Food ideas (AKA help me run my business)

[grumpycakes]

Hey all! I started offering hot, family style meals once a week at my bakery at dinner time. I’ve gotten a lot of enthusiasm from customers and I’m trying to think of as many menu possibilities as I can because I know we sell more when things are new. So…the criteria is that the main dish has to be a thing that’s heated in the oven because that’s the only way I can do that many meals at once. What would you want to buy for dinner for your family if a local place was doing this?

So far I have:

Chicken pot pie, salad, rolls
Lasagna, salad, garlic knots
Stuffed peppers, salad, rolls
Baked Mac&Cheese, roasted veg medley, rolls
Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, rolls
Chicken and rice casserole, roasted veg medley, rolls

I’ll probably do some DIY salad trays in the summer. Like a mini salad bar. And maybe sandwich trays with side salads and chips. Cooler stuff for hotter weather.

I’m all ears for thoughts and suggestions! TIA

[jnu76]

I would happily buy all of those, and my kids would eat them too. I wish I had suggestions but I’m too distracted by how good that all sounds.

[sarenu]

Would you do a stew? I love stew but don’t have time during the week to make it.

[sarenu]

Also would buy hand pies.

Like all of them savory and sweet.

[sarenu]

Lasagna and stuffed peppers would be on my list.

I love both, but they take a long time to prep and make at home.

[grumpycakes]

Feb 18, 2022 18:20:07 GMT -6 sarenu said:

Would you do a stew? I love stew but don’t have time during the week to make it.

That’s not a bad idea, except that I find soups and stews seem to have less perceived value to customers vs. casserole type stuff. I do sell stew for lunch about once a month and it does really well. I did consider doing a pot roast for dinner which is sort of the same thing but sounds like a heartier meal.

[grumpycakes]

Oh! Tamale pie. I could do that. It’s so good.

[mapleme]

What about pasta dishes where you’ve made the pasta and they heat the sauce? Or maybe pour the sauce over the pasta and heat in a pan. And then I’m fixated on the breads. Do you make baguette? You could pair with garlic bread. Ooo, pesto pasta with chicken!

On a different angle, chili and cornbread?

Whole roast chicken with veggies. Or beer can chicken and you could feature a local beer (beer bread?).

Roasted red potatoes with garlic and rosemary from the local deli was a staple for me growing up.

Sausage and cabbage.

You should sell apple pie with cheddar for dessert.

[mapleme]

DH just suggested:

Shepard’s pie
Meatballs
Chicken and Dumplings
Meatball subs
Savory bread pudding

[mintyblueair]

I was going to suggest shepherd's pie.

Also enchiladas, ribs, calzones.

[jnu76]

We have a local place that does family dinner takeout like this, and for an extra fee you can add on dessert.

[charlotte]

I was going to say enchiladas as well. Chicken Parmesan over noodles?

I would be your best customer. This all sounds delicious!

[charlotte]

Oh also maybe oven-roasted cheese-steaks.

[tinyjoys]

A cafe near me does this. I went through their facebook postings and some of the things they've done is:

- andouille sausage and chicken jambalaya, with cornbread, roasted corn, tomato, & cucumber salad, and bourbon bread pudding
- butter chicken, with basmati rice, naan bread, apple raisin salad, and sea salt chocolate chip cookies
- chicken paprikas, with greens, balsamic dressing, baguette, and sea salt chocolate chip cookies
- lasagna (traditional or vegetarian options), with greens and balsamic dressing, baguette, and sea salt chocolate chip cookies
- pot pie (chicken or vegetable options), with baguette, greens with ranch, and brownies
- chicken tinga tostadas, with black beans, cilantro lime rice, pico, and snickerdoodle cookies
- bulgogi, with cilantro rice, Asian salad, kimchi slaw, & almond cookies
- BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches, with brioche buns, greens with ranch dressing & sea salt chocolate chip cookies
- spaghetti & meatballs, with greens & balsamic, baguette, and espresso cookies