Professional Chef in Minutes

a latte coffee in an ambient restaurant setting

Image by: fstop186

Have you ever dreamt of making a meal that has the sophistication of chef Julia Childs? Or create an unforgettable meal that is not only artistic but delicious? To achieve this, it seems almost reasonable to attend a cooking class or two (or three) to create an epic meal. But there is easier way to be able to surprise your guests at dinner with the vast amount of online meal kit services. With the help of companies such as Plated, Blue Apron, Munchery and Hello Fresh as well as many others, making an extravagant meal is simpler yet you can still impress many with your meal. These companies essentially will have a variety of meals to choose from with serving sizes, after this is chosen the price is determined and it will then be sent to your home. The package consists of each ingredient which has already been carefully scaled, weighed, and measured so all that is required is to follow the detailed directions (some will even have pictures) in order to yield the delicious meal. Many compare these sites to GrubHub and Seamless but it is actually extremely different in terms of service as these are offering to deliver takeout orders instead of a pre-packaged meal that can be home-cooked.

chicken fajitas being made from a recipe

Image by: shubbe

Plated offers numerous options for meals whether beef, vegetarian, poultry, seafood, and dessert which are available for two persons.  The menu changes each week but has at least seven menu items delicately created by Plated chefs. The meals can be ordered a la carte or as a complete set after a weekly subscription has been applied which allows for 20% off all plates as well as the chance to receive some bonus complimentary plates if you refer a friend. The monthly membership costs only ten dollars a month but eight dollars per month if it is purchased in advance for the entire year. The company prides itself on the origin of its ingredients that are sustainable, fresh, and antibiotic-free. The food delivery is packaged with step-by-step recipe cards along with the pre-portioned food to avoid food waste and to lower the preparation of the meal in a recyclable refrigerated box on the selected date of delivery.

roasted chicken served from a followed recipe

Image by: wingerz

Blue Apron is a well-known online meal kit service that provides exquisite meals in the selection of either a two-person or four-person options. The site offers how-to videos which teach cooking tutorials that are commonly used when cooking a meal. Blue Apron has a free sign-up which does not have a contract so you can opt out at any time although you must still abide by a subscription which is a flat rate for three meals per week, meal weeks can easily be skipped and shipping is always free. Similar to Plated, they accommodate each customer’s dietary restrictions as long as it is include in their profile. The package of food will be prepared just like Plated but Blue Apron puts the food in an insulated bag so the food will not retard and can last longer. There is also a subscription for wine which is carefully paired with the food that you have purchased for monthly deliveries of six wines that have been designed to serve only two people.

If interested, in these services, I have places some links below for coupons and promo codes although I am not promoting these services in any way, it is all simply a meal suggestion.

Plated:

http://www.promopro.com/merchant-Plated-coupons-deals-31203.html

http://www.goodsearch.com/plated/coupons

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/plated.com

Blue Apron:

http://dealnerd.net/coupon-codes/blue-apron/

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/blueapron.com

https://www.groupon.com/deals/blue-apron-8-napa-sonoma

The Hot Wings of Willoughby

The Most-Made-Dish-for-Events award goes to….. HOT WINGS

     ♫ [Wings] [wings], their good for the heart…The more you eat, the more…  ♪ 

… If not, at least, they will make you happy.

I eat hot wings at least once a week, regardless of the after affects. : ) Besides home cooking, I’ve tried the spicy poultry meat from various restaurants, groceries stores, and pop-up-shops. However, today we will analyze the different hot wing dishes that can be found in a small sector, Downtown Brooklyn on Willoughby Street and Jay Street, right down the block from our home at City Tech. (Disclaimer: I am not advertising for any one, just giving you my thoughts and a simple DIY recipe. I have also took all images featured in the post)

the outside of a wings restaurant

Buffalo Boss Organic Wings & Things usually has long lines of people waiting for their orders. This is its second location Downtown Brooklyn, originally it sat on Fulton Street and Flatbush Ext.  I tried it a few weeks ago for the first time at this new location on Willoughby and Jay St. The service wasn’t the best. They are known for their wings and they have a lot of sides, including sweat potato fries. I was allowed to choose from variety of sauce types. When I was also told I had to pay for dipping sauce, I was turned off and I didn’t buy the ranch. I decided to get rice, hot wings, and a drink, which totaled about $7.  The 5 spicy wings, served in a small black styrofoam, tasted okay. They were fried hard and dipped in hot sauce. I remembered a better tasting experience before.

the outside of a restaurant

Yummy Taco always come through with my craving for asian-mexican-american dishes. (laugh) They, also, usually have long lines and hit-or-miss service during lunch time. Thankfully I got there early. Their $6 wings (8) and fries really filled me. The wings were fried slightly hard with a hint of spice. wings with French friesIt may have been more then a hint, considering the nose drool.

the outside of a restaurant

Super Taco is another great asian-mexican-american spot. I frequent there as well when Yummy Taco lines are long. The wings there were about $6 and came with celery. The taste seemed strikingly familiar, it seemed they have shared the recipe with Yummy Taco. 😉

the outside of a restaurant

The Dining Room seemed to be a whole in the wall. I must have passed it several times before realizing it was there. It is a restaurant/bar. Inside is usually quite unless there is a group of friends that comes on their lunch break. You can sit at the bar or tables. I sat at the bar. I order wings, water, and fries, which totaled 9.80. The 8 wings was boiled, fried lightly and soaked in mild hot wing sauce, my choice of sauce type. It came with vegetables as well. The wings had so much meat on it and more juicy compared to the other places. wings and friesa cooked chicken wingMaybe thats the reason it costs more. It was like no experience I have ever had, I revisited two more times.

the outside of a restaurant

The 99¢ Fresh Hot Pizza’s hot wings is currently a mystery to me. But I thought I’d add them in since they, too, rests on Willoughby Street. If you know how the hot wings taste please share. After my Dining Room experience I was addicted. Don’t Judge me.   


TRY YOUR OWN:

Hosting and need a delicious homemade meal? Try making your own Hot wings.

Ingredients / Precursors:

  • Separated precooked chicken wings (can be boiled or fried)
  • D.I.Y Your OWN Sauce (optional ingredients you can use: dry pepper, hot sauce, honey, bbq sauce, ketchup)
  • Metal pan (aluminum) big enough to lay each flat while baking
  • Bowl for sauce
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
  2. Place your pre-cooked wings in your metal pan
  3. Coat the sauce throughout the wings
  4. Bake for 10 minutes
  5. Flip the wings, coat the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes.
  6. Continue to flip and bake until the chicken reaches creates your desired crisp.
  7. Serve while hot with a side of ranch dressing. (…Or blue cheese I guess, I am being bias.)

NOTE: It’ll taste so good, you can serve them cold.