We get coffee shipped directly for a coffee farm on the Big Island from a wealthy aunt of mine. It is amazing and pricey. A few bags if that if they are coffee drinkers would be great.

I don't know if they'd appreciate it, but there are lots of pricey and delicious balsamic vinegars. I'm an olive oil/balsamic nut and I love getting the better stuff. There are good reviews on Amazon.

Something from Zabar's

We received this last year

http://www.ftd.com/starbucks-pcg/starbucks-coffee-cocoa-chocolate-to-share/product-starbucks/s655/

And one similar to this

http://www.hickoryfarms.com/sausage-and-cheese/grand-gourmet-holiday-collection-gift-basket-014206.html?CS_003=61275131&CS_010=[id]

The summer sausage is the best !

Thanks, everyone. I like a lot of the ideas, although some won't work for various reasons - like I've already sent Zingermans AND crabs (other occasions), and they're going to hawaii for christmas so pineapples would be ill-timed. But I'm going to look into a few of these - like the cheesecakes and cookie baking set ideas. More ideas always welcome!!

Anonymous wrote:If you send the crabs include some Old Bay from Penzey spices.

A pizza stone, pizza cutter, and pizza spices.

Cocoa mix and insulated thermos or mugs.

I like this - add a bag of homemade or artisan marshmallows, and some peppermint sticks for stirring - like these:
http://www.hammondscandies.com/candy-types/puffs-sticks-stirrers/peppermint-cocoa-stirrers

A cookie-making set: get a good cookie cookbook (something from Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table), a set of cookie cutters (again, good ones from WS or SLT), a set of gel food coloring, and maybe some decorating items like pastry bags with a variety of fancy decorator tips. Add some fancy-looking decorating candies/sprinkles (not from the grocery store, look for a professional level). If you want, you could add a mason jar with the dry ingredients from one of the recipes from the cookbook, with a pretty ribbon or fabric covering.

Soups are another option: a good cookbook, a good stockpot, and a couple of mason jars with dry ingredients (dried beans and seasonings for a 16-bean soup; lentils; etc).

If you send the crabs include some Old Bay from Penzey spices.

A pizza stone, pizza cutter, and pizza spices.

Cocoa mix and insulated thermos or mugs.

Are they natives to the area they are living in or did they move to CA from somewhere else? Is there anything special from your hometown/region that they might miss that you can have delivered? Even if it's not upscale, the nostalgia factor might make it the perfect gift.
My oldest friend who now lives on the West Coast has had the pizza from our fave HS hangout shipped to her as a bday gift to herself, since she doesn't have the opportunity to get back there anymore.

Olive oil/vinegar sets

Cheese of the month (I did this from an artisanal cheese place in Chicago for someone)

Try Zingerman's for ideas - they do all sorts of fun gift sets. Dean and Deluca is a standby but very expensive.

Does Mount Vernon ship food gifts? I don't know but something from Mount Vernon would be cool.

I love a Hillshire Farms summer sausage gift box, but don't think that will work for your family.

Here are some men-centered ideas, but anyone can use Olive Oil. http://www.esquire.com/blogs/gifts/gifts-for-men-2012-liquors-of-month#slide-13

Also, if you like the Hawaii idea, the Maui Gold pineapples really are better than anything you can buy at the grocery store. http://www.mauipineapple.com/

I love giving (and receiving, LOL) upscale food gifts!

Eli's Cheesecake are really delicious, a step above normal cheesecakes IMO: http://www.elicheesecake.com/

Florida stone crabs would be a treat: http://www.joesstonecrab.com/yourdoor//intro.html

Alaskan king crab is in season and is appreciated by pretty much everyone. (Both the stone crabs and king crab require no preparation before eating.)

Or maybe artisinal cheese?

I have a brother and sister in law in california who are very well off. The normal christmas presents you'd think of always fall flat because they can buy whatever they want, and care a lot about brands that I don't know as well. For the last few years, I've done well in sending them upscale food gifts that are either ready-made or easy to prepare. One year I send a variety of waffle mixes, syrup and a waffle iron, another year I had a personalized gingerbread house delivered. I'm at a loss for yet another unique food related present for them that they might not come across otherwise. Something along the lines of deep dish from chicago or fresh fruit from hawaii. I'd like to spend between $100 - $200. Any ideas of some foodie item that you'd send your rich relatives in California?