FAQ's


Gourmet on the Go is a new concept and we find that people have lots of questions. To make your search easier, our FAQ's are broken down into the following categories:







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?
How many people does each dinner serve?
Can Gourmet on the Go help me with my Entertaining?
I have some dietary restrictions and or allergies, can you help me?




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 Gourmet on the Go save me money?
Is Gourmet on the Go a chain?




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 Gourmet on the Go meals?
How long does it take to thaw a Gourmet on the Go meal?
Why do you have temperatures on some of your cooking instructions?





















What does it cost?
Cost per serving varies, but your best value is the 12 meal package where each meals serves 4 - 6 at $225 (or $3.12 per serving). A 12 meal package where each meal serves 2 - 3 is $142 ($3.94 per serving).  A 6 meal package where each meal serves 4 - 6 is $137 ($3.80 per serving).  A 6 meal package where each meal serves 2 - 3 is $80 ($4.44 per serving). 
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What do I need to do to reserve a spot?
Use our convenient website to sign-up today! Orders can also be placed by calling or visiting our store (540 665 1717).
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How can I pay for my session?
We accept credit cards (VISA and MasterCard), cash, or check. Payment is due 5 days prior to your session.
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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 4 days in the future you will receive a complete refund of your money. If you session is 4 or fewer days in the future you will be refunded your total order amount minus a cancellation fee of $30.                                      4)
 Ask a friend to attend for you and assemble your meals for you  [back]

What if I need to reschedule my reservation or make a change to my order?
If you created an account for yourself on our website and you need to make any changes to your reservation or order, please do so by logging on to our website and updating your order.  If you chose not to create an account you will need to call the store to change your order (540 665 1717).
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What do you do in your store to assure food safety?
The food assembly area follows the Winchester/Frederick County and Virginia State Health Safety rules. All customers are instructeded 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.
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What types of food are we going to prepare?
Menus change monthly but typical offerings include poultry, pasta, beef, pork, seafood/fish, and a vegetarian option. Dinners are prepared by baking in the oven, on the stovetop, or grilling. Low fat and low carbohydrate options are always available. Please see this month's menu.
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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 are just a tad bit nicer so you can proudly serve it to your guests.
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Will my kids like your food?
Our dinners are aimed at satisfying a wide variety of tastes. The beauty of custom creating your own meals is that you can customize each meal any way you like. Kids don't like onions, leave them out, prefer extra sauce, take extra... you assemble it the way your family likes it!
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How much food do I get?
We use the following guidelines when designing our recipes.
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  Food Groups   4-6 Servings   2-3 Servings  
   Protein    1½ pounds protein    3/4 Pounds protein
   Starch    4½ cups pasta or similar    2 cups pasta or similar
   Vegetables    3 cups    1½ 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 an "extra meat" option.
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What are my options if I don't want that much food?
Gourmet on the Go now offers small, 2 - 3 servings, sized meals. 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!   Currently we do not offer single serving sizes.
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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 size. Based on experience we have found that ordering a meal that feeds 4-6 will serve 4 adults with healthy appetites or 2 adults and 4 small children. Some meals, however, will feed 6 adults with healthy appetites. We recommend that you look at how much protein your family normally consumes and judge based on this.
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Can Gourmet on the Go help me with my Entertaining?
Yes! Gourmet on the Go provides catering services.  We will work with you to design a menu, or we have several standard "themed buffets" designed around some of our most popular menu items.  Call the store for additional information (540 665 1717).  You can also order several of the same dinner, or complimentary meals, and cook 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.
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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 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 should I wear?
Gourmet on the Go 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.
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What should I bring?
The only thing you will need to bring is a laundry basket or standard-sized cooler to carry all your delicious meals home.
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What do I get?
When you leave you will have 6 or 12 labeled entrees that feed 4-6 people or 2-3 people and a freezer checklist to help you keep track of your meals.
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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.
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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 Gourmet on the Go.
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Can I make this a party?
Yes! Turn your Gourmet on the Go session into a private event. Reserve a session for 8-12 people and create a unique and productive get-together. Email us about a Private Party.
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How many people show up at each session?
Each session can accommodate up to 12 orders.  
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Where is your store?
Gourmet on the Go is located on Valley Avenue south of Winchester in the Creekside Station Lifestyle Center behind the Ann Taylor Loft store.See map.
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Can I bring a friend to help me assemble my meals?
Yes! Please let us know in advance 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.
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Can I bring my children?
For our regular sessions children must be 14 or older to attend, and we ask that you only bring one child with you.  We now offer parent/child sessions on the second Wednesday of the month where children as young as 10 can participate under the supervision of a parent. 
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How can Gourmet on the Go save me money?
Because of our buying power and vendor relationships, Gourmet on the Go is able to create menu selections at excellent prices for your family.
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Is Gourmet on the Go a chain?
No. Gourmet on the Go is an independent business designed and delivered to Winchester by two locals, Kay Thomas Schroyer and Lisa Jakobsen. 
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What do I actually take home and how is it packaged?
You will take home 12 or 6 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).
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What happens when I get back home?
After a session, you will take home your meals ready to be frozen. When needed select a meal and follow our simple instructions for thawing and cooking.
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Will it fit in my refrigerator?
12 full-size entrees is a considerable quantity of food, but will fit in a standard refrigerator/freezer with room left over for your basic necessities.  We encourage you to clean out your freezer prior to the session, if freezer space is an issue.  It's a tight fit but worth the reward!
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What's the easiest way to manage my Gourmet on the Go meals?
We recommend you always keep 1-2 Gourmet on the Go meals in the refrigerator ready to be cooked at a moment's notice. When you use one replace it with one from the freezer.
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How long does it take to thaw a Gourmet on the Go meal?
Unless otherwise noted on the label, expect to
allow for 24 hours of defrost time in your refrigerator. Some 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.
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