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The proliferation of mail-order meal companies has been astounding . Meal kit delivery is now a $ 5 billion industry , and it has even been suggested that “ America ’ s Harvest Box ” could replace part of the country ’ s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program . While a few big names dominate the market , there are many companies pushing the concept beyond just harassing potential customers on the street in order to sell the most dinners possible .
Peach Dish is a Southern cooking inspired meal kit company intent on enriching and nourishing people ’ s lives through good food experiences . It began with just that - experiences . In 2013 , Peach Dish founder , Hadi Irvani , hosted dinner parties in which the food and recipes were provided , but the guests were responsible for cooking . It might sound like a clever way of making someone else do the work , which it is , but it was also a unique way to bring people together though food . Those personal dinner parties quickly turned into Peach Dish and began being delivered across the country .
Of course , most people don ’ t use meal kits , even those from Peach Dish , as a way of bringing friends together . They are just an easy and solution to dinner preparation . A meal kit means you don ’ t have to decide what you want to eat , which can often be the toughest part , find a recipe , or go shopping for ingredients . Instead , you pick from a set menu online and get fresh food delivered in the exact quantities needed to make their meals . It doesn ’ t get any easier than that short of going out to dinner . And most restaurants require pants , so meal kits might still edge them out .
The risk with any meal kit service is that they quickly become boring . We ’ re no longer in a time in which the daily special reins supreme . People don ’ t eat meatloaf every Wednesday and go to a fish fry every Friday ( except in Wisconsin ). Sure we have our favorites , but variety is essential to maintaining interest . With so many meal kit options out there , people need a reason to stick with one .
Peach Dish offers an impressive 18 kits every week , at least six of which are always brand new . They also bring back favorites from the previous year , including recipes from guest chefs , and have a “ Ribbon Series ” that utilize rare or premium ingredients . The menu also features vegetarian options , vegan dishes , and even desserts to prove that it really is a piece of cake to bake a pretty cake .
The ingredients themselves are a source of pride for the company as they consider transparency to be one of their biggest assets . Peach Dish works with hundreds of small southern farms to acquire all of their ingredients , many of which are from organic farms and producers . In addition to an insert in the meal kit about weekly sources , the Peach Dish website lists all of the suppliers used and which products come from what farm or artisan . You can even order more of a particular ingredient from their online market if you fall in love with one or buy hundreds of other items from their partner farms and artisans .
Ingredients are nothing without a recipe though , and the Peach Dish recipe cards are wonderful . I recently made their Potato-Kale Pancake with Tomato-Bacon Gravy and had no trouble at all . It ’ s not a dish I ’ ve ever made , or anything similar , but I was able to follow along with ease . They offer step-by-step directions using basic language and photos so even the most novice chef can succeed .