Now that many of us are starring in our own versions of Lockdown II: The Return to the Sofa much of our time is once again being spent staring up the nostrils of friends on Zoom, watching mindless TV and thinking about our next meal. We all naturally miss doing the things we love and, for many of us, that includes going to restaurants and eating food prepared by someone else.
So, now is the ideal time to order takeaways and deliveries. This not only provides a solution to those of us who have exhausted our own limited repertoire of dishes but, more importantly, provides a lifeline to the beleaguered restaurant industry and, with it, the wider support chain that includes farmers and fishermen, fruit and veg growers and cheese makers.
Those who live in London are fortunate to have an abundance of choice when it comes to what’s on offer. Here’s what some of the Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmand restaurants in the capital are doing:
From Le Gavroche you can order one of their weekly changing boxes. Designed for two people to share, they come with easy-to-follow instructions on how to finish off the dishes in your own kitchen. If you need a little more instruction, then those ordering from Galvin La Chapelle can watch an online video of Jeff Galvin showing you how to add the finishing touches.
For the more adventurous home cook, James Knappett at Kitchen Table has gone one further by offering a 7 or 11 course menu, along with selected wines. Vegetarians should head to Trishna for their ‘Feasts’ for one or two people, while vegans will want to check out the boxes from Pied à Terre.
Carnivores can get their fix by ordering vac-packed smoked meats by the pound via Smokestak, while lovers of cured fish and dips should try The Barbary and their ‘deli delivery’ service.
At Lyle’s they have created an online store called Lyle's Provisions as a way of supporting their suppliers and, as we totter tentatively towards the festive period, you can also buy their Mince Pie Kits. For more luxury ingredients go online at The River Café.
Those who always fall back on the same handful of pasta recipes should take advantage of the boxes from Bancone which include antipasti, pasta and dessert.
For anyone busy bingeing on The Crown, watching the rugby on telly or simply not interested in venturing back into the kitchen, there are plenty of Michelin Star and Bib Gourmand restaurants that’ll simply send hot food round for instant enjoyment. You can get crispy sea bass from Farang; buns from Bao; beef shin ragu from Brawn; arroz negro from Sabor; Kovalam fish curry from Quilon; and cassoulet from Provender
For the full list click here
Nothing improves one’s wellbeing quite like good food; and nothing improves the wellbeing of restaurants quite like an abundance of customers.