Cooped up at home? Try new Quarantine Kitchen

WASHINGTON - Washington residents can cook a beautiful dinner with the help of local chefs - all from the comfort of their own home.

A new fundraiser for Main Street Washington mimics the popular meal delivery services such as Hello Fresh and Blue Apron. The services ship prepped meal kits to subscribers with unique recipes and all the ingredients provided.

Main Street Executive Director Sarah Grunewaldt said when one of their board members was pregnant, she mentioned how helpful the services were. It is an opportunity to try new recipes and not have to buy each individual ingredient, Grunewaldt said.

In April the board started to work out how to create a fundraiser based on this concept but allow people to learn from local chefs.

The board asked JP's 207 owner Jaron Rosien and Chef Cory Evans what they thought of the idea.

'They got really excited about it,” Grunewaldt said.

Rosien said he and Evans have cooked together personally and professional for years.

'We have co-catered many events but are also friends that have hosted regular dinner parties at our respective houses where we team up to feed our friends,” Rosien said.

They were given free range to choose a recipe that was feasible to do.

The pair chose to make Chicken and Penne Pomodoro Skillet. They picked this particular meal because it is at an intermediate level and is likely to be enjoyed by most, Rosien said.

He also said by doing something less complicated, it will allow them to be conversational during the process and have less stress for them, as well as the participants.

Once the meal was chosen, Main Street took the idea to Fareway and asked if they could get the ingredients.

Fareway said yes.

The Quarantine Kitchen will take place on Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m.

Participants can pay $35 to get a meal kit for two. For an additional $10 they can add a bottle of wine for two.

The participants will be provided a private Zoom link where Main Street Washington will film Rosien and Evans prepping and cooking the meal.

The pair will be wearing wireless mics and two cameras will be set up for participants to see different angles.

The fundraiser is a team effort, with Rosien and Evans cooking, and Grunewaldt and Maddie Widmer, a volunteer and sponsor, handling the rest.

All of the funds will go to Main Street Washington due to Fareway Foods Store, Atlas Molded Products and Thrivent Financial sponsoring the fundraiser.

Since announcing the fundraiser, Grunewaldt said she has received emails from people who do not live in Washington, but want to participate by paying for a ticket but buying their own ingredients.

The kits can be picked up by participants at the Main Street office on Oct. 19 or delivered to their door for an additional $10.