Support Local Restaurants by Ordering These Chef-Made Meal Kits

Many restaurants that have been mandated to close their dining rooms are continuing to operate takeaway-only businesses in an effort to help stop the spread of coronavirus and "flatten the curve." While ordering standard pick-up or delivery is still a great way to support your favorite restaurants (here's how to do it safely), some chefs have decided to open up their kitchens and offer meal kits you can prep at home.

Some of these meal kits are completely DIY, like the make-your-own lasagna from Crossroads Kitchen in Los Angeles. Others simply require reheating at home, like the short rib beef Wellington from Alinea in Chicago.

Here are a few of our favorites, organized by city. (Please note: These meal kits are often announced via Instagram or newsletters, not delivery apps. Make sure to check the social media feeds of your favorite chefs and restaurants for information.)

Read more: 12 Ways to Support Local Restaurants Without Leaving Home

Birmingham

Ovenbird, from chef Chris Hastings: daily-changing dinners that serve 2. A sample menu includes Peruvian chicken with black beans and rice, grilled romaine with creamy anchovy dressing, and seven-layer chocolate cake. To order, call 205-957-6686.

Rodney Scott BBQ: family meals that feed 3-4 and include BBQ meat of your choice (pork, turkey breast, smoked chicken, or pork spare ribs), 2 pints of classic sides, 6 buns or 12 pieces of white bread, and sauce. To order, call 843-990-9535. (Also offered in Charleston.)

Chicago

Pacific Standard Time, from chef Erling Wu-Bower: $40 family meals that feed 4, often with gluten-free and vegetarian options. Menus include items like smoked chicken thighs, taco salad, fried potatoes, and rice pudding. Email info@pstchicago.com to be added to the update list (the restaurant sends out ordering forms that can be accessed through the listserv).

River Roast: four family meal options that feed 3-4. Each meal comes with a central protein (chicken, pork shank, roasted fish, or roast beef), a choice of a vegetable side dish, chopped salad or roasted vegetables, and a choice of dessert. Order online here.

The Alinea Group, run by chef Grant Achatz: weekly meal kits from each of their restaurants. Currently, Alinea’s menu includes short rib beef Wellington, 50-50 mashed potatoes, and crème brûlée ($34.95 per person, order online here). Next’s menu includes rigatoni with a creamy vodka sauce, Caesar salad, and cheesecake ($29.95 per person, order online here). Roister’s menu includes Roister's famous fried chicken sandwich, tomato soup, and chocolate cherry torte ($24.95 per person, order online here). In addition, a Jamaican Jerk Margarita Kit from The Aviary—including a bottle of Tequila, fresh lime and pineapple juice, and a jerk syrup—is available for pick-up with any of the meals.

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Jersey City

Corto, from chef Matt Moschella: make-at-home pasta and sauce kits. They’re selling different pastas for $5 a pound, as well as all kinds of sauces kits, from one made with tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, and grana padano to another with chickpeas, tomato, rosemary, garlic, breadcrumbs, and pecorino romano. To order, call the restaurant at 201-499-0358.

Los Angeles

Crossroads Kitchen, from chef Tal Ronnen: meal kits for pick-up and delivery that provide ingredients for some of the restaurant’s most popular plant-based dishes. Each item serves 2 and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare, and preparation instructions come with each order. DIY dishes include Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna, and Tiramisu. To order, call the restaurant at 323-782-9245.

Guelaguetza: 11 different family meals and DIY kits at various price levels. The pozole de pollo family meal, for $65, feeds 5 and includes 94 oz. of pozole with shredded chicken, 8 limes, 4 avocados, diced onion, cabbage, crema, dry oregano, chile flakes, 16 tostadas, and rice. The make-your-own-tlayuda kit costs $45 and includes ingredients and instructions. Order online here.

Vespertine, from chef Jordan Kahn: a weekly-changing family-style meal that serves 2-6 people, for $59 per person. Order online here.

Nashville

The Party Line, a catering company from Julia Sullivan, executive chef of Henrietta Red: family meals delivered to your door. Choose 3 meals per week, starting at $75, or 5 meals per week, starting at $125. The Party Line delivers one Thursdays, with instructions for how to prepare each meal. Menus are posted at the beginning of the week and might include dishes such as eggplant parmesan, a pho kit, a chicory salad, and olive oil cake with lemon curd. Order online here or call The Party Line at 615-800-2019.

New York City

Rezdora, from chef Stefano Secchi: fresh pastas and sauces to be prepared at home. You can choose from five pastas (anolini, which are small raviolis stuffed with prosciutto and pork, spaghetti, radiatore, spinach pappardelle, and tagliatelle) and six sauces (pomodoro, pork and prosciutto ragu, duck ragu, boar and porcini mushroom ragu, butter and sage sauce, and mushroom ragu) with the option of adding a portion of Parmigiano Reggiano to your dinner, Northern Italian wines, and tiramisu or gelato. Each pasta portion feeds 2. Order online here.

Junzi Kitchen: family-style portions of vegetables, proteins, toppings, and sauces, with 3-4 meals starting at $34.99. Each Family Meal comes with noodles or rice; ginger scallion chicken, firecracker chicken or tofu; a junzi sauce of your choosing; two stir-fries, two fresh vegetables, and a garnish. Order online here.

Mala Project: $12 jars of sauces that can be put on noodles, veggies, or proteins and can be used for about 5 meals. Jars include soy pork sauce, five spice tofu, spicy beef sauce, and spicy mushroom. Order online here.

Raleigh

AC Events, chef Ashley Christensen’s catering company: a weekly Sunday meal kit, called ClubHouse, that feeds 4. It’s available for pick-up or delivery, and includes dishes such as Caesar salad with pickle juice Caesar dressing, baked shells stuffed with ricotta, kale, and chicken confit, and chocolate brownies. Order online here.

San Francisco

Ungrafted, a wine bar and bottle shop: three meal kit options for pick-up. Menu items include Creole spiced buttermilk fried (or baked) chicken, DIY balsamic mashed potatoes, and cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread. (See the full menu offerings here.) To order, call 415-814-2129 or email info@ungraftedsf.com.

St. Louis

Mission Taco Joint: a taco bar for four, which includes picks of two meats, two sides, and lots of taco toppings for $49.95. Order online here.

Retreat Gastropub: a carnitas dinner for four with toppings like pineapple salsa, tortillas, rice, beans, and a bottle of wine for $50. Order online here.

Elmwood: a dinner for two made of dishes like short ribs and coal-roasted carrots or hot fried chicken with broccoli Caesar, for $40. Order online here.