My Local Chefs, a new Hartford-based food-delivery service, wants to be thought of as the “anti-GrubHub or anti-Uber Eats,” the founder said.
“We’re not going to offer Chili’s or Applebee’s. We’re focusing on the chefs, not so much the restaurants. We want people to support the creators who are coming up with the menus,” Vanessa Sena said.
Sena launched My Local Chefs on July 5 with 11 Hartford-area culinary talents ranging from restaurateurs, meal-prep chefs, caterers, food-truck owners, farmers, condiment makers, wellness coaches and shop owners. Deliveries are made twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
“The goal is for us to be able to offer a plethora of different types of chefs … just so long as they keep it within the brand, which is healthy food,” Sena said. “Some of our chefs are creating healthier versions of the dishes that are already fan favorites.”
The ultimate goal, Sena said, is to save chefs money and time, by letting them focus on their locations, employees and creations while Sena focuses on marketing, promotion and the logistics of ordering and delivery. “The small business owner shouldn’t have to do it all. It may not even be in their skill set,” Sena said.
In combining restaurants from all over the area, the service will be more convenient for customers. “If someone in Fairfield wants to order from Zohara in West Hartford and Vibrant Farms in Litchfield and Karma Kitchen in Mystic, they can get it delivered all at the same time,” she said.
Lori Cornett is one of the chefs now participating in My Local Chefs. Her Canton shop, Make it Gluten Free, has been open since December 2017. Cornett said she ships by UPS but liked the twice-weekly regularity of My Local Chefs.
“We’re a bit of a destination for our customers. They come from all over. It’s kind of a drive to get to Canton,” Cornett said. “I thought it would be great if customers, rather than having to trek over here, and rather than having to order everything at once and pack it all in their freezer, like they would if shipping through UPS, they could order as they need.”
Cornett said she briefly considered the nationwide delivery services, but decided against them. “Their fees are really high,” she said.
Sena said she didn’t want to charge fees to the food providers, as Uber Eats, Door Dash and GrubHub do. “Restaurants’ margins are really small. It’s really tough for local small business to make a substantial profit,” Sena said.
My Local Chefs buys the meals from the chefs at their usual prices, then increases the prices for consumers and charges a delivery fee.
Other food purveyors available now at My Local Chefs are Al Williams of Sweet N’ Savory Chef in Windsor, Salomey Adomako of Ezra Wellness in Simsbury, Mallory O’Conner of Macaroni with Mal in New Haven, Chris Haylett of Fire & Spice in Hartford, Sharyce Graham of Keto Desserts in Manchester, James Bannon of Box Bistro in Berlin, Liz and Ian Ceppos of Cross Culture Kombucha in Danbury, Liz Alina of Karma Kitchen & Juicery in Mystic and Kelly and Derrick Caisse of KDCrop Farms in Chaplin.
More food providers plan to join the company in the upcoming months. They include Amir Organi of Jordan Yummy Yummy in New Britain, Chrissy Tracey of Vegan Vibes in Danbury, Dorjan Puka of Doro Marketplace and Zohara in West Hartford, Yawovi Simpini of Afro-Fusion Meals in Danbury, Chevon Schand of Preppers Meal Prep in Hartford, Paul and Lynn Gallant of Paul’s Custom Pet Food in New Milford and Megan Riehl and Curtis Breuer of Vibrant Farm in Litchfield.
Kim Prada, a Manchester resident, makes Tribe Power Bites, which are snacks made with oats, vanilla, peanut butter and honey, with a variety of add-in flavors. She delivers and ships her product, but is happy to have someone else deliver for her.
“I am a one-person team and a single mom. It would be helpful to have someone else deliver my product who I can trust. I can attend to other customers,” Prada said.
She added that she wants to support a local small business. “Small businesses are the future. The chains are outweighing small businesses. But at the chains, you’re a number to them. You’re not a number to us,” she said. “If we work with each other, there will be way more success.”
Before adding a chef or company to her roster, Sena visits them and tries the foods they want to sell. “Paul’s Custom Pet Food is the only food I haven’t tasted,” she joked.
Hot meals are delivered ready to be reheated. Juices, produce, desserts and cold meals can be eaten right away. Food deliveries are made on Mondays and Thursdays. The deadline to order for Monday is Thursday at 11:59 p.m. The deadline to order for Thursday is Monday at 11:59 p.m.
Other food providers, not yet announced, will be added in the future. mylocalchefs.com.
Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
