From the Mitten with love: The Free Press guide to mail-order food gifts from Michigan
Looking for gift ideas for a foodie or a homesick loved one on your list?
Think locally.
Sending a gift of food is a great way to showcase what Michigan has to offer or to give ex-Michiganders a nostalgic taste of their home state.
Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas are known to be agriculturally diverse, and they produce a bounty of unique food items. There are the preserves made with Michigan-grown fruits, smoked salmon from a tiny spot in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district and those hearty meat pies called pasties we associate with the U.P.
More: Metro Detroit bars decked out with holiday pop-ups: 12 spots to visit
You can even ship a kit that has all the fixings for a Detroit-style coney dog. Both American Coney Island and National Coney Island have kits that include hot dogs, buns, chili and even a paper hat. National Coney Island will also ship its hot dogs and chili separately.
Mail order outfit Zingerman's has offerings from all its community of businesses, including the bakery and creamery. It will even ship all the ingredients to make its famed Reuben sandwiches, breads and sour cream coffee cakes.
More: Holiday Market at Troy Italian eatery features handmade cookies, cakes and specialty items
If you can’t decide what to send, several Michigan establishments will put together a Michigan gift basket or box for you. There’s the Heart of Michigan in Howell at heartofmich.com and Holland-based Michigan Awesome at michiganawesome.com.
More: 12 must-visit cookie walks bringing joy, charity across metro Detroit
Michigan companies stand ready to ship their goodies anywhere, but keep in mind that many have cutoff dates for getting orders placed, especially for highly perishable items. Also keep an eye on shipping costs. Some places waive shipping with orders above a minimum amount, while some charge a flat rate. Some include shipping in the price.
Here's our annual list of goodies from the Mitten. Happy holidays and happy shopping.
Baked goods
Ackroyd's Bakery
This 70-plus-year-old Redford establishment specializes in Scottish fare, including meats, savory meat pies and sweets. Its scones are made daily. An 18-scone variety pack is $20.99. Ackroyd’s also has a large selection of Scottish savory pies. A two-pack steak pie is $29.99.
Order: 313-532-1181 or ackroydsbakery.com. You can also order items for pickup at Ackroyd’s Redford operations at 25137 Plymouth Road.
Grand Traverse Pie
Making cherry pies with tart cherries and a unique crumb topping helped Grand Traverse get its start more than 25 years ago. Its pie line now includes more than two dozen fruit flavors and chicken potpies. Cherry Crumb ($36.99) made with tart Montmorency cherries is still the top seller.
Order: 866-444-7437 or gtpie.com
Jams, preserves, condiments
American Spoon
This northern Michigan company uses Michigan-grown fruit in much of its product line, which includes fruit butter, preserves, marmalades, salsas, relishes, sauces and condiments. New this year is its hot cocoa mix. A 12.5-ounce jar is $16.95. Its Classic Pancake Breakfast Box ($60) is a collection of pancake essentials, including wheat and malt pancake mix, fruit and maple syrup.
Order: 888-735-6700 or spoon.com
BLiS Gourmet
BliS, based in Grand Rapids, stands for “Because Life is Short.” Chef Steve Stallard is behind a line of bourbon barrel-aged sauces, vinegars, maple syrup and soy sauce. A popular gift item is the BliS Gourmet gift set ($87.95) that includes maple syrup, maple sherry vinegar, soy sauce, hot pepper sauce and steak sauce along with white truffle oil, fish sauce, pancake mix and Santa Fe spice rub.
Order: blisgourmet.com
Food for Thought
This Traverse City brand makes small batches of everything from preserves to salsas. The Michigan Cherry Favorites gift set is $34.75 and includes Truly Natural Tart Cherry Preserves, Cherry BBQ Sauce, Black Cherry Preserves Truly Natural Cherry Habanero Pepper Jelly and Cherry Salsa.
Order: 888-935-2748 or foodforthought.net
Fustini's Oils & Vinegars
This tasting room for olive oil and balsamic vinegar has locations in Ann Arbor, Holland and Petoskey. Its Taste of Michigan gift set ($85) includes 375 milliliter bottles of Fustini’s Traverse City cherry balsamic, west Michigan blueberry balsamic, Michigan apple balsamic and basil olive oil.
Order: fustinis.com
Iron Fish Distillery
This craft distillery in Thompsonville got its start in 2016 with barrel-finished whiskies and other spirits. It also offers bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup. The original syrup is $24 and a cinnamon variety is $26. The breakfast kit ($70) includes a bottle of bourbon barrel-aged syrup, whiskey barrel-aged honey, Wee Bee Jammin local jam and pancake and waffle mix from Modern Bird in Traverse City.
Order: ironfishdistillery.com
Mike's Mustard
This sweet, tangy and creamy mustard from Charlevoix is terrific as a dip (especially with pretzels) as well as a sandwich condiment. You can also use it for cooking. Mustards are $6 for a 6-ounce jar or $11 for a 16-ounce jar. Varieties include creamy lemon dill, creamy jalapeno, creamy barbecue and creamy cherry mustard. Gift box sets are available.
Order: 231-547-0585 or mikesmustard.com
Rocky Top Farms
At this Ellsworth farm, the specialties are preserves, fruit butters and toppings all packed in keepsake gift boxes made of Michigan white cedar. Gift boxes with a Michigan-themed scene on the cover are $45-$80. One gift box includes three jars of Rocky Top Preserves, a spoon for preserves, a decorative Christmas bulb, a cookbook and chocolate dried cherries for $80.
Order: 231-599-2251 or rockytopfarms.com
Small Batch Detroit
Small Batch, run by Detroit Food Academy students, has put together gift boxes with a trio of 10-ounce jars of jams curated by several Detroit chefs. It's $39.95. It also has partnered with Share Crackers, a Detroit sourdough cracker company, on a holiday gift box ($69.95) that includes three cracker varieties and three varieties of jam from DFA’s popular Slow Jams product line. It’s $69.95. Purchases help support culinary-focused education and career opportunities for DFA students and youngsters ages 10-24.
Order: smallbatchdetroit.com
Savory
Durham's Tracklements and Smokery
The business is known for its gravlax and other seasoned cures, such as Thai cured salmon, in limited quantities. Its basic package is $85, according to its website, and includes 1½ pounds of cold-smoked salmon that's vacuum-packed. It's shipped UPS 2nd Day Air.
Order: 734-930-6642 or tracklements.com
Lawry's Pasty Shop
This Marquette establishment, which opened in 1946, was lauded by Food & Wine magazine in 2020. Its pasties are shipped frozen with dry ice to most of the U.S. An eight-pack of Lawry's original beef pasties (12 ounces each) is $81.30 plus shipping.
Order: 906-226-5040 or lawryspasties.com
Leelanau Cheese
The company specializes in handmade raclette cheese and fromage blanc using local milk. Its mild raclette cheese starts at $9 per half-pound. Gift boxes include the Sweet and Savory ($66.50) that pairs jam and salty cheese. It has three raclette varieties (a half-pound each of traditional mild, rosemary and green peppercorns) and three jars of locally sourced fruit preserves. Its fromage blanc ($13 for two 8-ounce containers) is available in herb, garlic, black truffle and peppercorn varieties.
Order: 231-271-2600 or leelanaucheese.com
Lehto’s Pasties
This St. Ignace pasty shop was founded in 1947 by John Lehto and is now operated by Lehto's niece, Laurie, and her husband, Bill Walker. Lehto’s offers beef, chicken and vegetable pasties that include potato, onion and rutabaga (a hallmark of a true pasty) in the filling. They're shipped after Labor Day and through Memorial Day. The cost is $8.50 each plus tax and shipping.
Order: 906-984-2144 or lehtospasties.com
Pinconning Cheese
You can choose from a selection of Pinconning mild to sharp cheddar cheeses, some of which have been aged more than a dozen years. Prices are by the pound and vary. Pinconning is also known for its custom-made cheese spread, jerky, smoked fish and pickled items. A wooden cheese gift box includes seven varieties of cheese and a Pinconning cheese spread for $59.99.
Order: 800-678-1962 or pinconningcheese.com
Pasty Central
Individual handmade pasties come in meat, vegetable and breakfast varieties and are shipped fully cooked and frozen. They're priced at $48 (four-pack), $62 (six-pack), $99 (dozen) and $185 (two dozen). All prices are plus shipping. Each traditional pasty weighs about 14 ounces. Check the Calumet company's online calendar for available shipping dates.
Order: 877-727-8911 or pasty.com
Pietrzyk Pierogi
Erica Pietrzyk turned her pierogi pop-ups into a brick-and-mortar location at Eastern Market. Pierogi are available in a wide variety by the dozen along with other products. Holiday gift baskets come in several sizes for pickup or shipping. A small basket ($45 plus shipping) includes a dozen pierogi, a quart of dill pickle soup, sour cream, sauerkraut and an onion. A Polish Starter box ($79) includes two dozen pierogi, a pound of kielbasa, a half dozen potato pancakes, a quart of dill pickle soup, an onion, two pounds of sauerkraut, hot horseradish and sour cream.
Order: pietrzykpierogi.com
Srodek's Pierogi and Meats
The family-owned and -operated company is known for its pierogi and homemade sausage. Pierogi are available in varieties including potato, kraut, meat, mushroom and sweet farmer cheese. Prices start at $8.99 for a dozen. Srdoek's also ships its fresh kielbasa and smoked kielbasa in rings of about 2½ pounds starting at $14.99 for a ring.
Order: 586-250-9090 or srodek.com
Sweets and snacks
Better Made Snack Foods
Celebrating more than 90 years in business, this iconic Detroit company is still family-owned. Its snacks consist of its famous chips in a variety of flavors and other items like caramel and cheese popcorn. For a limited time, Better Made is offering 7-ounce tins of its wavy chips covered in milk or dark chocolate for $12.99.
Order: 313-925-4774 or bettermade.com
Dave’s Sweet Tooth Toffee
Andrew Chmielewski, founder of this Harrison Township company, uses a toffee recipe from his father. The toffee is sold in pouches or jars, and both are available on the company's website. A bundle of five 8-ounce jars is $65 and includes milk chocolate, dark chocolate, dark chocolate cherry, peanut butter crunch and coffee. Mix-and-match sets of three 4-ounce pouches start at $17.97.
Order: davessweettooth.com
Germack Pistachio Company
This longstanding Eastern Market company has roasted nuts, seeds, candy, trail mixes and dried fruits. Popular items are roasted pistachios, cashews and fancy mixed nuts. It also offers teas, spices and on-site roasted coffee.
Order: 800-872-4006 or germack.com
Grocer's Daughter Chocolate
This shop on a stretch of M-22 is just minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire. Its Sweet Surprise Gift Box ($52) includes a six piece truffle/honey caramel gift box, smoked sea salt bark and a signature Grocer's Daughter Chocolate Wally or Dianne bar. The Chocolate Lover's Gift Box ($106.50) includes 16 truffles and and more. Vegan and dairy-free options are available. Shipping included.
Order: 231-326-3030 or www.grocersdaughter.com
Original Murdick's Fudge
The famed Mackinac Island fudge shop has holiday gift sets with 10 varieties of fudge to choose from. Holiday flavors this year are penuche (creamy fudge with a caramel-like flavor), chocolate walnut, cranberry, maple bourbon pecan and chocolate mint. A five-slice gift set ($58.95) includes its five most popular fudge flavors: chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter, turtle and double chocolate caramel sea salt. The slices come packed in a box featuring a Mackinac Island scene. You can customize the flavors for $59.95.
Order: 906-847-3530 or originalmurdicksfudge.com
Ryba's Fudge Shops
This iconic Mackinac Island shop, which has 21 flavors of fudge and other sweets, got its start in 1936 on Detroit’s east side and moved to the island in 1960. Its Best of Mackinac Island Sampler ($49.95) features Victor’s original caramel corn, peanut brittle, saltwater taffy and two, half-pound slices of fudge.
Order: 800-447-9227 or ryba.com
Sanders Candy
Sanders Candy, metro Detroit's iconic confectioner in Clinton Township, offers a Best of Sanders gift box ($79.99) that features the company's famous chocolate sea salt caramels, milk chocolate pecan clusters, milk chocolate thins, dairy-free dark chocolate caramels and peanut butter blocks.
Order: sanderscandy.com
The Toffee Store
This Oakland Township store makes its nine flavors of toffee from scratch in small batches. Its signature toffee is covered with chocolate and salted pecans. The Toffee Repertoire gift set ($40) features eight varieties of toffee, including its new flavor, Cobblestone, made with butter, sugar, roasted pecans and vanilla.
Order: 248-240-6450 or thetoffeestore.com
Coffee
Detroit Bold Coffee Co.
Founder A.J. O'Neil blends his coffees with selections from Highland Park's Becharas Brothers Coffee Roasters. Many of the coffee blends have Detroit-related names such as Woodward Avenue, 8 Mile Baseline and Detroit 1701 French Roast. A Christmas coffee gift set includes a pound of coffee with a coffee mug. Pricing starts at $24.99.
Order: 248-277-2640 or detroitboldcoffee.com
Higher Grounds Coffee
Higher Grounds Coffee in Traverse City roasts organic fair-trade coffee sourced from small-scale farmers around the world. A sampler box includes 6 ounces each of its three best-selling coffee blends (Funky Mamcita, Highland Humanity and Justice) for $24.
Order: 231-922-9009 or highergroundstrading.com
Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co.
This Glen Arbor-based coffee roasting company has been roasting beans in small batches for nearly 30 years. The Red, White & Blue gift set ($65) features two half-pounds pounds of Leelanau coffee, a pound of pancake mix, 8 ounces of local maple syrup, cherry jam and a half-pound of Michigan dried blueberries. The Leelanau Jam Session ($69) features three pounds of coffee, cherry jam from Cherry Republic and Honey Creme from Sleeping Bear Farms.
Order: 800-424-5282 or leelanaucoffee.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan-made food gifts: The Free Press' annual mail-order guide
