Annual FreshDirect Food Seasonality Survey Reveals New Summer Food Trends and Challenges With Freshness

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY–(Marketwired – May 17, 2013) – With hamburgers and hotdogs leading the world of grilling, it’s easy to forget that there is life beyond the bun. Yet popular online grocer FreshDirect’s annual Food Seasonality Survey reveals that 66 percent of registered dieticians rate vegetables (35 percent) and seafood (31 percent) as their preferred grilling choice this summer, followed by beef (18 percent) and poultry (16 percent). However, while Dieticians prefer grilling vegetables and seafood, more than 75 percent say these items are the most challenging foods to consistently find fresh, and 58 percent of dieticians cite freshness as the number one factor in achieving good flavor during food preparation.

“Dieticians are joining the ranks of Americans calling for freshness from their local food suppliers, and in the process they’re reinforcing something we’ve long believed: there is a fundamental disconnect in our food system,” said David McInerney, FreshDirect co-founder and food sourcing expert. “At FreshDirect we tackle this critical issue head-on, making fresh and healthy food easier to find, buy, prepare and eat. We do this by forging sincere and sustainable relationships with hundreds of farmers, ranchers and fishermen throughout the world to source the best tasting, healthiest, freshest foods for our customers. Our online delivery model allows us to create hyper-local, farm-to-table food systems that result in healthy relationships between consumers, their food, their farmers, and their world.” (More…)

FreshDirect Stands Up for Real Food and Better Food Education, Donates a Portion of Weekly Sales to Oliver’s Cause

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY–(Marketwired – May 16, 2013) – FreshDirect, the leading online retailer of fresh foods and grocery items, announced today that the company will lend its support to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day, taking place worldwide on Friday, May 17, 2013. Food Revolution Day is based on a national movement to change the way America eats. Through Food Revolution Day, Oliver is bringing together millions of people to inspire the nation to fight obesity with better food. At the core of Food Revolution Day is a powerful strategy to get people cooking again, whether it be in their schools, homes, workplaces or communities.

As a sign of support for Food Revolution Day, FreshDirect is donating a percentage of their May 14, 2013 weekly sales to the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation. FreshDirect is also promoting the cause on its website through banner ads and a fresh produce picks list that encourages customers to choose fresh, healthy foods. Additionally, FreshDirect is hosting an employee potluck lunch where employees can share their love of food, cooking skills and food knowledge. (More…)

Yesterday, students at the Sustainability Workshop School in South Philadelphia and today, students at the John V. Lindsay Wildcat Charter School in the Bronx presented their plans to create the nation’s most innovative hydroponic garden (based on yield and eco-friendly design) to John Leeman, FreshDirect CMO. (More…)

Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Mayor Michael Bloomberg Make Wager That Their City’s School Will Create Winning Hydroponic Garden

Derby Day is upon us! Place your bets and break out your cocktail equipment because it’s time to make some festive cocktails for the occasion!

We start with the classic.  The Mint Julep is the quintessential tipple for Derby Day and it’s fairly simple to make.

The Mint Julep calls for four ingredients- bourbon, mint, sugar, and water.  When entertaining on Derby Day, be sure to start with this cocktail and you and your guests will be off to the races!

We look to Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Bourbon as the base of the drink. Its richness and balance is the perfect setting for The Perfect Julep. (More…)

Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated for 2 reasons? For those in the United States, it is a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. In Mexico, it is the celebration of the victory at the Battle of Puebla. This year, I decided to have a celebración that high-lighted the best both worlds.

For my fiesta I had a “Make Your Own Cemitas” bar! I prepared all the ingredients earlier (with a lot of help from the FreshDirect Heat & Eat Department), leaving me with plenty of time to enjoy the fiesta stress free. I gave my guests the option of creating a traditional cemitas (by leaving a recipe card on the table) or allowing them to go for something a little bit more inspirado. (More…)

With warm weather on my mind (I’m dreaming of my Caribbean vacation), I decided to start summer early by creating signature summer cocktails. These light and bright drinks, inspired by Vita Coco Pure Coconut Water, will transport you to a sunny and warm beach even in the coldest of seasons. Warning! Tiny drink umbrellas are not included.

Mango Mimosa: This is perfect for those summer brunches on the patio in the morning sun and is officially my new brunch go-to. (More…)

Colored eggs! Afikoman! Glazed ham! Braised lamb shank! Whatever your Easter and Passover traditions are, embrace the old or start some new during this spring season of renewal. I asked my FreshDirect colleagues to share their holiday traditions with me so that I could share them with all of you! (More…)

One of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, is right around the corner, and I thought I’d let you in on a little family secret: Grandma Caley’s Famous Irish Soda Bread.  No St. Patrick’s Day is complete without several loaves of this Irish treasure as part of your spread.  The Caley recipe, of unknown provenance somewhere between the Celtic shores of Muir Èireann and the Isle of Man, has been in my family for generations; simple and customizable, it’s sure to delight your friends and family.

In addition to the traditional Irish Soda Bread, I’ll try out two interesting variations in hopes of finding a more “modernized” version of the recipe.  With these recipes, the ingredients (which can all be found at FreshDirect), and a little bit of luck, you’ll find the ISB that’s perfect for you, even if your baking skills are a little, shall we say, green…

(More…)

While I enjoy sausage, I don’t cook it at home very often. So when our meat department revamped our FreshDirect sausage line, the sausage was so good that I wanted to find an easy way to rotate a new meal into my routine.

Personally, my favorite recipes can be cooked in one pan or pot. This sausage bake is no exception. I borrowed my dad’s recipe as a base and then added my own twists from there, which I encourage others to do with any easy recipe. Substitute in what you like, remove what you don’t! (More…)