Now in its third year, the Hamilton Heights Food Co-Op is changing with the times.
Founded by caterer Lauren McGrath during the early days of the pandemic to help her favorite food purveyors, the Harlem-based co-op now has a new fish supplier and also offers delivery.
Starting this week, Pierless Fish Co. will join the co-op's five other wholesale vendors, including Lani's Farm, Saxelby Cheese, Amy's Bread, Acme Smoked Fish, and D'Artagnan.
The orders, usually picked up in person, now can also be delivered via Uber.
"The quality is sky-high," says the self-described "local food maven," who adds that the vendors she works with "normally supply fab restaurants."
Here's how it works: Every Saturday McGrath sends everyone who's signed up food and price lists from each supplier (examples: pesticide-free snap peas from Lani's Farm: $7/lb; Narragansett Creamery Mediterranean-style grilling cheese from Saxelby: $5.75; French baguettes from Amy's Bread: $2.35).
Orders are placed the following Monday.
The food is picked up/delivered every Wednesday afternoon from McGrath's home on W 142nd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
To cover her time—she works about two days on the project and considers herself a local business—McGrath adds a slight markup (20%). Even so, the prices remain extremely low. Payment is via Venmo or similar.
To get on the co-op's email list, contact her at localfoodmaven@gmail.com.
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