The Best Super Bowl Mail-Order Feasts: What's Your Favorite?
Let's face it. The Super Bowl gives us all an excuse to eat something out of the ordinary, to partake of foods we don't eat and can't even get every day. That's where the joy of ordering shipped regional specialties comes in. I believe that the Super Bowl gives serious eaters everywhere license to indulge in that vaguely decadent practice of ordering food by mail. If you do decide to take the plunge, here are some mighty tasty options to consider. I know it's kind of late in the game (the eating game, that is) to be writing this, but if you order today (Jan. 29) or tomorrow (Jan. 30), your feast will arrive in plenty of time. And if you have other ideas for shipped Super Bowl feasts, we'd love to hear about them.
Pastrami
Outside New York and Los Angeles it can be hard to get first-rate pastrami. Ben's Best, one of the best New York delis extant, alleviates that problem by overnighting its pastrami, made by Empire National, a good kosher smokehouse in Brooklyn, along with some proper rye bread. The key to maximizing your pastrami pleasure is to follow, to the letter, the instructions for reheating it. Available through bensbest.com.
And if you developed your taste for pastrami in Los Angeles, where Langer's Deli rules the pastrami roost, that venerable Los Angeles institution also ships. Which pastrami reigns supreme? We report, you decide. Available through langersdeli.com.
Chicago Hot Dogs and Pizza Combo
I'm actually a huge Chicago hot dog fan. I find the combination of a Vienna Beef natural casing hot dog, soft poppy seed bun, mustard, celery salt, neon-green sweet relish, and sport peppers, to be irresistable. As many of you know, I am not a huge deep dish fan, though as casseroles go, Lou Malnatti's is pretty damn good one. You can order either or both of these Windy City treats at tasteofchicago.com.
Smoked Elgin Sausage
Most serious eaters know that I love Southside Market's Elgin-style smoked beef sausage from Texas. What's not to love? These tube steak lovelies are smoky, meaty, and juicy, with the perfect meat-to-fat ratio. This sausage is definitely a cholesterol-filled indulgence (as are all our picks), but hey, it's the Super Bowl, and it only comes once a year. If you're feeding a crowd, the Southside Market smoked Elgin sausage (ten pounds for $46.99 without shipping) represents great value, even when you factor in the FedEx costs. Available through southsidemarket.com.
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7 Comments:
Guh, I remember stopping in Elgin once after eleven hours of driving. We were close to home but so sick of the road and so tired that we decided to take a barbecue break: juicy, burnished, split halves of Elgin sausage, soft melting brisket with tangy barbecue sauce, and the obligatory, still unhealthy sides of potato salad and coleslaw. I can't even remember where we stopped, but I'll always remember the food!
Christina at 7:43AM on 01/29/08
I live in Boston, where, for some odd reason, we have a dearth of good delis. Everyone I know would give just about anything for a good deli. I hadn't thought of mail ordering a heaping Reuben.... Maybe I could even trade a live, kickin' lobster for a good sandwich.
RheaB at 9:40AM on 01/29/08
What about Philly Cheese steaks from the Brass Rail in Bethlehem PA (or is it Allentown)? My husband has raved about this product all the time I've known him and I'm finally going to get my chance to taste it in April when we go there for a family celebration. But I do know they will mail order their products, even to Canada. I do think however, that they need more lead time that what we have left to the big game on Sunday......
Maureen at 9:41AM on 01/29/08
I haven't done it in a couple of years, as I have not held a superbowl party, but I used to order Buffalo Wings from the Anchor Bar (the originator in Buffalo, NY). They always made the trip in good shape and were a hit.
FoodBoy at 9:42AM on 01/29/08
RheaB, I think Zingerman's ships its delicious Reubens. The Anchor Bar wings are also great, FoodBoy. Maureen, I had no idea that anyone shipped good philly cheesesteaks. We should have a Super Bowl of mail-order food next year.
Ed Levine at 10:57AM on 01/29/08
If you want any of the cincinatti favs...like Montgomery Inn Ribs, skyline chili, or LaRosa's pizza....check out mongomeryinn.com and click on internet specials!
jcrisco at 11:21AM on 01/29/08
this would have been a great thread, oh, about a week and a half ago!!!
goodbyeohio at 1:25PM on 01/29/08