FEELING BLUE... APRON
(and oh, so Plated)
OK - you know me. I'm a foodie... from Bonnie Lu's Cafe, a terrific diner here in Ojai, to the French Laundry in Napa - I love it all. I'm still searching for the perfect cheeseburger and dream of dining at Per Se in Manhattan.
Because of Richard's gig as a food writer/producer for the Food Network, right after 9/11 we got to escape the horror for a few weeks and travel around Europe being wined and dined by some of the best chefs in the world... check out the towns, cities, wines and food in my blog series, "Five Guys & Me" as we journeyed from an idyllic small town in Germany to cities in France and Italy, ending in Florence.
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| "My" 5th Guy Took This Pic on Our lst Night In Europe and a Sleepover in Frankfurt |
We were spoiled. Or so I thought.
Recently, Richard and I were gifted with a package of three free Blue Apron dinners for two (meals for more than two are also available) and liked them so much, we gifted ourselves a few more times.
Why, my friends ask? You've been fed by some of the greatest cooks in the world, why would you want packaged dinners? You love to cook, they argued. (Oops, no - not me guys -I don't actually "love" to cook, though Richard does). I tried explaining... life gets busy, even the thought of planning a menu or going marketing can become overwhelming day after day after day after day (ask anyone who cooks at home most nights like we do), especially now that Richard has become the Artistic Director of the Ojai Art Center Theater and the last thing on his mind is cooking, so most marketing and meals are left up to me. I tend to make the same things over and over again and these Blue Apron dinners were inventive and good. No, they didn't compare to a Paul Bocuse or Thomas Keller meal (but they don't cost an arm and a leg, either). And, no, they didn't even compare
to one of Richard's gourmet forays, but everything was fresh and we
loved the recipes - the combinations of textures and tastes.
The first time the three dinner combination of seasonings, produce and either meat, chicken or fish (there are vegetarian option) package arrived at our front door, it felt like Christmas morning. Excitedly, we unpacked the box to see what surprises awaited us. Everything looked so fresh. And, none of the dinners had a long prep time since everything was chopped and/or measure out beforehand. For the first time in a while, Richard actually wanted to get back in the kitchen, so he made the dinners and, when we sat down to eat them, it felt like we had ventured out to a new restaurant.
Here are some of our favorite Blue Apron meals (Plated below).
Crispy buttermilk catfish - so delish and neither of us particularly like catfish:
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Cornmeal Crusted Shrimp Po' Boy (I never had a "po' boy" before) - this was one of my favorite Blue Apron suppers - full disclosure: I love sandwiches:
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| Be still my heart |
Beef Medallions with Mashed Potatoes & Balsamic Pan Sauce w/ Spinach:
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| Tho we loved the recipe (and other beef/steak recipes) our only complaint w/ any of Blue Aprons meals is that the beef can be a little chewy. | |
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Shrimp & Spaghetti Marinara w/Spinach:
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| ready to eat |
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Tex-Mex Chicken & Cheesy Rice:
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| Soooo good - love the cheesy rice |
Discovering my new found addiction to Blue Apron, Alexandra, my wonderful cousin, gifted us w/ Plated - another version of Blue Apron which was equally fresh and delicious. Take a look...
Salmon & Creamy Dill Sauce:
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| Plated plated (this was an exceptionally delicious dinner) |
Chicken Marsala:
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| Another oh, soooo delicious entree |
We've stopped ordering the meals for now, and are back making some of our own tried and true dinners - but we miss those "Christmas mornings" when we got to open up a Blue Apron or Plated delivery and discovered new recipes to make without leaving the house.
Sooooooooooooo, if you're tired of the same ol', same 'ol - give Blue Apron or Plated a try. We loved them and plan to order them again.
