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**Disclosure: I did receive complimentary meals to bring you this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
Butter + Vine began as a Chicago area catering and events company however quickly found new roots while adapting to the challenges of the pandemic. While still a catering and events company, Butter + Vine grew to include a fresh prepared meal delivery service. This new vision provides such an incredible treat for all of us busy people out there that would LOVE a beautifully prepared meal but find ourselves short on time. With Butter + Vine, we can enjoy flavorful, well prepared meals that arrive requiring just a simple step or two before serving.
I first learned about Butter + Vine after the incorporation of a home delivery service began. Watching the transition unfold and seeing all of the fantastic prepared meals Butter + Vine began dishing up amazed me. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out Butter + Vine and learn more about the company from owner Rich Levy.
Learn More About Butter + Vine from Owner Rich Levy
Small businesses each weave unique threads into our community fabric. I love learning the stories about our local businesses. Each small business makes a special and personal contribution to our community, so I like to learn a little bit of the heart of the business. Please enjoy a little bit about the heartbeat of Butter + Vine from owner Rich Levy and then follow along for what a Butter + Vine delivery is like!
What is the dream behind Butter + Vine?
While most businesses start with an end in mind, Butter & Vine home delivery started out of necessity at the start of the pandemic. We are a full service catering and events company that pivoted to making meals for families all over Chicagoland.
The dream today would be to be an online restaurant of sorts showcasing not only our food but other local artisanal businesses.
How did you develop the transition from catering to fresh prepared meals for home delivery?
The early success we had was encouraging and has allowed us to form an ongoing business that nicely compliments our existing event business which is slowly starting to recover.
Do you have a favorite meal to prepare?
My parents gave me a smoker that they weren't using....and let's just say I am putting it to good use. We are smoking ribs, chicken, ducks...even pineapples. Watch this space. (Follow Butter + Vine's Facebook)
The Senior Happy Meal provides such a wonderful way to spread joy and share good food with our seniors who may be isolated. Is this a program you plan on continuing for a long time?
Absolutely. It's the intersection of good deeds and good business. We have been overwhelmed by the response of our community in supporting senior citizens in isolation. The love we get from doing this is a great way to keep our brand promise and be the caterer of choice for future family events.
Do you have a favorite spot in the Chicago suburbs that you enjoy for a little calm and introspection?
Yes. I think Mizrahi Grill is always one of the best meals one can get when on the North Shore. I like to sit outside and pretend I am back on Ben Yahuda Street in Jerusalem circa 1996 (summer abroad program).
What is a delivery from Butter + Vine like?
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| Butter + Vine delivers restaurant quality meals that are easily prepared at home with only a few steps. |
A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed the happy surprise of a Butter + Vine box arriving at my door! Meals are currently delivered on Mondays and Thursdays. Fresh prepared meals are nearly ready to go! Just what I needed to help put fantastic meals on the table on a hectic day!
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| Butter + Vine meals are perfectly packed with directions attached. |
Opening the box, I was pretty pleased with how neatly everything was packed. Each item sported a label identifying the dish, ingredients and preparation details. Some of the dishes did come frozen.
Tip: Some dishes are perfect for ordering ahead and popping into the freezer.
I really love that Butter + Vine's meals taste so incredibly fresh yet come almost entirely fully prepared. Often, delivered food can come a bit mushy or cooler than desired. When you have most of the work done for you except a few small preparation steps, you are for a very fresh meal!
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| Curried Chicken Salad by Butter + Vine is full of veggies, fruit and chicken with a delicious curry dressing. |
Choices, Choices, Choices
Perusing Butter + Vine's menu, you will note that there is a full range of meals -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, soup, salad, dessert. So many choices from more traditional comfort food like turkey chili and mac and cheese to more adventurous meals like braised brisket with peach bourbon sauce and artichoke risotto. One of my favorites from our culinary adventure included nibbles of the Curried Chicken Salad! I LOVE a flavorful salad -- taking in some great flavors while loading up on healthy veggies and fruit. The salad was packaged perfectly so the greens did not get soggy during transport. Yum!
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| Chicken Pozole full of love and heaps of veggies! |
I cannot rave more about the Chicken Pozole! While tasting the soup, I could feel the love that went into it. Plus, we had a HEAP of veggies to add to it as well as avocado. I am in love! I definitely will order the Chicken Pozole again!
Delicious Comfort Food with a Little Extra
For one of our dinners, we enjoyed Turkey Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Mash. We just placed the dinner in a baking dish and heated it up in the oven. So easy! I LOVED that this dish featured a sweet potato mash. Combining that with turkey rather than beef made this dish a bit of a healthier comfort food! I also loved how the turkey meatloaf fanned upon a bed of the sweet potato mash.
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| A healthy spin on comfort food with Turkey Meatloaf and Sweet Potato Mash! |
Butter and Vine's Famous Lobster Roll
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| Butter + Vine's Lobster Roll melts in your mouth! |
Butter + Vine's Lobster Roll certainly stands out as a star and customer favorite. The dish is pretty easy to assemble and includes directions on toasting. Toasting the bun is ESSENTIAL, so you do not want to skip it! The Lobster Roll is absolutely incredible and melts in your mouth. I especially like that you assemble the roll at home when you are ready -- so much fresher than an already constructed one! I think the Lobster Rolls would be fantastic for summer evening out on the patio!
Teen Favorite Salmon Poke Bowl
My teen was all about Butter + Vine's Salmon Poke Bowl! Poke bowls are quite a teen favorite but I have to say that I loved the Salmon Poke Bowl as well! Plenty of fresh veggies, fresh salmon and a bed of rice with the fixings -- the Salmon Poke Bowl is a healthy treat! Of course, if the teen is happy -- I am happy!
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| The Salmon Poke Bowl provides a healthy and colorful meal! |
Mojito Shrimp Kabobs
Butter + Vine's Mojito Shrimp Kabobs provide another summery dish! The lime marinated shrimp have a bit of a tropical flare atop of a bed of delicious Spanish rice.
Making Seniors Smile with the Senior Happy Meal Program
Butter + Vine created a fantastic way to send something special to seniors in isolation -- the Senior Happy Meal Program! With the Senior Happy Meal Program, you can donate money for meals for seniors that are isolated! Butter + Vine's ingenuity in fostering this program has really helped so many in this community! This program is such a wonderful way to help community members help those in need of a little TLC and a special meal.
I really enjoyed learning about Butter + Vine. Butter + Vine truly exemplifies how trying something innovative and staying positive helps navigate interesting times. I am so grateful that Butter + Vine has made their meals available for home delivery! So delicious and perfect for making it easier to have fantastic meals on busy days. Plus, Butter + Vine has rippled even further out by helping seniors in need. What a fantastic small business!
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