Dollars+Sense: Basket case

Sending a food basket to out-of-town loved ones for the holidays is an act of faith. Will it arrive in time (if at all) with the food intact, tastier than a packing peanut? You need more assurance than a gorgeous photo when ordering, so I tested many of the best bets from Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, Wall Street Journal's catalog critic and public radio's Lynne Rossetto Kasper to lead shoppers in the right direction.

Try iGourmet for a variety of top-notch foods. One good choice is its International Classic Gift Basket (Item number G125, $60, 1-877-446-8763, www.igourmet.com) in a copper basket with cheeses, Serrano ham, crackers, olive mix and dessert. There are also selections for vegetarians ($33 to $80) as well as vegans who don't eat dairy products or honey (C603, $75).

The Wine Country's Office Party gift basket (No. 516, $50, 1-800-394-0394, www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com) includes high-quality sausage, cheese spread, mustard, crackers, candies, cookies and nuts.

Harry & David's Large All-Occasion Basket (No. 4205Z, $60, 1-800-345-5655, www.harryanddavid.com). Most of the assortment is good, especially pears, jam, popcorn mix and sausage. Some fruit can be hit or miss, the cheese just OK.

Rio Star Grapefruit ($35 for 12, 1-888-895-0108, www.stxorganics.com). Organic grapefruit as big as the Lone Star state and as sweet as Laura Bush's sweet potato pie.

The Royal Riviera pears from Harry & David are unbelievably sweet and juicy. You can buy the pears at local Harry & David stores and occasionally get a better deal at the outlets in Albertville and Medford. Current offer: Buy one box ($30 for about 10 pears) and get the second one at half price. The slightly cheaper Maverick pears taste just as sweet, but have minor blemishes. Follow ripening instructions for maximum enjoyment.

Katz and Company ($39 for 3, 1-800-676-7176, www.katzandco.com) is a small business in Napa Valley. It picks the fruit at peak ripeness and ships when it's ready. Jams are shipped in season. Plum, blueberry, citrus and peach are currently ripe and ready.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. His articles are online at www.startribune.com/dollars.

I fell hard for David's Cookies cheesecakes ($29 for six or $40 for 12, 1-800-217-2938 or www.davidscookies.com), especially the creamy 3-inch mini-cakes sent in a holiday tin in assorted flavors (turtle, cappuccino, Black Forest or classic).

The ever popular cakes from Eli's win many fans over, but those from Junior's Restaurant ($30 to $40, 1-800-458-6467, www.juniorscheesecake.com) taste better and are a good value. Additional flavors such as pumpkin and Christmas swirl are available during the holidays, but the plain cheesecake takes the, er, cake. Amazingly, the cakes arrived without a smudge or a crack.

When I've ordered top chocolate recommended by Consumer Reports, I generally think its picks pale next to truffles from Chocolat Celeste in St. Paul ($36 for nine, 651-644-3823 or www.chocolat celeste.com), which are delectable but pricey. (New flavor: peppermint mocha). One less expensive mail-order standout is Candinas (1-800-845-1554, www.candinas.com). Choose from 16 flavors and then select a box of two to 36 pieces. Prices are $1.50 or less per piece depending on quantity.

For a fun variation, try Wine Filled Truffles from Red Envelope ($25 for 12, 1-877-733-3683, www.redenvelope.com) with Cabernet, Chardonnay, Champagne or Port. The chocolates must be shipped either overnight or two-day air for an additional $17.

While Omaha Steaks get fair to middlin' reviews, Lobel's of New York (1-877-783-4512, www.lobels.com) wins many taste tests for its corn-fed Midwestern beef, but at Nu-Yawk City slicker prices. The fresh (never frozen) steaks are high-priced, but sure to please, regardless if you're looking for filet mignon ($105 for 4-6 ounce steaks) or strip steaks. Wagyu and natural prime beef are also available.

The price for tantalizingly tasty crab cakes isn't quite so lofty. Phillips Premium Crab Cakes ($60 for six 4-ounce cakes, 1-800-782-2722, www.crabcakes.com) were judged slightly better than QVC's ever-popular cakes from Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes & More, which are also excellent.

Salmon fillets from Perona Farms are certified kosher ($26 for one pre-sliced pound, 1-800-750-6190, www.peronafarms.com). For a wonderful spice blend of flavors, try the pastrami-style salmon with molasses, pepper, coriander, cayenne and paprika.