America's 51 Best Mail-Order Foods
We've tried hundreds of eats nominated by chefs, food writers and local experts to find the most awesome, most iconic, more delicious from every state (plus DC) --all of which can be shipped straight to your door. You're going to need a bigger mailbox!
Alabama -- Original White Sauce
Creamy, tangy white barbecue sauce reign in this part of the South -- and none is as popular as the Original White Sauce, first served in Decatur in 1925. Slather it on chicken and port or use it to dress up a potato salad.
Alaska -- Alaskan Sampler
The Alaskan Sampler comes with a dozen local specialties, including reindeer sausage and reindeer jerky!
Arizona -- Tamales
Tamales are synonymous with Arizona. Family-owned Tuscon Tamale stuffs its cornhusk-wrapped, masa-filled packets with 25 different meat or veggie fillings-plus dessert options.
Arkansas -- Cheese Dip
Legend has it cheese dip was invented in 1935 at a restaurant named Little Mexico (now called Mexico Chiquito) in Hot Springs. Today, the melty orange stuff is served at pretty much every Mexican eatery across the state. Pancho's is so popular it's even in local supermarkets.
California -- It's-It
The It's-It --ice cream (available in six flavors) sandwiched between two chewy oatmeal cookies and coated in a thin shell of dark chocolate --was sold exclusively in San Francisco for four decades. Fanatics can now find the treats throughout California --or in the mail.
Colorado -- Summit Collection
No kidding around! Goats rule the pastures in Colorado. The Summit Collection features eight awesome goat's-milk cheeses, including chèvre logs, bloomy rind cheeses and aged cheeses.
Connecticut -- Bluepoint Oyster
The Bloom family has been harvesting briny Bluepoint oysters from Long Island Sound since the 1940s --in fact, they helped popularize the variety. We found a pearl in one during our taste test!
Delaware -- Salt Water Taffy
A must-visit destination for beachgoers, Synder's Candy celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Try the assorted box of salt water taffy and get hooked on flavors like coconut, watermelon and green apple.
Florida -- Key Lime Pie on a Stick
What's better than a slice of tangy Key lime pie, Florida's official state treat? Frozen Key Lime Pie on a Stick, of course. Each sweet-and-tart wedge is covered with thick Belgian chocolate.
Georgia -- Crunchy Peanut Butter
Move over, peaches: Georgia also produces almost half the country's peanuts. Atlanta-based Georgia's Grinders makes insanely delicious small-batch crunchy peanut butter from just two ingredients: local peanuts and sea salt.
Hawaii -- Hawaiian Honey Glazed Macadamias
Extra-flavorful Hawaiian Honey Glazed Macadamias are coated with honey harvested from the beehives on the Big Island.
Idaho -- Idaho Spud Bar
Don't be fooled by the name: The popular Idaho Spud Bar contains no potatoes. Originally marketed as a healthful candy bar back in 1918, it features a cocoa-flavored marshmallow covered with dark chocolate and coconut (perhaps that's the healthy part?).
Illinois -- Deep-dish Pizza
The founder of Lou Malnati's got his start working in Chicago's first deep-dish pizzeria before opening his own place in 1971. His ooey, gooey deep-dish pizza is often touted as the best in town.
Indiana -- Sugar Cream Pie
Original recipes for sugar cream pie (aka Hoosier Pie) date back to early 1800s, but Duane "Wick" Wickersham make the creamy sweet super-popular during the 1940s. The family-owned business now holds a patent on its recipe.
Iowa -- 'Nduja Americana
Iowa is the top pork-producing state in the country, and the folks behind La Quercia's spicy 'Nduja Americana spread (a cross between the spicy sausage and pâté) go whole hog when it comes to their work: The husband-and-wife team learned how to make traditional cured meats while living in Parma, Italy.
Kansas -- All-Natural Sunny Seeds
A nod to the state's official flower, All-Natural Sunny Seeds are sunflower seeds that have been covered in milk chocolate and a hard candy coating. Bonus: They come in a flower-shaped package.
Kentucky -- Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Bourbon Balls
Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Bourbon Balls are a decadent mash-up of two beloved Kentucky classics.
Louisiana -- Crawfish
The state harvests about 95 percent of the country's crawfish, and Louisiana Crawfish Company ships the critters live or fresh-boiled with seasoning, bibs --and Maris Gras beads.
Maine -- Whoopie Pie
Locals claim that Maine is the birthplace of the Whoopie Pie, traditionally two chocolate cake-like rounds with fluffy cream filling in between. Wicked Whoopies makes them in more than 25 flavors, like banana cream and red velvet.
Maryland -- Smith Island Cake
In the 1800s, fishermen from Smith Island (located in Chesapeake Bay) would go out to sea for months at a time. Their wives would send them off with a Smith Island cake -20 layers of alternating yellow cake and fudge icing --as a reminder of home. Order one from the island's famous (and only) bakery.
Massachusetts -- New England Clam Chowder
Also known as Boston clam chowder, New England clam chowder has been simmering throughout the state since at least the 1830s --and everyone has a fave recipe. This thick, creamy version features fresh, hand-shucked Atlantic Clams for a rich briny flavor.
Michigan -- Coney Island Hot Dog
Some historians say that the Coney Island hot dog, a Detroit specialty, was invented by Greek immigrants who settled here by way of New York. They put their spin on the franks they tried in Coney Island by topping them with a beanless chili, mustard and diced onions. One of the oldest joints ships kits complete with a cute paper hat.
Minnesota -- Walleye
Known as "The Land of 10,000 Lakes", the state's actual count is more impressive: 11,842. Many of these waters are home to walleye, the state fish known for its mild, flaky flesh. Order fresh fillets that are hand-caught by American Indian tribal fishermen and shipped the same day.
Mississippi -- Comeback Sauce
A cross between Thousand Island dressing and rémoulade, comeback sauce originated in Jackson and has become a local go-to dipper for all things fried.
Missouri -- Toasted Ravioli
Toasted Ravioli is said to have been invented in St. Louis when a chef accidentally dropped a ravioli into a deep fryer. Order them from a local favorite on the Hill, an Italian-American neighborhood.
Montana -- Wild Huckleberry Syrup
Huckleberries grow all over Montana, and in one small kitchen in Bigfork, a family operations makes sweet-tart wild huckleberry syrup in small batches. Drizzle it on pancakes or use it in dressings.
Nebraska -- Runza Sandwich
The Runza sandwich --a stuffed pocket with ground beef, cabbage, onions and spices --took off in 1949 when a brother-and-sister duo opened Runza Drive Inn in Lincoln.
Nevada -- Cantaloupe Jam
There's an area known as the "Oasis of Nevada" where cantaloupes grow. And Lattin Farms is famous for an addictive cantaloupe jam.
New Hampshire -- Maple Candy
Fuller's Sugarhouse taps around 10,500 trees to make maple syrup and melt-in-your-mouth maple candy.
New Jersey -- Pork Roll
A pork roll (cured meat that could double for Canadian bacon), egg and cheese sandwich is a Jersey diner staple. Taylor Ham is the original brand.
New Mexico -- Drinking Chocolate Elixirs
Add hot water to Kakawa Chocolate House's granulated drinking chocolate elixirs for an uber-rich, not too sweet ho-cho.
New York -- Bagels
Lines ate NYC's Ess-a-Bagel often extend down the block. The chewy-yet fluffy boiled and baked bagels are worth the wait. (They're an EDWRR staff favorite!)
North Carolina -- Moravian Sugar Cake
Dense Moravian sugar cake is topped with melted cinnamon sugar.
North Dakota -- Chippers
Carol Widman's Candy Company, a fourth-generation sweet shop, is famous for its chocolate-covered potato chips --aka Chippers.
Ohio -- Ice Cream
Locals are rightly obsessed with small-bath super-creamy Graeter's ice cream --particularly their signature flavors made with supersize chocolate chips.
Oklahoma -- Aunt Bill's Brown Candy
The recipe for Aunt Bill's Brown Candy (printed in The Oklahoman newspaper everyday year) calls for two people to make it, so buying the praline-like fudge is much easier.
Oregon -- Beer
Oregon is overflowing with craft breweries, and Rouge grows and harvests ingredients for its 40 varieties of beer.
Pennsylvania -- Cheesesteak
Philly folks love to debate where to get the best cheesesteak, but only on of the top places ships --Jim's Steaks.
Rhode Island -- Coffee Milk
Coffee milk (milk mixed with a sweetened liquid coffee concentrate) is official state drink. And Autocrat is the brand to make it with.
South Carolina -- Callie's Charleston Biscuits
Callie's Charleston Biscuits are the next best thing to having a southern grandma in your kitchen. Pop 'em in the oven and they taste freshly made.
South Dakota -- Kuchen-for-One
The best kuchen --a German cake with a custard-like topping --comes from a small operation in the equally small city of Eureka. Locals go nuts over the prune Kuchen-for-One. Yes, prune.
Tennessee -- Goo Goo Clusters
In 1912, the first candy bar with mix-ins was invented in Nashville and later became a sponsor of the Grand Ole Opry. Still made today, Goo Goo Clusters feature caramel, marshmallow nougat, roasted peanuts and milk chocolate.
Texas -- Smoked Beef Brisket
If you can't make it to the Salt Lick in Driftwood (and you should --it's one of the best barbecue joints in the world), having them send their 14-hour smoked beef brisket with barbecue sauce is almost as good.
Utah -- Creamed Honey
The beehive is Utah's official symbol. And Cox Honeyland's creamed honey should be the state's official breakfast treat. Put some on a toasted English muffin to create a gooey, heavenly bite.
Vermont -- Aged Cheddars
Founded in 1892 by dairy farmers looking for a way to turn their surplus milk into cheese, Grafton Village Cheese still uses milk from local farms to make its famed ages cheddars. Try the mild two- or sharper, tangier four-year-aged version.
Virginia -- Surryano Ham Slices
One of the puniest foods to be nominated: Surryano Ham Slices are a play on words Surry, where it's made, and serrano. This ham gets dry-cured, smoked for seven days over hickory wood, then aged more than 400 days.
Washington -- Whole Northwest King Salmon
Pure Food Fish Markey, an iconic stall in Seattle's Pike Place Market, gets its fish from the icy waters of the North Pacific. Order whole Northwest king salmon by the pound and the fishmongers will cut up fillets or steaks at no extra charge.
Washington, DC -- Chili Con Carne
If Ben's Chili Bowl is good enough for President Obama to visit, it's good enough for this list. The landmark restaurant ships its famed all-beef chili con crane, stuffed with fresh green peppers, onions and kidney beans.
West Virginia -- Pepperoni Rolls
Pepperoni rolls were invented by Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro as a portable staple for Italian coal miners around the 1930s. Today, the soft white rolls stuffed with pepperoni sticks, slices or chunks can be found all over the state, especially in Italian bakeries like the celebrated Tomaro's.
Wisconsin -- Smoked Bratwurst with Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeno Peppers
Brat lovers from far and wide name-drop Usinger's, a family-owned sausage shop opened in the late 1800s, which now makes tons of likable links. We grilled up a bunch and particularly loved the Smoked Bratwurst with Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeno Peppers.
Wyoming -- Elk Steaks
You don't need to be a hunter to enjoy tender elk steaks from the Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company, a go-to game source since 1947. Hint: Go ahead and order some buffalo steaks while you're at it.
