukewarm, and you don’t get to sit down and enjoy yourself much. The foods in this box are foolproof, though. They’ll turn out great even if you’re not there to mess ‘em up." Aw, come on, Zingerman's. Give serious eaters and their moms a little more credit than that. This gift box contains a jar of Zingerman’s Granola, four Zingerman’s Classic Currant Scones, Devon Cream, a jar of American Spoon Strawberry Preserves, and a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Bread. $70, from zingermans.com
Callie's Charleston Biscuits
Your mom doesn't have to be a Southerner to appreciate Callie's moist, flaky biscuits. I just love the idea of serving and eating a basket of plain, ham, and cheese biscuits on Mother's Day. Just somehow seems right. $33.90 to $45.90 (depending on variety) for two dozen biscuits, from calliesbiscuits.com
Virginia Ham and Turkey Breast Duo from Virginia Traditions
S. Wallace Edwards & Sons is one of my favorite family-owned Southern smokehouses. They've been smoking artisanal ham for eighty years or so, so they definitely know what they're doing. This combo package of smoked ham and smoked turkey breast would be a most excellent main course for a Mother's Day brunch or lunch. It satisfies the primal cravings of red meat and non-red meat eaters alike. $64.95 for 2- to 3-pound petite boneless ham and 3- to 4-pound smoked turkey breast, from virginiatraditions.com
Ladybug Chocolates from John & Kira's
If your mom loves chocolate and ladybugs (let's face it, most moms do) she'll get a huge kick out of this combo package from John and Kira's, one of the Serious Eats crew's favorite artisanal chocolate maker. $44 for 15 pieces, from johnandkiras.com
Sour Cherry Pies from Grand Traverse Pie Company
Grand Traverse Pie Company
Mom. Pie. Need I say more? To me, a Grand Traverse Pie Company's cherry double-crusted or crumb pie, made with local Montmorency Michigan cherries, and some Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream is the perfect ending to any Mother's Day brunch. I hate to admit it, but I would serve that combo as the main course, but I don't think my wife or mother-in-law would approve. $42.95 for 2 pies, $24.95 for 1, from gtpie.com