ON THE ROAD WITH A TAKEOUT QUEEN ‘Cozy chic’ choices to go

This month, I found four new eateries that combine contemporary cuisine with old-style homemade flavors. I call the food combinations “cozy chic” because they taste like a mixture of childhood memories and modern magic. Check these out.

■ Healthy Meals Direct (9 Bridge St., Glen Cove) Who was raised on Swanson’s TV dinners? I was. This new eatery brings that experience to a whole new “cozy chic” level. When you enter the shop, you’ll notice the walls are lined with huge refrigerator cases. The cases are filled with trays of freshly prepared meals-for-one. Each day, there are about 80 choices that range from blueberry pancakes, to coconut curry chicken and rice, to cilantro lime shrimp bowls.

Since the meals aren’t frozen, just pop one in your microwave for 1-2 minutes and a delicious dish is ready to munch. I loved watching my white bean chicken chili come to life in my microwave at top speed. There are also creative overnight oats to grab and go. My overnight peanut butter and jelly oats were smooth as silk after sitting on my car seat for five minutes. You can also order meals online. They’ll be delivered to your home. (healthymealsdirect.com)

■ Ben’s Deli (140 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale) Who always orders Ben’s matzah ball soup because it tastes like the kind your grandma used to make? I do. Now there are four new salads that combine that moment with a splash of international flavors. I ordered the new steak salad (though I substituted brisket). The brisket and roasted sliced onions reminded me of my granny’s kitchen. The brisket and onions sat atop fresh spinach leaves, tomatoes, and quinoa to give it a clean, healthy kick. Lastly, crunchy won tons gave it an Asian tone. Other new salads with similar ingredients are made with salmon and chicken cutlet strips. The quinoa and vegetable salad makes a lovely, light partner with a pastrami sandwich.