Mail Order Stew -- Right For You?

Stew by Mail? (Courtesy Pixabay)

Can’t say as I blame you if you find it hard to believe. Who would order stew by mail?
There could be circumstances, I suppose.   At any rate, there surely must be an audience for such a thing, because there are several providers of mail order stew active on the Internet.
For instance, Kenny and Ziggy. Their mail order stew is

  

Hungarian goulash, which they describe in tempting terms: chunks of boneless short ribs that have been stewed in a hearty tomato-based gravy for 3 ½ hours, then blended with carrots and onions, garlic and fresh-ground Hungarian paprika and spices.

   A quart can be yours for $29.95 plus shipping which may run from about $10 to $45, depending on your location.

                             The Down-Home Version

   But that is goulash, maybe like me you favor the down-home variety of stew. So you might be attracted to the “Family-StyleBeef Stew” from Gourmet Grocer.

   This stew includes tender beef sirloin strips with sliced carrots, peas, pearl onions and red roasted potatoes in a rich beef gravy, so they say.

   And, last time I looked, it was sale priced at $24.95 (usually ten bucks more) plus shipping that is figured based on location.

   That will get you 24 ounces of stew, and they say it will serve two to four persons. I think if it is four there will be some long faces toward the end of a rather small meal.

                                       The Dinner Party Stew

                             

   A fancier version of mail order stew comes from Babeth’s Feast. It is called Beef Bourguignon and they proclaim you shall receive “tender antibiotic-free beef, braised in a bacon-infused red wine sauce with mushrooms, onions and carrots.”

   I salute their honesty, it is only claimed to be for one person, or maybe two with small appetites. So for your dinner party you will need to order lots.

   It appears to me this dish will cost you $12.99 and $15 flat rate shipping.

  Babeth’s also offers side dishes to jazz up your dinner party such as “Maple Sriracha Glazed Brussels Sprouts.”

  

   Yes, dear reader, even if you find a good price for the meal it is the shipping that eats you up!

                             
                                        How About a Little Lamb?

   For something a little different you might want to try American Spring Lamb from Morrison Meat Pies. It includes peas and potatoes in a “delicious” gravy accented with Rosemary and Mint baked in flaky pastry.

   The site also offers Scottish meat pies and other products. The lamb pies were priced at $69.50 for a 24-pack plus $35.00 shipping…

                                 Good Ol’ Chesapeake Oyster Stew

   

   For closing I think I will venture to seafood that comes from just down the road from my home, Chesapeake Oyster Stew.

   This mail order stew blends a cream base, fresh creamery Grade A butter, and delicate seasonings “to augment the tender, succulent oysters in every rich and velvety spoonful.”

   Linton Seafood says their stew has no MSG, artificial flavorings or colorings.

   It comes condensed just add an equal amount of milk or cream.

   The 15 ounce size is said to serve four. I didn’t click through to see the cost but Linton’s is famous hereabouts for hefty prices. Shipping would run about twenty bucks.

  They feature many other offerings including alligator meat at $22.99 pound.