Dinner Delivery Services

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woodburyowner

Well-known member
Does anyone use any dinner catering services here?  I know there are places that will deliver dinner (not from restaurant, but someone's own kitchen).  I'm trying one out this week and will report back, but I wanted some more ethnic options.  The one I'm using is Chinese/Viet.  You get 1 main, 1 veggie, and 1 soup.  $8 a person.  You have to provide 2 sets of Tupperware and they rotate.
 
nosuchreality said:
Are they licensed?  Or are they operating under the California Cottage Food Act?

Never heard of meal deliveries using your tupperware, which unless they're cleaning it, and not you (and everyone else using the service), doesn't sound very sanitary. 

I did try two services a while back.  There's many more now, but if anything, prices have increased from then.http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3712.msg55779.html#msg55779
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I doubt they are licensed.  I'm not sure why using my own clean tupperware is not sanitary?  I just had a meal delivered last night and now I wash it and then leave it on my door step.  When I get my next delivery, they just swap it with the other set with food in it.

The delivery program I am using costs $8/person so it's relatively cheap.  I'm just looking for a service that will save me from cooking 2 meals a week.
 
What kind of chinese/viet food?  Pics please.  $8 is pretty cheap.  Is there a minimum? 

Oh wait, my neighbor might take my food like they took my trashcan :(
 
ps9 said:
What kind of chinese/viet food?  Pics please.  $8 is pretty cheap.  Is there a minimum? 

Oh wait, my neighbor might take my food like they took my trashcan :(
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It's "home cooked" style chinese/viet food (not what you would typically get at a pho restaurant).  I don't know the official names of the dishes, but last night I had ground beef/cabbage soup, pork riblets w/pickled veggies, and stir fried chicken wings.

I don't think there is a minimum, you need to give a $60 check at a time so they can deduct the meals when ordered.  If you want to cancel the service, they will refund the remaining balance.

My next scheduled meal is for tomorrow.  Will take pics this time. (way too hungry/excited last night :p!)
 
How is the portion size ?  doesn't sound very cheap compared to common chinese takeouts unless portion size is generous ?
 
woodburyowner said:
nosuchreality said:
Are they licensed?  Or are they operating under the California Cottage Food Act?

Never heard of meal deliveries using your tupperware, which unless they're cleaning it, and not you (and everyone else using the service), doesn't sound very sanitary. 

I did try two services a while back.  There's many more now, but if anything, prices have increased from then.http://www.talkirvine.com/index.php/topic,3712.msg55779.html#msg55779
Click to expand...

I doubt they are licensed.  I'm not sure why using my own clean tupperware is not sanitary?  I just had a meal delivered last night and now I wash it and then leave it on my door step.  When I get my next delivery, they just swap it with the other set with food in it.

The delivery program I am using costs $8/person so it's relatively cheap.  I'm just looking for a service that will save me from cooking 2 meals a week.
Click to expand...

Your tupperware is probably fine.  I'm thinking of the tupperware of everyone else.  Using whatever cleaning method they deem appropriate and your servers handling everyone else's containers and what potential practices are of a group of people running a blackmarket food stand if they're scrimping on dollars to the point of not getting containers.

Or just a scrapy eco-concious entreprenuer.  But I'm thinking low-dollar, home 'cooking' using unknown practices. 

I'm not sure why you just wouldn't pick up take out on the way home from any plethora of cheap places, do you think the quality is better?
 
nosuchreality said:
I'm not sure why you just wouldn't pick up take out on the way home from any plethora of cheap places, do you think the quality is better?
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I think the key word is probably "delivery" but I can't be sure.

I'm also wary of this "supply the tupperware" clause... don't other meal delivery services use disposable packaging? Or does that add too much to the cost?
 
I have a friend who sells her home cooked (frozen) meals to her friends who pass them off to their unsuspecting husbands/families as their own  ;)
 
GH said:
How is the portion size ?  doesn't sound very cheap compared to common chinese takeouts unless portion size is generous ?
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Portion size is good.  A bit larger than what I expected.  Between the wifey and I, we were absolutely stuffed.

ps9 said:
Just leave out a bigger tupperware :)
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I tried this trick.  I put out the 3 largest pieces of tupperware I could find, but I don't think it helped.

 
nosuchreality said:
Your tupperware is probably fine.  I'm thinking of the tupperware of everyone else.  Using whatever cleaning method they deem appropriate and your servers handling everyone else's containers and what potential practices are of a group of people running a blackmarket food stand if they're scrimping on dollars to the point of not getting containers.

Or just a scrapy eco-concious entreprenuer.  But I'm thinking low-dollar, home 'cooking' using unknown practices. 

I'm not sure why you just wouldn't pick up take out on the way home from any plethora of cheap places, do you think the quality is better?
Click to expand...

I think the main difference is that this food is what I consider "home style cooking" - less greasy, less salty, etc.  The only good example I can think of is that this food is more like Shao Mei (Jeffery/Walnut that closed down a few years back) vs. Sam Woo Express.  I know that these 2 restaurants are 2 different types of Chinese cuisines, but this comparison is just to put things in perspective. 

Also, where else can I get 2 dishes + soup for $16 inclusive?  Most Chinese restaurants have avg. dish prices of $9-$12 + $8 for soup.  Add tax and (maybe tip) it's almost double the price.
 
SoCal said:
Restaurants on the Run - "Make Food Delivery Easy"
https://www.rotr.com/
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"The delivery charge for food delivery in Orange County, CA is $9.99 + 5.99% service fee for Business, Residential and Hotel deliveries. There is also an additional 15% gratuity added on for the mobile server which is included in the final total of your order. "

Wowza!  I think I'll stick with my current service. ;)

 
bones said:
I can see the perks of a home cooked delivery service.  Getting takeout is time consuming.  I'm actually trying to convince my friend's parents who used to own a restaurant to provide some home cooked chinese meals for me.  We would be more than willing to pay for it. 
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The fresh delivery services are quite good.  Food is healthier than restaurants and comparable quality current mainline places.  The main challenge is cost.  They're comparable cost to eating out every night, if you do the full meal plan, you're talking ~$40-$50/day per person.

I hear meal delivery for $8 and I can't help but remember the TB problems a few years back in San Diego  from the bathtub cheese sales.
 
Crock-Pot-Slow-Cooker.jpg
 
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