It’s the perfect storm: The hunger crashes down on you, and you have no dinner prepared. Not only that, but your fridge is at the bottom of the grocery cycle and the only thing edible is a bag of carrots — wait, nope, they’re not edible.

It happens to even the most Martha Stewart of us.

Normally, that calls for dining out. But sometimes you don’t want to (or shouldn’t) be seen in public. Especially during the busy holidays when you are up to your eyeballs in wrapping paper and tape.

Relax and stop the stomach grumbling. You don’t even have to leave town.

Here are some tasty to-go dinner ideas for those days when you don’t want to cook. Bonus: They’re all Berthoud businesses.

1.   Cilantro and Lime

Cilantro and Lime opened in February as Berthoud’s first local food truck, so you may have seen it around town. However, when the temps drop, food trucks struggle to operate traditionally (especially in below-zero temps).

You can continue to support Berthoud’s flavorful, healthy food truck by ordering catering and to-go meals. Earlier this year, Cilantro and Lime offered take-and-bake meals (mostly enchiladas) for people who were staying home during the quarantine. 

“Our goal for this winter is to focus on catering and more of these take-and-bake meal kits until the weather warms up again,” says Jeannie Wilcox, co-owner.

She says they’re still hashing out the details, but she expects to offer meals for pre-order and possibly delivery at least twice a week December through March. This could be hot-and-ready soups, those delicious enchiladas, taco kits and other freezer meals.

You can also find Cilantro and Lime outside City Star Brewing throughout November. Cilantro and Lime also offers holiday catering.

2.   Origins Catering Company

If you need to feed a bigger group but don’t want to prepare it all yourself (ahem, holiday dinners and parties), consider hiring a catering company. This family-owned and operated business has been dishing up fresh and tasty food in Berthoud since 2009. But before you think catering is out of reach for you, Origins Catering Company aims to serve in a budget-conscious way.

“As a family of six, we understand that budget is a major consideration,” Origins writes on its website.

The company uses local ingredients whenever possible, so when you hire Origins, you’re supporting a chain of local businesses.

3.   Rise Artisan Bread and Bakery

Many people know Rise for its breakfast sandwiches and pastries (best enjoyed on the patio), but you can also order sandwiches to go as a fast dinner option. In addition to individual sandwiches, Rise offers a sandwich box set and a family meal deal, which features a quart of soup and a loaf of bread (such as sourdough, asiago, rosemary or rye). For dessert, get a full pie (might we recommend a bourbon pecan?) and pre-order a whole quiche to share for breakfast the next morning.

4.   Sweet European Treats

Got a sweet tooth? Order Eastern European pastries, cakes and treats made by Agnes Juhasz, a Hungarian baker who can cater parties, picnics, events, weddings and more. Juhasz has long been a vendor at the area farmers markets and is a highlight of the Berthoud Oktoberfest.

Her business is Sweet European Treats, and her menu is long (and drool-worthy). It spans nut logs, tortes, sweet rolls, kolaches, strudels and tarts that will make you feel like you’ve traveled around the globe — without having to leave this small town. 

Other ideas:

• Make sure to pick up some wine to go with your dinner. Blue Mountain Vineyards is Berthoud’s very own wine-maker. Bonus: You can book a tour of the five acres of vineyards and see how the wine is made.

  

• If you’d rather eat your alcohol, Life Is Sweet Desserts makes amazing boozy cupcakes. The options include beer cupcakes (imagine a chocolate porter cupcake on a cold winter day); cupcakes made with spirits (hello, bourbon maple bacon cupcakes); and even champagne and wine cupcakes (like a refreshing strawberry moscato cupcake). This local company makes all kinds of other baked goods, too.
• Bradford’s Grub and Grog offers a Friday night prime rib dinner: a 14-ounce prime rib with mashed potatoes, veggies and soup or salad. It’s available from 4 p.m. until it’s gone.
• Side Tracked is a great place to go with kids if you’re on a budget and don’t want to cook. Kids eat free Mondays from 5-9 p.m.
• Order dessert to-go from Lexi’s Homemade Baked Goods. The baker is a stay-at-home Berthoud mama who loves to bake. She makes breads, rolls, muffins, cakes, cookies, bagels, scones and more.

Another local baker is Messy’s Bake My Day. This small Berthoud business bakes everything from dessert for your next dinner to a huge order of cupcakes for a special event. Here’s a pro tip: Ask about the dessert jars. You’re welcome.