We know that some of you are just naturally curious, and have been wondering if we’ll come over and do your dishes after you eat? The answer is yes, but our dishes staff is booked until 2012. Hopefully all of your other pending questions will be answered in our interactive Q & A below.

Cook! delivers fresh meal kits to your office or home with two different Meal Plans.

Real Delicious - You can select specific meals from our menu, or let us select for you given your preferences. You can order as little as an entree for one person for one night, or multiple entrees for different nights of the week for as many persons as you wish. We deliver only on Wednesdays and will deliver all your meal kit(s) to your home or office as specified. The kits will be packed in a reusable cooler bag with ice blankets so that they do not require immediate refrigeration. You get to cook dinner in just 20 minutes or less. Find out more in How It Works.

Delicious Detox – Our Real Detox program runs for once a month. Based on your selection, you'll receive 7 to 14 days of food plus snacks delivered fresh to you twice a week, on Thursdays and Mondays.

A meal kit contains fully prepared ingredients and step-by-step instructions to quickly cook a delicious dinner. Click here to see a photo.

We like to think we are beyond organic. Our ingredients are whole, fresh, and local! Many of our suppliers (GreenLeaf, Veritable Vegetables, Ports Seafood, Marin Sun Farms - just to name a few) are the same as those used by San Francisco's finest restaurants.

The meal kits (non-seafood) should last about 5 days in the refrigerator. We have vacuum packed the meats where appropriate for added freshness. For seafood kits, we recommend that you consume them on the day itself for maximum flavor. They should last about 3 days in the refrigerator. Occasionally, we do offer stews which can be frozen and eaten at a later date.

The Essential Detox (3 meals a day) averages around 1200 to 1400 calories a day. The Comprehensive Detox (3 meals and 2 snacks a day) averages 1400 to 1800 calories a day.

Some breakfasts, as well as most all dinners, require a bit of cooking or reheating. Don't worry though, these meals will be ready to eat in less than 20 minutes. Lunches can be conveniently taken to work and do not require any cooking. A few of our snacks, like our delicious Carrot Ginger Soup, can easily be warmed in a microwave if you do not have access to a stovetop.

Very! We design our menus to provide a balanced diet. We have lots of gluten-free and dairy-free options, and we use complex carbohydrates too. We emphasize high quality and fresh ingredients which are GM free and meats which are natural or organic. We do not add preservatives and additives when we prepare our meal kits. You can also adjust the level of seasoning (such as salt) to your taste or to reflect your diet. We do not use MSG in our seasonings. We also include the nutritional values of the meal kits in the instructions.

We focus on using organic, local, fresh and seasonal ingredients. The Real Detox is comprised mainly of colorful fruits and vegetables and gluten-free whole grains. The small portions of animal protein (turkey, chicken and fish) are of the highest quality and adhere to sustainable practices, allowing us to feel good about offering them as a protein source.

The term 'detox' certainly gets used a lot today and therefore can mean different things to different people. Our use of the word when referring to the Real Detox is to describe a way of eating that is designed to minimize the amount of toxins ingested and promote the elimination of toxins already in the body. Our main goal with the Real Detox was to create a program that teaches people a sustainable way of eating while reducing the consumption of new toxins and riding the body of existing toxins.

As a starting point, the Real Detox is based on Dr. Mark Hyman's program, UltraMetabolism. If you would like to read more about him or his philosophy, you can do so at drhyman.com and ultrametabolism.com. Additionally, when putting together our program, we consulted with our panel of nutritionists and medical advisors, many of whom are board certified in functional medicine. You can find a list of them here.

A detox can be as strict as fasting for multiple days on water, broths and/or juices. There is certainly a purpose and there are advantages to these deep cleanses. However, we felt the need to teach people a gentle and sustainable way of reducing their consumption of toxins and riding their body of existing toxins.

You can expect to feel both crappy and great. A lot depends on from where you are starting - how great the burden of toxicity is in your body, how strong your addictions are to sugar, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, etc., and how sensitive you are gluten and dairy.

On the downside (usually within the first 3-4 days of starting the Detox): you may feel irritable, experience cold or flu-like symptoms (headache, drainage at the back of the throat, sneezing, sinus getting stuffed or sore throat), your skin may breakout or develop rashes, you may have constipation or diarrhea, bloated or extra gas, you may experience cravings, brain fog, etc. These are all good signs your body is trying to get rid of the toxic by-products.

On the upside (usually 4-7 days after you've started the Detox): the symptoms described above should go away, additionally you may feel lighter and less bloated, you may experience better concentration and focus, improved digestive function, a loss of excess weight, a stronger immune system, clearer and brighter skin, etc.

We recommend an activity level that is normal for you. Sweating is good and a great way of eliminating toxins. We also recommend adjusting your activity level depending on how you react to the Real Detox. If you are feeling tired and/or experiencing some of those side effects described above, resting or taking a steam may feel better than running 5 miles. Alternatively, if you feel a surge of energy and want to hit the trails, go for it!

The answer to this question depends on how much excess weight you are carrying and how much of a departure the Real Detox is from your normal diet. Some customers lose a few pounds in the first week while others lose 8 pounds or more by the second week.

It only stands to reason that if by following the Real Detox principles and eliminating certain foods, you lose weight; then going back to your old way of eating and adding those same foods back in, you would gain weight.

The Real Detox is real food but it does not take into account any special dietary needs or restrictions your child might have. Teaching your child to eat and love all natural wholesome food is wonderful but before making any dramatic changes to your child's diet, we recommend seeking advice from their doctor.

If you are under the care of a physician, we recommend consulting with your doctor before making any changes to your diet. Dr. Douglas Husbands, a well-recognized Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Functional Medicine practitioner, Chiropractor and one of our board of advisors, who has worked with hundreds of pregnant and breast feeding women, deems that since this a healthy food-based detoxification, and your body requires detoxification naturally for optimal functions, it would be safe to use the Real Detox diet even while pregnant or beast feeding. If you would like to consult with Dr. Husbands, his contact information can be found at holistichealthbayarea.com.

Yes, though we recommend making sure your vitamin doesn't contain any gluten, eggs, corn, soy, dairy, artificial colors, sweeteners or flavorings. High-quality brands will indicate this with an additional statement on the label, usually at the back, next to or near the ingredient and nutrient list.

First, check with the doctor who prescribed your antibotics. The Real Detox may be a tremendous help in returning your body to its optimal health.

The Real Detox meals are low GL (Glycemic Load). We use only complex carbohydrates in the Real Detox with healthy fats and lean proteins. The Real Detox should be suitable if you have diabetes, but you should always check with your doctor first.

We are fortunate to have on our board of advisors, Rebecca Katz, M.S., a nationally-recognized expert on the role of food in supporting health during cancer treatment. Rebecca works closely with patients, physicians, nurses, and wellness professionals to include the powerful tool of nutrition in their medical arsenal. Rebecca is also the author of The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen and One Bite at a Time. Many recipes used in the Real Detox are from her books. As always, please check with your health care provider before making any changes to your diet.

The Essential Detox includes 3 meals per day - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Comprehensive Detox includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks per day. We recommend the Comprehensive Detox. Customers find it more convenient for us to provide the snacks and feel good knowing everything is "detox-friendly" and portioned appropriately. If you opt to do the Essential, you should definitely augment with your own "detox-friendly" snacks.

We suggest detoxing for two weeks. This is because in the first few days, your body will begin the cleansing process and eliminating toxins. This can be the most uncomfortable part of the detox. You will begin feeling better once your body starts the process of rebuilding and healing. The results of this process will be much more dramatic when you've given your body more time to cleanse and heal. If you originally sign up for one week, you can usually extend to the second week if you let customer service know within 3 days of starting. The only way to guarantee a spot for the 2nd week is to sign up before the deadline.

The best part about the Real Detox is that it is a natural and sustainable way of eating. The goal of the Real Detox is to help you rid your diet of common allergens that typically cause irritation to your system. The last thing we want is for you to finish the Real Detox feeling your best, and then promptly return to eating the items you eliminated. The frequency at which you do the Detox should depend on your budget and how often you feel you need it. We have some customers who do the Real Detox every month and others who enjoy doing it 3-4 times a year. Perhaps it's time for you to get back on track or maybe you just want to simply your life for a couple weeks and let us worry about the meal planning, grocery shopping and prepping.

Everyone has their favorite dishes. If your would like to substitute a meal with something else on the menu we would be happy to accommodate you. Just be sure to coordinate with customer service at least a week prior to starting.

We do our best to accommodate allergies. Please call the office at 415-513-5328 to discuss your specific allergy.

Originally, we offered an omnivore and an herbivore version. However, there was very little demand for the vegetarian version so we stopped offering it. You have the option to work with customer service to substitute the non-vegetarian dishes with the vegetarian dishes that are on the menu. This means you would have repetitive meals but some customers are fine with this.

That would be unfortunate as we've already ordered and begun prepping your meals. If you cancel within 7 days of starting your detox, we are able to offer you a 50% credit. If you you cancel after your detox has begun, the best thing to do is find someone who can enjoy the remainder of your meals as we are unable to refund your money.

Our Real Detox Plan is a one-off program where you sign up for one week or two weeks. Our Real Delicious Meal Plan is an ongoing weekly subscription but you are free to cancel your subscription at any time. We ask that you give us at least five working days' notice to process your cancellation. You can also suspend your account indefinitely and re-activate it whenever you are ready to continue.

Our Gourmet Meal Kits start at $12.95 per entrée and side, while our Real Detox starts at $48 per day for three meals a day. Check out our price comparison table to see why this is such a good deal.

You can manage your account information online when you login to your account.

You get billed each week for the selection that you made. This allows you to choose as many entrées as you want for that dinner party, or to skip delivery when you are out of town.

We have expanded our delivery to cover many parts of the Bay area. However, we are still looking to extend our services so please contact us if you are not within the delivery coverage and would like to receive the service. We will either arrange delivery to you at an additional charge or keep you posted on when we expand the delivery service. Delivery fees start at $4.95 for downtown San Francisco. Please check out the Delivery Areas for specific fees.

A cooler bag/box and ice packs are designated to you when you place an order. With each subsequent delivery, a new cooler bag/box and ice packs will arrive. Since we reuse the bags and ice packs, please have the old cooler bag/box and ice packs out and available for the driver to collect at each delivery. There is an Unreturned Bag Fee (UBF) of $12/bag. You will be notified of any outstanding bags/boxes once they've been tallied at the end of the month. If we are unable to collect after making the attempt to do so, you will be charged the non-refundable UBF per outstanding bag. To avoid this fee, please do not forget to leave bags for the driver or allow them to accumulate.

If you received a delivery and plan to reorder again in the following few weeks, you may keep the bag until your next delivery. At the time of your next delivery, make the old bag available for the driver to collect when he drops off your new bag. If you received a delivery and do not plan to reorder in the following weeks, please call the office at 415-513-5328 to schedule a bag pick up, or request the pick up via email to customerservice@cook-sf.com. If you picked up your order at one of our pick up locations, you may return the cooler bag to the pick up location by the following Wednesday. Please review our policy on unreturn bags as outlined above.

Not a problem. You can skip deliveries whenever you want by logging into your account. However, for the Real Delicious deliveries, we do need to get the request by Fridays as we order just the right amount of ingredients and start prepping a couple of days before. Otherwise, we will have to charge a 50% fee after the cut-off date to cover the cost of the ingredients. For other programs, please check the cut-off dates when you login to your account. 

Definitely. Login to your account and change the delivery address under Profile. You need to do this the Friday before the delivery. If you have missed the cut-off date, and need to make a last minute change, call us at (415) 513-5328 and we will try our best deliver to your alternative address within the delivery coverage area.

Real Detox deliveries are made twice per week. The first delivery arrives on Thursday (the day before your Detox begins) and the second delivery arrives on Monday. The same follows for the second week. Real Delicious deliveries are made every Wednesday.

Our drivers usually start their route around noon. Time of completion depends on the number of deliveries, distance between homes and traffic. Generally though, all deliveries are made by 6pm for Real Delicious and 8pm for Real Detox.

There is no need to disturb you. Just let us know where there is a safe place to leave your delivery. We also accept gate keys.

Each cooler box is 14" x 10" x 6" and weighs approximately 15-20 lbs upon delivery.

When kept out of direct sunlight, your meals will stay cool and fresh in our cooler box for 4-5 hours.

Yes. Pick-ups can be made at our kitchen which is located at 3310 Peralta Street, Oakland, CA 94608. Your box will be ready for pick up between 12pm and 5pm. If you have picked up the order, please return the cooler bag/box to the same pick up location to avoid a UBF (Unreturned Bag Fee) of $12.

We reuse the cooler boxes. Please leave the box out for the driver to pick up at the next delivery. Call the office at 415-513-5328 to schedule a final pick up for any remaining boxes. There is a charge of $12 (Unreturned Bag Fee) per cooler bag/box.

No, they can redeem the gift certificate for the kits they want and not have any obligations to continue the service or sign up for a subscription.

No, they can choose the weeks and kits they want at their convenience.

The minimum sum is $20. You can buy gift certificates in multiples of $20, $50 or $100.

You can either use the sign up form to give us your details, and then enter the gift certificate code, OR just email us at customerservice@cook-sf.com or call us at (451) 513 5328 to redeem your gift certificate.

The cooler bags and mini- ice blankets are re-used each week. Our brown bio-pak boxes are made using 100% recycled paper board and can be composted. The plastic containers are made with extruded polypropylene which can be recycled as well. Alternatively, they can be washed and re-used again. (They come in pretty handy whenever you have left-overs, or if you need little containers for storing spices, or for kids' arts and crafts.)

That's great. Please let customer service know at customerservice@cook-sf.com if you are planning to include us in any press.

Absolutely. Most of our customers are referrals and/or repeat customers. If you refer a new customer to the Real Detox, let us know! We'd would like to thank you and add a $20 credit to your account.

We would be happy to answer any remaining questions over the phone or via email. Our friendly staff can be reached at 415-513-5328 or at customerservice@cook-sf.com.