Preparing early for the holiday season is something that we all have good intentions of doing but if you’re like most people, there are just too many other things to do first. We vow to save ourselves from the aggravation next year, and to try to get into the holiday spirit with some forethought and organization. Once again the holidays are upon us: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years, (lined up like ducks in a row), and there you are, unprepared.

While each occasion does not dictate the need for large gifts or elaborate preparation, there are definitely special times and people who do. Gourmet food, always a welcome gift, is suitable for most any occasion, and a great choice for the hard-to-buy-for person in your life. The gift basket, a staple even before the arrival of the internet, has been reinvented many times over, but is nonetheless, still a gift basket. It's a great starting point but getting back to the internet, the biggest problem you'll encounter now is that the choices in gourmet food gifts are endless.

Where to Start?

You can begin your search for the appropriate gourmet food item by considering the person or event you are buying for. A romantic New Year's Eve dinner at home can now include fresh Maine lobster, shipped live, complete with recipes and pot to cook your lobster. Or exotic, hand made chocolates can be shipped to a chocolate lover direct from France. Gourmet appetizers can be ordered for delivery in time for your holiday party. So, with ideas in mind, you can do a little internet research. Using your keywords, for example, fresh Maine lobster delivered live or gourmet handmade chocolate find endless information and ideas in blogs and ezines. Keeping a few notes in front of you (to remind yourself of the purpose of your search as it is very easy to get off topic), your starting point will take some very creative slants.

Ordering Food Online

Since perishable food items must be shipped 2nd day air at most, these can be great choices for last minute gift giving. The turnaround time depends on how fast the company can process the order and most sites let you how long it takes from the time you place your order till the time they ship. Many offer a rush service and can send your order the next day. But it is important to note that orders containing perishables are shipped out Monday through Thursday as the package cannot sit in a warehouse over the weekend. And on that note, make sure the recipient of your gift is not off on a lengthy vacation while the specialty steak gift box you sent sits rotting on the porch. Also, don't forget about yourself this holiday season. Dinner parties can be simple to prepare with oven-ready gourmet meals delivered to your door.