Gone are the days when sending edible presents by mail meant vacuum-packed steaks from the heartland or overpriced melon bouquets. The city’s gift-delivery game has been given an artisanal overhaul, with a number of small businesses doling out delicious made-in-L.A. products posthaste.
PRETTY SWEET
Compartés Chocolatier
The Goods: A box of Compartés truffles resembles a delectable mosaic of Los Angeles. Colorful palm trees and iconic architectural forms are printed on each uniquely flavored chocolate. The Drop: Boxes of truffles and “Love Nuts” start at $15; priority shipping is usually less than $10. > 912 S. Barrington Ave., Brentwood, 310-826-3380. Also at 8428 Melrose Pl., Beverly Grove.
PROTEIN PACK
Rare Gourmet Meats
The Goods: Break Omaha’s beef monopoly with this spin-off from esteemed L.A. wholesaler Rocker Bros. Meat & Provisions. Jidori chickens, Colorado lamb chops, and Aspen Ridge skirt steaks—the same ones grilled by Bestia’s Ori Menashe—arrive on your favorite carnivore’s doorstep. The Drop: Variety packs start at $250. Add another $35 for delivery. > 310-738-6487.
DAIRY DEVOTION
Andrew’s Cheese Shop
The Goods: If the fromage fan in your life extols the virtues of Sardinian ewe’s milk, Andrew Steiner’s cheese-of-the-month club should satisfy. Each package includes a trio of eight-ounce hunks of the impressively obscure stuff, and Steiner throws in some tasting notes. The Drop: A month’s membership costs $40; local delivery is $5. > 728 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 310-393-3308.
HEAT SEEKING
Fuego Box
The Goods: A subscription to Fuego Box entitles you to three small-batch hot sauces that smack spice into your burrito without “burning your ass off,” as owner Mike McAdams puts it. He’s become a champion of local products like All Good Sauce, Infinity Sauces, and Gindo’s Spice of Life. The Drop: Boxes run $27.95 to $29.95 apiece, with free shipping anywhere in the United States. Call it a one-off, or keep that spice train rolling 12 times a year.
VARIETY SHOW
Valleybrink Road
The Goods: Chef, caterer, and Valleybrink Road blogger Barrett Prendergast fills her gift boxes with toffee from Valerie Confections, ground beans from Alfred Coffee & Kitchen, and other treats from members of L.A.’s snackerati. The baskets are keepers; many come bedecked with fresh flowers. The Drop: You can request one of the preset boxes, $100 and up, or a custom order. Local delivery costs $25.
