Indishpensable

Yesterday it was my turn to make dinner for the date. Unfortunately I previously set the bar a little high by doing a lamb roast with veggies in a slow cooker for an entire day... I contemplated doing my family's 'amazing rib recipe' with potatoes and veggies but it's a 1 hour+ affair and I couldn't really think of anything else that I both wanted to cook, and/or felt inspired to cook. And then I remembered Indish... I had walked past their old stall at Granville Market in the Fall and dually noted their amazing idea for future needs- just like this one.

I checked out their website which (note: which was up to date with their current seasonal options) was very helpful in describing the differences between Chef, Heat or Micro-to-serve, the meal options, and the prep times. I called them up and they were very friendly- answering my many questions regarding the detail and idiot-proofness of the instructions, prep time, portion sizes etc- even running over to the chef to ask him a few things.

I stopped by to pick up my 'Chef in a bag' meal and was delighted to see they also have a very impressive lunch menu and decided to sit down and enjoy their 'gourmet grilled cheese sandwich' with either free cookie or free side salad. I went with the salad (knowing if I ate and liked the cookie that I'd end up leaving with a dozen of those, too). Both delicious.

I also noticed their 'heat and serve' cooler which included "Herb Encrusted Chicken Breast with Mushroom Risotto" in a frozen-lunch style tray/lid... oops that just ended up in my pile as well. (Haven't eaten it yet- will advise!)

I made the meal that same night (last night) but was advised it could be stored up to 4 days. Each ingredient was portioned out in a little bag (or foil) with a handy little ID label. The cooking instructions were perfect- giving that little bit more details that you often find yourself wishing for in many recipes. The plating instructions were a nice added touch, as well. Everything cooked as directed (although I admit I seared my tuna a bit longer, we like it a bit firmer).

The result: It really did take only half an hour to make + plate. It looked amazing. And- it tasted AMAZING. There was so much flavor in the tuna from the marinade, the tuna itself must have been incredibly fresh because the tuna flavor was very subtle without even a hint of fishiness. It was by far the best that either of us have had and I only just started eating tuna- having had it for the first time in Hawaii. Every single drop was good- the potatoes, the sauces to drizzle, the reduction, the beet- amazing. And the portion was right too- my date ate all of his and I had a bit of potato left over. Full but not food-baby full. Perfect!

The best part is I got to make something I hadn't otherwise tried before (searing tuna, baking a beat, sauce reduction, etc.) and I now know what kind of potatoes I'm going to be making from now on! The recipes aren't impossible to repeat but- as is their edge- you would spend less buying their 'meal in a bag' than if you tried to repeat it all at the grocery store (since obviously some items would come in larger portions than you need for one meal).

Brilliant business idea, amazing flavor, delicious food, and I learned something new! You have a new customer, Indish.

When is a take-out self catering service cum soup and sandwich shop like a Michelin rated eating experience?

When it is Indishspensible.

I would like to wax on with word play about the fabulous food experiences that me and mine have had here ... how indishscribably delicious it is, how dishspensible all our other food options look in comparison, how cooking a fabulous meal at home for guests makes us look like dishtinguished foodies. But, let's keep it simple.

The kitchen and eating area is pristine and the staff conversations going on in the background are typically food-centric with discussions of how to make things more naturally delicious and which recipe interpretations have been inspired by past peak food experiences enjoyed by the Indishspensible chefs. These people take making great food accessible to their customers very seriously and clearly have a lot of fun with it.

Lunch is available mid-day in their store and they have taken sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads to a new level of delishious. Many of their soups and sauces are reductions. This means that the flavor has not been diluted with soup stock and it makes for the most incredible flavors that you can imagine.

Dinners. Well. The menus speak for themselves but it is hard to communicate how much of a rock star you feel like when you have taken home a bag of ingredients, followed the impeccable instructions and you cook a five star meal that knocks the socks off your friends and loved ones. My all time favorite (from the winter menu) is the Filet Mignon with Paris butter. On a winter evening, this meal is such a delicious treat.

There is great value in the price of the meals even if you don't consider the time that you save or the fact that by following instructions, you are expanding your cooking techniques and "vocabulary" of ingredients and flavor combinations.

They also host cooking parties for kids (big and little) which are a big hit and a very reasonable price.

Want fresh food? Local food? An interesting and inspiring menu that changes with the seasons? Would you like great service? Better get to the store and see what is left in the cooler to take home for dinner tonight.

Indishpensable is a fantastic location for you to go and pick up ready-to-cook meals. I would have to highly recommend this place for any guy who wants to impress his girlfriend or get out of the doghouse. With an excellent culinary team, the menus that are offered are out of this world and help you become the gourmet chef you've dreamed of. I made an excellent Chicken Cordon Blue that knocked the socks off my date the other day. The menu itself changes once every four weeks and to top it off they use local ingredients and produce and all of their fish are ocean wise wild!

Whether you are having a dinner party or a romantic get together this is the place to go. Experienced Chef or Shlub in the dog house you can do no wrong with Indish!

Indishpensable helps you cook fantastic, healthy, gourmet dinners at home. They do all the leg-work so you can enjoy easy cooking in the comfort of your own kitchen with less stress and more success. Indish meals feature fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. The Indish menu changes every 3 to 4 weeks so you can always widen your cooking repertoire with interesting new recipes. My friend Cathy introduced this place to me and ever since I have been a fan.
In the space itself they have cooking stations set up and apparently you can book cooking parties..... which I cant wait to do.... perhaps it might be fun for a birthday or something. You know get a bunch of foodies together and make some delicious nosh!

I am commenting on the lunch I just had, literally just swallowed the last morsel. OMG, it was the best soup and sandwich I have ever had in Vancouver! My soup was a green pea soup with mint and my sandwich the incomparable cajun sandwich. All for $10, made to order while you wait. It is so awesome! And I am hoping to return soon to pick up some of dat take home pre made ingredients to impress da spouse and friends, likely tomorrow as Sunday evening is eat in night and the simple directions for their tenderloin described to me by the friendly chef just lit the bulb in my head for din din idea tomorrow night!! 20 minutes for a 2 course meal that look like it was made in a 5-star restaurant, how can that be beat. Follow up review to follow once I attempt one of their meals!

After spending an outrageous $23 for a frozen chicken pot pie that serves two, I at least expected something quite rich and delicious. Instead, I dug into a soggy puff pastry crust covering a grainy, loose, grey coloured concoction (they would call it white wine sauce) in which sat a couple of very large chunks of chicken (surely the chicken could have been cut to bite size, not requiring a knife), a couple of whole mushrooms, and lots of peas and carrots. The 'sauce' was more like a broth and required a spoon to consume. I would have been happier with a Swanson's frozen pie at this point, and would have saved about $21 in the process! I don't know how they stay in business offering such poor quality food at exorbitant prices.