I love to watch cooking shows. More importantly, I’d love to be able to cook like chefs on cooking shows – with ingredients neatly presented in clear glass bowls, sauces and spices pre-measured, veggies pre-washed and pre-chopped, and of course, no thought of cleaning up afterwards.
Alas, that’s not how cooking goes for normal people. But can it be? I recently stumbled upon a review of ScratchDC on a fashion blog, and completely fell in love with ScratchDC’s concept of taking all the work out of cooking and letting me of indulging in my fantasy of being the next Julia Child. ScratchDC is a meal prep and delivery service – you can order a bundle filled with pre-chopped ingredients and a recipe, and it will be delivered to your house at a time of your preference the same day. A meal for two costs between $22-$30 depending on the day, and apparently provides ample portions for two adults and even some leftovers. (click on the picture below to access ScratchDC’s website).
I have never used this service before – and it doesn’t look like I will anytime soon because Scratch is only in D.C. right now – so I can’t personally vouch for its quality or service. BUT, I have to say that this is a genius idea. Families are busier than ever, and unfortunately making a meal from scratch, while cheaper and healthier, is just not realistic for many folks. So I think it’s great that there is a company out there who can help us strike a balance between nutrition, convenience, and budget. This service might also be great for a small dinner party – 2 bundles will serve 4-5 people. At $30/bundle, you are still only spending $12 per person. Even TheBillfold’s David Tao can’t do it for that cheap.
CB and I might be in D.C. in a few months for vacation, and if we are, I am sorely tempted to order a Scratch bundle in lieu of a dinner out. Even though the bundles are definitely not cheap, they are still much more economical than comparable meals in a restaurant would be. And if CB does the dishes, I will be able to act out my dream of cooking like a chef on TV shows. All glory, no guts. 
The new york times did a an article on similar services that are popping up: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/dining/the-dinn…. For me this service has too high of a price point but some of the services do have a lower one. At $15 a night a might consider it.
Look at HelloFresh.com – same concept. Complete ingredients for 3 meals/week get delivered to you.
It's a good idea, especially for busy families where both parents work and food shopping and cooking is not at the top of the list. But I would have to come from a VERY affluent family before I spent $30 on one meal.
I hear ya. Although, it's $30 for one meal for 2 people plus leftovers… a date at a burger place costs more than that. I feel like I would be willing to pay for that, especially if it means that I would be skipping a dinner out and have a more enjoyable cooking experience.