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 What does it cost?
What do I need to do to reserve a spot?
How can I pay for my session?
What if I need to cancel a session?
What if I need to reschedule my reservation or make a change to my order?
What do you do in your store to assure food safety?
What types of food are we going to prepare?
Is this gourmet food?
Will my kids like your food?
How much food do I get?
What do I do if I want a little more food?
What are my options if I don't want that much food?
Can I split a package with a friend?
Can I split meals?
Can Simply Dinners help me with my Entertaining?
How many people does each dinner serve?
Can Simply Dinners help me with my Entertaining?
I have some dietary restrictions and or allergies, can you help me?
What portion size is your nutritional information based on?
What should I wear?
What should I bring?
What do I get?
How long it is going to take me to prepare my 12 meals?
Can someone who doesn't know how to cook use this concept?
Can I make this a party?
How many people show up at each session?
Where is your store?
Can I bring a friend to help me assemble my meals?
Can I bring my children?
How can Simply Dinners save me money?
Is Simply Dinners a chain?
I don't have the At Home Cooking Instruction Label?
What do I actually take home and how is it packaged?
What happens when I get back home?
Will it fit in my refrigerator?
What's the easiest way to manage my Simply Dinners meals?
How long does it take to thaw a Simply Dinners meal?
Why do you have temperatures on some of your cooking instructions?
You provide mulitple containers for your food. It would seem to be simpler to put it all in one bag. Why do you do it this way?
What does it cost?
Cost can vary, but you can expect to pay about $220.00 for 12 entrees that feed 4 people per entree. That is equal to approximately $18 per entrée, or $4.50 - $5.00 per person. [back]
What do I need to do to reserve a spot?
Use our convenient website to place your order today! Orders can also be placed by calling or visiting our store. [back]
How can I pay for my session?
We accept credit cards, cash, or check. If paying by credit card we charge your card on Tuesday the week of your session. Cash or check is due prior to starting your session at the store. [back]
What if I need to cancel a session?
If you can't make a session for any reason we recommend the following options:
1) Use our convenient website to move to a different session with the same menu options.
2) Change the order to a pickup and get your menu items pre-assembled on any pickup day for an additional fee.
3) Cancel the order. If your session is more than 36 hours in the future you can cancel your order online. If you session is 35 or fewer hours in the future please contact the store to let them know you need to cancel.[back]
What if I need to reschedule my reservation or make a change to my ordered dinners?
You can make any type of change to your reservation by logging in to your account on our website and make the appropriate change. You can change your session time, the dinners you selected and change payment type or cancle your order. All of this can be accomplished so long as you are more than 36 hours prior to your session date and time. If you have any questions or your session is within 36 hours please call the store and we can help you. [back]
What do you do in your store to assure food safety?
The food assembly area follows the Pima County Health Safety rules. All customers are trained in basic food safety, gloves are available to all customers, food consumed by others is never touched by the customer, and all cooking instructions comply with the food safety guidelines. [back]
How do I use a Promotion Code for my order?
During the order process a section called Promotion code appears on the left hand side of the screen. Fill in your Promotion Code and select "Submit". If your Promotion Code is for a free meal a drop down box will appear on top of the upper right hand section of the screen. Select which meal you would like for your free meal and select "Submit". It is best to apply the Promotion Code at the time you order. Up until 36 hours before your order you can login to your account and apply the Promotion Code yourself. Promotion Codes can not be applied after you have come and made your meals. [back]
What types of food are we going to prepare?
Menus change monthly but typical offerings include poultry, pasta, beef, pork, seafood/fish, and possibly a vegetarian option. Dinners are prepared by baking in the oven, on the stovetop, or grilling. We target a healthy well balanced menu that a variety of people can enjoy. Please see this month's menu. [back]
Is this gourmet food?
Our food is definitely family-friendly, simple to prepare, and perfect for an "everyday" dinner. Every month we include some dishes that have a “gourmet touch” so you can proudly serve it to your guests. [back]
Will my kids like your food?
Our dinners are aimed at satisfying a wide variety of tastes. In general kids love our food. Don’t forget the beauty of custom creating your own meals is that you can customize each meal any way you like. If your kids don't like onions, leave them out, prefer extra sauce, take extra... you assemble it the way your family likes it! [back]
How much food do I get?
We use the following guidelines when designing our recipes. [back]
| Food Groups |
Large Servings |
Small Servings |
| Protein |
1 ½ pounds protein |
3/4 Pounds protein |
| Starch |
4 ½ cups pasta or similar |
2 cups pasta or similar |
| Vegetables |
3 cups |
1 ½ cups |
What do I do if I want a little more food?
You are welcome to add a reasonable amount of vegetables or starches to your meal to meet your family's requirements. If you require more protein many dinners come with a “2 extra servings" option. [back]
What are my options if I don't want that much food?
We offer a variety of options for our customers. You can buy anywhere from one meal to 14 meals each time you visit the store. We also offer a popular Small Servings package which provides just the right amount of food for 2 adults or smaller families. This is a great option for elderly parents, for children living on their own, or for college kids in need of a home-cooked meal. [back]
Can I split a package with a friend?
Absolutely! You can buy a package of 12 and your friend makes 6 and you make 6. We realize Simply Dinners is even more fun to do with a friend and we encourage this. We just ask that you enter a single order, make a single payment to Simply Dinners, and let us know ahead of time (by phone or email) that there are two of you coming for the session. This allows us to continue to offer our lowest cost package option and assure that we don’t become overly crowded. We do not allow packages to be split across more than two people. [back]
Can I split meals?
The reason we offer the Small servings package is to provide Tucsonans with a reasonable option for smaller families. If you have a larger family but our portion sizes are just too generous in some cases we do allow you to split a meal. With our focus on excellent food we separate our food for a single meal into several containers. Our prices reflect one set of containers per meal (vs. the two it takes to split a meal). Please ask your customer service representative when you arrive if you would like us to make an exception. They will evaluate the situation with you and come up with a solution that is fair to both parties.[back]
How many people does each dinner serve?
We find that portion quantities in the US are a very personal choice. Our recipes meet the guideline for the USDA Pyramid for serving 6 people. Based on experience we have found that ordering a Large Serving meal will serve 4 adults with healthy appetites or 2 adults and 4 small children. Casseroles generally feed 6 adults with healthy appetites. We recommend that you look at how much protein your family normally consumes and judge based on this. [back]
Can Simply Dinners help me with my Entertaining?
Yes! Order several dinners of the same dinner, or complementary meals, and serve them to your guests. You will have a low stress entertaining experience and your guests will love the food. Call the store for suggestions [back]
I have some dietary restrictions and or allergies, can you help me?
Absolutely! Please ask us to see a complete list of ingredients in advance to help you select your 12 entrees. If somebody you will be serving food to is allergic to an ingredient, please choose another dish in the menu since we cannot be held responsible for allergic reactions. [back]
What Portion Size is your nutritional information basedon ?
When we first started Simply Dinners we decided to offer serving size 2 – 3 and serving size 4 -6. We sized our portions based on the USDA recommended portions for healthy eating. Therefore our nutritional information is calculated based on a healthy portion size – approximately 1/6 of our Large serving. In some cases, for example desserts, our nutritional information is based on a different portion size. In those cases the differences are noted with the nutritional information on the web site. Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is based on following the “base” recipe in the store. Keep in mind that modifications to the recipe, such as eliminating the salt, will result in a slightly different nutritional breakdown. [back]
What should I wear?
Simply Dinners is a fun and casual kitchen environment. Informal dress is highly encouraged and recommended. Leave the heels at home! If you have long hair bring something to pull it back with. [back]
What should I bring?
The only thing you will need to bring is a standard-sized cooler or laundry basket to carry all your delicious meals home. [back]
What do I get?
When you leave you will have 1-12 labeled entrees and a freezer checklist to help you keep track of your meals. [back]
How long it is going to take me to prepare my 12 meals?
Approximately 2 hours, but it all depends on how much chatting you do while you assemble your food. For six meals, it takes approximately half that time. [back]
Can someone who doesn't know how to cook use this concept?
Yes! If you can read English and follow simple instructions you can benefit from Simply Dinners. We have many clients who never cooked at all before using Simply Dinners. [back]
Can I make this a party?
Yes! Turn your Simply Dinners session into a private event. Reserve a session for 6-12 people and create a unique and productive get-together. Email us about a Private Party. [back]
How many people will be in the store during my session?
When we are open we welcome people to the store. You can sign up to come in every hour on the hour. We limit the number of reservations each hour to 6 to guarantee an even flow throughout the day. If you are running a little early or late just come on in – we will do our best to accommodate you. We do ask that you arrive promptly (or call) for the last session of the day (6 pm on Weds. & Thurs, 3 pm on Friday & Saturday). [back]
Where is your store?
Simply Dinners is located on the Northwest corner of Broadway and Pantano.See map.[back]
Can I bring a friend to help me assemble my meals?
Yes! Please let us know in advance (by phone or email) since for crowd control purposes, we may have to limit the number of customers who bring a friend to a first come-first serve basis. [back]
Can I bring my children?
For our regular session children must be 10 or older to attend, and we ask that you only bring one child with you. For health reasons, children 9 years or younger are allowed in the store based on special arrangement only. [back]
How can Simply Dinners save me money?
Because of our buying power and vendor relationships, Simply Dinners is able to create menu selections at excellent prices for your family. [back]
Is Simply Dinners a chain?
No. A Tucson Original, Simply Dinners is an independent business designed and delivered to Tucson by people who have lived here for over 30 years. Every aspect of the business has been designed with Tucsonans in mind. [back]
I don't have my At Home Cookling Instructin Label?
You can retrieve the At Home Cooking Instructions for any of our past menus by logging in to you account and clicking on the "View Help At Home" button.
What do I actually take home and how is it packaged?
You will take home 12 large meals in either plastic bags or aluminum foil pans. Each package is labeled with the cooking instructions. Inside each large plastic bag are some number of other plastic bags or deli containers which contain components of your recipe (i.e. sauces, pastas). [back]
What happens when I get back home?
After a session, you will take home 12 meals ready to be frozen. Then all you have to do is thaw the food and finish cooking. We provide easy instructions. [back]
Will it fit in my refrigerator?
12 full-size entrees will fit in a standard refrigerator/freezer with room left over for your basic necessities. It's a tight fit but worth the reward! [back]
What's the easiest way to manage my Simply Dinners meals?
We recommend you always keep 1-2 Simply Dinners meals in the refrigerator ready to be cooked at a moment's notice. When you use one replace it with one from the freezer. [back]
How long does it take to thaw a Simply Dinners meal?
Our non-casserole meals have been designed to be taken from the freezer and quickly defrosted for cooking on the same day. For casseroles you should allow for 24 hours of defrost time in your refrigerator. Some thick casserole type dishes may take longer. [back]
Why do you have temperatures on some of your cooking instructions?
The minimum temperatures on some cooking instructions are based on food safety regulations. They should be used in conjunction with a meat thermometer to ensure your food is cooked to a safe temperature. [back]
You provide multiple containers for you food. It would seem to be simpler to put it all in one bag. Why do you do it this way?
The answer is simple – it’s for the flavor! When making a dish your food will turn out much more flavorful by sautéing aromatics (think garlic and onion) before adding the meat and/or sauce. The sautéing process releases the robust flavors of the food. And it’s still really simple to cook; you pour the aromatic in the pan, give it a quick stir and then proceed with cooking. Our decision is to spend a little more on containers and give you the best flavor profile possible. Remember, you always have the option to consolidate everything in one bag if that is your preference.
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