BIG NEWS!
We are excited to announce that Family Dinner will soon be expanding North to Portland, Maine. Starting in November 2021 we will proudly be serving members from Portland, ME to Portsmouth, NH. This opportunity to grow is extremely important to us.
Today we are launching a fundraising campaign with NuMarket to help build out the expansion, we are hoping to raise $75,000. The campaign will help us build out essential infrastructure for the expansion such as a refrigerated truck, warehouse space, and a team based in Portland, serving their own community. When folks contribute they will get back 120% of their contributions in credits to use towards Family Dinner’s offerings in Massachusetts and Maine!
It's been a long and exciting journey to this moment of expansion. We started Family Dinner in 2017 out of our tiny Somerville apartment with a few (very patient) friends willing to be our founding members. We started clumsily and inefficiently but also joyfully because we were thrilled to see this idea finally come to life. We were the smallest of small businesses. Our mission was, and is, to build a company to support small family farmers, makers, and growers. We set out to use data and technology to shorten and strengthen the local food supply chain and give the little guy a chance to compete against today’s agribusiness Goliaths.
Over the past four years Family Dinner has grown in many ways. We moved into a shared kitchen facility in 2017 and then into our own space in 2020. We were joined by an incredible crew of folks who lend their energy, talent, and terrible jokes to this effort. We bootstrapped from serving 10 customers a week to almost 700. We deliver to 100 cities and towns and support the work of over 80 local farmers, growers, makers and bakers. Every moment of growth, every minor success has been thanks to the wonderful members who support Family Dinner, our mission and encourage us along the way.
Now we are writing the next chapter of Family Dinner by starting to serve the communities in Portland, ME. We were drawn to Portland for its incredibly diverse and vibrant food ecosystem. Maine is home to a rich community of organic farmers, fisherfolk, cheesemakers, and bakers, not to mention some of the best restaurants in the country.
We are incredibly excited to serve the people of Maine and to partner with makers and growers all over the state. The opportunity to expand this mission of this company is humbling and brings us great joy. We are grateful to all of you who have helped us build this company to where it is now, and hope you will join us on this new exciting chapter.
Much love,
Erin + Tim
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
Delivery dates: Saturday, 9/18 and Tuesday, 9/21
Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Share" you will receive just the meats listed, not the "dairy" items (i.e., eggs, yogurt, etc). If you order a "Fish and Seafood Share" you will receive the fish listed, not the dairy items.
Add-on Grain of the Week - Granola from Forge
Add-on Bread of the Week - Cinnamon Swirl Bread from Great Harvest Bakery
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Pumpkin Muffin from Forge
Add-on Fresh Pasta of the Week - Sweet Red Pepper Pappardelle from Dave's Fresh Pasta
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Roasted Garlic Chevre from Valley View Farm
Add-on Mezze of the Week - Onion Dip from Magic Bites
Add-on Fruit Share - Grapes from Autumn Hills Orchard; MacIntosh Apples from Kimball Fruit Farm and Autumn Hill Orchard
Add-on Gluten Free Grain of the Week - Spaghetti from Valicenti
HALF SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm
Pescatarian Protein - Skate from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm
Vegetarian Proteins - BBQ Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm
Paleo Proteins - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Skate from Red's Best; Eggs from Clark Farm and Grant Family Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Pears from Kimball Fruit Farm; Collard Greens from Kitchen Garden Farm and Harlow Farm; Potatoes and Tomatoes from Langwater Farm
Grain - Focaccia from Forge
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark Fine Foods
WHOLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Skate from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn
Pescatarian Protein - Skate, Salmon from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn
Vegetarian Proteins - BBQ Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Pierogi from Jaju; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn
Paleo Proteins - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Skate from Red's Best; Eggs from Clark Farm and Grant Family Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Pears from Kimball Fruit Farm; Collard Greens from Kitchen Garden Farm and Harlow Farm; Potatoes and Tomatoes from Langwater Farm; Scallions from Kitchen Garden Farm; Napa Cabbage from Kitchen Garden Farm
Grain - Focaccia from Forge
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark Fine Foods; Brownie Bites from Forge
DOUBLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Skate from Red's Best; Chicken from Feather Brook Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn; Sage Cheddar from Grafton Village Cheese Co.
Pescatarian Protein - Skate, Salmon, Black Sea Bass from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn; Sage Cheddar from Grafton Village Cheese Co.
Vegetarian Proteins - BBQ Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Pierogi from Jaju; Empanadas from Buenas; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms, Clark Farm, and Grant Family Farm; Butter from Highlawn; Sage Cheddar from Grafton Village Cheese Co.
Paleo Proteins - Andouille from Brookford Farm; Skate from Red's Best; Chicken from Feather Brook Farms; Eggs from Clark Farm and Grant Family Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Pears from Kimball Fruit Farm; Collard Greens from Kitchen Garden Farm and Harlow Farm; Potatoes and Tomatoes from Langwater Farm; Scallions from Kitchen Garden Farm; Napa Cabbage from Kitchen Garden Farm; Broccoli from Brookford Farm; Peppers from Clark Farm
Grain - Focaccia from Forge; Blonde Garganelle from Valicenti
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark Fine Foods; Brownie Bites from Forge
RECIPES
(from Shannon)
ANDOUILLE STEWY! - The number of times Erin and I said this while picking out the items for this week was not 0.
Andouille Sausage and Potatoes - If you aren't feeling stewy but still want some hearty andouille, try out this recipe!
BBQ Tempeh and Collards - Shout out to the vegetarians and delicious collards!
Baked Skate - Easy peasy with a little lemon squeezy. Maybe pair with the chutney recipe below or some collards.
Crispy Skin Salmon with Napa Cabbage - Here's your one pan meal for the week! I also really appreciate the step by step videos that accompany this recipe too!
Tomato Pear Chutney - Top on your chicken, fish, veg or crackers? Who knows where the limit is but this sounds delish.
Swedish Apple Pie - If you have ever felt personally victimized by pie dough, I give you the Swedish Apple Pie. When Ed from Autumn Hills and David from Kimball and I started talking Macs for the fruit share this week all I was thinking about was eating a full dish of this apple pie.
Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry - I.LOVE.BROCCOLI. and just like greens on beets and carrots, USE THE STEMS!
Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found HERE.