(Gerry Furth-Sides) Even after a year of eating mostly at home, these appealing boxed “meals” to finish off in your kitchen remain above the rest and still feel like a fresh option. The variety of companies can be experienced restaurant executive chefs using key ingredients, historic or popular bakeries or groups brand new to the industry.

(1) Territory

Fresh seasonal produce, plus a continually evolving menu of prepared, smart, globally inspired meals are  always “on the menu” at TERRITORYFOODS.COM.  Customers have the option of new choices each week, with many of the favorite meals threaded back into the rotation.  Customers can order by health need or dietary preference, such as paleo, vegetarian or Mediterranean.  The goal is go national, with multiple commissary in cities across the country so customers have this option at home or away.

  This is a line of “super clean” product and products for people who:

• want a balanced, satisfying, “clean”, elegant meal that they can see in one portion
• want or need to know the nutritional value of what they are eating
• do not have the time or inclination to cook for themselves
• want food delivery and have food allergies
• want a reset on their meals to experience the size of a nutritional portion
• are athletes, health and sustainable produce advocates
• are traveling businesspeople or vacationers in a new city looking for a familiar, non-restaurant option

The TERRITORY FOODS.COM meal of Salmon Cakes with Pesto and Apple Fennel Slaw created by eliteEATS company tasted even better than the tempting photo. And happily ate the entire Lasagna and BBQ Pulled Pork meals in one sitting. This true even though TERRITORYFOODS.COM products are designed as much for nutritional values in 500 calorie meals, as it is for “gourmet.”

Catering companies who create and prepare the dishes mean that chefs used to pleasing guests and knowing how to prepare food that will reheat.  Responsibly sourced, nutrient-dense ingredients are the foundation and goal of TERRITORY FOODS. Add practicality, such as the option of a prepared quality salmon cake instead of purchasing a slab of salmon.

(2) Sun Basket

Justine Kelly, co-founder and Executive Chef and the team at Sun Basket (www.sunbasket.com)  created a food delivery service //localfoodeater.com/new-pangea-nutrition-brings-mediterranean-diet-to-usa/  with delicious meals made of high-quality, non-GMO ingredients. Their choices include Paleo, Vegetarian, Seafood, Poultry.

Sun Basket meals arrive in a brown “grocery bag” carefully packed in an insulated box. Instructions are in booklets inside and all the materials can be recycled.

(3) Spoonful of Comfort 

These days, soup can be purchased by the packet, bowl, can, cup, etc.   One innovation is home delivery, which tastes like a gift of a talented chef in your kitchen.  It’s perfect as a practical “get well” sentiment, as the founders originally intended, or as a pre-house warming  gift or “care package” to a college students. If you think of a meal as soup, salad and cookies, this is our pick.

Inside each carefully packed Spoonful of Comfort box holds just as carefully prepared cooked and packaged homemade soup, rolls and cookies, along with a handsome soup ladle.   And the food is prepared and sent out for delivery the same day, items travel from box to freezer because of the sophisticated packing, which includes dry ice.  www.spoonfulofcomfort.com/

In the carefully packed boxes  are:

• 64-oz. jar of homemade-style soup (4-6 generous servings)
• 1/2 dozen back rolls (just chewy and dense enough, dotted with rosemary)
• 1/2 dozen cookies
• A ladle “to serve up the smiles”
• Personalized note card
• Colorful, custom packaging

(4) Porto’s

If Porto’s  Bakery was “excited” to announce their new line up of signature baked goods for Bake at Home delivery and baking, I know we customers were a thousand-times more excited. Sweet and savory, Chocolate Twist croissant and Arroz Con Pollo Frito, are first on the list, and they exceed all expectations: expertly crafted and exquisite to eat.   Even holding back from writing “purple prose” I report that the spirit of adored Porto’s festive atmosphere with its common sense practical service model, seems to fill these refined pastries.   For details and ordering, please see //Menu: portosbakery.com

(5) (Dessert!) Apple Crostata

Jessica Weiss’ Apple Crostata baked at //www.caffemarchio.com   a Roman-Style Coffee Shop in NYC are so popular .   These rustic, yet exquisite pastries, as only Italian bakers can create, are now offered by  Joe Ariel’s  Goldbelly, which brings them to your doorstep overnight in top form, no delivery charge.  Goldbelly also offers popular regional signature items for delivery.

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