Unless you know it's there, you just might pass it by. But oncebryou find Scratch Catering & Fine Foods, a small shop situatedbrin the Hobby Lobby shopping center, you'll be a regular. It'sbrbecome our go-to spot for grabbing a healthy dinner onbrweeknights when we're short on time (or ingredients). Thebrmenu changes daily, so there's always something fresh andbrnew to look forward to, whether it's grilled salmon or a warmbrbowl of homemade chili.br
The space is unassuming, but it's brimming with hometownbrcharm. There's not a table or chair in the place; only a counterbrfor ordering, a refrigerated case with beverages, and abrchalkboard wall in the back announcing deals (“All drinks $1 allbrday every day”) and expressing sentiments (“Life's short ... eatbrdessert first”).br
Scratch Catering & Fine Foods (Scratch Kitchen for short),bropened its doors last fall. The catering and carryout business isbrfamily-owned, which, to us, only adds to its appeal.br
Owner Ted Bilsky says that he and his family of Aggies havebrlong been entrepreneurs – and pretty good around the kitchen.brThey catered for clients of Bilsky's construction businessbrfor years and after many requests from happy customers,brexpanded into a full-time operation.br
“We focus on a few things we do well and keep the menubrchanging daily,” he says. “Everything is made from scratch –brnothing out of a can or jar. It's home-style cooking for familiesbron the go.”br
Scratch Kitchen offers lunch and dinner takeout Mondaybrthrough Friday. If you want to know what's on the daily menubrbefore you stop in, you can have text updates sent straight tobryour phone.br
The kitchen cranks out meals until 7 p.m. or until it runs outbrof food. The menu also changes quarterly, with pulled porkbrand brisket along with homemade sausage on the lineup forbrspringtime. Scratch Kitchen's best-loved meals are alwaysbrin the rotation, though. Customers can't get enough of thebrChicken Marsala and Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, Bilsky says.br
We opted for the Chicken Salad on Croissant for a lightbrmeal. It was sweet, creamy and crunchy with diced apples andbrwalnuts, and the croissant was buttery and fresh. For dessert,brwe selected the S'mores Cupcake from Judy's Bake Shop, itsbrin-house bakery that offers fresh-made treats ranging frombrcupcakes to bars and cookies. The chocolate ganache was richbrand decadent, and the toasted marshmallow frosting put thisbrtreat over the top.br
When all you want is a great home-style meal without thebrfuss of preparing it on your own, Scratch Kitchen has youbrcovered. And while the bulk of the business is carryout, Bilskybrnotes that catering is still Scratch Kitchen's forte.br
“Whether for a corporate gig or your kitchen table, we canbrdo anything from the very simplistic to the very gourmet,” hebrsays. But really, it's all good, no matter how you serve it.
brbrbr
SCRATCH CATERING & FINE FOODS
2125 W. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 375br817.421.6555