'SpoonRocket' Delivers Healthy $6 Meals – Fast

Who says eating healthy has to break the bank? 

SpoonRocket is a new Berkeley business that promises to deliver healthy, gourmet meals to your door in 10 minutes – all for just six dollars. 

UC Berkeley graduates Steven Hsiao, 27, and Anson Tsui, 25, teamed up with executive chef David Cramer to change the way people think about fast food. They say eating healthy can be affordable and convenient too. 

"We want to provide high quality, healthy meals at prices that anybody can afford," said Tsui. "We just want a healthier world. That's our mission."

SpoonRocket offers two new dishes every day, including one vegan or vegetarian option. Both choices are crafted by the 50-year-old Cramer, who has over 25 years of experience in the culinary world. 

"The big challenge here is that there are a lot of cooking techniques that will not work," Cramer said. "But the food has to be exceptional every day." 

The food is prepared in batches in a commercial kitchen at 1725 University Avenue, packaged into boxes, then delivered by a van or scooter. 

SpoonRocket has featured dishes like Pineapple Glazed Babyback Ribs, Ginger Glazed Bok Choy with Potato Gnocchi and Prime Rib. 

Cramer selects each ingredient by working with local farmers and produce markets to get access to a wide variety of options. All the meat products come from untreated, free-ranging animals and all the produce is local, organic and seasonal. 

"We have everything delivered daily. We don't have a freezer or a steam table," explained Cramer. "The quality of the ingredients is never something I'm willing to compromise on."

Originally, they were going to make a 14-day rotating menu. However, Cramer insisted on creating a new dish every day. 

"Where's the fun in that? We want to surprise [customers] every day. Delight them every day," said Cramer.

In the seven weeks that SpoonRocket has been open, Cramer has yet to repeat a single dish. 

During the hiring process, Hsiao and Tsui gave Cramer boxes of ingredients and asked him to come up with six different dishes in five days. 

He came back in 12 hours. 

"How often do you get an opportunity to do something that has never been done in this industry?" asked Cramer. "These guys are young, they have an idea, and I could see that they weren't going to let anything stop them." 

Co-founders Hsiao and Tsui grew up in California and have been friends and partners in the food industry since meeting in college. When the two met at UC Berkeley, they were studying Sociology and Bioengineering, respectively. 

Hearing friends and classmates complain about the lack of late night food options, they decided to start their own late night delivery service. They launched Pho Me Now in March of 2009 and Munchy Munchy Hippos several months later, serving items such as Vietnamese Noodle Soup, chicken wings and deep fried Oreos.

In June 2013, they started SpoonRocket to "transition people into healthier eating," said Tsui. 

"I've grown to be very fond of them and I couldn't' have asked for better partners to work with," said Cramer. 

SpoonRocket is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. and delivers to Berkeley and Emeryville. Tsui said they are planning to expand to Oakland as well. 

"We might go into desserts – healthier desserts," said Tsui.

SpoonRocket also has an official partnership with World Food Program USA and donates one nutritious meal to a child in need with every meal purchased.

For a limited time, SpoonRocket is offering a free lifetime membership to new customers. After the promotion period, membership will be $40 a year. Only members can view and order SpoonRocket dishes. 

For more information on SpoonRocket, visit their Facebook page.

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