Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. Since the coronavirus outbreak, local eaters have seen two unfortunate consequences: the closing of our beloved local restaurants and the overcrowding of grocery stores. Restaurants quickly adapted to the new social distancing rules by offering takeout and make-your-own-meal kits. Now they’re pivoting yet again: adding to grocery-shopping options by stocking all kinds of daily provisions for sale, from perishables like fruits, veggies and meats to pantry items, paper products and other household necessities.
It’s a win-win. By shopping at your favorite eateries you avoid the grocery store madness, stock up on stuff you need and support local restaurants!
If there’s one glimmer of light in all this, it’s that we are discovering a renewed sense of connectivity with our local businesses. We’re guessing many will learn about CSA baskets, local farms and (gasp!) how to cook for themselves. Now, about that lemonade…
For the places below, be aware that stocked items may change daily. Substitutions may happen. And the method of placing an order might feel a little bizarre (texting the owner in some cases). Since these businesses were not set up to provide grocery items, they’re adapting to the new normal. Also, as of this writing, these restaurants have been offering these services for just a couple weeks. Please bear with them as they navigate this new territory.
Bar Viñedo has transformed its space into a micro-grocery, stocking items like tissues, toilet paper, coffee, ground beef, bacon, bread, burger buns, deli meat, and take-n-bake items such as pretzels and pizzas. Plus, they limit entry to eight customers at a time, who can keep social distance while shopping. Watch their social media for current hours and offerings, or just give them a call for more details.
EVO Scottsdale, the great Italian restaurant in Old Town, started getting inquiries for items the moment grocery stores became an untenable option for many. So, they launched EVO Market, and it’s ballooned into a business that’s truly helping to keep owners and their employees afloat. They took over 100 orders during the last weekend of March for eggs, potatoes, breads, fruits and veggies, as well as hand soap, dish soap, liquor, wine and, of course, paper products. Orders can be placed any time with the nifty shopping cart on their website, or called in Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm. Pickup is between 10am and 6pm on Monday through Saturday. Bonus: Items are barely marked up—think $4 for a pound of 80/20 ground beef, $3.50 for a pound of turkey and $4 for four ounces of fresh burrata.
Up on Highway 89 and looking for grocery options? Heidi Lane Café has you covered with newly offered pantry basics. Two dozen Mama Lola’s flour tortillas for $5.50, one pound of Ramona Farms tepary beans for $6 and five pounds of flour for $5 are just the start. Stock up on butter, milk, cans of crushed tomatoes and deli meats for $8 per pound (including Schreiner’s andouille sausage). They’re adding vegetables as soon as possible and, as always, their house-baked bread is available. Simply call in an order and they’ll pack it for pickup.
Need citrus, such as grapefruit or oranges? Out of onion? Craving pesto but can’t source the ingredients? Hidden Track Bottle Shop was one of the first Valley spots who moved to become a micro-bodega and now they’re a go-to for folks around Downtown Phoenix. We predict this offering may stick post-coronavirus, since Downtown can always use another spot for fresh provisions.
No contact? No problem! When picking up your groceries at Local Jonny’s in Cave Creek, simply pull into the parking lot and wait for an employee to come greet you at your vehicle. They’ll bring your order out, so you never have to touch a door handle, shopping cart or other common surface. Stock up on almond, coconut, oat or whole milk, berries and smokin’ deals like two pounds of ground beef for $8, a flat of eggs (30) for $10, a pound of unsalted butter for $6, sliced ham or turkey, bacon and, of course, tissues and TP (two rolls for a buck). To place an order, text Lauren at 602-321-1827.
Los SombrerosWeekly Mercado grocery boxes start at $30 for tortillas, rice, Mexican cheese, avocados, two rolls of toilet paper, and more. A $60 Essentials Box includes the basics plus vacuum-sealed chicken breasts, red wine and more TP. A $100 Big Guy Box includes yet more TP, but also life’s most essential essential: margaritas! Place your order on-line at lossombreros.com/shop.
Pantry provisions like flour, rice, sugar, yeast and beans can be ordered in bulk (25- or 50-pound bags) from this food truck. Link to their social media through their website and send a DM for current pricing and availability. Then link up in person, maintaining social distance of course.
If you’re the type of person who believes a fridge stocked with pastrami and corned beef is as important as a fridge stocked with milk and eggs, then look no further than Miracle Mile Deli. Their Family Miracle Meals come with pounds and pounds of meats, rolls, coleslaw, potato salad and more. And by more, we mean mac ’n’ cheese, as well as whole pies. Orders can be picked up at the take-away window from 11am to 7pm. Call for details on order sizing.
Ollie Vaughn’s CSA (community-supported agriculture) basket from local Maya Farms will make sure you’re eating right during this pesky pandemic. Place orders by clicking the ORDERS button directly on their Facebook page (facebook.com/OllieVaughns), or from their website. Click the time you’d like delivery or pickup, and then select your items. Produce, pantry staples (flour, eggs, butter, milk, sugar), Noble bread, deli meats and OV sweets like pastries, pies and cakes are also available. Throw in some Cutino hot sauce or Shrubwell Mixers for cocktail hour, and you might start actually enjoying this new quarantine life.
Local Steadfast Farm produce bags are available for pickup between 11am and 3pm on Fridays at Pane Bianco Van Buren. And Rhiba Farms has been delivering bagged veggies to Pane Bianco Central. Look for mixed greens, arugula, carrots, radishes, green onions and beets, all for around 30 bucks. This is a new service, so stay tuned to Pane Bianco and Pizzeria Bianco social media for details. It looks like these CSA bags are available in limited quantity and packed with whatever is ready for harvest, so social media is your best bet to stay informed.
This group traditionally provides nutrient-dense, locally grown, always-fresh microgreens to chefs and restaurants. Now they’re selling those microgreens direct to consumers, along with customizable Stay Home Local Baskets. They partner with other local businesses to provide a unique mix of products. From fresh, ready-to-cook pasta by Nonna Scottsdale and sourdough from Arizona Bread Co. to meats from Gilbert’s Perry Land & Candle, Greek yogurt from Culture Clash and locally made bar soaps from Little Cabin. Order online by Monday at 5pm to receive on Friday. A delivery radius and fee applies.
Scottsdale Specialty Produce CompanyThis locally owned restaurant supplier wasn’t built to service actual consumers, but in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they launched home delivery and pick-up services as quickly as they could. “The demand has been overwhelming,” says Director of Marketing and head veggie peddler Bryan Chittenden. Ordering is simple — e-mail Chittenden at bryan@scottsdalespecialty.com and he’ll send you their order form, which includes well over 200 items. Submit it and he’ll get back to you with a no-contact delivery window. Here’s the trick – there’s a $150 minimum for delivery (Get with neighbors and order in bulk!) or he’ll let you know about a pickup spot near you. Either way, it’s truly like shopping in a grocery store, but from the comfort of quarantine. The item quantities lean towards bulk, but they’ve tailored quantities down to closer-to-cook-at-home levels and yet somehow kept prices about wholesale. There’s nothing wrong with a few extra onions or cloves of garlic, right? Also, Scottsdale Specialty focuses on local farms as much as possible. “Our roots are deep with local growers and suppliers, and they need our help right now,” say Chittenden. If there is something you need that’s not on the form, let him know and he will try to procure it. As things progress, “we will be sending out offers for chef-inspired meal kits from some of the top chefs in town,” he says.
This is a great option if you’re feeling adventurous because Sorso Wine Room changes up their menu weekly. Staples include loaves of Wildflower Bread; veggies like mixed greens, carrots and cucumbers; as well as sliced turkey breast, cheeses, nuts and fruit. They also offer cocktail kits and discounts off all (ALL!) wine and beer. Order online via the link at sorsowineroom.com with 48 hours advance notice for groceries. Be sure to leave a tip if you can—Sorso is tip pooling for the entire staff and donating a portion of grocery sales to staff income as well.
Snooze, An A.M. Eatery, is packing up to-go boxes with various ingredients, but if you can hold out for a $45 Taco Tuesday Party Pack, it’ll bring you back to pre-COVID life. That box comes with a pound of barbacoa and a pound of pulled pork, two dozen tortillas, shredded cheese, an avocado, jalapeños, black beans, pico and sauces. They didn’t forget dessert: 14 slices of banana bread and berries with whipped mascarpone. And because it’s Snooze, you can enjoy breakfast taco Tuesday with the 15 cage-free eggs that come with the order. Rest assured that Snooze has high standards when it comes to ingredient procurement—using responsibly sourced, sustainably grown items. Their goal is to help create a better food system for future generations. Call and pick up from your local Snooze.
Head to their website and click on Virtual Farmers Market. This will be the most fun combination of items you’ve ever put in an online grocery cart, all perfectly tailored to your newfound life in quarantine. The Farm at South Mountain can help you turn your own house into a mini farm—just hop online and shop for baby chicks ($15 per pair), ready-to-go herb and veggie transplants (never been a better time to get that garden going!) and a whole smoked brisket to keep you fueled as you build a backyard chicken coop. Besides these unique offerings, you can also shop for fruits, veggies, legumes (tepary beans FTW!) and locally made goods like honey, hot sauce, pistachios and popcorn. Throw in Grand Canyon distillery gin, vodka or whiskey, toilet paper and Press Coffee, and you’ve got farm living at its best. Once items are placed in your cart, the checkout window will display the time items will be available for pickup.
This gas station/car wash/BBQ joint/general store combo has always been a wonderful pit stop while in North Scottsdale. But check out their Quarantine Corner inside. Books and games for the kids, cleaning and paper products for the house, and groceries for all three meals are available. Plus, with gas at $1.99, this spot gets a thumbs-up from us.
Families who eat tacos together, stay together. Tortas Paquime is ensuring that homes stay stocked with Family Care Packs in small, medium and large sizes for $49.95 to $99.95. They will deliver or arrange for pickup of packs that include dozens of Hickman’s eggs, gallons of Shamrock Farms milk, large packs of Guerrero tortillas, bags of pinto beans and rice, as well as cases of bottled water. Paper towel, bleach and toilet paper are also included. Call your nearest location for their current stock and other details.
Although you must purchase a carry-out order of $20 or more to shop their market, they’re stocked like a mini grocery. Think toilet paper, bleach and disposable gloves, as well as fresh-squeezed juices, fresh-shredded hash browns, eggs, cottage cheese, coffee, yogurt, milk and bread. Bonus: They’re also selling prosecco so you can still enjoy Sunday morning mimosas. Prices are extremely reasonable, too.
The new Zinqué at Scottsdale Fashion Square now features a pop-up market menu that includes organic eggs, dried pasta, gluten-free brown rice, salami and some wonderful Époisses de Bourgogne cheese. Plus, all wine bottles are 50% off! Groceries can be pre-ordered by phone or placed online through their virtual shopping cart at lezinque.com/order-online. Zinqué opens daily for pickups at 7am.
So simple! Head to ztejas.com/groceries/ and click on Chandler or Paradise Valley. Then choose pickup or delivery (if available) and scroll down to “grocery pack.” You’ll be stocked from the Z’Bodega in no time. The $125 box comes with large quantities of rice, black beans, pasta, tortillas and cereal; a ton of fruits and veggies; herbs, dairy, toilet paper and more. You can then upgrade to add proteins like salmon, fajita-marinated beef, cilantro-marinated chicken breast, sausage, shrimp, chicken thighs, jalapeño bacon and much more. Orders placed by 8pm will be ready by 2pm the next day. Bonus: A share of the profit from Z’Bodega orders will support their hourly employees who assemble the packs!
NOTE: If you are a restaurant planning to sell groceries, see these guidelines from Good Food Finder: localfirstaz.com/news-blog/arizona-restaurants-can-now-sell-groceries-and-pantry-items?
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