The Era of Takeout Delivery

Back in the 90s, I envied those who lived in New York City. Apartment dwellers who could pick up a phone and order dinner delivered right to their door. Dinner being anything other than pizza, which is all I had to choose from here on the west coast. Sitcoms, movies, novels flaunted the kitchen drawer full of menus and the simple process of having a delicious meal arrive at their doorstep any day of the week. Though green with envy, the 90s were also the start of our crowded nest syndrome and feeding the family takeout was expensive, let alone the hassle of having to pick it up on your way home.

Fast forward to the Covid pandemic, smart phones and the delightful choice of carryout or delivery across all spectrums of eateries. UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash and Postmates are happy to bring you various local cuisines morning, noon or night. Granted the delivery fees and such put a spendy total on the bill. It’s not like ordering off the dollar menu to stretch things when your budget’s empty. But the ability to order food online and not have to fight traffic or nasty weather is a delicious treat. And an equalizer between humongous metropolitan areas and the smaller cities to this benefit.

Now that there are just two of us at home, I do have to be careful not to indulge the spoiled attitude of not wanting to cook. Seriously, no one warns you that you will have to decide and prepare cooked meals every freaking day for the rest of your life. I am not Betty Crocker or the latest popular has-their-own-show chef. And I do worry about the environment and nutritional values of eating processed foods consistently over time. So, yes, it is a complicated tightrope of life – balancing the concept of fresh produce, healthy dieting, plastic-free  or less footprint against the frustration of walking into the kitchen (again) and baking, stirring, sauteing, boiling, slicing and dicing, the list is endless.

I love how I can now order just about anything my little heart requests and have it appear on my front porch with contactless delivery. I’m already in my slippers and leggings, I’m not in the mood for masks and hand sanitizers. Bon appetite!