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S A N TA C R U Z S E N T I N E L . C O M 18 | 2022 READERS CHOICE AWARDS | FEBRUARY 26, 2023 O ne of the new Food & Wine categories in our Sentinel Readers' Choice poll this year was Meal Prep Delivery, and you readers made your voices heard. We've got the dish on Golden Roots Kitchen and Foodsmith. They are the winner and runner-up, respectively, in the poll from December 2022. Golden Roots Kitchen Golden Roots Kitchen (goldenrootskitchen.com) first served customers in 2016. Owner and executive chef Melanie Geist started the business to provide people with "exceptional nutrient dense meals that would support their health and wellbeing and allow them to live their best lives," she says. "In doing so, it was—and still is— my dream to connect people to the food they eat." In her own search for health and wellbeing, Melanie attended Bauman College's Natural Chef program in Berkeley. "I learned how to prepare nutrient dense food and how to avoid the inflammatory ingredients that overwhelm our grocery stores and restaurants," she says. "I learned the basics of flavor balancing and culinary technique…it felt so nourishing to be exposed to traditional knowledge about food preparation and learn more about living in balance with nature, which is really to be in balance within ourselves." When I asked Melanie why she thinks people voted GRK "Best Meal Prep Delivery," she replied, "I think our members know how passionate we are about our offerings and appreciate how much care goes into getting their meals from farm to jar." Jackie, a Felton resident in her early 40's, is a loyal member. She first ordered from GRK a little over a year ago, and she orders almost every week. "With GRK, I know that I can have a healthy, wonderful farm-to-fork meal, even if I have a busy schedule," she says. "Golden Roots Kitchen stops me from making unhealthy choices and is reliable and delicious. There is a delivery option, but I opt to pick up and see their friendly faces each week. They remember my name and always ask me how I'm doing." "Sometimes they have added treats on the menu, such as flower arrangements," adds Jackie. "They really care about their customers. When the recent storms happened, they had to switch the usual pick-up day but offered free delivery of my order the next day. Subscribing to GRK allows me to support a local business that offers top-notch local ingredients and products with a personal touch." GRK sends its menu—via text and email—every Thursday to subscribers, who have until Friday at noon to modify their orders. Their food is ready for pickup or delivery (for an added fee) on Tuesdays. Pickup is at their Scotts Valley kitchen. Selections rotate every week, and there are usually soups, salads, breakfast items, entrees, sides/ snacks/dips, bread/baked goods, and beverages. One example of the latter is "C Boost Juice, an anti-inflammatory lemonade made with freshly juiced oranges, pineapple, and lemons (all high in vitamin c) mixed with freshly juiced ginger and turmeric." Curious which items are the most popular? "Our soups and stews shine in the winter," says Melanie. "Lamb stew with apricot and Hannah sweet potatoes is a longtime favorite. We also love to add fresh components like cabbage, radish, onion, and cilantro to our posole soups. Our members say the contrast of crunchy toppings that frequent many of our soups are a fun way to customize their experience." Chrissy Mackerer, 45, first utilized GRK in August 2022 and has ordered every week since then. "One of my favorite soups is Roasted Broccoli and Potato Soup with Ghee and Sheep's Milk Pecorino," shares Mackerer. "I choose GRK meals for my family of three because they offer a wide variety of organic nutrient-rich foods that are outstanding in freshness, flavor, and convenience. We are able to honor each of our unique dietary preferences by individually selecting meals from the online menu that are delivered without bulky shipping material. They are stored in reusable/recyclable packaging, ready to grab and eat or easily reheat." She also appreciates that GRK allows modifications (such as making a frittata dairy-free) and customizable portion sizes. Other favorite dishes in Mackerer's family include "(breakfast items) Braised Greens and Caramelized Onion Frittata and Five Spice Granola with Pineapple and Sprouted Peanuts, which also makes for a great power snack for my daughter in between her roller derby practices, and salads like Harvest Salad with Shallot & Dijon Vinaigrette, with sliced apples, sweet potatoes, sprouted hazelnuts and dried cherries," says Mackerer. She also has high praise for "Cinnamon-Raisin Oat & Seed Bread and the fresh pressed fruit juices, which are incredibly refreshing and invigorating. Unanimously, my family's favorite is the 'Drink Your Greens' Limeade." Golden Roots Kitchen gets lots of requests for their sweet treats. "Our double chocolate buckwheat cookies are pretty obsession-worthy," says Melanie. Indeed, Mackerer and her family are big fans of these and the Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mini Tortes, which "taste like chocolate ganache cake," says Mackerer. "I LOVE that GRK desserts are typically sweetened with natural sugars, such as pure maple syrup or coconut sugar." There have been many obstacles that Melanie and her staff have overcome. "This is a hard business and the last few years have been particularly challenging," she says. "From a global pandemic to horrific local fires to personal tragedy, through it all, we've shopped, prepped, and cooked for our community because we care. This is a labor of love. So, knowing that the Golden Roots Kitchen & Foodsmith: Meal Prep Delivery Winners by Tara Fatemi Walker