FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I place an order?
Just go to our weekly menus and order your food online. We accept payment from both PayPal and Google Checkout. Orders are due by 5pm PST on the Saturday prior to delivery/pick-up. We currently have pick-up and delivery on Tuesday afternoons and evenings.
How much will it cost to order food?
Most folks order food for 2-3 meals a week. Once you select entrees, some side dishes and a few extras, the cost generally averages out to $20-22 per person, per meal. We also have a great bargain: the family-sized pasta kit which costs $22 and feeds 4-6 people.
Is all your food organic?
A great (and slightly complicated) question! We are proud to feature all-natural and organic meats and fowl, and use local, sustainable fish and seafood as much as possible. We offer seasonal vegetables, most of which are organic, along with many of our grains. In short, we try to find a good balance between organic, local, and sustainable. For instance, we may choose to work with a local farmer who is very eco-conscious but not certified organic rather than use organic produce grown outside of the US and shipped over long distances.
Can I freeze food for later?
Yes! Many of our items are freezer friendly. Just check each week’s menu. We also occasionally offer a “Freezer Special” such as one of our fabulous lasagnas.
How long can I keep meals?
We recommend that fish and seafood entrees be eaten within 2 days of delivery, but generally, meals will keep for up to 5 days.
Where is FineFoods available?
FineFoods delivers throughout San Francisco. We also have a group of subscription clients on the Peninsula south to San Carlos (including Hillsborough, San Mateo, and Belmont) that order on a regular basis. If you live on the Peninsula and are interested in receiving FineFoods just give us a call and we can walk you through the fine print.
How do I get my food? (Delivery and Pick Up)
You can request delivery (evenings) of your order or pick it up at a designated locations. Current pick-up locations (map):
| Home Service Market - 5:30 - 8:00 PM | |
| Corner of Hayes Street and Cenral Avenue in San Francisco (Map). Friendly service with full array of staple needs, deli counter and selection of wines. |
| 24th Street Cheese Co. - 5:00 - 7:00 PM | |
| 3893 24th St. (corner of Sanchez St.) in San Francisco (Map). Neighborhood location with a great selection that goes beyond artesian cheese and includes wine, delicatessen, and more. Very close to J-Church line. |
| Noe Hill Market - 5:00 - 11:00 PM | |
| 4001 19th Street (corner of Noe St.) in San Francisco (Map). Friendly service with an array of staple needs. |
Delivery is also available in San Francisco for $7.00. Orders are delivered to your doorstep or office in an insulated bag. Deliveries are generally made between 5:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday.
Friends are coming for dinner. Can I pass off FineFoods as my own?
Of course! It will be our secret. Just don’t forget to hide the bag.
What do you mean by “seasonal” food?
Seasonal food focuses on what is currently being grown in this area during this particular time of year. So, during the Autumn and Winter months, you will see lots of root vegetables and greens on our menus but won’t see sweet corn or asparagus until the Spring and Summer months. We will, however, occasionally bend the rules (like using cherry tomatoes for salads during the winter).
Why isn’t the pasta in the pasta kits cooked?
Well, we can’t do everything for you! Seriously, we have a few reasons: The pasta kits often provide a couple of meals over the course of the week. By having you cook the pasta, you control how much pasta you prepare, which means less waste. Also, when you freshly cook the pasta, then you also have pasta water - a key ingredient in getting the correct final consistency to many pasta sauces.
Should I really use all of the salt in the pasta kit?
Probably… Pasta cooking water should taste as salty as you want the pasta to taste. If you look at a box of pasta, salt isn’t on the list of ingredients, so you really need to salt the cooking water in order to bring out the flavor of the pasta. If you are cooking the whole bag of pasta at once, then you should use at least a gallon of water and will need all of the salt. The pasta won’t taste salty, we promise.
Why don’t you provide microwave directions for everything?
Given how much microwaves differ in power, it’s impossible for us to provide accurate instructions for everyone. Plus, while microwaves are great for some things (such as heating up pasta and rice, for instance) they aren’t so great for the other things. If we don’t provide microwave heating instructions, it’s because, well, we don’t really like what the microwave does to the food.
Do you offer Gift Certificates?
Yes. You can purchase Gift Certificates online for any value you choose. The seem to be especially popular for new parents as well as weddings, new homes, illness or just a simple show of support.
I really loved that one dish you made… why don’t you put it on the menu more often?
We like to offer a lot of variety on the menu, but if you love something and want to see it more often, just let us know. We are pretty susceptible to flattery.
I’m allergic to a couple of foods. How do I know what I can eat?
It is very important to tell us if you have food allergies when you open your account. We will make every effort to accommodate you whenever possible. Unfortunately, at this time, we can not create custom menus for individuals, but we can notify you if, for instance, a dish contains nuts.
Do you take suggestions for the menu?
We love suggestions. We can’t promise to be able to make everything, but if you are craving something, let us know. It might just end up on the menu.
Can I request special dishes?
Sort of… while we can’t create custom menus week-to-week, we do take the occasional special order and can even cook it at your house if needed (we call that catering).
Do you cook every day?
All of our dishes are made from scratch and everything is cooked the same day you receive your food. We select only the freshest, best quality ingredients to put into our dishes.
Where do you get your ingredients?
There is no such thing as one stop shopping when you want the best. We are continuously searching out top ingredients, whether it’s the best Greek yogurt (at least in our opinion) or unique ethnic ingredients. We work with local merchants, farmer’s markets, co-ops and wholesale markets to bring you the best produce, meats and cheeses.