Tips for Dining-In
Updated: Dec 1, 2021
COVID-19 has me yearning for my favorite local restaurants more than ever! Who's with me? Hopefully, you've been able to support some of the small businesses you hold near & dear to your heart via take-out, gift card purchases, & donations, but I know we're all anticipating the day that we can be back on the town. Dining-in is wonderful, but it's just not the same as clinking glasses with friends, swaying to live music, & having a beautiful meal placed in front of you without having to lift a finger.
Tips for dining-in:
don't be afraid to get scrappy & create a new recipe! Just have fun in the kitchen & make something new - you've got nothing to lose!
play some spicy music while you're cooking/during dinner
get fancy! Dress up a little, even if it's just for yourself - it never disappoints
have a candlelight dinner
throw up some twinkle lights to create a little ambiance
eat on your balcony/patio, or pack a picnic!
video chat with friends/family to come together for a meal
give your green thumb a chance & grow some plants that you could use in your cooking - I swear, it makes dinner time that much more exciting!
try a new recipe that you've never used before - I have a bunch of #glutenfree recipes on Bee's Ambrosia, or I highly recommend referring to @nytcooking, @cooksillustrated, or @whole30recipes. Keep in mind, some of their recipes will contain gluten - for #glutenfree flour, simply substitute using @ottos_cassava_flour (their Instagram page has great recipes as well!)
order take-out from one of your favorite local restaurants to support small business
A few favorite local Boulder options for take-out:
Naked Lunch (tons of GF options): available for pickup & free delivery mon-fri @10AM-3PM
Whole Sol Blend Bar (100% GF): available for pickup & delivery @8AM-5PM everyday
Curry 'N' Kebob (mostly GF menu): available for pickup & delivery 11-2:30PM/5-9:30PM
River + Woods (tons of GF options): curbside pickup or Door Dash Delivery tues-sat @12-7PM, sun 12-6:30PM - they have great produce packs for pickup on Tuesdays!
Yellowbelly (GF chicken tenders): open daily for pickup/delivery @11AM-9PM
Post Brewing (best GF fried chicken around!): available for pickup & delivery @11:30AM-6:30PM - cocktails, beer, & wine to-go!
Gelato Boy (GF/vegan gelato options): open daily for pickup @12-1PM, available for delivery ($5 fee), or simply order online
Before leaving you for the day, I wanted to share a little silver lining. On a positive note, we have a lot less distractions with the need to stay indoors these days, so I encourage you to take this opportunity to be fully present during your mealtime. Unplug, take a deep breath, de-stress, & allow yourself to be in the moment as you consume your meals*. Happy feasting!
*being present & calm allows you to full absorb all of the nutrients that your food has to offer - refer to 5 Digestive Tips for a Happier Gut for more info