Life in lockdown has a been a great way to discover fantastic small businesses delivering food and wine in my area and beyond. Here are some I would high recommend.
(All these deliveries were kindly gifted to me but there was no expectation for content)
1. Chrissy’s Kitchen
Once a female-led bespoke catering company founded by Chrissy, Chrissy’s Kitchen is now thriving on a new business by creating picnic hampers to give you a night off cooking whilst in lockdown. Growing up in a Swedish / Greek family, Chrissy was always passionate about food and after qualifying as a chef at world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, she set up her own business catering events large and small.
With the event catering paused, she is creating picnic hampers in order to diversify her business. Chrissy hand-delivered us a beautiful picnic package including sausage rolls, spiced nuts, Greek salad , cous cous salad, incredible caramel tarts and rosé wine. My favourite thing was a little package for Oscar with his own sausage rolls. He loved them so much, he actually said yum!
It was a little chilly when we went for our picnic but that didn’t stop us having fun.
2. Dukeshill
I was contacted by Dukeshill for a Zoom cheese and wine tasting, taking place on National Cheese Day. Yes, you read that correctly, this is a thing! Mr S and I had a fantastic night noshing on cheese and sipping wine under the instruction of Neale and his daughter Laura (and Doris the Labradoodle) the family behind Dukeshill.
Dukeshill actually started life as a cured meat company but now sell complimentary products. Wine and cheese of course but also pantry items, sweet treats and fish. They can delivery all over the UK though some locations may have increased delivery charges.
3. Eat With Ama’s Kitchen
Eat with Ama’s Kitchen is run by Ama, a fellow Mama who realised running her pop-up shops wasn’t realistic once she had her daughter so she came up with idea of delivering freshly cooked hearty meals giving restaurant quality food in the home. Ama delivers individual meals and family hampers but she got in touch with me to try her date night box.
I loved the idea as even without lockdown, Mr S and I have struggled to have a date night. We got all dressed up for our special evening and ate our gorgeous three course meal on our balcony. Our classic fish date night box came with negroni cocktails, salmon puff, prawn pasta and chocolate brownies for dessert! The dinner involved a little very minimal preparation from me and it was such a treat to experience.
4. Wine Trust
Another company introduced to me via a Zoom wine tasting was Wine Trust who kindly sent me six bottles to sample as part of a tasting with Master of Wine Alistair Cooper.
Wine Trust is a company that is passionate about both quality and value and their experts source wine for all over the world. Check their website for a curated selection available for delivery in mainland UK and abroad at bespoke rates.
5. Wine List
Wine List is a different kind of wine delivery service to the ones mentioned above as it’s more focussed on learning and discovering new wines. The idea is every month you’ll be sent a box with information to help you learn more about the key concepts of the wine. The box will include two wines which aren’t readily available in the UK to taste and find out more about. The box also includes interactive tasting notes which are a really fun lockdown activity.
6. Bad Brownie
Bad Brownie was started by Paz (a university friend of mine!) and Morag from a flat in Richmond and has gone on to be the most well-known Brownie company in the UK. The delicious brownies are sold in multiple London markets now and reached higher levels of fame after appearing on Dragon’s Den and securing investment from Touker Suleyman.
The team behind the UK’s best brownie’s didn’t let the Covid-19 crisis phase them and have continued delivering throughout the UK. They kindly sent me a box of their bestsellers including salted caramel, triple chocolate, peanut butter and Ferrero Rocher.
7. Little Tummy
With all these great food deliveries for grown ups, I found myself wishing there were baby deliveries too… enter Little Tummy to solve my problems! Little Tummy was started by two mums, Sophie (also a paediatrician) and Nadine to help make a mum’s hectic day easier. They offer a selection of baby meals which use cold-pressed fresh ingredients which are both highly nutritional and ethically made. So far we’ve tried the chickpea, cauliflower and kale and also the blueberry yogurt and quinoa.
We do baby-led weaning but the consistency of these purees still worked for us as they stuck to the spoon so Oscar could still self-feed.
8. Daisy Green Collection / Radio Lamington
Daisy Green Collection have launched Radio Lamington, an online business for ordering the Aussie / Kiwi- originated cakes. The team baked 30,000 Lamingtons for NHS workers and now boxes are available for order.
There’s the classic chocolate covered in coconut, Red Velvet, Salted Caramel and even a Rainbow Lamington for the NHS! For every box purchased, a box is sent to the NHS as well!
9. The Sea, The Sea
The Sea, The Sea is a gorgeous little fish shop and seafood bar on Pavillion Road in Chelsea. To keep going during lockdown they’re delivering ready to cook meals and takeaway.
They sent me a gorgeous selection of ‘finish at home’ seafood as well as a box of sashimi. The menu changes daily but I enjoy chilli prawn and miso cod, plus it was super easy to make!
10. Dishoom
Dishoom, one of the UK’s favourite Indian restaurant has introduced their first every cookery kit. All the necessary fresh ingredients are ‘dishoomed’ to your door in order to make their famous Naan bacon roll and Chai tea.
I expected my attempt to be terrible but honestly they’re pretty fool proof and totally delicious!
11. Corbin & King Home Dining
Iconic restaurant group Corbin & King are offering a twist on takeaway, with finish at home ‘ready meals’ featuring some of their customer’s favourite dishes. There’s Wiener Schnitzel from the Wolseley, fish pie from Manzi’s and duck confit from Colbert. And then there’s dessert too… I recommend Brasserie Zedel’s chocolate mousse and the fruit crumble from the Wolseley. Also available on order, a full list of side dishes and wine.
All profits go towards the staff to help top up their wages until the restaurants are back on full capacity.
12. Jamavar
Fine dining North Indian restaurant, Jamavar now have an order online option! Taking inspiration from the joy of togetherness and feasting at home, you can order a la carte or opt for a celebration menu.
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