Old-fashioned family dinners are something of a novelty in this age. Gone, it seems, are the days where supper time also meant family catch up time: a good meal complete with face-to-face interaction and conversation.
Stephanie Eakins, a certified personal chef through the United States Personal Chef Association, and lover of both comfort food and the nostalgic ’50s and ’60s, recently launched Retro Dinner Diva, a casserole delivery service built to help preserve family dinner time.
The idea is simple: customers place an order online for one, or more, of fifteen menu items, and on Wednesdays, the Diva will deliver the casserole to your door. And yes, she will be wearing an apron and pearls, an every day look for Eakins.
Currently, guests can order traditional classics like the Uncle al Fresco (beef lasagna) or the Not Yo’ Mamma’s (tuna noodle casserole). Or they choose an old dish with a modern makeover, like the Kiss My Grits (shrimp and grits casserole) or The Herdsman (chicken shepherd’s pie). There are also breakfast and dessert options available.
Casseroles can be ordered in two sizes: medium, which serves 2-3 and can range from $12-$22, and large, serving 6-8, and costing anywhere from $22-$44. Delivery is free in the Columbus Metro area, and currently, the Retro Diva asks that orders are in by midnight on Fridays to ensure prompt delivery, and that residents leave a cooler with ice packs if they will not be at home at the delivery time.
In the future, Eakins hopes to expand her delivery days, but till then, casseroles delivered should be eaten within 2-3 days, or they can be frozen for later dates or occasions. Retro Dinner Diva’s casseroles make perfect gifts for new parents, neighbors on the mend, and starving college students.
“I wanted to do something fun, unique, with an old-fashioned feel, and I thought casseroles were the perfect idea,” shares Eakins. “I create all the recipes myself, from scratch, no canned soups, fresh vegetables, homemade sauces. My goal is to put a little nostalgia in every casserole I sell and help people have more time to spend with their families and loved ones.”
The Retro Dinner Diva sources locally, and uses free-range, antibiotic and hormone-free meats. She has several plans in the works for the upcoming months, including adding more desserts to the menu, introducing a lineup of side dishes to make this year’s Thanksgiving easier, and hosting in-home cooking classes and dinner parties.
For more on the Retro Dinner Diva’s menu, and for a complete list of delivery areas, visit www.retrodinnerdiva.com.
