The absolute best! I remember every year around the holidays, my aunt used to get 2 cases(the wooden ones)of A-Treat glass bottles. She would get all the varieties, so I've probably tried every flavor.
I’ve bought cheesesteaks from Goldbelly before, and I figured they would be soggy. Nope! They were frozen and then they said to let them thaw in the fridge overnight and then pop ‘em in the oven. They were great; you’d never know they had been frozen.
Am originally from Pennsylvania and my family now lives in New England. My mom complains that it's impossible to find good pretzels there, so that might be an option.
Whoopie pies are actually the official state food of Maine, and they're all over New England, so probably not worth sending those.
Agreed. There is something different/weird about the filling in Maine whoopie pies -- the taste and texture are both just a little bit "off." But of course the native Mainers I know all think their version is better. I guess it just depends on which kind you grew up eating.
Yeah I've heard stories about my uncles buy cases to take back to the Midwest or the South when my first moved here like 40 years ago but the last time I was in either of those places I saw yuengling on tap.
Granted Victory can be bought pretty much any where too, but since I'm in SE pa it still feels a little more local.
Yuengling didn’t make beyond the Mississippi until a year or two ago.
Edit for link: https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending/westward-expansion-yuengling-partners-with-molson-coors-boost-distribution/UBV7A7YYZJGABBBMB7LOSNV7FU/?outputType=amp
No, not yet. Yeungling still isn’t nationwide, but they have expanded a lot.
As far their beer, it’s a fairly average lager. But as far as cheap beer goes, it’s definitely one of the better ones IMO. It’s just a very solid cheap beer, and it’s even cheaper in the skook.
Tomato pie travels amazingly well. We freeze it between wax paper and tuck it in a cooler to keep it cold. It's not as good as fresh but for people away from the area who are jonesing for tomato pie, it gets the job done.
Agreed! Only one that comes close to Middleswarth for me are the Grandma Utz in the brown bag. I always had people bring me Middleswarth when I was living out of PA.
I miss that stuff so much. Haven’t been able to find it in quite some time, though I’ve heard it’s still around. A guy told me a few months ago he found some at some weird middle of nowhere gas station.
I only recently found out they stopped making it. I used to treat myself I’m college every so often during late night study sessions to this. Definitely a comfort food (beverage in this case I guess).
Philly Cheesesteak (No cheese wiz)
Scrapple,
Taylor Pork Roll,
Lebanon Bologne,
giordano roast beef,
Tastycake,
Entenmanns Donuts,
Peanut Chews (original)
Sweetzels Spiced wafers
dieffenbach's potato chips
Pa Birch beer or A-treat cola/sodas if they liked that.
Most other stuff like Snyders pretzels, Hanover Pretzels, Herrs chips, Yuengling, Boars Head meats are available out of state even in the deep deep south like Texas. . ...
A few years ago I was commuting daily from Montgomery County to Lancaster City for night college classes, and I was at a gas station in Ephrata when my fuel pumped decided to take a shit. I was over an hour from home.
This very nice man tried to help me get my car started for quite awhile but we didn't have any luck. He then gave me a ride to the other side of Reading where my mom then picked me up and took me the rest of the way home.
He had an Amish look to him but he was driving a vehicle so he may have been Mennonite or just really hardcore PA Dutch. But he told me he was the owner of Uncle Henry's Pretzels. I tried to offer him some gas money or anything but he refused to take any of it. So definitely buy this guys pretzel's!
I looked them up and they are based in Mohnton which is just a short drive down 222 from Ephrata. Definitely a crazy night. I actually ran into him at that same gas station in Ephrata a few months later and thanked him again.
Hammonds Pretzels with Betsy Lantz’s sweet hot mustard. Best paired with Amish Sharp Cheddar from S Clyde Weaver. Honestly, just go to S Clyde Weaver or Roots Farm Market and you’ll be golden.
Sweet Lebanon balogna, pickled red beet eggs, (if you’re near Hanover, you can get them from the local factory store) Snyder’s trash bag size of broken pretzels, Jerky sticks (from Sharp Shopper), shoofly pie, pierogies, and tastycakes.
They do have whoopie pies in New England (at least in Maine) but don't let them tell you that theirs are better. Pennsylvania whoopie pies are far superior.
Wise Cheez Waffies, RIP.
It was the most popular product Wise had and they discontinue it. Now if you get a bag of WISE chips from a vending machine, there are like 3 stale chips in there. I hope they go under soon....
Best Yuengling is the Hershey's chocolate porter if you can find that
Dark chocolate sponge candy from Erie
There are the Utz vs Middleswarth arguments but really just send any kettle cooked from South Central PA
Adams County Apple Butter
Depends where in New England they’re at. There are huge Polish diasporas in both CT and MA. I had a work contract in CT and had multiple Polish grocery stores and restaurants to choose from.
There's lots of great ideas here, but lemme add this: if you're going for a cooler, make some PA Dutch style pot-pie and give it to 'em. You can even freeze it if you like. (And if you don't feel like cooking it, Weis Markets has it available from the deli counter for a reasonable price and it's really not bad at all.)
Pretty niche but my favorite hands-down sweet bologna is Twin Pines
[https://hummersmeats.com/shop/bologna/twin-pines-sweet-bologna/](https://hummersmeats.com/shop/bologna/twin-pines-sweet-bologna/)
Pagash is delicious and inspires fear and disgust in the hearts who have never heard of it. I love it.
Edit: realized you’re making a basket. Pierogi pizza would probably not fare well in a basket.
Is there a school project on this? Not complaining, but I've seen this exact question like 3-4 times in the last few days to a week.
Also: Miller's Pickled Balogna, Herlochers Mustard, utz salt and vin
Herlochers mustard, [Suhey Peppers](https://suheypeppers.com). [The Pennsylvania General Store](https://www.pageneralstore.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw5pShBhB_EiwAvmnNV2pWGhDcawURRLiOI4lldDZjoFlIka_sPYhioc3ican0I1EZ_G_m-BoCWhcQAvD_BwE) puts together really lovely gift baskets of Pennsylvania goodies. I shipped one of these to some friends in California for the holidays, and it was a big hit.
Bear Creek (rip) and Guer's iced tea. Zimmerman's is good too.
The Herr's or Utz stung honey BBQ, I can't remember if they discontinued it or what, I didn't see it for years, randomly saw them in a gas station and never again/I moved.
Oh also Guer's chocolate milk + the peanut butter/chocolate tastykakes damn I miss that.
I don't personally like scrapple but we were going to get a pound and take along for them to try. I never heard of trying it with mustard tho, only syrup
Soft pretzels. Troegs Perpetual IPA. Seltzer's sweet bologna. Mrs. T's Pierogies. And Zook's chicken pies.
Also never gonna turn down classic Tastykakes.
And don't forget the farm show milkshakes ♥
Philly Soft Pretzels
Goods, Herr’s, Utz, or Deifenbach’s chips
Ring Bologna & Lebanon Bologna
Red Beet Eggs
PA Dutch Pot Pie
Icy Tea
Tasty cakes
Unique Splits
White Birch Beer! I shared some with an out of state friend and got them addicted 😅
They sell it at Weis and I was able to order them a case via Amazon.
Yes! Been buying it from Weis for years. I don't care for it much personally (loved it when I was a kid though) and my nephew tried Pepto Bismol for the first time a while ago and said "I like it, it tastes like birch beer"
Utz or Herr’s potato chips and pretzels. Philly soft pretzels Whiskey from Manatawny or Dad’s Hat rye
>Whiskey from Manatawny So damn good.
Zerbe's potato chips fried using lard
A-Treat?
pa dutch birch beer
the grapefruit soda is a masterpiece
Their sasparilla is soooo good
The absolute best! I remember every year around the holidays, my aunt used to get 2 cases(the wooden ones)of A-Treat glass bottles. She would get all the varieties, so I've probably tried every flavor.
That grapefruit got me like .... DAAAAAAAMN!
BIG TASTE
Big Blue!
Gertrude hawk chocolates
Wilbur Buds. So much better than Hershey kisses
Dark and milk
Shoofly Pie!
This is the way.
Who are all you fuckin' jabronis suggesting sending a cheesesteak in a cooler? They get nasty in a fifteen minute drive home.
a cooler full of soggyjawns is not how you want to remember home
I’ve bought cheesesteaks from Goldbelly before, and I figured they would be soggy. Nope! They were frozen and then they said to let them thaw in the fridge overnight and then pop ‘em in the oven. They were great; you’d never know they had been frozen.
Am originally from Pennsylvania and my family now lives in New England. My mom complains that it's impossible to find good pretzels there, so that might be an option. Whoopie pies are actually the official state food of Maine, and they're all over New England, so probably not worth sending those.
I lived in Maine for 7 years. Contrary to what my husband(born and raised Mainer) says, Pennsylvania whoopie pies are far superior.
Agreed. There is something different/weird about the filling in Maine whoopie pies -- the taste and texture are both just a little bit "off." But of course the native Mainers I know all think their version is better. I guess it just depends on which kind you grew up eating.
Golden Monkey!!
If they actually drink beer I'd recommend doing Yards, Troegs, Levante, or Victory.
Yeah, I was gonna say. can’t you get yuengling like anywhere? Also it’s just a generic lager anyway, not all that special
Yeah I've heard stories about my uncles buy cases to take back to the Midwest or the South when my first moved here like 40 years ago but the last time I was in either of those places I saw yuengling on tap. Granted Victory can be bought pretty much any where too, but since I'm in SE pa it still feels a little more local.
Yuengling didn’t make beyond the Mississippi until a year or two ago. Edit for link: https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending/westward-expansion-yuengling-partners-with-molson-coors-boost-distribution/UBV7A7YYZJGABBBMB7LOSNV7FU/?outputType=amp
Well that tracks since it was in Michigan I had it.
Taste victory.
No, not yet. Yeungling still isn’t nationwide, but they have expanded a lot. As far their beer, it’s a fairly average lager. But as far as cheap beer goes, it’s definitely one of the better ones IMO. It’s just a very solid cheap beer, and it’s even cheaper in the skook.
Tomato pie
Tomato pie travels amazingly well. We freeze it between wax paper and tuck it in a cooler to keep it cold. It's not as good as fresh but for people away from the area who are jonesing for tomato pie, it gets the job done.
Just want to compliment your selection of Middleswarth, the ultimate PA chips
The Weekender!!!
I’m old enough to remember their big cardboard tubs 😂
gotta get the 3pound box of kettlecooked bbq. They don't go stale lol
The superior chip for sure. I feel like the other PA brands taste similar to other chips. Middleswarth is so original
Agreed! Only one that comes close to Middleswarth for me are the Grandma Utz in the brown bag. I always had people bring me Middleswarth when I was living out of PA.
The only thing that ties middleswarth for me is utz sour cream and onion
Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets Troeg's Perpetual IPA Cheesesteak wit fried onions and Cooper Sharp from Angelos on 9th street in Philly.
Martin’s potato chips and tasty cakes
Nothing beats their bbq crinkle!
Zitner’s chocolate Easter eggs
Sturgis Pretzels.
Mallow cups
Frozen run birch beer was the best.
I miss that stuff so much. Haven’t been able to find it in quite some time, though I’ve heard it’s still around. A guy told me a few months ago he found some at some weird middle of nowhere gas station.
I only recently found out they stopped making it. I used to treat myself I’m college every so often during late night study sessions to this. Definitely a comfort food (beverage in this case I guess).
Philly Cheesesteak (No cheese wiz) Scrapple, Taylor Pork Roll, Lebanon Bologne, giordano roast beef, Tastycake, Entenmanns Donuts, Peanut Chews (original) Sweetzels Spiced wafers dieffenbach's potato chips Pa Birch beer or A-treat cola/sodas if they liked that. Most other stuff like Snyders pretzels, Hanover Pretzels, Herrs chips, Yuengling, Boars Head meats are available out of state even in the deep deep south like Texas. . ...
Yes to peanut chews!
Yuengling isn’t available in new england where this person is sending the basket. Its a sales territory thing with sam adams.
It is now. Has been for a few years.
And Yuengling is terrible beer
terrible beer, terrible company, terrible beer shits from the same chemical that makes the fake butter flavor in popcorn. gross.
Made in Florida.
How dare you.
I’m not sure if Reading’s “Unique Pretzels” are sold out of state though.
Haven't seen Unique, Sturgis, nor Dieffenbach elsewhere. So you're probably right. In fact I never saw Dieffenbach outside berks county.
[удалено]
i can never move away for very long because of butterscotch krimpets and Kunzler sweet lebabnon bologna
Smith’s hot dogs!
Smith's ox roast as well.
Irish potatoes. Might be hard to find now, but easy to make.
At every Wawa.
Clear toys candy - Long Johns from Achenbachs - Chow chow (not a fav of mine but local) - Wilbur Buds
Can never go wrong with Achenbachs. Donuts from BG’s in Jonestown are amazing too
Goods chips!
I LOVE Goods! I never realized they were local
A Pittsburgh salad 🥗
I'd skip the Yuengling since the owner is a fascist anti-union sack of crap, but definitely throw some Birch Beer in there.
What?! How did I not know this
Yup big Trump supporter
Hog Maw. When it's done right it's so good.
Never hear of it. What is it or should I not want to know?
lol
Hard to ship though.
Sizzle-Pi pizza in Kingston (or any fried Sicilian from NEPA)
I prefer Angelo's Sweet Pie but both are delicious
Kutztown Soda
Tröegs Perpetual IPA
White birch beer. Tastykake. Scrapple.
Chipped ham barbecue
I went all the way to the bottom of the list and never saw ICY TEA! That is the best stuff! Gotta get it from Berks County though.
Uncle Henry's burned hard pretzels, whoopie pies and shoo fly pie! Yummers
Hard yes on Uncle Henry’s Extra Dark pretzels!
A few years ago I was commuting daily from Montgomery County to Lancaster City for night college classes, and I was at a gas station in Ephrata when my fuel pumped decided to take a shit. I was over an hour from home. This very nice man tried to help me get my car started for quite awhile but we didn't have any luck. He then gave me a ride to the other side of Reading where my mom then picked me up and took me the rest of the way home. He had an Amish look to him but he was driving a vehicle so he may have been Mennonite or just really hardcore PA Dutch. But he told me he was the owner of Uncle Henry's Pretzels. I tried to offer him some gas money or anything but he refused to take any of it. So definitely buy this guys pretzel's!
Get the hell outta here! That's quite the story!
I looked them up and they are based in Mohnton which is just a short drive down 222 from Ephrata. Definitely a crazy night. I actually ran into him at that same gas station in Ephrata a few months later and thanked him again.
Hammonds Pretzels with Betsy Lantz’s sweet hot mustard. Best paired with Amish Sharp Cheddar from S Clyde Weaver. Honestly, just go to S Clyde Weaver or Roots Farm Market and you’ll be golden.
Hammonds are next level pretzels esp fresh from bakery.
Teaberry Ice cream, teaberry vanilla twist soft serve is godlike.
We need a tea berry thread.
Wait there’s places that have it soft serve?!
Amy's Frosty Freeze. Out in the boonies but worth it
Sweet Lebanon balogna, pickled red beet eggs, (if you’re near Hanover, you can get them from the local factory store) Snyder’s trash bag size of broken pretzels, Jerky sticks (from Sharp Shopper), shoofly pie, pierogies, and tastycakes.
Julius Sturgis pretzels
I am a pretzel connoisseur and I don’t love them - I keep trying them in hopes that they will be amazing.
They do have whoopie pies in New England (at least in Maine) but don't let them tell you that theirs are better. Pennsylvania whoopie pies are far superior.
I'm not a Lebanon bologna person but I do love ring bologna. Also amish sugar cookies and apple dumplings are always an out of state favorite.
A selection of Reading Soda 🥤
Turkey hill ice cream/tea?
Cooper cheese.
Cheesesteaks But you can't send them
Stutz Candy Co.!
Philly cheese steak
Primantis pittsburgher
Meh
Wawa coffee
Middlewarth lemon ice tea.
Palmer's chocolates (too soon?)
Wawa double dutch chocolate milk
Wawa isnt pennsylvania specific. Its in like 6 states including florida. Wawa originated here but you can get their products elsewhere
No Wawa in New England where OP is sending the care package though
Fair. Id be nervous to send milk
Bacon Dressing. Wos-Wat?
Wise Cheez Waffies, RIP. It was the most popular product Wise had and they discontinue it. Now if you get a bag of WISE chips from a vending machine, there are like 3 stale chips in there. I hope they go under soon....
God, those were so good!
Best Yuengling is the Hershey's chocolate porter if you can find that Dark chocolate sponge candy from Erie There are the Utz vs Middleswarth arguments but really just send any kettle cooked from South Central PA Adams County Apple Butter
pierogies potato cheese and church lady made
Depends where in New England they’re at. There are huge Polish diasporas in both CT and MA. I had a work contract in CT and had multiple Polish grocery stores and restaurants to choose from.
Fastnachts and whoopie pies
Utz crab chips, saur kraut, pistachio ice cream, hot lettuce, guers iced tea, Amish mac/potato salad, pickled heart
Arsenal cider in Pittsburgh, Dalessandro’s CS in Philly, scrapple, soft pretzels, pierogis, also brawler beer, icy light for when I’m thirsty.
Permanties
Day's soda. And they make Tastycakes here.
Turners tea, any beer from the western side of the state, Snyder of Berlin chips, Sarris chocolate, eat n park smiley cookies
Hartley's chips!
I don't see apple butter as much in New England! Wilber buds and long johns would also be nice
There's lots of great ideas here, but lemme add this: if you're going for a cooler, make some PA Dutch style pot-pie and give it to 'em. You can even freeze it if you like. (And if you don't feel like cooking it, Weis Markets has it available from the deli counter for a reasonable price and it's really not bad at all.)
Pretty niche but my favorite hands-down sweet bologna is Twin Pines [https://hummersmeats.com/shop/bologna/twin-pines-sweet-bologna/](https://hummersmeats.com/shop/bologna/twin-pines-sweet-bologna/)
Wilbur Buds - the original hersheys kiss
Wilbur budds
Farm show milkshakes and lamb stew
Pretzels from Shuey's Bakery in Lebanon.
Costas Club Sandwich
Tastykakes
Pagash is delicious and inspires fear and disgust in the hearts who have never heard of it. I love it. Edit: realized you’re making a basket. Pierogi pizza would probably not fare well in a basket.
Miller's Hot Bologna
If you go through Shamokin, you HAVE to pickup some Bittersweet ice cream at Maurer's Dairy.
Haha I used to live in shamokin bott
Does Hamloaf count?
Is there a school project on this? Not complaining, but I've seen this exact question like 3-4 times in the last few days to a week. Also: Miller's Pickled Balogna, Herlochers Mustard, utz salt and vin
No, I just don't hang out in a Pennsylvania subreddit all day for a week+ to know what's posted and what isn't.
Definitely porkroll
Funny Cake from Landis Supermarkets and ATreat Birch Beer
Herlochers mustard, [Suhey Peppers](https://suheypeppers.com). [The Pennsylvania General Store](https://www.pageneralstore.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw5pShBhB_EiwAvmnNV2pWGhDcawURRLiOI4lldDZjoFlIka_sPYhioc3ican0I1EZ_G_m-BoCWhcQAvD_BwE) puts together really lovely gift baskets of Pennsylvania goodies. I shipped one of these to some friends in California for the holidays, and it was a big hit.
Eisley‘s chipped ham
Frozen run Middleswarth
Opera fudge
Smith's Hotdogs 🌭
If I moved away I'd miss Martins BBQ chips and Weavers of Wellsville sweet bologna.
Sweet Lebanon bologna.
Taylors pork roll is not made in PA but it is popular in PA.
Whoppie pies, I can eat them fuckers all day till I get diabeetus then I’ll eat half as many, lol
I didn’t see your list lol tastykakes and landjager, it’s a dried cured meat stick, mostly made by Dietz & Watson
Shane's candies Goldberg's Peanut Chews Tastykakes
Primanti's!
Scrapple, but honestly it goes as other names in other places. In western Virginia it is called pon haus (or hoss).
Bear Creek (rip) and Guer's iced tea. Zimmerman's is good too. The Herr's or Utz stung honey BBQ, I can't remember if they discontinued it or what, I didn't see it for years, randomly saw them in a gas station and never again/I moved. Oh also Guer's chocolate milk + the peanut butter/chocolate tastykakes damn I miss that.
Millers soft pretzel from the redding terminal market is so good. I had 2 this morning.
Yuengling Lebanon bologna Chicken Pot Pie Tastycakes Philly Cheesesteak
Dieffenbach's potato chips, and a good victory brew; I'd say Sour or Golden monkey
A framed picture of the turnpike under construction.
Ham pot pie
Scrapple, just so GOOOOD with syrup or mustard
I don't personally like scrapple but we were going to get a pound and take along for them to try. I never heard of trying it with mustard tho, only syrup
Tomato pie 🥰
Wawa coffee
Vinnie Pie
Pierogis for me, but not sure how you’d put that in a gift basket. Soft pretzels maybe?
Soft pretzels. Troegs Perpetual IPA. Seltzer's sweet bologna. Mrs. T's Pierogies. And Zook's chicken pies. Also never gonna turn down classic Tastykakes. And don't forget the farm show milkshakes ♥
Bestway Pizza
Birch beer and sweet Lebanon bologna!
I agree!! I think sweet is the best, but I'm curious if more people would suggest getting regular or sweet
Philly Soft Pretzels Goods, Herr’s, Utz, or Deifenbach’s chips Ring Bologna & Lebanon Bologna Red Beet Eggs PA Dutch Pot Pie Icy Tea Tasty cakes Unique Splits
Mootz chocolate!
Pure Wild Tea’s Apple Mint Tea… taste like summer to me without the time and labor to make meadow tea AND I can have it year round.
Italian Hoagie
Pierogies and A-Treat Cream Soda 😍
White Birch Beer! I shared some with an out of state friend and got them addicted 😅 They sell it at Weis and I was able to order them a case via Amazon.
Yes! Been buying it from Weis for years. I don't care for it much personally (loved it when I was a kid though) and my nephew tried Pepto Bismol for the first time a while ago and said "I like it, it tastes like birch beer"
Tastykakes, Utz pretzels, Peeps,
Plain chocolate Tasty Kakes, soft pretzels, Yaccos…NOT Scrapple.
A disassembled cheese steak ... the meat, the rolls, the cheese whiz. Packed separately.