Inside Our Weekly Menu Planning Process at Will's Cookery

Ever wondered how we decide what appears on the Will's Cookery menu each week? Our menu planning process combines culinary expertise, seasonal awareness, customer preferences, and logistical planning—all to ensure that Columbia families receive varied, delicious, and nutritionally balanced meals throughout the year.

In this post, we're pulling back the curtain on our weekly menu planning process and sharing the considerations that shape your dinner options.

In This Article

• The Four-Week Menu Cycle
• Seasonal Ingredient Selection
• Balancing Nutrition and Flavor
• Testing and Refining Recipes
• Incorporating Customer Feedback
• From Menu to Meal: The Execution Timeline

Key Takeaways

• Will's Cookery plans menus on a four-week rotating cycle with seasonal adjustments
• Each week's menu aims for balance across proteins, cooking methods, and flavor profiles
• Customer feedback directly influences both new dishes and refinements to classics
• Local ingredient availability plays a crucial role in menu development
• Each menu undergoes multiple review phases before being finalized

The Four-Week Menu Cycle

While we're constantly developing new recipes, Will's Cookery operates on a modified four-week menu cycle. This approach allows us to:

• Maintain consistent quality through repetition of proven dishes
• Incorporate seasonal changes within a reliable framework
• Ensure customers can access their favorites regularly
• Balance innovative new dishes with comforting classics

Weekly Menu Composition

Each week's menu follows this basic structure:

• 2-3 poultry dishes (varying between chicken and turkey)
• 1-2 beef options
• 1-2 seafood selections
• 1 pork or lamb choice
• 1-2 vegetarian options
• 3-4 side dishes that complement multiple mains
• 1-2 dessert offerings

"The four-week cycle gives me the perfect balance of anticipation and familiarity. I know my favorites will come around again, but there's always something new to try too." — Michelle, Lake Katherine resident

The Planning Calendar

Our menu planning operates on a perpetual calendar:

• Four weeks out: Initial menu draft and ingredient research
• Three weeks out: Recipe testing and refinement
• Two weeks out: Final menu approval and publication
• One week out: Ingredient ordering and kitchen prep

This system ensures we have adequate time to source specialty ingredients while maintaining flexibility for seasonal adjustments.

Seasonal Ingredient Selection

Perhaps the most influential factor in our menu planning is seasonality. South Carolina's growing seasons directly shape what appears on your plate.

Local Sourcing Partners

We work with several local farms and producers, including:

• City Roots Farm for urban-grown produce
• Freshly Grown Farms for hydroponically grown greens
• Doko Farm for heritage meats
• Columbia's Farmers Market for diverse seasonal finds

Seasonal Menu Highlights

Our menus reflect South Carolina's distinctive growing seasons:

• Spring: Asparagus, strawberries, spring onions, and fresh herbs take center stage
• Summer: Tomato-focused dishes, corn, peaches, and lighter preparations
• Fall: Sweet potatoes, autumn squashes, apples, and heartier braises
• Winter: Citrus accents, root vegetables, hearty greens, and slow-cooked comfort foods

For more detail on our seasonal approach, see our guide to Seasonal Ingredients in South Carolina.

Balancing Nutrition and Flavor

Creating a well-rounded weekly menu requires careful attention to nutritional balance and flavor variety.

Nutritional Considerations

Each week's menu aims to provide:

• Balanced macronutrient options (proteins, carbohydrates, fats)
• Varied micronutrient profiles through diverse vegetables
• Options for different dietary needs (low-carb, higher protein, etc.)
• Appropriate portion sizes for families

Flavor Profile Diversity

We also ensure each week offers:

• A range of global flavor influences (French, Italian, Southern, Asian, etc.)
• Balance between rich and lighter dishes
• Variety of textures and cooking methods
• Complementary pairings between mains and sides

The Flavor Matrix app has been a helpful tool for exploring unexpected ingredient combinations while maintaining harmonious flavor profiles.

Testing and Refining Recipes

No dish makes it onto the Will's Cookery menu without extensive testing and refinement.

The Recipe Development Process

New menu items typically follow this journey:

1. Concept development based on seasonal ingredients or customer requests
2. Initial test cooking with the core culinary team
3. Recipe refinement through multiple iterations
4. Scaling test to ensure the dish works in larger quantities
5. Team tasting with all staff members
6. Limited release as a special before joining the regular rotation

Quality Control Standards

For a dish to earn a spot on our menu, it must:

• Maintain quality after being properly reheated
• Hold well during the pickup window
• Present beautifully in our containers
• Receive overwhelmingly positive feedback during testing
• Be executable consistently at our production volume

"I'm always amazed at how certain dishes evolve from the first test to what ultimately appears on the menu. Our Beef Bourguignon went through seven iterations before we felt it was perfect!" — Will Baker, Chef/Owner

Incorporating Customer Feedback

Perhaps the most valuable input in our menu planning comes directly from you—our customers.

Feedback Channels

We collect menu input through several channels:

• Direct conversations during pickup times
• Email and text message responses
• Structured feedback forms with certain orders
• Monitoring which dishes consistently sell out quickly
• Tracking repeat orders of specific items

How Feedback Shapes Our Menu

Your input directly affects our offerings through:

• Development of new dishes based on requests
• Refinement of existing recipes
• Seasonal variations of popular items
• Retirement of underperforming dishes
• Special "customer favorite" weeks in our rotation

The Herb-Roasted Salmon on our menu evolved directly from customer suggestions to incorporate more heart-healthy options with omega-3 rich proteins.

From Menu to Meal: The Execution Timeline

Once a menu is finalized, a precise operational timeline begins.

The Weekly Schedule

• Monday: Final order counts tabulated, detailed production plan created
• Tuesday: Major ingredient prep (stocks, sauces, marinated items)
• Wednesday-Sunday: Daily production based on the week's order volume
• Sunday: Deep cleaning and reset for the following week

Production Prioritization

Dishes are scheduled in our production calendar based on:

• Shelf life and food safety considerations
• Equipment availability and kitchen workflow
• Staff specialization and expertise
• Peak freshness timing of key ingredients

This orchestrated approach ensures that when you pick up your meals, each item is at its optimal quality and freshness.

<div class="bg-amber-100 p-6 rounded-lg my-10 text-center border border-amber-200 shadow-sm"> <h3 class="text-xl font-bold mb-3">Want to Influence Our Next Menu?</h3> <p class="mb-4">We're always open to customer suggestions and requests. Let us know what you'd like to see on future menus!</p> <a href="/menu" class="bg-amber-600 text-white px-5 py-2 rounded-full font-medium hover:bg-amber-700 transition-colors">View This Week's Menu</a> </div>

The next time you enjoy a Will's Cookery meal, you'll know the extensive planning, sourcing, testing, and scheduling that went into creating that perfect plate. We believe this thoughtful process is what sets our meals apart—and what makes them worth waiting for each week.

Do you have a dish you'd love to see on our menu? Share your suggestions with us during your next meal pickup!