I like to learn nerdy things and my latest inquiry resulted in the discovery of a pretty cool app.

Recently I Googled “how buffets minimize food waste.” Numerous methods were outlined, including one that mentioned an app called Too Good To Go. Intrigued, yet totally unaware of what it actually was, I looked it up. What I read made me want to try Too Good To Go immediately.

Too Good To Go is an app that allows businesses to sell food at discounted prices that otherwise would go to waste.

What a concept! Too Good To Go is an app that allows restaurants to sell surplus/unsold food that might otherwise go to waste. To participate, eateries must discount the food they sell by at least one-third its original price. Customers then use the app to purchase the food. However, all Too Good To Go meals come in mystery bags. You aren’t allowed to choose your items although the app will describe the most likely possibilities you will find in your bag.

Too Good To Go appealed to me for two reasons:

1. I love a good bargain
2. Surprises are fun

I downloaded the app and discovered that Spokane Valley had various businesses on it. Within 10 minutes of downloading Too Good To Go, I had already made an order. I then made another one 🫣. My first ventures? Circle K and Desserts By Sara.

I purchased mystery bags via Too Good To Go from Circle K and Desserts By Sara.

I went with Circle K because three different locations in Spokane Valley were offering mystery bags and the window for pickup was basically all day. You see, those using the app who purchase a mystery bag must pick it up within a certain time period. For some places it is just a couple hours but Circle K offers a wide window that spans most of the day. Also, for just $3.99, I figured it was worth a try.

Holding my mystery bag I purchased from the Circle K location on Pines in Spokane Valley.

When I went to pick up my Circle K mystery bag, they made it in front of me. A store employee placed a deli sandwich, Lay’s potato chips, and 20 oz. Pepsi bottle in a Circle K-branded bag. I guess I was a little surprised considering I thought I would be getting old corn dogs, pizza sticks, and jalapeno poppers. Based on the fact that the chips themselves had an on-package suggested price of $2.69, I definitely received a greater value for my money than if I bought each item individually. But even with that said, do I think I would use Too Good To Go for another mystery bag of some very common items? I don’t think so.

I received a 20 oz Pepsi, potato chips, and spicy Italian deli sandwich in my Circle K mystery bag. Not bad but not something I would go back for.

What I received from Desserts By Sara was better. Although the price for a mystery bag was a little more expensive ($5.99), the anticipation of what a bakery would probably have on-hand made my mouth water. It didn’t disappoint.

Holding the mystery bag I received from Desserts By Sara. The bakery is located in Spokane Valley on Montgomery.

We received two giant cookies, two cake pops, and a pack of pumpkin bread. The two cake pops alone—which every espresso stand in Spokane sell for $4 each—already surpassed the price of the mystery bag. The cookies were fresh and the only reason Sid thought they were in our bag was because some of the decoration frosting was mistakenly on the edge of the cookie. That was obviously no problem for us 😜.

These cookies look smaller than what they actually were, but the Desserts By Sara mystery bag packed deliciousness and value. I will use Too Good To Go for Desserts By Sara again.

I will test out some of the other Too Good To Go businesses soon. Judging by the first two test runs, I think it might be hit and miss. Regardless, the idea itself is golden. Don’t Blink.