The Home Cook: ‘Heat & Eat’ Meal Delivery Service

I’ve got to be honest. I really don’t like to cook. I LOVE to eat, but like many parents, the daily dinner drama is, well, just that…a ground hogs day “oh lord not again” situation. For this reason, I have spent a good deal of time, sampling and reviewing the local meal delivery services/caterers who can provide me with a dinner experience that feels “home cooked” but only involves my heating things up in and around my oven. #lazyandlovingit

One might think that identifying this type of local ‘heat & eat’ meal delivery service would be an easy task, but the requirements involved in successfully prepping large quantities of food that fares well in transit, and then is to be re-heated by an “at home cook,” is trickier than you might think. Meal prep like this requires determining the proper balance of par-cooking dishes, heating instructions for dummies, and developing meal plans that work for any and all family dynamics. 

A few months ago, I was very pleased to stumble upon a local meal delivery service that professed to do all of the above successfully, with the inclusion of “healthy meals” in the positioning. It seemed to be worth a try.  As it turns out, Stephanie Berghoff, Owner of THE HOME COOK, has been quietly delivering meal to 50+ families in the Fairfield County area for years, and as luck may have it, I bumped into her just as she was poised to expand her coverage area, growing the business exponentially in the next few months. 

Before we dive into specifics of The Home Cook’s meal delivery menu, it is worth noting that Berghoff's unique background straddles both the business and food aspects of the culinary scene making her uniquely positioned to understand how to manage this type of service.  

Berghoff was raised in Westchester and began her journey with a degree in Hospitality and Restaurant Managemen from Syracuse University, and then jumped right into the development of an extremely successful “linked in” style job board geared towards restaurant professionals (specifically back of the house chefs). Her company hosted large chef focused events and educational panels to foster growth and unity within the restaurant community.

When she moved to Connecticut 5 years ago, with a 6-month old in tow, she continued to work as a chef/restaurant industry recruiter, but quickly decided it was time for a little reinvention. 

Always passionate about cooking (In fact, she wrote a complete cookbook at the age of 10 that we’re dying to get our hands on), Stephanie asked her friends if they would be interested in receiving home cooked meals delivered to their doorsteps. I mean…who would say no to that? Her pilot program was launched, and after a few months, she generated enough customers to start a full fledged “heat and eat” business. The Home Cook was born. 

When I went online to explore The Home Cook’s menu options, I was mindful of my three teenage daughters, some of whom are pickier than others, and the fact that given my line of work, I have relatively high expectations for the food I choose to eat. 

The website is easy to navigate and the menus are posted every Friday for the following week. You must order by Sunday at 8PM with deliveries scheduled for the following Tuesday between 4-6pm. There is a 2-meal, $75 minimum order, and NO subscription is required, which is nice feature for those with commitment issues. Delivery is FREE, or you can choose to pick up at her new Westport location at 37 Saugatuck Avenue.  Meals are created by selecting an entree and adding two veggie or carb forward sides.

While every week offers something slightly different based on the seasons or “what I’m in the mood for” says Berghoff, she makes sure she offers a variety of different proteins with varying textures and flavor profiles. Customers will always find at least 2 types of chicken, a beef dish, a pasta, something seafood-y, and a dish with the texture of ground meat (she says the kids dig it).  She also loves to cook Asian cuisine.

For example, this past week’s menu featured entrees including : Braised Brisket, Chicken Paillard, Lemony Shrimp with White Beans, Pan Seared Salmon with Honey Basil Vinaigrette and Greek Chicken Burgers. Each dish appears online with a beautiful image to properly wet your whistle. 

For my first order I decided to go with the Balsamic Flank Steak with a Romesco Sauce, a rich Spanish sauce of charred tomatoes and roasted red peppers (served on the side), as well as the Sweet Basil Marinated Chicken Skewers with a Pesto Feta dip. They were delivered chilled, neatly packed, clearly labeled, and smelled wonderful even as we were opening the containers. The reheating instructions were very easy to follow , were spot on, and the family waited patiently while I “cooked” their gourmet dinner. Both of the above dishes were perfect; they made it out of the well detailed reheating process at the correct internal temperature, and the sauces were complex and deeply flavorful. I also scored the Chicken Sausage & Sweet Potato Orecchiette Pasta for the kiddos, which was very well received. 

Sides included: Grilled Veggie Skewers in a wonderful balsamic Parmesan vinaigrette; an old school “Lightened Up Bean Casserole,” with almond slivers (again…vegetables perfectly cooked and very fresh); and a Roasted Spring Pea Farro Salad and Roasted Lemon Asparagus. 

The portions are very generous, with each entree serving at least 2-3 people. This is an excellent value as my husband and I ate for two nights on what was marketed as a single dinner for two. The entire menu felt light and healthy, the type of comforting but tasty food one might cook at home…if you were a very good cook (which I am not). And the dishes were all kicked up a notch with complex sauces, unique marinades, and creative ingredient pairings. I particularly enjoyed the fact that one could order the complete 6-day menu, eat Berghoff’s food every night, and never get that “takeout” fatigue that so often comes with restaurant to-go over time. This is real food that completely replaces your need to cook with an incredibly tasty well balanced diet at the forefront. 

Will I continue to order from The Home Cook? Yes I will. Plus, starting this month, Stephanie is offering BBQ packages for the summer season and she has plans to offer sauces, salad dressings and more in the coming year.

The Home Cook currently delivers to greater Fairfield County and lower Westchester…what are you waiting for? Order here.

The Home Cook 37 Saugatuck Avenue, Westport