The latest lockdown means that its impossible to travel out of the region to visit your favourite restaurant elsewhere. But what if your favourite restaurant could come to you – or you could visit somewhere new from the comfort of your own home? We’ve profiled our favourite restaurant meal kits from the Manchester area here – and you’ll find options from around the UK below. A few we didn’t have space to profile include Simon Rogan at Home, which sees the Lake District’s iconic chef serving up a 2 Michelin star meal for one at £45. This is around the same price it costs to eat at lunchtime at his famously lovely restaurant L’Enclume in Cartmel – only without the temptation (and cost) of the excellent wine list. We also like the sound of Santo Remedio, a London-based Mexican restaurant, offering nationwide delivery and Yotam Ottolenghi’s meal kits. Meanwhile, Rockfish, the South Western restaurant group owned by Mitch Tonks (Hawksmoor’s fish consultant) is offering a ‘straight off the boat’ fish box for £95 which comes with a suggested menu. Enjoy!
Liverpool’s much loved Middle Eastern restaurant group, Maray keeps promising to open in Manchester. We don’t know when (or where) yet (drop us a line if you know), so why not enjoy Maray in meal kit form for now? Their next drop is Friday 18 December which sees a £45 menu for two serving up EITHER lamb kofta OR aubergine shawarma plus pepper cashews, whipped goat’s cheese with pickled grapes and breadsticks (or their incredible muhammara for vegan option), hummus and flatbreads, pickles, falafels, tabbouleh, fattoush and a lemon and lime posset with candied pistachios (or chocolate tart for vegans). See you in the kitchen.
Love curry? Indulge your passion with Michelin star Indian chef, Aktar Islam of Birmingham’s Michelin star Opheem. The curry box (prices £70-85) offers 10 traditional dishes, which need almost no prep. Delivery is available Thursday and Fridays.
Rick Stein is famous for his Cornish seafood restaurants and he’s created a collection of cook at home kits starting at £40 for two which are a fabulous way to take a trip to the seaside without actually leaving home. We were lucky enough to try the Indonesian seafood curry box (£55 for two), which includes a host of fresh seafood in the shape of mussels (for Moules Mariniere), seabass, cod and prawns (for the curry). Dessert is a tremendously rich Passionfruit Eton Mess composed of a whole pot of double cream, lashings of vanilla sugar and two fresh passion fruits. It’s extremely easy to cook, and feels like a holiday at home.
Michelin star-winning chef, Angela Hartnett MBE is a regular judge on Great British Menu and a protege of Gordon Ramsey. She’s connected with a number of restaurants around the world, but Michelin-starred Murano in London’s Mayfair is her homage to her Italian heritage. Since the restaurant opened in 2008, she’s opened two restaurants in London under the more casual Café Murano brand, both serving upmarket and comforting Italian food which, thanks to meal kits, you can now try from home in Manchester. A four course Café Murano meal box is £70 (serving 2 people) and includes a selection of cichetti (small plates) such as focaccia and buffalo mozzarella with a lentil and walnut vinaigrette, a main of braised ox cheek with parmesan polenta and a dessert of Scotti chocolate caprese and crème fraiche.
- Words:
- Ruth Allan
- Published on:
- Thu 21 Jan 2021
Traditional US BBQ cooking had its big moment in the UK a couple of years back. However some love affairs are meant to last – and that’s me and Smokestak. I first tried their delectable brisket at a festival in London called Meatopia and the memory of this fabulous meal has stayed with me, creating a happy place in my mind ever since. The webshop includes whole and half treacle cured gammons, stick toffee puddings, whole sides of brisket and more. The obvious order, however, is the Brisket Bun box, which generously serves 4 for £35.