If you are missing London’s diverse and exciting restaurant scene, this round-up is for you. I’ve collated a list of my favourite restaurant deliveries, all tried and tested from home. There should be something here for everyone, from comforting Indian curries to special occasion afternoon teas.

Comfort Food

Crispin – Crispin is one of my favourite brunch spots in East London, so I was delighted when I heard they were delivering a special dinner menu out. A colourful box arrived filled with ingredients and instructions to make an Italian themed meal… including Courgette & Burrata, Ravioli with wild garlic, and Panzanella salad.

Iberica – Order Iberica when you are missing summer holidays and fancy a Spanish tapas feast. Choose from Jamon Iberico, Paella, Croquetas and other Mediterranean delights.

12.51 – 12.51 is based in Islington and serves Chef James Cochran’s quirky fusion food. The restaurant has recently started their ‘Around the Cluck’ delivery service, feeding Londoners with their signature chicken burgers and delicious sides.

Folie – Soho’s glamorous French restaurant Folie is now delivering a selection of their menu favourites. Highlights included Chicken Croque-Monsieur, Aubergine Parmigiana and Tiramisu gelato.

Maison Patron – Classic, comforting French recipes delivered to your door. Maison Patron creates wonderful boxes of homemade food to be cooked at home, paired with Provencal wine.

Hankies – Indian food is one of the cuisines I have craved most in lockdown. Hankies was satisfying and indulgent, a feast of curries, rice and breads.

Occasion Meals

Davies and Brook – One of the most exciting restaurant openings of 2019 has recently starting a deliver and collection service. Daniel Humm’s London fine dining eatery is presenting a menu based around the irresistable CFC (Claridges Fried Chicken) with complementing side dishes.

Hakkasan – I was over the moon to discover that one of London’s best Chinese eateries was delivering across the capital. From their famous dim sum to their rice and noodle dishes, everything that comes out of the Hakkasan kitchen is a work of art and a treat for the senses. We sampled the exemplary Bamboo Menu which has a lovely collection of complementing dishes.

Kanishka – I have always loved Atul Kochhar’s food, since I first visited the two michelin-starred Benares. The famed Indian chef recently opened his new restaurant Kanishka, and they are delivering across the capital. It was without a doubt the best and most luxurious Indian takeaway I have ever tried and cannot recommend it highly enough for a special night in.

Yauatcha – Dim Sum from Yauatcha is always a special treat, but eating it from the comfort of my own home felt extra exciting. Choose from a select menu of the restaurant’s most-loved dishes, including Char Sui Buns, Venison Puffs, and of course, the rainbow dim sums dumplings.

The Dorchester – This iconic London hotel kicked off their delivery and collection service a month ago with the launch of their Chelsea Flower Shower Afternoon Tea. Choose from the Traditional Afternoon Tea Hampers, Make It Yourself culinary creations from The Grill, Philip Hammond’s beautiful bouquets, and bespoke indulgence hampers from The Dorchester Spa.

Snacks

Olive & Pickle – Founded by two mums, Lauren and Holly, Olive & Pickle offers the ultimate grazing boxes and vibrant platters delivered to your doorstep.

Cobble Lane Cured – An evening aperitif in has become a regular event in our household, often accompanied by a bowl of nuts or a plate of British charcuterie. Cobble Lane Cured is the place to go for all your cured meat needs, sending glorious boxes filled with specialist meats like n’duja, coppa and wild boar salami.

Treats

Le Joli Gateau – For sweet cravings Le Joli Gateau is a great option. This fun company sends out delicious cookies vacuum-packed and ready to be popped in the oven for a few minutes, before greedy consumption. Needless to say they didn’t last long in my household. Favourite flavours included Twix and Pistachio & White Chocolate.

Dominique Ansel – Founder of the iconic Cronut, you can now get your sugar fix from Dominique Ansel at home. Order cronuts (the flavour changes monthly) as well as savoury treats, fresh bread and handmade pasta.

Tayēr Cocktails from The Whisky Exchange – Unable to visit my favourite cocktail bars I’ve been substituted my weekend tipples with the Tayēr pre-made cocktails. Delicious and unique concoctions include the Vetiver Negroni and Cedarwood Old Fashioned.

DIY Kits

Babka and Pitta kits from Shuk – Shuk feeds hungry Borough Market visitors with Middle Eastern delights, and has now pivoted the business into a DIY delivery food service. A few weeks ago I tried the unbelievable tasty babka kits, and I hear the pitta kits are just round the corner. A great activity to do with kids.

Mac & Wild VeniMoo Burgers – There are some great burger kits out there as Londoners crave their favourite burger joints. I urge you to try the Venimoo kit, an indulgent box with 4 venison pattys and 4 beef pattys and everything else you need to make the iconic Mac & Wild burgers from home. Super yummy, and a nice twist on the classic burger.

Cook & Feast – South Londoners Giovanna & Marcus are the perfect pair, with their combined cooking and butchery skills. They have started making up ready to meal boxes with the finest cuts of meat and all the ingredients you need to make Giovanna’s favourite dinner recipes. For BBQs and weekend feasts you can also buy meat boxes, including Marcus’s brilliant handmade sausages.

Arabica – I was sceptical about making falafels at home, but the Arabica kit made it easy and fun and the results were surprisingly tasty. If you don’t fancy making up your own dinner you can also order a selection of the classic Arabica meze dishes.

Lina Stores – Anyone else missing all of London’s homemade pasta eateries? My favourite turquoise venue has started offering delivery on some of their most loved fresh pastas, charcuterie & cheeses, and other specialist Italian deli items. Order a meal kit or choose your own menu from their tempting selection. I love the Pea and Mint Ravioli.

Lamezia – I’ve been making dough at home to get my pizza fix. But when I received the Lamezia pizza kit I realised how much easier and quicker the experience is when someone else has done the hard kneading work for you! I loved the n’duja pizza, easy to make, quick to cook and delicious to eat… another great one to do with the kids.

Lahpet – When I posted about the Lahpet recipe box on instagram I received an overwhelming response from followers keen to try it. This East London Burmese restaurant is offering pantry essentials (think shallot oil and chilli jam) alongside the kits to make your fragrant Burmese meal at home.

Angelina Dalston – Bringing fusion into your home with Angelina’s Italian-Japanese recipe and larder boxes. The Alimentari boxes offers a carefully curated array of ingredients alongside instructions to make some of the most popular Angelina dishes. Each box is designed to feed 2 people for 5-7 meals.

Padella – London’s most popular pasta restaurant Padella has just launched their pasta kit boxes. Costing just £15 for a generous meal for 2, you can choose from a range of their classic pasta dishes and make it at home in under 5 minutes. I can recommend the Beef Shin Ragu, although must admit, I’m most excited about the possible appearance of their inimitable Pici e Cacio.

Cocktail Porter – If you are looking for a gift to send to a friend who is celebrating a birthday in lock down the Cocktail Porter is perfect. The stylish kits contain everything you need to make hand-crafted cocktails at home. Choose from favourites like Seville Orange Negroni and Elderflower Spritz.

I will continue to add to this list as I discover more brilliant London restaurant deliveries.

At the moment, during lock down, my daily happiness depends on what I find in the fridge! Parmigiano Reggiano is the one luxury staple we are always stocked up on … this special Italian hard cheese can really make or break the simplest meals … whether it’s as a last-minute accompaniment to spaghetti or a yummy topping for cheese on toast.

A few years ago, I visited Parmigiano Reggiano’s area of origin in Northern Italy, where it is exclusively produced in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Bologna to the left of the river Reno, and Mantua to the right of the river Po. As a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product, Parmigiano Reggiano is a healthy choice, as it is all-natural, made with only 3 ingredients, and every wheel of cheese is individually quality checked before it can be sold. Made with cow’s milk and usually aged for 12 – 36 months, it is a granular cheese with a salty umami taste that can add flavour to an array of dishes.

Pesto is one of my favourite recipes with Parmigiano Reggiano. For me, it brings back strong memories of sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen in Provence, collecting pine kernels from the nearby forest and using an old pestle and mortal to make delicious fresh pesto. We’d sometimes take a day trip over the border into Italy, to visit their vibrant markets and buy huge chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano.

At the moment it’s not as easy as usual to get all the ingredients you need, and pine nuts are often not available in local shops, so I’ve come up with three pesto recipes to help you make the most of your store cupboard ingredients, all showcasing Parmigiano Reggiano.

Classic Pesto

100g basil, leaves picked

75g toasted pine nuts

100g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated

100ml olive oil

Parsley & Hazelnut

80g flat leaf parsley, leaves picked

100g toasted hazelnut

100g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated

zest and juice of 1 lemon

100ml olive oil

Sun-dried Tomato & Walnut

150g sun-dried tomatoes in oil (weight incl. oil)

100g walnuts

100g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated

1 clove of garlic

Additional olive oil if needed, but mostly use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes

Method

Put all ingredients into the food processor, apart from olive oil and whizz up into a paste. Once mixed gradually add the olive oil while the mixer is still on. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Alternatively you can use a pestle and mortar to break down the ingredients and create a paste, starting with the dry ingredients and finishing with the oil.

Pesto can be used in so many recipes, as a pasta sauce, a salad dressing or a smart canapé spread. I like to make a big batch, and freeze portions in an ice-tray for later use.

You can buy Parmigiano Reggiano from all major supermarkets in the UK. Follow them on instagram @Parmigianoreggianouk and on Twitter @Parmesanuk.

This is a collaboration with Parmigiano Reggiano, visit their website here for more information.