Holidays bring thoughts of home, and few things prompt nostalgia more than a taste of the familiar foods you grew up with.

Fortunately, there's an entire industry of regional specialty foods that can help you get your fix, or find a special gift for a loved one. Here's a completely subjective roundup of some of the companies catering to regional food with online and mail order catalogs.

Feeling Crabby?

If you grew up in Florida, fresh seafood was a fact of life. Now, even if you make your home in a landlocked state, you can get fresh crabs delivered to your doorstep. Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant has been a landmark in South Beach, Miami for 88 years. Now the family-owned company will ship crabs overnight to your door. The crabs and crab claws arrive fresh, cold and ready for cracking. If you spring for the complete meal package, you'll also get a mallet, cracking board, cocktail forks, bibs and instructions, in case you've lost your touch removing all that succulent meat. You can order a catalog by calling (800) 780-CRAB, or visit their Web site at www.joesstonecrab.com.

Sink Your Teeth In

If red meat is more your style, Omaha Steaks is the classic provider. This family business has been marketing and selling steaks since 1917. As the name suggests, they're headquartered in Omaha, Neb. Their beef selections range from filet mignons and T-bones to calf's liver, Italian sausages and corned beef briskets. Check out their offerings at www.omahasteaks.com, where you can order a catalog.

Ham it Up

For many families, hams are the centerpiece of the holiday meal. Make it easy on yourself this year by ordering an already cooked ham from Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse, which has been delivering meats in the German tradition since 1855. The company is based in eastern Iowa and also sells bacon and smoked turky. You can order a catalog by going online to www.amanameatshop.com.

Be a Honey

If it's fruit that brightens your winter, the Cushman Fruit Co. is a well-known family-owned business based in West Palm Beach, Fla. The company is known for its HoneyBells®, which are a rare natural hybrid of tangerines and grapefruits that have created legions of dedicated fans. Cushman's has been selling fruit and fruit baskets for 57 years. Go to www.honeybell.com, or call (800) 776-4329.

Say Cheese

When you think of cheddar cheese, Vermont comes to mind. Cabot Creamery in Montpelier, Vt., bills itself as makers of the "World's Best Cheddar." They've been crafting their cheeses for more than four decades and feature dozens of varieties of cheddar, from sharp to vintage to pepper jack-flavored. You can get a catalog at www.cabotcheese.com.

Ragin' Cajun

If it's Creole cuisine that gets your taste buds hopping, you can order authentic New Orleans dishes from Gazin's Cajun-Creole Cuisine. The company sells ingredients to make your own dishes, such as "dirty" rice mixes and roux base, as well as fully prepared foods like King cakes and andouille sausage. You can order a catalog online at www.gazins.com.