· Omaha Steaks · 
 
Website: www.omahasteaks.com
 
Comments: I've been ordering from this company for over a year, and have always been totally pleased with their products. So pleased that I've given these products as special gifts to family and friends. This is an online business, and I don't know if they have a brick-and-mortar presence.
 
Best known for their self-described World-Class steaks from grain-fed Midwestern beef, they also offer gourmet burgers, pork, veal, lamb, turkey and chicken in their meat line. Their seafood selections include salmon, sole, cod and large sea scallops. Their entrees also include beef ravioli, Maine lobster ravioli and beef stroganoff.
 
The beef choices run the gamut from wonderful Filet Mignon through Top Sirloin and on to Flat Iron steaks and gourmet burgers. Some are offered with bacon wrap and all are prime meats. In the seafood category, the large sea scallops are provided bacon-wrapped and are delicious. Remaining seafood selections, such as stuffed sole and battered cod are wonderful. The other selections, including the wide variety of chicken and pork selections are provided with spices, marinades or breadings. The au-gratin and twice-baked potatoes are wonderful.
 
You'll be buying in small bulk quantities for most orders, usually in packages; servings from 4 to 8 are typical, although tray, bag and package products vary in serving amounts. Sampler packages, incorporating two servings of a variety of products are available, including side dishes usually in servings for 2 for each of the samples. Sampler packages are offered of select entrees.
 
A warning: I've found that typical online prices are far too rich for my budget. But Omaha Steaks has reduced price deals almost weekly that make your cost more reasonable, be it in special package deals or in shipping costs. Shipping costs are substantial, but justified; The packaging is a closed-cell thick-walled styrofoam container suitable to accommodate your order and the dry ice packet they ship to assure that your order will not thaw, regardless of weather and unexpected shipping delays.
 
Omaha Steaks vacuum seals their products and flash freezes them. This process assures maintaining the highest quality of freshness and the convenience of lasting longer without freezer burn.They know their containers, their product and their shipping. They have a superb email-based order confirmation and shipping notification process to keep you informed.
 
Sample Selections: (This is just a guide and product offerings may be changed at anytime by Omaha Steaks)
 

Filet Mignon plain and bacon wrapped 5 and 6 oz/serving	Top Sirloin plain and bacon wrapped 5 and 6 oz/serving	Boneless Strip Sirloins 8 oz/serving	Tenderloin Tips 1 lb pkg
Italian Breaded Veal Patties 4 oz/serving	Cuban Mojo Pork Tenderloins 4.5 oz/serving	Loin Lamb Chops 6 oz/serving	Smoked Pork Loin Ribs 1 lb pkg
Stuffed Breast of Chicken Cordon Bleu 7.5 oz/serving	Duckling Breast with Orange Sauce 10 oz/serving	Hickory Smoked Turkey 8 lb	Chicken Skewers with Vegetables 6 oz/serving
Jumbo Scallops Bacon-Wrapped 9.5 oz tray	Stuffed Sole with Scallops & Crab Meat	Battered Cod Portions 18 oz bag	Cold Water Lobster Tails 6 oz tails
Stuffed Baked Potatoes 5.75 oz/serving	Whipped Sweet Potatoes 14 oz pkg	Roasted Vegetable Medley 7 oz pkg	BBQ Baked Beans w/ Beef Brisket 20 oz tray
Key Lime Cheesecake 15 oz	Seafood Stuffed Jumbo Mushrooms 12 ct	Shrimp & Crab Parmesan Dip	Mushroom Demi-Glace 4 oz
If you'd like to order quality meals ( typically for 2) including entree, vegetable, side, and desserts are available, visit the A La Zing website, which is a subsidiary of Omaha Steaks. They specialize in packaging complete meals

 
· Cajun Foods & Turducken ·

 
There are two online and brick and mortar companies that seem to stand out in this area, and I'm sure that there are more quality Cajun sources available. I first have to say that I have not ordered or tried any products from either of these companies, although I certainly intend to do so soon. I'm including them in this review based on other sources who highly recommend them.... Both companies have been featured on network and cable tv food shows, and have been reviewed very favorably in magazines and newspapers.
 
Website: Heberts Specialty Meats
 
Website: Cajun Grocer
 
I've been a fan of Cajun food influences since the long ago TV program hosted by the down-home Cajun chef and story-teller, Justin Wilson "Hooowee!".
 
Recently, I saw one of those TV programs that featured Herbert's Specialty Meats whose partner/owner demonstrated how fast and effective he was able to de bone meats .... in this case fowl. But it wasn't just any fowl. He was preparing a Turducken. He told the story about a fella who came in one day with a turkey, a duck and a chicken and asked that they be combined together. The Turducken was born.
 
A Turducken is a semi-boneless turkey that is stuffed with a de boned duck that is stuffed with a de boned chicken. A layer of Cajun dressing is placed in between each bird to create six flavorful layers of stuffing and poultry. The Turducken has seen a variety of assemblies and stuffing recipes over the years, and you'll find that CajunGrocer may offer more variety. CajunGrocer uses turkey breast, typically. Hebert's tends to de bone the turkey, leaving in turkey leg bones, etc. Turducken comes to you frozen but uncooked. Complete cooking instructions are included. You can bake, grill or smoke a turducken, but deep frying isn't recommended because the lack of skeletal bones leave nothing to hold the bird(s) together in the fryer.
 
UPDATE: For Christmas dinner, 2007, our family enjoyed a Turducken (roll; CajunGrocer) for the first time. The discreet flavors of each of the meats permeated the others via the juices. I could've taken a bit more of the Cajun sausage stuffing, although what was there was a wonderful counterpoint to the fowl. A definite hit with everyone.
 
But don't stop shoppin just for Turducken!
 
There are tons of other Cajun products available when you explore these sites.