Yes. The gift was meant well, but it raises interesting issues.
The first is that it made me realize anew what a blessed position I’m in. My wife and I are in an extraordinarily busy period right now (hence the feeling among relatives that we might need feeding), but consider what we have access to: Every Tuesday we get meals from Khipi – two days ago it was (a) Irish pork stew, and (b) tamales. Next week I have ordered Trinidadian roti & curry, and beef rendang. All their stuff is very good at worst, and often superb. On Saturdays, we Bombay Brunch it. If we want to cook something fast, we also have a weekly fish delivery from Cape Ann.
Other foods that are within short walking distance (or that deliver locally) are sweet pastries from La Saison (a heavenly pistachio croissant a few days ago), breads from Hi Rise, cheeses and salami from Formaggio – and, of course, extraordinary prepared foods from both of the latter two later in the day, and sandwiches earlier.
(And I’m not even getting into all the food that can be delivered by commercial food delivery services.)
It would be hard for any large scale food service to compare, and as it turned out F&F did not even put up a mild fight.
The other issue is one of gift-giving. It made me realize that one should always ask before giving. Perhaps the recipient doesn’t like white chocolate, or is fussy about food.
(On a final F&F note: It was recommended to us over a year ago by new neighbors in our condo building. Shortly after, when I cooked some dal – with asafoetida in the tadka, yes, but with our kitchen exhaust on – they agitatedly sent an email to all the residents asking what that smell was in the lobby, and could it be a dead rat in the walls? F&F food is tasteless and odorless enough that it would never be confused with a dead rat.)
