Mail Ordering your Produce, Fish, and Meats: better than the supermarket?
 

I recently bought some wild alaskan salmon from a company called Vital Chocie. And was quite impressed with the product.

The fish comes frozen in an airtight vacuum-sealed bag and is quite different from what I get at the store. Deep-red color and much firmer than farm-raised salmon.

I was also impressed with their canned salmon (quite good) althought much less so with their blueberries.


As for other companies I've tried:

I've had fruits and vegetables from Harry and David (always excellent). I usually get them as gifts. And also from Hale orchards.

And a freind of mine had some Omaha steaks he made one night that have to be the best home-cooked steaks I've ever had.


I guess my main question is that all this stuff is great, but quite exspensive. Is it worth it all the time (well I guess since my bank account won't allow it that's a moot question for me)?

How about some of the time? Or do you tend to think that all the mail order stuff is overpriced and overrated?


Also, please post any companies you tried and liked in the past.

I too have has Omaha steaks, they are great, however expensive, their return policy is very good too, I bought 4 filets and served them, one had a pretty large grissle running through it, I complained, and they sent me four new filets.

There are many many salmon smoking companies here in AK.

http://www.copperriverseafood.com/

Recommended to me by my boss for the smoked salmon appetizer.

Great idea for a post. I've never ordered food online before and would be very interested in hearing others experiences.

A friend of my wife's gave us some smoked wild alaskan salmon for christmas and it was incredible. Unfortunately the packaging was thrown away and we don't know where she purchased it.

the places that can give you overnight delivery obviously are the best, and well, IMHO it's just a great treat for some quality food. But for day to day... not worth it at all. You should find a GOOD local butcher, fishmonger, and farmers market.

I'd do as Cynthetiq says and get to know some quality local vendors unless you live out in the boonies, then I'd hunt, fish and grow my own.;)

I tried a fairly large trial offer from Omaha steaks and was underwhelmed. The quality was ok, but the steaks, chops etc. were all very small. Not worth it in our book. I order my spices from Penzy's but that's about it.

I've had several friends mention Penzy's in glowing terms...you like them as well?

Awesome company. They have pretty much anything, and have very good quality stuff. I was refered to them by another forum smoker that I use. Seems everyone there uses Penzy's.

I get my seafood from www.charlestonseafood.com. I order shrimp and fillets from different kind of fish, about 3 times a year. No complaints yet.