The end is in sight, but with a few months of lockdown dining still on the cards, here are a few of my recent favourites to ensure you bring the best restaurant experiences to your home.
Occasions by Hakkasan – Chinese food is one of the cuisines I have missed the most during lockdown, as it is not easy to recreate at home without specialist ingredients and extensive knowledge. So I was delighted to try the Occasions by Hakkasan box… the box contains everything you need to recreate Hakkasan’s iconic dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen, including a dim sum steamer and incense to recreate the fragrance of Hakkasan at home. (£175 for two)
StarChefs – As the name suggests this company brings the best, Michelin-starred chefs to your door. Recent boxes have featured menus by Robin Gill and Tom Aikens, who created four course feasts to finish in your kitchen, with minimum effort but maximum enjoyment. (around £165 for two)
Hélène Darroze a la Maison – Hélène Darroze’s restaurant at The Connaught has recently been awarded the highest accolade of three Michelin stars, so never has there been a better time to try her sublime culinary creations. This changing seasonal menu for home delivery features some of her signature dishes, all packaged in concertina boxes which ensure the plating at home is just as pretty as it would be at the restaurant itself. (£195 for two, with some optional supplements).
Antona at Home – Bringing the distinguished food of Andreas Antona to your home, the recipes feature the best seasonal ingredients, high welfare meat and sustainable seafood, and draw on his experiences from Michelin kitchens – Simpsons in Edgbaston and The Cross at Kenilworth. You can also order exclusive wines to pair with your meal. (£90-110 for two people)
Mr Wilde – Perhaps the most stylish box of food to arrive at my door, Mr. Wilde provide you with everything you need for a super fun and tasty night in, from playlist ideas to game suggestions, even a couple of chocolates to end your meal. Choose from a range of irresistible boxes including Indian Banquet, Roast Chicken, Tokyo Nights, or opt for the Steak Night, which I can’t recommend highly enough. (approx £47 for two).
Tramshed Project – The Tramshed Project Feasts are nourishing and delicious in equal measure. A generous box of appetising dishes to finish quickly at home. I absolutely loved the lamb box I tried, complete with salted caramel tart for dessert. (from £65 for two)
Dinner Ladies – Dinner Ladies is a dynamic London-based food and events company dedicated to providing seasonal, sustainable food packed with unforgettable flavour. Their food is fresh, interesting and globally inspired, so I was delighted to hear they had started offering home deliveries. The Middle Eastern feast box has an array of flavoursome and colourful dishes to excite your tastebuds and test your cheffing skills, and is brilliant value for money. (£49 for two)
Simon Rogan at Home – The Simon Rogan at Home boxes are a rare opportunity to try some of this chef’s inspired flavours from the comfort of your own home. With nationwide delivery, it’s easy to see why these beautiful boxes of food sell out so fast. The three course menu changes weekly, recently featuring Rogan classics like the caramelised apple dessert. You can also order from Simon Rogan’s Aulis delivery service.(from £90 for two)
Jamavar – Mayfair’s finest Indian food to be enjoyed at home… authentic, full of flavour and spice! Choose from one of the restaurant’s celebration menus to try a delicious selection of their favourite dishes. (from £50 for two)
Norma at Home – Ben Tish’s Sicilian restaurant Norma offers gourmet comfort food at its very best. The feasting boxes feature plenty to feed two very generously, from fresh foccacia bread to homemade pastas, wholesome meat dishes and sweet Italian treats (like cannoli) for pudding. (£140 for two)