If you can’t take your dad out for dinner at his favorite steakhouse or join him in the backyard as he fires up the grill this Father’s Day, that doesn’t mean you can’t gift him his favorite food. Thanks to innovations in cold shipping and a few neat delivery services, sending dad local delicacies has never been easier — even if he lives in Los Angeles and those delicacies are made in Greenwich Village. To help you find the right edible or drinkable treat, we’ve rounded up the best food gifts from a variety of retailers. There’s everything from heat-and-eat dinners to easy snacks to bar essentials, and our list covers every type of dad, whether he’s a meat-and-potatoes guy, a clean eater, or a teetotaler.
We’ve noted shipping costs and estimated delivery times where applicable, but know that delivery estimates are constantly changing. Since Father’s Day is June 19, the sooner you order, the better. (If you’re prone to procrastination and would rather not worry about shipping, we’ve rounded up a slew of virtual gifts for dad, too, which you can send with just the click of a button.)
For the old-school dad with a sweet tooth
Junior’s is a New York City institution — and its signature cheesecakes are a sure bet. They ship frozen and need a day to thaw in the fridge, so keep that in mind when you order.
For the dad whose sweet tooth requires chocolate
Jacques Torres is a famous chocolatier — and his crackly, gooey, supremely chocolatey chocolate chip cookies do not disappoint. The box comes with 12 total, and at five inches across, they’re quite substantial. He’ll have to eat them all within a day or so or freeze what he can’t finish to keep them fresh.
For the dad whose sweet tooth requires variety
If he wants some (but not all) chocolate, try the best-seller’s box from Cream Bakery, which comes with four different types of bars: fudge brownie, cookies ’n’ cream, chocolate chip, and raspberry swirl to change things up. Each treat comes individually wrapped, so they’ll last a couple of weeks, and you can add a note for dad, too.
For the dad who misses his favorite steakhouse
Maybe he tried Peter Luger once and can’t stop talking about the porterhouse for two (that he swears he could have polished off on his own). Or maybe it’s at the top of his must-try list. Either way, this indulgent gift will allow him to savor that very famous steak in the comfort of his own home.
For the dad who prefers his meat cured
Whether or not he’s watching a game, this “Slam Dunk” bundle from Murray’s is sure to land. It includes Genoa salami and Prosciutto San Daniele, along with maple-leaf-pepper-jack cheese, Boerenkaas gouda, French double crème brie, chocolate, and crackers, all of which arrive packaged inside the brand’s signature gift box.
For the dad who prefers his meat in a sandwich
If he knows anything about deli food, he’s probably heard of Zingerman’s. The iconic deli, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is offering their perennial-favorite sandwich in kit form. You can buy it for dad and spend Father’s Day DIY-ing lunch for the whole family, a.k.a. layering delicious corned beef onto rye bread.
For the dad who’s ready to fire up the grill
Butcher Box, a meat-delivery service that ships choice cuts right to you, curated this one specifically for grilling. It’s filled with hot dogs, sausages, rib eyes, chicken wings, and more. He can stock the freezer and pull out his protein of choice whenever the mood strikes, or he can invite friends over for a big barbecue and fire it up all at once.
For the dad who’s already a grilling master
If he uses up condiments like nobody’s business, he’ll be thrilled with this fun set of small-batch mustards. There’s “Dijonish” (the most classic), jalapeño, horseradish, and a truffle-flavored one you can only find in this four pack. And yes, they all go great with sausages.
For the dad who can’t get enough condiments
If he’s already stocked up on mustards, try this sweet and citrusy yuzu preserve recommended by Annie Shi, co-owner and manager at King restaurant in New York City. She describes it as a “more versatile and delicious orange marmalade.” Indeed, you can make a gin spritz with it, add it to baked goods, use it as a glaze for poultry, and stir it into tea as a sweetener.
For the dad who likes a glass of wine with dinner
Going to the wine shop can feel like a to-do, but the sommelier-approved Primal Wine Club will send a selection of natural wines — made with minimal intervention using organic or biodynamic grapes — right to his door every month. Subscriptions start at $85 for monthly three-bottle deliveries, and he can always take over paying for it if you don’t want to foot the bill for an entire year. Shipping is free and will go out the next business day once you place your order.
For the dad who sips whiskey
If he likes whiskey more than wine, you can’t go wrong with this Cherrywood Rye from Sonoma Distilling Co. According to expert Jenna Elie, who originally recommended the bottle, “maker Adam Spiegel has honed in on a craft to be proud of.” She notes this particular one has “unctuous notes of leather, figs, and toasted almonds, with a lovely kick of spice.”
For the dad who starts cocktail hour at five o’clock on the dot
When he’s that rigorous about his nightly ritual, he probably won’t use any old ingredients to make his nightly gin and tonic. According to bartenders, this small-batch tonic syrup made with a hint of lemongrass and orange peel will take his drink of choice to the next level.
For the dad who enjoys a cold one
And if beer is his beverage of choice, he’ll surely love this “beer of the month” club that comes recommended by Nikki McCutcheon, the beverage director at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge at the Moxy Times Square hotel. For $46 a month, the service will send monthly deliveries of four varieties of award-winning beer from two independent craft breweries (a total of 12 beers per delivery), all of which are curated by a panel of experts.
For the dad who’d rather brew his own beer
This kit comes with everything he needs to brew his first batch of beer, including hops, IPA grain mix, and reusable equipment (glass fermentation jug, thermometer, racking cane, tubing, tubing clamp, screw-cap stopper, and airlock). If he wants to try making a different brew, all you need to do is get another beer mix.
For the dad who’s a teetotaler
Bartenders agree that Seedlip’s non-alcoholic spirits are among the best you can buy, with the Garden 108 flavor being one of their favorites for its “herbaceous, bright, and spring-y” taste. The pros say it’s best used in light, floral cocktails or just with a splash of tonic water.
For the dad who’s a teetotaler but likes his drinks carbonated
If alcohol isn’t in the cards, a 12-pack of Sanzo sparkling water makes a very fun gift. It comes in lychee, calamansi, mango, and yuzu — not your average flavors. You can buy one type if you know which he’ll like best or you can get a sampler so he can try them all.
For the dad whose drug of choice is caffeine
Help him find some new favorite varieties of mud to sip on with a subscription from barista-approved Trade, which sends coffee hand picked for him based on his preferences. Does he use a drip machine or a Chemex? Want light, medium, or dark roast? Plans start at $15 for one bag shipped every one to three weeks. If you up that to two bags at a time, each one drops to $12.50 a piece. All subscription orders ship free and come directly from different roasting facilities, so delivery times will vary.
For the dad who likes his caffeine green
If Dad happens to be a matcha drinker, Justin Iso, a Japanese confectionery chef and avid matcha drinker since childhood, says this matcha from Kyoto-based Ippodo is an excellent option for matcha veterans and first-time drinkers alike. He describes the flavor as “balanced with just a touch of bitterness and medium body.” And unlike some other matcha brands, the quality is consistent from tin to tin.
For the dad who always takes his coffee with a pastry
Porto’s, a Los Angeles–based Cuban bakery and cafe chain, normally sees lines out the door no matter the time of day. Luckily, the bakery will ship its treats nationwide. These sweet cream cheese rolls are one of the most popular items on the menu, and all dad has to do is heat up the oven to get that fresh-baked experience at home. Refrigerated shipping to New York costs $17, and you can select your delivery date for arrival before Father’s Day.
For the dad who starts his mornings with cereal
Tom Bannister, perhaps better known as the husband of Instagram’s Eva Chen, operates a two-at-a-time granola business anchored by his signature Ginger Zing flavor plus a limited-edition monthly batch. (May’s is Smoky Chocolate, which combines chocolate chunks with paprika, hickory-smoked almonds, and BBQ flavoring.) Whichever you choose, people are pretty obsessed with his creations, and if dad is a cereal guy, we’re sure he will be, too.
For the dad who likes his peppers pickled
Chef and food artist Laila Gohar says that these “spicy and briny” pickled peppers “add a nice bite to a lot of dishes,” which is why they are one of her favorite jarred foods. Of course, they’re just as delicious on their own — Gohar also told us she eats them straight from the jar — and would make for a most satisfying snack.
For the dad who likes his fish pickled
The pickled herring with cream and onions from Russ & Daughters is one Strategist staffer’s go-to gift for her dad, a pickled-herring connoisseur who thinks this is the best there is. If you want to go all out, send him the eatery’s classic New York brunch spread, which is another favorite and includes bagels, cream cheese, lox, and an entire chocolate babka.
For the dad who sprinkles Maldon on everything
We love Maldon, too, but sometimes it’s fun to change things up — or at least give Dad the option to. This sea salt comes recommended by Bruce Bromberg, co-founder of Blue Ribbon Restaurants, who discovered it at a farmers’ market on the Big Island in Hawaii. He says the crystals are light and flaky and that it’s “amazing for curing and for foods with a bold flavor, like roasts, ribs, and chicken.”
For the dad who eats peanut butter straight from the jar
Speaking of Hawaii, this macadamia-nut butter became a favorite treat of former Strategist writer Nikita Richardson when she was in Oahu — so much so that she immediately ordered more to her home the second Banán started shipping to the other 49 states. Made from just macadamias and honey, this slightly sweet spread would be good on Dad’s morning toast, in smoothies, and, of course, straight from the jar.
For the dad with a burgeoning hot-sauce collection
If his plate isn’t complete without a spicy condiment, he’ll surely appreciate a couple bottles of Zab’s. Both kinds they make — a classic vinegar-based one and another with more of a sweet heat — include the datil pepper, a rare variety grown in St. Augustine, Florida.
For the dad who opts for chili crisp
Fly by Jing’s chili crisp is one of our favorites — but this trio of condiments delivers more than just their numbing, savory signature. There’s also Zhong Sauce, a sweet, tangy, and spicy number with a backbone of umami — perfect for eating with dumplings or noodles. And there’s Mala Spice Mix, what the brand calls a “potent” blend of 11 different herbs and spices. We imagine it would be great used in marinades and sprinkled on stir-fries.
For the dad who spends every Saturday morning behind a griddle
A pancake obsessive deserves only the best maple syrup. This trio of flavors from Bushwick Kitchen (the maker of other condiments we’ve written about before) includes a “spicy” maple syrup, one infused with gingerbread, and another infused with Stumptown coffee. They all come packaged in a gift box with a handwritten note to boot. Of course, they’d go great with waffles, too.
For the dad who could always go for a slice or two
In a city with slice joints on every corner, Di Fara stands out — so much so that it lures folks from all over the five boroughs to Midwood, Brooklyn, just to have a taste. Imagine how excited he’ll be if you surprise him with two of the world’s best pizza pies, wherever he is.
For the dad who could always go for a slice or two (of pie)
Over the years, several pie experts have tipped us off to the cult-famous, Brooklyn-based pie shop Four & Twenty. “I still dream of their pie slices,” says Nadia Chaudhury, editor of Eater Austin and a former New Yorker. While the shop makes a handful of flavors, we think any pie-loving dad will appreciate the bakery’s signature, salty-sweet honey pie, which features a “wonderfully gooey, sweet, luscious, and just-rightly intense custard,” Chaudhury says.
For the dad who’s nuts for nuts
This two-pound tray comes with jumbo natural pistachios, milk chocolate peanuts and raisins, butternut peanuts, jumbo roasted and salted cashews, and sugar-toasted peanuts for the dad who loves to nosh. Standard shipping rates start at $7, but if your order has items that may melt in transit (like the chocolate-covered candies in this sampler), Nuts.com will automatically upgrade shipping to a faster method (and suggest adding heat-resistant packaging for an extra $3).
For the dad who’s nuts for (just) peanuts
If peanuts are his favorite, it doesn’t get any better than CB’s Jumbo Inshell Peanuts, recommended to us by Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria, owners of New York City’s beloved design shop Coming Soon. “They taste like really good peanut butter,” says Faria. “They’re just delicious.” The brand does also make peanut butter, peanut brittle, and its own take on Cracker Jack.
For the dad who can’t wait to go on vacation
If he’s not traveling anytime soon, you can create a tiny bit of that seaside-holiday experience by sending him some of the best lobster from Maine. From McLoons Lobster Shack, this kit comes with everything he needs to make four delectable, summery sandwiches: a pound of lobster tail, knuckle, and claw meat, New England–style split top rolls, Casco Bay Artisan Sea Salt Butter, and mayonnaise.
For the dad who’s more of a crab guy
These authentic Maryland crab cakes that come from Cameron’s Seafood are made from Chesapeake Bay crabs that, according to the company, build up extra fat stores during the winter, making them sweeter and more buttery than crabs from other places. Order now and you can schedule your delivery to arrive exactly when you want before Father’s Day.
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