As consumers are watching their wallets lately, chefs and restaurateurs nationwide have had to get creative past the point of discounting and coupons.

A growing food movement of “Gourmet To-Go” or “Mobile Gourmet” dining has emerged in the industry, offering more accessible, convenient options to diners searching for fine dining-inspired food at a lower price. Chef Ryan and I have spent a lot of time in New York and San Francisco and we saw this trend emerging long-ago.

In NYC and San Franciso ordering your dinner and picking it up on your way home is a regular occurrence. People’s kitchens are small and summer nights in the city make it unbearable to turn on the stove and so instead they turn to Gourmet Take-Out.

In San Diego the Gourmet Take-Out concept is gaining ground and with the opening of our newest venture Prepkitchen we believe it’s here to stay, we will be opening several more locations over the next few years in other parts of San Diego. Our culinary goal for Whisknladle and Prepkitchen has been to break the prejudice that fine food can only be found at fine dining restaurants I think we’re on the right track.

Here are a couple of examples of this “gourmet to go” food movement in San Diego:

Prepkitchen – (prepkitchen.com)

7556 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 - (858) 875-7737

Waters To-Go (waterscatering.com)

1105 W Morena Blvd, San Diego, Ca 92110 - (619) 276-8803
125 S Highway 101 Edit, Solana Beach - (858) 509-9400

Tender Greens (tendergreens.com)

2400 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma - (619) 226-6254

If you’re traveling, check out the following:

The Sentinel (thesentinelsf.com)

37 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco - (415) 284-9960

Bottega Louie (bottegalouie.com)

700 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA (213) 802-1470

Arturo Kassel is the Owner/Proprietor of Prepkitchen and Whisknladle, both located in downtown La Jolla.