I know my most recent posts keep making reference to either the lock down scenario or pandemic, but as we continue to deal with this increasingly concerning worldwide health issue, we must take the necessary precautions. In the early months of the pandemic we were all being creative in the ways we went about our daily lives, and feeding ourselves. Some of the precautions and restrictions eased up, while others remained. Then restrictions were put back in place, so I thought I would share some of the resources we have been using.
At the onset, JuanCarlos and I heavily relied on all our food supplies to be delivered to us from various sources. Some services we have moved on from, while others we have found worthy to continue. As we move into the winter months, more restrictions and less motivated to brave the cold weather, here are our top choices.
Our bulk items like onions, potatoes, pantry items and paper goods, and of course my supply for 2StirwithLove products come from my wholesale source Restaurant Depot. This being a wholesale warehouse means products come in huge quantities so we have been careful with what we order. That said, I blow through 10 pounds of onions lickety split. For the first several months, I ordered online, and had them delivered.
As the situation in NY improved over the summer I went and shopped myself, finding the least crowded times to visit. Now I am back to having my orders delivered. There is a delivery fee but it is well worth it for the convenience and safety. Restaurant Depot is mainly for food industry owners only, however, in some areas they offer one day passes for the general public to shop. So you might want to see if a few neighbors have a need and you can split, say 10 pounds of potatoes or 20 pounds of carrots. Check your local warehouse.
For organic produce, we started out by receiving a weekly “surprise” box from Misfits. Surprise, because we never knew what would be in the box, so we would cook with whatever we got. Which was no big deal for me as that is my style, Something from Nothin, use what you have. However, I must admit that I was slightly less impressed with this service. I thought we would be receiving a nice mix of seasonal items. Instead we seemed to get the same produce each week. We discontinued this service and have been going to our local farmer’s market or organic shop for the items we need.
Another organic produce delivery option to consider, but one that I can’t personally attest to yet is:
Imperfect Foods They pledge to eliminate food waste but using small to medium sized farmers. The plus with this service is that is seems that you can customize your box to exactly what you want for the price you want. I just signed up for this service and will report back.
For proteins, we go to several sources.
We use Butcher Box for grass fed meat and poultry . We were first put on a waiting list, but it didn’t take long. JuanCarlos is thrilled with the quality. These comes frozen and vacuumed sealed in manageable portions which makes it convenient for defrosting and making meals for smaller families.
Salmon, cod and halibut and some other fish are delivered freshly frozen from Wild Alaskan. These are all wild caught, sustainable seafood that come in individually sized, vacuumed sealed packets that make it easy to cook the right amount, and exactly the piece of fish each person wants. Some nights I want Rockfish, and JuanCarlos wants Salmon. Easy breezy to just take out what you need.
Perfectly sized protein piece of Salmon accompanied by roasted potatoes, sautéd spinach and salad.
Onto some decadent items. These are not weekly or monthly purchases but very much special occasion buys. Believe me when I say, these were extravagances.
For JuanCarlos’ birthday back in May, we purchased a few treats that made him feel special since we would be celebrating in isolation. Traditionally, he loves marking his birthday surrounded by loved ones and with good food and wine abound. So without that, these little touches helped to elevate the occasion to a bit more extraordinary. And the splurge was rationalized in that we weren’t spending a boat load to throw a party. So whatever we spent on these delicacies seemed to be a fraction of what we would have spent. The only sad part was not sharing them with the family and friends we love.
We splurged once on caviar from Imperial Caviar which was so delicious and truly special.
Photo Credit: Imperial Caviar
Photo Credit: Imperial Caviar
A little goes a long way. Of course, you can eat it off a pearl spoon or top a mini bilini. But you can also jazz up some scrambled eggs by adding a dab to finish.
The appetizer plate I made to celebrate JuanCarlos’ birthday. I made mini pancakes aka bikini style, topped it with sour cream, and of course, the star… caviar and pink champagne.
And the lavishness continued. I must admit that even though these spiny crustaceans came at a cost we indulged a bit more with lobster from Get Maine Lobster.
Photo Credit: GetMaineLobster.com
Photo Credit: GetMaineLobster.com
We enjoyed them alongside vegetables, and even made lobster salad for a summer’s lunch.
Lobster Salad & Kale Apple Salad
Grilled Lobster tails with sautéd string beans and broccoli.
JuanCarlos even decided to use them to make a paella, and cooking it on the grill which he absolutely enjoys to the max. These were some of the ways we got through early on. True indulgence that we felt justified at the time, not realizing just how long this pandemic would last. At least we have wonderful memories of good lobster meals.
A man and his flame.
Let’s not forget about liquid requirements. For some, the imbibing of alcohol increased during the pandemic, and copious cups of wine and liquor were needed to get us through. Best not to drive under the influence and let the bottles be dropped off on your doorstep. We mostly used Wine.com and Vivino for our crushed grape needs. For liquor, we ventured out to our local stores such as Zachy’s, who also ships both wine and liquor, but it’s close to our home.
Now for more reasonable delivery solutions, my parents have been relying heavily on Instacart, which gives a variety of stores from which to choose for all possible foods and products you might need. There is a $10/month subscription with free delivery for orders over $35 but there is a mandatory tip. I’m sure plenty of you have been using this service to have access to a wide range of popular stores.
Of course, there are a slew of other options for meal prep, and meal delivery services. Among them:
Since I cook from scratch, I have not tried any of the above services. However, I found an article that tested and summed up a huge range of services and gives detailed info on which ones might be right for you .
As we sadly face another stretch of long days, and months sheltered at home, JuanCarlos and I are so grateful to have a home to keep us safe, warm and guarded. As well as to have a multitude of services and front line workers that help us nourish ourselves safely. I pray that we can sustain ourselves, physically, mentally and spiritually, through these difficult times. That we, the human race, can heal quickly and fully, and we learn from this experience with humility and grace.
Happy end of 2020, and to a brighter future in 2021!
