Louisiana holiday gift ideas

This time of year means an extra emphasis on food and treats, especially down south—but sometimes, not everyone can gather at the table. If you’ve got relatives who can’t make it home for the holidays, or just want to send some friends up north a taste of Cajun country, there are some good local places that have you covered. Robin’s Frozen Gourmet Seafood: Chef Lionel Robin of Robin’s Restaurant has just recently started selling whole frozen cans of seafood-packed gumbo, étouffée and bisque, made to his exacting recipe. If the idea of canned seafood sounds odd, don’t be fooled—the seafood is fresh Louisiana shrimp, crawfish and crab, and tastes as good as the day it was harvested. robincajunfood.com Heads and Tails Seafood: We’d be remiss if we left Heads and Tails from a list of great Baton Rouge mail-order gumbo. The Wall Street Journal chose the south Baton Rouge eatery as the best in all of Louisiana for ordering gumbo by mail. Although Heads and Tails is now off the beaten path (on Silverside Drive off Perkins Road and near Essen Lane), they still deliver the goods. Owner Mike Cascio and his crew make gumbo that’s dark, hearty and teeming with fresh seafood. headsandtailsseafood.comCommunity Coffee: Plenty of Louisiana expatriates crave this quintessential Louisiana coffee, and Community makes it easy to get, even when you’re beyond the reach of grocery shelves. Gift baskets stuffed with their unique blends are a great way to send the taste of home. And if you’ve got a loved one serving overseas, check out their Military Match program for a way to make them feel at home. communitycoffee.com Gambino’s: It’s early for king cakes, but the holidays are the season for nostalgia and giving—and you can never have too many king cakes. Gambino’s famously ships their sweet iced cakes nationwide, so even your far-flung family can have fun hunting for the baby on Christmas morning. gambinos.com Tony Chachere: The spicy southern company offers easy online shopping and shipping for their spicy marinades and seasonings—even frozen Turduckens. An authentic Cajun centerpiece for your holiday meal is just a click of a mouse away. tonychachere.com Aunt Sally’s Pralines: However your intended recipients pronounce it, your friends and family will find succor in this sweet, caramelized Creole treat. With flavors ranging from their new “sugar and spice” variety, made with Tabasco, or sugar-free for your health-conscious relatives, there’s really something for everyone. auntsallys.com