When you’re residing in one of the country’s COVID-19 hotspots, anxiety can get really bad. Nearly two months into the lockdown, I’ve become extra panicky around people and hesitant about going out to go grocery shopping. I’m anxious about what might happen the longer I stay in public and interact with people.
But recently, fear has become the least of my concerns after I noticed something: Grocery aisles are almost empty and most household essentials like bleach and disinfectant are always out of stock. And if I remember correctly, I’ve never seen them full nor restocked since March. Plus, there’s a reduced supply of meat, poultry and seafood so I usually have no choice but to get whatever’s left.
We’re not experiencing food shortage though—not yet, at least. Grocery stores have failed to restock because there’s a delay in delivery from their suppliers.
[READ: Meat shortage looms; ECQ and checkpoints blamed]
Standalone meat and seafood stores might just be the solution we’re looking for. Besides their wide range of meat and seafood selection, they also offer delivery services. Even better: Some of them have direct partnerships with local farms.
Remember though that with our convenience, the delivery person is putting their life at risk. So don’t forget to thank them for their service—and give them a generous tip while you’re at it. Here are five meat and seafood online shops to help you choose where to get your protein fix from.
Delidrop.ph
Delidrop.ph is a newly opened online food store that offers premium quality meat, seafood and charcuterie. They have a selection of a la carté items—certified Japanese wagyu beef, samgyupsal, lamb chops, cold cuts and roasted eel, among others. And they also have plant-based food sustainably sourced from local brands like @takerootph and @farmtofolkph.
They offer same-day delivery for orders placed before 2 p.m. but customers are advised to order one to two days in advance to ensure on-time delivery. You can also choose which mode of payment to use: credit or debit card, money transfer or cash on delivery. Free delivery is available for orders above P2,500. Check their full menu here.
Gerald.ph
Besides the usual beef, pork and chicken, Gerald.ph also has selections of lamb, sausages, ham and cold cuts. They also offer other grocery needs like bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese and dairy products, and some essential condiments.
However, they are limiting their delivery service to select areas in Metro Manila. Delayed delivery should be expected due to high demand, so place your orders early.
BIOHogs
This shop is ideal for people looking for meat raised free from GMOs, hormones and antibiotics. Their supply of pork and chicken comes from their own hog farm in Tarlac as the owner is a firm believer of the farm-to-table initiative.
Take note though that just like Gerald.ph, their delivery service is only available to some areas in Metro Manila. They also practice the no-contact policy, so payment should be done via bank transfer and credit or debit cards.
FrozenMNL
From meat and seafood essentials to frozen ready-to-cook meals, their products are locally sourced from growers across the country. Unlike the stores mentioned above, FrozenMNL was only established after the quarantine took effect as they aim to cater to the needs of the people affected by the lockdown by making grocery shopping convenient and contact-less.
Rare Food Shop
Rare Food Shop has an extensive range of premium meat and seafood options—including Nico Bolzico’s Bolzico beef, a pure Argentinian Angus beef.
They were initially available to deliver nationwide but due to the pandemic, they decided to limit their delivery service within Metro Manila. They also postponed their same-day delivery due to the sudden influx of orders. You can order here.
Essential Fine Foods, Inc.
Essential Fine Foods, Inc. has a variety of ready-to-cook and processed meat options to choose from. Besides easier consumption, it is convenient to stock up on preserved meat and seafood as they last longer compared to unprocessed ones. You may contact Pilar Villanueva at 0915-485-5591 to order.
Header photo courtesy of Victoria Shes on Unsplash
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