While Gem’s Bagels is pretty near perfect….and we’re referring specifically to Bay Avenue, Highlands … all the Gems in the Bayshore are pretty terrific. Now these Gems stores and some great pizza places and other food stores and restaurants are into something else which is preventing waste, and at the same time offering some pretty wonderful deals to folks who think ahead. And thrive on surprises!
It’s Called Too Good to Go and truly, it is. Food stores, Bagel places, restaurants and a few other businesses are into this wonderful way where they stop throwing away good food. It’s simple; when they’re close to the end of their work day and know they are going to have some leftovers, why not sell them at a huge discounted price rather than simply toss them in the garbage?
Of course they are limited as to how much they offer, or want to offer, given they would probably prefer to sell out daily. But a wise shopper simply has to go on his phone to Too Good to Go, sign up, check out the stores and businesses on for the day, and decide whether he can stop at the appointed hour and bring up a surprise gift bag. That’s it! Payment is by credit card on line, then pick go at the store between the appointed hours.t…bring your own bag and at least save them that!, identify yourself as the purchaser and get your surprise package.
Gems, since it is an early morning place…at least in Highlands, has a pick-up between 1 and 2 in the afternoon. Gem’s in Belford has a pickup between 1:30 and 2 Gem’s in Middletown is between noon and 1; it’s all easy to see once you sign on to Too Good to Go. The other Gem’s have different hours as well and all have et their own price for selling whatever is left on their shelves at the end of the day.
The Bagel Nook in Atlantic Highlands has a pickup for a half hour beginning at 3 p.m..
A great as they are, it isn’t only bagels that are Too Good to Go. Visit some of the Italian restaurant ads area also on Too Good to GO. Julio’s Pizza in Atlantic Highlands offers their Too Good to Go packages from 4 to 5 p.m. and Toscanella Village Café offers Pizza surprise bags just about all day.
Prices vary according to dealer, as do the surprise gifts, of course. It’s what is left over for the day and would not be fresh enough to sell a second day, another plus that speaks so well for the food establishment.
What might you get in these packages? It depends on what’s left over such as meal items, beverages, extra kitchen ingredients. It’s a surprise. You paid for it on your phone, you stopped you picked it up, now you’re on your way home and you can check out what you bought. The only thing you are sure of is what sold in the store or restaurant that way, and the price is paying for the leftovers is a far better deal for what you’re getting.
Depending on the business, prices seem to range between the $5.99 per surprise at most Gem’s to Whole Foods in Middletown, which offers its prepared food bags at $9.99.
At Gem’s in Highlands, it’ $5.99, for instance, it seems you always get at least a dozen bagels, or some homemade flavored cream cheese, or cupcakes or cookies. Depends on what’s still left on the shelf. At pizza places, it might be slices of a variety of kinds of pizza, or at Just Salad in Middletown, it might be some fresh vegetables. It’ all part of the surprise, but it looks like every one of them offers something special at a very impressive price
Too Good to Go is worth a try, at least once. Even if you don’t like what you get in your surprise package, for that one time, you’ve had a fun surprise and saved good food from simply being tossed away.
Gem’s
