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For some, cooking is an inconvenience. Fortuitously for Salem, there’s a cook dinner on the town who would fortunately make meals for you.
No, it isn’t a meal prep subscription program or takeout.
Soup ‘R Meals, run by chef Todd Wieweck, is a weekly meal supply and pick-up service providing wholesome, personally made meals.
Impressed by household who had disappointing experiences with meal subscription plans, Wieweck’s spouse, Lianne, prompt he make the ready-to-eat equal to the subscription packages. Contemplating all of the individuals who had requested him over time if he may cook dinner for them, Wieweck despatched some emails out and shortly Soup ‘R Meals was born.
Neighborhood roots
Wieweck has been within the Salem space for greater than twenty years. Initially from Phoenix, Arizona, he got here right here to be the sous chef at fellow chef Jeff James’ restaurant in Salem. The 2 had met whereas working and have become associates.
After working for 5 years, Wieweck picked up mentoring culinary courses at South Salem Excessive Faculty in 2002. He took the job as teacher in 2008.
“It was nice to see children who had by no means skilled success within the classroom see they’d achievements in mine,” Wieweck stated. “Then with the ability to encourage them from there, and watching them step by step develop themselves elsewhere.”
Leaving instructing was partially impressed by a meal he had on a faculty journey. He and one other instructor had a meal at a restaurant in California and the execution of the meal blew his thoughts. Reinspired to do extra cooking, he returned to the business, working in Newberg for a couple of years earlier than beginning Soup ‘R Meals.
His ardour for cooking, and feeding people who look ahead to good meals, is what makes the operation so near his coronary heart.
The way it works
For the final 5 years, Soup ‘R Meals has persistently provided meals each week to be ordered and picked up or delivered the next week. Whether or not you order a couple of dishes or only one, every are packed in single parts with reheating directions.
Between midday on Mondays and Thursday night, Soup ‘R Meals patrons can see the menu for the next week and order accordingly. This permits prospects to not take care of the effort of canceling or modifying orders.
“We’ve heard many instances how grateful persons are to seek out one thing they will order for his or her dad and mom, or people recovering from an harm, and this suits,” Wieweck stated.
Every week is a brand new menu as a result of Wieweck personally “hates” making the identical stuff on a regular basis. He is made it a mission to encourage folks to strive extra cuisines by providing a rotating choice. Even for the choosy eaters, Wieweck makes certain there’s a large sufficient choice so people can order the identical issues or strive new ones. Dishes beforehand provided embrace pho and Ethiopian doro wot.
Moreover able to eat-meals, Soup ‘R Meals additionally gives spice mixes, sauces and dessert, together with ice cream. Wieweck particularly likes providing spices, as a result of he picks the completely different dried components and grinds them up. He has a particular “Bazooka Powder,” which is a mix of greater than 10 chilies, making for a spicy combine.
“We hear from people who we have expanded their (culinary) horizons and have by no means tried the stuff they’re ordering earlier than,” Wieweck stated. “I like with the ability to make all types of issues, exploring cuisines from in all places.”
For people with particular allergic reactions or dietary restrictions, Soup ‘R Meals is ready to accommodate them. With quite a lot of older patrons, Wieweck is accustomed to creating meals underneath particular parameters.
“We came upon rapidly that there’s a complete section of Salem that’s principally ignored – and that is our retired people,” Wieweck stated. “I had no concept on the time, however there’s lots of people who get pleasure from good meals and should you’ve misplaced a partner, do you need to go to a restaurant by your self?”
Associated: Chef Wiewack raises the bar at South Salem
To take a look at what Soup ‘R Meals is providing, go to souprmeals.com.
In case you have an concept for somebody we should always profile for this collection, e-mail Statesman Journal senior information editor Alia Beard Rau at [email protected].
Em Chan covers meals and eating on the Statesman Journal. You’ll be able to attain her at[email protected], observe her on Twitter @catchuptoemilyor see what she’s consuming on Instagram @sikfanmai.ah.