🕒 14 min read

Remember how life used to be pre-COVID? It was filled with routine stops at your local haunts both on and off the clock, interspersed with injections of exhilarating new and farther flung destinations: stop at a cafe for your ‘usual’ on your way to the office, pick up lunch at a nearby eatery, head out for dinner and/or drinks at least a couple of times a week, and definitely on the weekend.

Now, nearly, if not all, of our daily dining habits have been replaced with selections from the supermarket. After months of assembling sustenance all day every day, no wonder we’re overwhelmed with cooking fatigue and sick of grocery shopping.

While it might seem like you can’t afford to do a lot of takeout and delivery right now, there is a way to satiate your craving for restaurant fare without breaking the bank. 

Small changes, big impact 

You’d be surprised at how economical it can be to order in these days. Local spots are whipping up everything from grab-and-go items and pantry essentials, to cocktail kits and beyond in price ranges that rival the grocer. And thanks to deep discounts – Up to 40 per cent off takeout and contactless curbside pickup orders! Free delivery! Buy one get one free offers! - you can still afford to order in, while skipping the labourious (and by now, monotonous) mealtime prep and cleanup. 

Bonus: Avoid navigating long lines at the supermarket and liquor store, and help small businesses, local farms, and the hospitality industry at large. Win-win. 

Take a look: 

Main attraction

It can be hard to break the pattern of ordering a full-on meal from a restaurant, even for takeout, but it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Grab a main - something you don’t want to turn the oven on for (a day off from kitchen duty feels akin to a spa treatment these days) or something you can’t replicate at home (rotisserie chicken, paella, sushi, salt-encrusted fish, gyros) or don’t want to.

It doesn’t have to be expensive either. Pick up a few sausages, samosas, falafels, empanadas or half a chicken or savoury pie. Add your own salad and/or sides and call it a day. (A pretty successful one, now. High five!) Having someone else doing the heavy lifting right now is everything.

Psst pasta lovers - get in on the action too. Your love of spaghetti o’s aside, you know the better quality noodles and sauce you buy, the more enchanting your experience is going to be. So skip the grocer’s 99 cent and “black label” varieties this time round and indulge in the real deal: handmade noods paired with a jar of slow-cooked housemade sauce that takes just minutes to heat up. Heaven.

Side hustle

Maybe a restaurant main is beyond your budget right now, or perhaps you stocked up at the store when there was a sale. Either way, you can pull together a quick yet spectacular meal with minimal effort, courtesy of a few humble (aka often overlooked and under-appreciated) accompaniments.

Simply pair your supermarket beef/chicken/fish/pasta/tofu with elevated sides from bars and restos in your nabe (or far-flung should you be out for an extended walk or drive). Think crispy Brussels sprouts slathered with gochujang, slow roasted carrots tossed with honey and pistachios, brilliantly composed salad with zesty dressing. Your basic repast just achieved next-level status. 

Another stellar mealtime hack? Three or four pre-made sides equals a complete and utterly unforgettable mezze-style meal to be enjoyed anywhere in the house. On the floor even. Just add pillows, string lights, and up-tempo playlist.  

Low-key effort with superb results? You could get used to this.

Super bowl

Soup is a saving grace in every way. This comfort food in a bowl can help stave off a cold, warm you on a cold day, and promptly transforms into a complete meal with a few swift additions.

Having a jar or two on made by a pro isn’t just a timesaver; it’s a lifesaver these days.

Note: Dumping a box of pre-washed greens into a bowl, ripping off a piece of baguette/French loaf/sourdough, and tipping the soup into whatever vessel is closest absolutely constitutes a meal.

Bonus: The jars and containers make great storage for any and all leftovers from the week. Since they’re gifted in the height department, they take up way less real estate in the fridge than traditional food containers.

Above board

Charcuterie boards tick a LOT of boxes right now:

1. They come together quickly (because that new series isn’t going to watch itself)
2. It delivers a fancy-ish vibe without serious time/effort investment (as it now takes you all day to do something that used to take five minutes, this feels like a win)
3. Grazing instead of sitting down to a full-on meal fits in with your whole WFH athleisure look/vibe (we both know you didn’t go to the gym, but it looks like you could have done some planks/weights)
4. Eating with your hands? Customizing your meal to your current hunger level and/or dietary restrictions? The advantages are endless.

A slew of bars, restos, bakeries and breweries are doing their own charcuterie and their stellar housemade items require only a few simple accompaniments (often available onsite as well). Too complicated? Purchase a fully composed board and call it a day.  

p.s. Don’t forget a bottle of wine, cans of beer, or batched cocktails to go*. What fun! It’s a veritable party/indoor picnic now. And welcome change from usual at-home mealtime grind.

*Speaking of booze, if you’re heading out to the liquor store, shop your local haunts instead. Many restaurants, bars, and cafes have completely transformed into bottle shops, so you’ll get better selections – many sommelier-selected picks not available at the LCBO - at a great price. And before you dismiss it, I’ve got two words for you: Cocktail kits. Okay, two more: Boozy freezies.

Chip in

Fact: Your snack intake has gone through the roof since all this *gestures wildly* started.

Fact: Your penchant for cakes/cookies/ice cream/popcorn/chips is unlikely to subside anytime soon, so might as well lean into it.

Fact: Snacks from a bar or restaurant are undoubtedly better than whatever you’re smashing right now, and will keep you from getting bored of convenience store fare (because no one messes with your Cheetos).

Solution: Play it safe and double (or triple) your order on whatever you’re currently jonesing for – sweet, salty, sour, spicy, savoury, or any and all of the above - on your next shop. You’re gonna need it. 

Special sauce 

Instead of purchasing yet another bottle of barbecue sauce from the supermarket (I see you. Also: I get it), turn your attention to the outstanding offerings from your local haunts, many of which have turned into badass bodegas and complete pantry salvations. Better to support local and get dynamite, made-from-scratch products for a similar price.

Gorgeous variations of chili crisp, chimichurri, romesco, tahini – all the serious flavour bombs that take your meals (even if it’s just a quickly slapped together sandwich or leftovers) to the next level - are available in an array of sizes and spice levels to fit every size budget and cupboard.

Breaking bread 

If you’re not already getting your bread from a local café, bar, brewery or restaurant, try it just this once and see how elevated such a humble item can be.

Once you try one of their fresh, fragrant, chewy, nutty, tangy, crusty loaves, you won’t go back to the sugar laden, preservative-filled supermarket variety again.

Tip: That artisan sourdough out of your price range? Shop later in the day or the next morning when items may be reduced for quick sale.

Hot cakes

Have everything you need at home except dessert? Grocery store desserts leave a lot to be desired, so leave it to the professionals, support local, and enjoy your meal to the last bite.

A wave of top pastry chefs left their former resto posts to branch out on their own – either from home or launch a brand new biz - across town. This is where you want to be buying your desserts from now on. You won’t be disappointed. Guaranteed.

Pro tip: While Scandi practices such as hygge, lykke, and fika have become mainstream in recent years, I recommend lördagsgodis -the tradition of eating sweets or candies weekly on Saturdays. And you thought your weekend couldn’t get any better.

D.I.Y.

Instead of relying on big box meal kit co’s, look to your local eateries. Not only will it cost you the same or less than those “chef-driven” operations, the incredible ingenuity of cooks across the GTA is beyond. You can also choose your level of expertise, from “throw it into a pot wait awhile then ladle into a bowl” to full-on resto-style execution (though no fancy knife skills required).

What’s your pleasure: tacos, burgers, croque monsieur, roll your own pita, a pizza making party perhaps? The sky’s the limit and let’s face it, it’s a much needed break from the never-ending chore of grocery shopping.

Fry day 

Burgers, pizza, tacos, fried chicken, donuts - whatever you normally order from big chains - make the switch to the same only better (and sometimes even cheaper) from one of your locals.

First, let’s get one thing straight: No one’s asking you to totally give up on your quarter pounder with cheese or spicy chicken sando - a quick glance at any At The Pass reveals even the pros have a serious soft spot for these greasy, cheesy delights. However, if you look outside these joints every once in awhile, you might just find something superior to your usual whopper/supreme burrito/nuggets/meatball sub/deluxe pizza/frosty order.

Made with quality ingredients and a whole lotta love, the GTA’s got you when it comes to your craving for handheld processed McWendy’s type fare. In fact, there’s never been a better time re: quality, choices, fast and convenient ways to get it to your doorstep… you just have to be willing to give it a try.

Holy mackerel

While supermarket sushi may be tempting, do yourself a favour and get it from a restaurant instead. It’s guaranteed to be a thousand per cent better, and likely cheaper too.

Case in point - Grocery store avocado roll: $5.50. Nearby spot: $4.95 less 20 per cent if you pick up and pay cash = $3.96. Bonus: They even throw in free edamame! 

Not only is it cheaper, you get better ingredients, three times the avocado, and you’re supporting a family business. Sure you have to make an extra stop on the way home, but if not now, when? This is the time to explore your options, eat better, do better.

Stay tuned. More tips and ideas on how to incorporate restaurant fare into your weekly shop without spending a fortune are on the way.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

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