Although it is tempting to do so, we strongly recommend that you resist that urge! All entreés should be thawed in the refrigerator. Of course, that does take a little planning ahead. So, on those rare occasions when the stars are not aligned, or the kids need to be at different places at the same time and the entreés didn’t make it to the refrigerator 24-36 hours before mealtime, try thawing them in a bowl of cold water or in the microwave.
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WEBSITE
Q: What do you think of our new website?
A: We finally did it. We made the change. Although the site looks only a little bit different on the outside, there is alot different underneath the hood. If you are an existing customer, hopefully you already received an email telling you about our change. We believe our software will allow us to provide more flexibilty and better support to our customers. Please let us know what you think.
Q: What are some of the new features?
A: You will now be able to modify and delete your own orders providing you have an account and it is more than 72 hours ahead of your session (if it is within 72 hours of your session, please call or email and we will help you with your change, if possible).
You will now be able to reschedule and/or cancel a session yourself, providing it is more than 72 hours ahead of your session (if it is within 72 hours of your session, please call or email and we will help you with your change, if possible).
You will now be able to put an extra entrée (or two) on your order, if you desire. The extra entrées will be charged at the same rate as the other entrées in the package you have chosen (that is, the package price/# of entrées in the package).
You can check how many openings remain in any given session by hovering the mouse over the session date/time.
Also, you do not need to "add" each item to your order after you select it (wasn't that annoying!), you can specify the quantity of each entrée that you want to assemble and then choose the "place order" button once.
Q: So what is the downside?
A: We're not sure yet. Obviously, the transition will be a bit tedious for everyone. And, we're bound to lose an order or two somewhere along the way. We hope you will bear with us. Let us know what you think.
PRICING AND POLICIES
Q: Can I order more than one of any entrée?
A: Yes. In fact, you can now order as many of any entrée as you want. However, for certain entrées there will be an upcharge applied when you order more than two of the entrée (that is, the third and fourth, etc. will incur an additional charge). The upcharge will be determined based on the cost of the protein in the dish. Entrées subject to an upcharge will be clearly marked and the upcharge specified in the screen where you select the entrées.
Q: Can I get my money back if I cancel less than 3 days before my session?
A: We understand that things do not always go according to plan. Stuff happens. However, we purchase and prep ingredients for each customer based on the entrées he or she chooses to prepare. Therefore, we are not able to refund your money if you want to cancel less than three days before a session for which you are scheduled. But, we understand and we want to help. So, if you find that you have to cancel on short notice, we will work with you to find a different session you can attend that week. Or, we are always happy to prepare your entrées for you for our regular pickup fee. |
FOOD
Q: Do you offer organic meat and poultry?
A: Almost. Starting in early-to-mid October '07, we will be introducing the option of organic meat and poultry. We'll probably start with poultry. If you have an existing order in the system and want to add the organic meat/poultry option, login to your account and modify your order. There will be an additional charge for organic meat/poultry based on our cost of the protein. We'll send out an email to notify you when you can begin ordering organic meat and poultry.
Q: Can I prepare entrées at THE GATHERING KITCHEN if my child has food allergies?
A: Yes, but please inform us of food allergies at the time you register for a session. On our website, each entrée description is annotated with allergy information. One strategy is simply not to choose entrées containing an allergen troublesome to your child. Alternately, depending on the severity of the allergy, you may be able to simply omit or substitute an ingredient in a recipe at the time you assemble it. Please be aware, however, that common food allergens such as milk and nuts are ingredients in many of our recipes and will be present during most sessions. As always, if you have any questions about a recipe and its ingredients, please contact us.
Q: Can I change one of my entrées when I get to my session?
A: That depends. Ingredients are purchased and prepped based on the orders placed for each session. We do not always have extras. If, however, we are able to make the substitution you would like, we will be happy to do it. It never hurts to check.
Q: Can I add an entrée to my order when I get to my session?
A: Again, that depends. As before, ingredients are purchased and prepped based on the orders placed for each session. However, if we are able to accommodate your request, we are happy to do so. Q: Do you have entrées that serve less than 4-6 people?
A: While all of our entrées are sized to serve 4 to 6 adults, you can package the entrées in smaller portions when you prepare them. For example, if you are preparing a chicken dish that uses 6 boneless chicken breasts, you can package the entrée in two separate containers each with 3 chicken breasts. That gives you 2 entrées that serve 2-3 adults. The exceptions are recipes that use roasts and whole chickens which generally cannot be split in this way.
Q: How do you choose your menus each month?
A: Great question! There is a LOT of strategizing that goes into choosing our menus. It is actually mind boggling how many things must be juggled each month. We are trying to be creative while satisfying a wide range of palates and families. We also must balance a bunch of different things on the back end: how many ingredients each recipe requires; are all the entrées family friendly; are we providing a good variety of protein sources; how complicated/time consuming is it for us to prep; how complicated/time consuming is it for you to assemble during your session; what are the cooking requirements for you; what is the cost to us; what is the value to you; etc., etc. Phew! However, it is also a lot of fun. And, of course, we always welcome your feedback and suggestions on how to improve our offerings.
Q: What are your food safety practices at THE GATHERING KITCHEN?
A: We take food safety VERY seriously at THE GATHERING KITCHEN. Many of our staff have been trained in food safety and are certified by the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. We are certified by the Acton Board of Health and have worked closely with them to make sure our environment is safe for meal assembly and to establish practices which ensure food safety. We will review all safety guidelines and practices with you before you begin assembling entrées including our sanitation procedures, handwashing requirements and food handling techniques (before, during and after assembling your entrées). |
ATTENDING SESSIONS
Q: What should I bring to my session?
A: Aside from you, it is a good idea to bring something in which to carry your entrées home. A cooler is great. A laundry basket or the likes will also do. You'd be surprised how much space 6, 9 or 12 entrées takes up. (Speaking of which, you may want to clear space in your freezer before you come.)
Q: Can I bring my child with me to help prepare my entrées?
A: We love kids. In fact, we even have kids. So, we like the idea of bringing kids a lot. However, we do have a couple of ground rules. First, we ask that you bring only one child per adult. Second, for regular sessions, children must be at least 12 years or older. Also, if you plan to bring your child with you to a session, please let us know by adding a comment to your session order or dropping us an email. |
MISCELLANEOUS
Q: What if I am not satisfied with one of my entrées?
A: Our number one goal at THE GATHERING KITCHEN is customer satisfaction. If any aspect of your experience with us is not satisfactory, please let us know. We will make every effort to make it right for you.
Q: Will THE GATHERING KITCHEN participate in local fundraising efforts and events?
A: Absolutely! We think giving back to the community is an important part of any business. Please contact us via email or phone if you have an event or effort in which you would like us to participate.
Q: Who will enjoy "cooking" at THE GATHERING KITCHEN?
A: Everyone, of course! Assembling entrées is simple enough for novice cooks, while the variety of our recipes, the abundance of fresh and seasonal ingredients and the flexibility of the assembly process will prove pleasurable to more experienced cooks also. Beyond going home with entrées prepared just the way you like them, we aim to make your time at THE GATHERING KITCHEN a productive and pleasurable experience. | |
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