By Kate Quesada
Next time you are having trouble deciding what to make for dinner, think about FishHawk resident Peggy Davenport. Every weeknight an average of between 150 and 200 people around the Tampa area eat meals prepared by Davenport and her team through her business, Davenport’s Daily Delights.
Davenport came up with the idea for her business, which recently celebrated its third anniversary, at her son’s baseball practice.
“We were sitting there talking about what to make for dinner and a friend offered me some money to make extra for her,” said Davenport, who moved to the area 10 years ago from North Carolina.
The idea grew from there and before long, Davenport’s Daily Delights had 1,000 Facebook followers regularly ordering Davenport’s food. Three years later and the page has 5,500 users and Davenport has a kitchen team of five employees and her husband John.
“I think we have been so successful because people want an easy way to provide a healthy, balanced meal for their families,” said Davenport, who jokes that her team makes everything but the pasta from scratch.
In order to serve her customers, Davenport posts her weekly menu days in advance on the business Facebook page. Every day the menu features multiple meal choices including low-calorie and Whole 30 diet compliant options. Most dishes can be ordered in both full and half size portions to feed four or two adults. Some of her most popular dishes include favorites from her southern background like shrimp and grits and fried chicken with all the traditional sides, but her stuffed peppers and soup and Japanese Steakhouse Hibachi Style nights are also very popular.
“All of my recipes have a story,” said Davenport. “They come from family, friends and meals that we have eaten while traveling and all have great memories that we are happy to be able to pass on to our customers.”
Davenport and her team cook the meals at a kitchen in South Tampa and food can be picked up there or at Art Monkey in FishHawk’s Park Square between 4 and 7 p.m. Delivery is also available for a $5 fee to FishHawk, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Brandon, Valrico, Dover, Carrolwood, South Tampa, Seminole Heights, Westchase and Wesley Chapel. Catering is also available for parties and special occasions.
For information, find Davenport’s Daily Delights on Facebook, visit www.davenportsdailydelights.com or call 315-9123.
