With the rising prices of, well, just about everything, consumers may be re-thinking seasonal splurges on international delicacies. Read on for a sampling of made-in-America alternatives, many of them gourmet and artisanal creations, for everything from caviar and prosciutto to sweet treats, as well.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Related: 22 Stupidly Expensive Foods You Won’t Believe Ever Existed
Try Instead: Classic California White Sturgeon Caviar
Starting at $60 from Browne Trading Company
It’s fitting that we begin our tour of delicacies with the rare indulgence of sturgeon fish eggs, long the pride of the regions surrounding the Caspian and Black seas. Breaking out of that regional monopoly, America has joined the market, with companies such as Portland, Maine’s Browne Trading Company offering a selection of made-in-America selections such as this 1-ounce tin filled with what the company calls a “striking black roe that has a delicate and creamy flavor.”
Try Instead: True Story Foods Prosciutto
$50 from True Story Foods
Prosciutto (the finest of the entries in this category long considered to be Prosciutto di Parma from Italy) is an uncooked, unsmoked, dry-cured ham, sliced thin and savored around the world. A charcuterie board anchor as well as gourmet topping for a pizza, prosciutto can be purchased domestically from artisan makers such as True Story Foods. The company got its start as a coalition of family farms in the Ozark Mountains and now extends to some 150 farms across five states. Just pork and sea salt, dry-aged for up to 10 months in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, this meat is sold in a six-pack of 3-ounce packages.
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Try Instead: Old Chatham Creamery Hudson Valley Nancy’s Camembert
$8 from FreshDirect
Considered one of the best French cheeses, true camembert comes from Normandy. It also comes from the Hudson Valley of New York, with this 4-ounce wedge, which the company notes is “crafted from a blend of certified non-GMO sheep and cow milk sourced from our own New York State Farms.”
Try Instead: Truffle Butter Sampler
$35 from D’Artagnan
Truffles are an elusive (and shockingly expensive) underground-grown fungi, prized and hunted in Europe. A short season also adds to its cachet. America, notably in the Pacific Northwest and North Carolina, are slowly making strides entering the field. Sure, truffles boast an acquired taste but one that adds a distinctive flavor. Try it out with this pair of small-batch, all-natural ingredient 8-ounce “product of the U.S.A.” butters (creamy butter with truffle pieces and flavor) that features one each of white and black truffle butter, which is designed to elevate everything from pastas to popcorn.
Try Instead: Li-Lac Chocolates Chocolate Truffle Box
$48 from Li-Lac Chocolates
Fans of Belgian chocolates, especially European truffles, may say, “European who?” after sampling the delights of this 15-piece Truffle Gift Box from “Manhattan’s oldest chocolate house.” Li-Lac has been offering small-batch, handmade chocolate and gifts since 1923. Today’s made-in-Brooklyn selections feature this handsome collection of ganache-filled (gluten-free and certified Kosher) treats. Ranging from French Cream to Amaretto to Champagne to Raspberry, the flavors seem to spell indulgence.
Related: 25 Candymakers With Treats Almost Too Pretty to Eat
Try Instead: Honey-Smoked Alaska Sockeye Salmon
$140 from Great Alaska Seafood
Scotland and Norway might duke it out for the bragging rights to producing the best smoked salmon, but if you’ve got a hankering for that slightly salty, slightly smoky fish, shop American and order from Alaska. This 4-pound, flash-frozen, vacuum-packed bounty is said to feature a mouth-watering glaze, too.
Try Instead: Korbel California Champagne Brut
$14 from Korbel
Many are familiar with the fact that a classic Champagne can only be a product of the Champagne region of France. But when the holidays call for bubbly, there’s nothing wrong with an American-made version, especially one from California created using the traditional French method or Méthode Champenoise. Korbel Champagne, which dates back to the late 19th century, offers a 750ml bottle of Brut, which it bills as “refined, with a balanced, medium-dry finish. Enjoy lively aromas of citrus and cinnamon leading to crisp flavors of orange, lime, vanilla and a hint of strawberry.”
Try Instead: Grove 45 Extra Virgin Olive Oil
$45 from The Savory Pantry
A staple in Italian cooking, Italian-made extra virgin olive oil is something many American chefs reach for. American makers, though, have been crafting certified extra virgin olive oil for some time now. Grove 45’s highly regarded offering (16.1 ounces) from Napa Valley, California, has earned the California Olive Oil Council’s Seal of Excellence.
Try Instead: Talbott & Arding’s Kate’s Mum’s Christmas Pudding
Starting at $29 from Talbott & Arding
The quintessential British holiday dessert, which has been part of festive celebrations since the medieval times, is a dark and fruity “bomb” of a finish to a lavish meal. Hudson, New York-based Talbott & Arding offers Kate’s Mum’s Christmas Pudding, filled with three kinds of raisins, candied orange peel, and finished with a dash of brandy. Expect authenticity, as the delicacy is based on British-native Kate Arding’s mother’s recipe.
Try Instead: Bennison’s Bakery Christmas Stollen
Starting at $24 from Bennison’s Bakery
Offered by this North Shore institution (since 1938), this stollen has our mouths watering: the stollen is made with golden and dark raisins, lemon and orange peel and slivered almonds, all soaked in dark rum for a minimum of three days. A small log of marzipan is added and the stollen is baked in moulds from Germany. Need we say more?
Try Instead: Mediterranean Organic Dolmas Stuffed Grape Leaves
$83 from Pure Modern Living
Stuffed grape leaves, or dolmas, are an Eastern Mediterranean delicacy, with origins in Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Lebanon, and the Middle East. Up the ante with this dairy- and GMO-free version made in America: organic rice, grape leaves, onions, olive oil, and spices. It’s said to be a crowd-pleaser, so this case of 12 10-ounce cans may just about get you through the festive-season entertaining.
Try Instead: Olympia Provisions Smoked Chorizo
$55 from Olympia Provisions American Charcuterie
Whether you fell in love with chorizo on a trip to Spain or simply as featured in the queso fundido at your neighborhood restaurant, you can find American-made versions of this Iberian pork sausage. This Portland, Oregon-based company offers a perfect-for-trying 12-ounce package of its Basque-inspired, smoked chorizo made with pork cuts, pimenton, and fresh garlic.
Try Instead: Parker’s Great British Institution Classic Pork Pie
$16 from Parker’s Great British Institution
Originally called The English Pork Pie Co., this Buffalo, New York-based company was founded by British expats Vicky and Damian Parker, who updated the name to reflect the expanded offerings of their company. Now, Parker’s Great British Institution brings even more U.K. traditions to America, but savory pies remain a signature, many handcrafted using Victorian pie presses. Individual or “family-size” pies run the gamut, ranging from the original to Steak & Ale Pie to Premium Fish Pie, Cheese & Onion Pie to Steak & Kidney Pie to Cornish Pasty to the Classic Yorkshire Pork Pie.
Related: Savory Pies From Around The World
Try Instead: Bouchon Bakery Traditional Macarons
$120 from Goldbelly
The French macaron, a merengue-based confection that comes in a multitude of flavors and colors, is believed to have been introduced in France by the Italian chef of Catherine de Medici during the Renaissance. Sure, the Parisian delicacy has become more common in America recently; even the venerable Ladurée Paris has outposts in the United States where its imported product is sold. Famed California-based chef Thomas Keller offers American-made macarons in his Bouchon Bakery (and this 24-piece gift box), one of the “classic desserts inspired by Chef Keller’s fond memories of the boulangeries from his time spent in France.”
Try Instead: Hermann Wurst Haus German-Style Bratwurst
$30 from Hermann Wurst Haus
If wintertime calls for authentically European comfort food, there’s no denying the heartiness of German sausage. This Hermann, Missouri-based company offers German-style bratwurst (here, a 12-brat package) among its many options. Feeling a bit more adventurous? The company also offers a Brat of the Month package ($43) featuring five different flavors.
Try Instead: Brigadeiros from Maya’s Brigadeiro Brazilian Sweets
$19 from Maya’s Brigadeiro Brazilian Sweets
This Brazilian treat — is it cake or candy? — was reportedly created by a confectioner in Rio de Janeiro. Featuring sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder, it’s a sweet treat no matter what you think it is. Maya’s Brigadeiro Brazilian Sweets in Los Angeles, California, shares that, “A Brigadeiro can best be described as a fusion between a truffle and a caramel, an enticing outer delight with a surprising center texture like nothing you have ever tried before.” Flavors range from Classic Chocolate to Coconut to Chocolate Honey Almond with the Oh What Fun! six-piece holiday collection including Peppermint.
Try Instead: Hebel & Co Super Bundle
$55 from Hebel & Co
This Middle Eastern treat has been compared to a fudge that instead of sugar is made from tahini, a condiment crafted from toasted sesame. Hebel & Co halvah is handmade in Los Angeles, and most flavors are soy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
Try Instead: Wicked Jack’s Tavern True Jamaican Rum Cake
Starting at $45 from Goldbelly
Bring the flavor of the islands to warm up your season. Jamaican rum cake is a regional specialty, perhaps first enjoyed on vacation but also available for dining when back at home. Wicked Jack’s Tavern in Marietta, Georgia, offers a version. Its name is a tribute to “Wicked” Jack Scarborough and his eponymous tavern in Port Royal, Jamaica. Available in 20- or 33-ounce cakes.
Try Instead: Pearson Ranch Fresh Yuzu
$15 and up from Pearson Ranch
The yuzu is an East Asian citrus plant not often eaten fresh. Instead, it’s primarily used for its flavor in ponzu sauce, liquor, honey, or tea. It’s also used in sweets from marmalade to cakes. Use this fresh yuzu in baking or as a substitute for citrus in most recipes.
Try Instead: Beth’s Farm Kitchen Lemon Curd
$9 from Hive
This dessert spread is a traditional element in English tarts and pies, as well as often found as part of the afternoon tea service. Curds, unlike jams and jellies, are created by cooking down fruit juice (not fruit) with sugar. A Hudson Valley, New York maker, Beth’s Farm Kitchen offers an 8-ounce jar of this tasty curd.
Try Instead: Zabar’s Babka Duo: Cinnamon Babka and Chocolate Babka
$30 from Zabar’s
Babka has more than one definition. It’s a sweet braided bread which originated in the Jewish communities of Poland and the Ukraine and remains popular today in Israel and in the Jewish Diaspora. It’s also a pivotal plot point in a classic “Seinfeld” episode. Savor New York City’s take on this richly satisfying tradition with the Zabar’s Babka Duo, a kosher option that includes two full loaves.
Try Instead: Lake Champlain Chocolates Spicy Aztec Hot Chocolate
$17 from Amazon
Take a sip of Mexican hot chocolate and you might be in for a surprise, as the warming beverage usually contains not only spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg but also often chilies. The 16-ounce container from Lake Champlain Chocolates follows the tradition, featuring not only Fair Trade and organic cocoa but also ancho chili, chipotle pepper and cinnamon. Talk about warming up.
Try Instead: O&H Danish Bakery Authentic Danish Kringle
Starting at $24 from O&H Bakery
This Northern European pastry is a traditional dessert in Denmark that has become a feature on many a brunch table. For more than 65 years, O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin, has been using the traditional methods of Old Denmark to make its wildly popular kringles. It takes three full days to make one kringle, which features 36 layers of flaky pastry combined with made-from-scratch fillings. There are more than a dozen flavors, from cherry to pecan, plus seasonal options (Nordic Noel to Christmas Fudge), for this delightful treat. (And if you’re lucky, you might find O&H’s almond version in your local Trader Joe’s).
Try Instead: Kenny & Ziggy’s Delicatessen’s Hungarian Goulosh
$40 from Goldbelly
If the pandemic has you daydreaming of gallivanting throughout Central Europe, warming up with a bowl of Hungarian goulash, the rich meat/vegetable stew seasoned with the trademark spice of paprika, fear not. You can order one of Hungary’s national dishes right here in the US of A, from Texas to be precise. This version, which features two servings, features boneless short ribs stewed in a tomato-based gravy, “then blended with carrots and onions, garlic, and fresh-ground Hungarian paprika and spices.”
Try Instead: Eastern Standards Provision Co. Wheelhouse Signature Soft Pretzels
Starting at $20 from Eastern Standards Provision Co.
The soft and doughy Bavarian pretzel is a mainstay in Germany, a comfort food often sold in bakeries. In America, mass-produced versions of a soft pretzel can be found at any mall kiosk. For a more authentic experience, try this Boston-based company’s artisanal (and vegan) product. The six-pack (you can order packs featuring up to 60 pretzels) is an ideal introduction, offering enough to serve as appetizers or as a charcuterie component. As one reviewer wrote, “They’re big and so good. Bet you can’t eat just one.”
Try Instead: Wind & Willow English Wassail Cider Mix
$10 from Amazon
Wassail is a hot mulled cider heavy with spices and is traditionally part of English yuletide celebrations. (You may have heard of the tradition of going house to house singing carols in “Here We Come A’Wassailing”). Order up a 6-ounce packet of this mix from a Missouri-based gourmet-food company, add apple juice or cider, warm it up — and you’re on your way to making the tradition your own.
Try Instead: Leckerlee Nuremberg Lebkuchen
Starting at $30 from Leckerlee
Leckerlee founder Sandy Lee lived in Berlin for a couple of years and became obsessed with lebkuchen, which her company describes as “a centuries-old German spiced treat traditionally baked during the winter holiday season.” It’s often thought of as gingerbread, but, Lee shares, it’s more complex in flavor and softer in texture. Moving back to New York City, she launched Leckerlee as a seasonal bakery that’s since relocated to Boulder, Colorado. It’s still offering made-in-America treats usually just during fall and winter months. We’re especially charmed by the array of whimsical tins this singular taste treat can be purchased in.
