Oh yeah we did Zingermans too - I’ve been to the original, but the shipped goods were kind of meh.
With Goldbelly I think items that can be frozen to be enjoyed over time are a better deal. So the bagels - we sliced & froze & ate over a couple of months. I’m not a big fan of the single-meal things (like Momofuku’s bo ssam kit) but I can see how they would appeal to people looking for an exciting group or family meal.
The meal kits seem an odd gift at first blush, but my aunt really loved them.
My SIL on the other hand - not so much (someone gave her a few they weren’t going to be able to use). Different demographic though - she has kids and not a lot of time and she found the instructions / assembly thing stressful.
Another idea I may have mentioned elsewhere is D’Artagnan - their stuff comes vacuum sealed, so someone could pop it right into the freezer. Could do an assortment of specialty meats (duck, quail), sausages, truffle items, wild mushrooms - they have a really wide range, and also frequent sales.
