A slap up Christmas dinner is one of the highlights of the day on December 25th, but for those tasked with cooking the festive feast, it can be an enormous amount of stress.
So, could some pre-delivered food from top restaurants help the hassle melt away?
After lockdown sparked the rise of restaurant meal kits, a huge number of eateries and food companies are continuing the trend with Christmas dinner in a box, designed to involve minimal food prep or complicated cooking.
Designed with even the most clueless cooks in mind, some kits, such as the one offered by One Fine Dine, require no prep at all and simply need to be put in the oven.
Others, such as the meat-heavy offering from Black Farmer’s Christmas selection will take longer to cook but claim to be oven-ready, meaning all the stress is taken away on Christmas day.
Other kits are less traditional, and more luxurious, including Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana who are offering a leg of lamb or a Chinses feast from Liverpool’s Lu Ban.
So which are Yuletide saviours and which are festive flops, FEMAIL tried out 21 kits costing from £5 per person to find the best…
1. Black Farmer: Traditional Christmas Box
Cost: £120
Serves: 8 -10
Cooking time: 1.5 hours
Femail’s Jessica Green tried Black Farmer: Traditional Christmas Box which comes with a whopping 6kg (13lbs) of meat
Jessica said: ‘What a meat feast! This box contained every type of meat you could possibly desire for your Christmas dinner; you had your traditional turkey, beef, pigs in blankets, gammon and stuffing.’
WHAT IS IT: Complete with a 2.5kg Turkey crown and a 1kg corner cut topside, pork sausage meat and a 2kg boneless gammon, all your meat bases are covered.
It also contains a pack of pork chipolatas and some streaky bacon to really impress your family.
What’s included in the Black Farmer: Traditional Christmas Box? 2.5kg Turkey crownUnsmoked Gammon Joint 2kg Topside 1kgPremium Pork Chipolatas Gluten Free 10-pack 340gSausage Meat (GF) 400gSage & Onion Stuffing Balls (12 per Pack) 360gCheddar and Caramelised Onion Chutney Crisps 100gGF Mince PieSea Salt Caramel Truffles – Box of 12 (250g)
No Christmas dinner would be complete without stuffing balls with delicious and fragrant sage, onion and pork stuffing included.
If you’re peckish later in the day after the feast, why not have a Christmas classic, mince pie, or nibble on a few cheddar and onion crisps?
For a sweet treat, taste the rich and indulgent truffles.
It comes without veggie trimmings like carrots and potatoes.
FEMAIL’s Jessica Green gave it a try.
JESSICA SAID : What a meat feast! This box contained every type of meat you could possibly desire for your Christmas dinner; you had your traditional turkey, beef, pigs in blankets, gammon and stuffing.
The items were all packaged very securely and appeared fresh, arriving cold and ready to be added straight to my fridge.
After figuring out how long I should cook each meat for (thanks, Google), I added the different products to my preheated oven and they came out looking mouth-watering.
The beef was melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous, with not a speck of pesky fat encountered or tough chewiness, while the gammon wasn’t too salty and very easy to cut and enjoy.
My knife effortlessly cut through everything, from the moist turkey to the flavoursome pig in blankets.
Meanwhile, the stuffing balls were even meatier, if possible. And while, admittedly, the box lacks any of the potatoes or vegetables needed for a Christmas dinner, it did boast fabulous treats from mince pies to chocolate and crisps.
So all in all, if you’re happy to add fresh veg and spuds to your shopping list before the big day while getting this butcher’s delight delivered straight to your door, then this would be the perfect box for you.
2. One Fine Dine Yuletide Menu, Silver Package
Cost: £90
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 20 minutes
The go-to brand for those wanting exquisite dining in the comfort of their own home, One Fine Dine has seen huge success since its launch in March 2020. An at-home delivery service like no other (One Fine Dine led the way with their truly brilliant Heat, Plate, and Serve set-up), the company prides itself on serving the very finest food and drink to homes and businesses Nationwide. This beautiful luxury meal came packaged in individually labelled trays originally designed to be served to celebrities and state heads in private jets
FEMAIL’s Jessica Rach said: ‘This beautiful luxury meal came packaged in individually labelled trays originally designed to be served to celebrities and state heads in private jets
WHAT IS IT: The go-to brand for those wanting exquisite dining in the comfort of their own home, One Fine Dine has seen huge success since its launch in March 2020.
What’s included in the One Fine Dine Silver Package?
Three Courses from the Christmas menu / Petit Fours / Canapés / Bottle of wine
Starters
Smoked brown trout rillette – Dill oil – Pickled kohlrabi – Pink grapefruit – Tapioca crisp Or Roulade of confit duck & foie gras – Tarragon emulsion – Pickled shiimiji – Candied mustard seed – Red vein sorrel Or Compressed trio of melon – Chardonnay confit cherry tomatoes – Cucumber ketchup – Marinated barrel aged feta
Mains
Individual Denham vale beef wellington – Black truffle & thyme jus Or Turkey paupiette wrapped in streaky bacon & stuffed with chestnut & sage stuffing – Cranberry sauce & Rosemary jus Or Steamed fillet of Cornish Sea bass – saffron & noily prat velouté Or Traditional nut roast – butternut squash pureé – parsnip crisps (vegan)
All accompanied by
Cider braised red cabbage, Chantenay carrots, sautéed Brussel sprouts, goose fat roasted potatoes (non-goose fat for the vegans)
Desserts
Dark Chocolate gâteaux – Clementine gel – Cocoa tuille Or Christmas Mess – Spiced apple & pear compote – Mulled wine jelly – Blackberries – Gingerbread meringue, Crème Chantilly Or Deconstructed Vanilla & Marzipan Cheesecake – Sweet Cranberries – Amaretti biscuit crumb
With the launch of its festive menu (with Gold, Silver, and Bronze packages starting from £65 per head), including traditional, Turkey, Nut Roast, and Beef Wellington, all served with seasonal sides for the table, One Fine Dine promises to take all the stress out of shopping and cooking for the big day.
Each dishs needs no more than a quick 15-minute reheat, to allow the host optimal time to catch up with their nearest and dearest. Plating-up couldn’t be easier too, with everything colour-coded and arriving complete with instructions to ensure your dish looks like it came out of a Michelin Star kitchen!
FEMAIL’s Jessica Rach tried the ‘silver’ package
JESSICA SAID: This beautiful luxury meal came packaged in individually labelled trays originally designed to be served to celebrities and state heads in private jets.
Set with clear instructions and a posh menu with photos, it was sectioned into starters, mains and dessert, the generous portions were pre-cooked – meaning there was no preparation time at all. The only time spent, around five minutes, was following the steps to presenting the various courses as though you were in a five star restaurant.
The starter of Smoked brown trout rillette was looked and tasted outstanding with easy presentation instructions, and the canapes tasted as though they were from a Michelin star restaurant– flavoursome and delicious. The portion was really generous and could have probably fed two – you could easily go for the cheaper £65 per person option without the canapés.
The main, beef wellington with vegetables and black truffle & thyme jus took just 20 minutes to cook in the oven, and was very tasty – if a little heavy. Again, one portion could probably feed two people.
Finally the Christmas Mess with Spiced apple & pear compote, Mulled wine jelly, Blackberries, Gingerbread meringue and Crème Chantilly was presented in recyclable little boxes which took minutes to whip into an impressive dish – which you could easily pass as being presented by a top chef. It tasted absolutely heavenly and was definitely a treat. Despite the hefty price tag, it was well worth it – especially if you went for the bronze option. If you want to treat yourself to a top notch Christmas dinner fit for the Ritz, look no further – minimal fuss, preparation and clean up and a feast for both the eyes and the stomach.
3. Lu Ban Kitchen Christmas banquet
Cost: £90
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 30 minutes
A popular Chinese restaurant in Liverpool’s Lu Ban Kitchen is sharing its premium cuisine with the rest of the country. FEMAIL’s Siofra Brennan tried it out – left the dishes as sent, right: the dishes served
Roast Duck also came with the meal which Siofra gave five stars too
The dishes are frozen fresh which means they are likely to arrive still frozen and just need to be heated up at home
The dessert is Salted Egg Custard Bao – 6 steamed bao with salted egg custard filling. The delicious Chinese buns with their sweet and salty filling make the perfect dessert.
WHAT IS IT: A Christmas banquet to enjoy at home – each dish serves 2 people, although this banquet box will be suitable for 4 people to share.
A popular Chinese restaurant in Liverpool’s Lu Ban Kitchen is sharing its premium cuisine with the rest of the country.
The dishes are frozen fresh which means they are likely to arrive still frozen and just need to be heated up at home.
FEMAIL’S Siofra Brennan tried the dishes…
What’s included in the Lu Ban Christmas feast?
Siu Mai – 10 dumplings with red dragon dipping sauce and dumpling sauce.
Yin and Yang Hot and Sour Soup – hot and sour baby vegetable soup with a zing to warm your taste buds.
Roast Duck & Pancakes – 2 duck legs with orange, plum and hoi sin sauce and pancakes.
Jiang Beef – slow braised feather blade of beef in an aromatic Jiang sauce.
Jasmine Smoked Pork Baby Ribs – smoky, meaty and sweet ribs with garlic, ginger and sesame.
Lu Ban Noodles – noodles with seasoning to add the authentic flavours of China.
Salted Egg Custard Bao – 6 steamed bao with salted egg custard filling. The delicious Chinese buns with their sweet and salty filling make the perfect dessert.
SIOFRA SAID: The first thing that struck me about this festive feast from Lu Ban was that is all seemed pretty easy to prepare with no actual ‘real’ cooking involved. The most complicated thing you need to do is put some dumplings in a steamer, so this was a great option for when you have friends over and you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen.
Instructions were super easy to follow, it really was just a case of heating it all up. We started with Roast Duck & Pancakes – two duck legs with orange, plum and hoi sin sauce and pancakes – and 10 pork sui mai with red dragon dipping sauce and dumpling sauce. The duck was super tender and just slid off the bone – I’d recommend finishing it off under the grill if you want to try to get the skin nice and crispy. Because the dumplings were still thawing out when they arrived, they took a bit longer than the recommended 10 minutes, so I’d factor that in, or make sure everything is fully defrosted before you get cooking.
On to the main course, the Yin and Yang Hot and Sour Soup with baby vegetables was a surprise hit and was a real star attraction with my guests – so deliciously warming and tangy, we could have easily polished off litres of it.
Slow braised feather blade of beef in an aromatic Jiang sauce just melted in the mouth, as did the jasmine-smoked ribs with garlic, ginger and sesame. All the meat was such top notch quality, tender and delicious, it felt like you were experiencing a really high-end quality meal in your own home.
We finished off with salted egg custard buns, which were as tasty as they were attractive on the plate thanks to the charcoal dough and gold topping.
Overall, I could not fault this kit for how easy it was to use and the quality of the food. Every element was delicious and it would make me really keen to go and visit the restaurant to taste more of their dishes. Each dish serves two but naturally everyone wants to try a bit of everything, so you might be feeling slightly cheated if you were keen on the ribs and beef – although there was definitely loads of duck and dumplings to go round.
For £22.50 a head for three courses, it’s a really good price too. It’s not especially festive as such, but I think anyone ordering it is going to know that from the menu, so it’s not a criticism. Best of all it is so genuinely easy to put together without any compromise on quality.
4. Hello Fresh Christmas Box
Cost: £84.99
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 4 hours (with prep)
FEMAIL’s Jessica Green gave the Hello Fresh Christmas Box a try – complete with turkey and all the trimmings
For £84.99 the Hello Fresh Chrsitmas box includes Butter Basted Turkey with Rosemary Traditional Pigs in Blankets Perfect Fluffy Roasties Sprout Gratin with a Crunchy Hazelnut Crumb Honey & Thyme Root Veg Pork & Cranberry Stuffing Slow Braised Red Cabbage Buttery Sautéed Peas Festive Gravy
WHAT IS IT: HelloFresh has launched a fuss-free Christmas Box for upto 10 guests, so customers can spend more time having the best Christmas yet with their nearest and dearest!
Designed to take the drama out of Christmas dinner, the Christmas Box contains all the quality ingredients required to cook a delicious yuletide meal, featuring Butter Basted Turkey with Rosemary and all the trimmings, conveniently pre-portioned and delivered straight to your door to avoid supermarket stress.
The accompanying step-by-step recipe card is easy to follow and features photography of festive favourites, like Fluffy Rosemary Roast Potatoes & Sprout Gratin with Crunchy Hazelnut Crumb, to help guide you through – there’s even a useful timing plan to ensure your turkey comes out perfectly!
To make up for last year, push the boat out this Christmas and turn your dinner into a three-course experience by adding cheese, chutney and dessert. With HelloFresh’s Christmas Box, all you have to do is hang up your stockings, cosy up with the family and let HelloFresh handle the hard work.
FEMAIL’s Jessica Green gave it a try
JESSICA SAYS: To say I’m a novice when it comes to cooking a Christmas dinner – or any roast for that matter – would be a bit of an understatement.
So, I couldn’t wait to try Hello Fresh’s offering, having been a customer of theirs before and a big fan of their clear and precise recipes.
What’s in the Hello Fresh Christmas box? Butter Basted Turkey with RosemaryTraditional Pigs in BlanketsPerfect Fluffy RoastiesSprout Gratin with a Crunchy Hazelnut CrumbHoney & Thyme Root VegPork & Cranberry StuffingSlow Braised Red CabbageButtery Sautéed PeasFestive Gravy
And thankfully if anything, the instructions for their festive meal were even more detailed than their usual recipe cards, with a whole booklet dedicated to helping you prepare and cook the dishes step-by-step.
After reading the information, I felt extremely prepared to make my first Christmas dinner and was equally delighted with the produce Hello Fresh had sent along to be cooked.
All seemed fresh and the portions were generous and I didn’t feel like anything was missing – you had your pigs in blankets, stuffing, parsnips, sprouts, red cabbage, carrots and roasties.
And of course, a huge turkey crown was included along with details on how to baste it with a lovely lemon and herb sauce.
Thanks to the instructions, I knew exactly how long to cook everything and all the ingredients were used – meaning no waste at all (another highlight of this product).
My loved ones gave me rave reviews after trying my roast, with the flavours boasting typical Christmas tastes.
Overall, this was probably one of the easiest successful meals I’ve ever created despite always having been told a Christmas roast will be the hardest.
If you’re looking for a standout meal on the 25th December, without the stress of shopping and having to find different recipes, then this would be a great addition to your big day. But make sure you have plenty of time to dedicate to the making of it, as it takes more than four hours.
5. Riverford Seasonal Organic Veg Box
Serves: 4
Cost: £18.35
Cooking time: 0
FEMAIL’S Harriet Johnston tried out the Riverford Seasonal Organic Veg Box
What’s in the Riverford Seasonal Organic Veg Box?
Potatoes, carrots, onion, and seasonal treats
WHAT IS IT: Brilliant for families and kee cooks, this medium box is bursting with 6 varieties of veg and three types of organic fruit. You’ll get potatoes every week, plus carrots or onions, alongside seasonal treats like crisp sugar snap peas and tangy rhubarb. The selection changes every week to bring you the best of the season.
FEMAIL’S Harriet Johnston gave it a try
HARRIET SAID: Riverford’s seasonal organic vegetable box was a festive treat! The large box was packed full of a huge variety of vegetables which has meant we’ve been eating from it for weeks now. Ours included some of the usual veg like carrots and potatoes, but was also packed with celeriac, cabbage, butternut squash and leeks.
6. Burger & Lobster Whole Lobster Kit
Cost: £42
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 15 minutes
WHAT IS IT: Experience lobster at home – either steamed or grilled – for the ultimate seafood feast from the wild Atlantic oceans.
The whole lobster kit comes with Lemon & Garlic butter to dip, pour or smother all over. To get into your delicious lobster, we recommend using a lobster cracker and pick set.
Experience lobster at home – either steamed or grilled – for the ultimate seafood feast from the wild Atlantic oceans. The whole lobster kit comes with Lemon & Garlic butter to dip, pour or smother all over. To get into your delicious lobster, we recommend using a lobster cracker and pick set.
What’s in the Burger & Lobster kit?
1 Whole lobster
Lemon & Garlic butter
HARRIET SAID: The Burger and Lobster Whole Lobster feels like a rather indulgent Christmas lunch – and at £42, it’s absolutely worth every cent.
The surf and turf specialists deliver the whole fresh Nova Scotia lobster straight to your door, with crackers and a pick set to help you dine out in style.
The instructions for cooking the lobster are clear and well laid out, with options including grilling or steaming – and there are even beautifully illustrated instructions on how to get the most out of the meat.
The gorgeously luxurious butter to go alongside it was more than enough for two.
We ate ours for a very boujee Saturday lunch and it was gorgeous.
The only reason it wouldn’t get a 5/5 for me was because it didn’t come with serving suggestions.
The box includes the lobster, sauce and equipment for eating, but no ideas on what it could be served with for a meal – and it’s not enough on it’s own to fill you up. –
7. Cote at Home: Festive Dining Box
Cost: £84.95 – £89.90
Serves: 4-6
Cooking time: 1.5 hours
WHAT IS IT: Jessica Green tried out the Cote at Home Festive box, the perfect festive offering for foodies that deserve a bit of a break and a touch of luxury this December.
The Festive Dining Box is a complete Christmas main meal for six. The box includes a 2.5kg turkey breast with chestnut & cranberry stuffing, ready to bake in the oven and serve with the accompanying traditional trimmings such as pigs in blankets and braised red cabbage, as well as roast potatoes.
Jessica Green tried out the Cote at Home Festive box , the perfect festive offering for foodies that deserve a bit of a break and a touch of luxury this December.
The Festive Dining Box is a complete Christmas main meal for six. The box includes a 2.5kg turkey breast with chestnut & cranberry stuffing, ready to bake in the oven and serve with the accompanying traditional trimmings such as pigs in blankets and braised red cabbage, as well as roast potatoes.
JESSICA SAYS: This was a meal I’d be proud to serve guests if I were to host a big festive get together.
The turkey was moist enough, the skin suitably bronzed and there was enough of it to leave our family of four waving a white flag and making up plates of leftovers for the next day.
What’s included in the Cote Christmas box?Turkey roulade with chestnut & cranberry stuffing (Approx 2.5kg raw meat)Braised spiced red cabbageRoasted spiced butternut squash & baby carrots with walnutsBruxelles sprouts with bacon crumbPigs in blankets – Mini smoked Toulouse sausages in blankets.Roast potatoes with goose fatRed wine jusCranberry sauce
The supporting cast of veggies included braised spiced red cabbage, roasted spiced butternut squash and baby carrots with walnuts, as well as brussels sprouts with bacon crumb.
And let’s not forget the scrumptious pigs and blankets and tasty roast potatoes in goose fat. The best part? It was all ready with minimal effort needed.
There were very clear instructions on each item of food, all the ingredients had good use by dates and seemed very fresh. Even the gravy and cranberry were just as tasty as the main events – which is what you hope for when you’re paying £84.95 for the box.
Disappointments? It’s not the kind of meal I like to enjoy on December 25th – preferring more home comforts such as parsnips, stuffing balls and brussels sprouts without the salty bacon crumb.
Generally though, pretty delicious, with a reasonable price tag when encountering such high quality ingredients.
8. Field and Flower Christmas Festive Set Boxes
Price: £90 (Now sold out)
Serves: 4-5
Cooking time: 1 hour
WHAT IS IT: Jo Tweedy cooked up a festive feast from West Country-based ethical food company Field and Flower, which sources its food from local farmers and fisherman.
During the height of lockdown, when increase for home deliveries of organic produce soared, the company’s customer base leapt by 3,013 per cent compared to the previous year.
Jo Tweedy cooked up a festive feast from West Country-based ethical food company Field and Flower, which sources its food from local farmers and fisherman.
Jo said: Our showpiece was the grass-fed beef, a 1kg of rib roast, boned and rolled to be precise, with other meaty accompaniments including pigs in blankets, unsmoked back bacon and a free-range pork, chestnut and pancetta stuffing.
JO SAID: A compact-looking recyclable box arrived at the scheduled time – with everything you’d need to make December 25th sing safely wrapped up inside a foil bag for freshness.
Our showpiece was the grass-fed beef, a 1kg of rib roast, boned and rolled to be precise, with other meaty accompaniments including pigs in blankets, unsmoked back bacon and a free-range pork, chestnut and pancetta stuffing.
What’s in the field & flower Christmas box?
1x Scottish Smoked Salmon (200g)
1x Barber’s Black Wax Cheese (400g)
1x Truffle Bomb (200g)
1x Somerset Charcuterie Selection
1x Pack of MOR Rye & Buttermilk Snap Crackers (115g)
1x 9 Mini Tracklements Jar Gift Pack
1x Mini Ham, Honey & Clove (1kg)
For starters, there was Scottish smoked salmon, then a Barber’s Black Wax Cheese, a Cornish Blue cheese and a Christmas chutney for our meal’s final course. Although the company doesn’t do veg, there was duck fat to ensure our roast potatoes were more indulgent than usual.
The smoked salmon was delicious, smoky but light, with every generation quickly finishing their appetiser plates. Cooking beef to perfection doesn’t always go as smoothly as I’d like – and there was an absence of instructions with this cut, which made me jittery.
I followed a Jamie Oliver recipe though, and an hour later…the beef emerged from the oven medium-rare – and looking delicious. It was tender, and the juices ramped up my ordinary gravy into something super tasty too. We loved the pigs in blanket and the stuffing, the latter having a nutty texture with the pancetta adding buckets of flavour – although it did feel slightly odd eating it with a rib roast.
We couldn’t find a spot for the back bacon, so had delicious sandwiches the next morning to continue our foodie weekend. The cheeses? The Cornish Blue had a harder texture than we expected but packed a punch taste-wise, and was especially delicious with the spicy Christmas chutney, as was the light, crumbly Barber’s cheddar.
All in all, this felt like a really great value Christmas food bundle, everything was superb quality and we could have fed at least a couple of other people with what we had. (Better instructions though please!)
9. You Be Chef Christmas meal
Price: £66 (kits start at £50)
Serves: 2 (but could serve four)
Cooking time: 30 minutes
WHAT IS IT: Born out of a desire to raise the bar for shared mealtimes with friends and family, Michelin Star chef Robert Thompson has created a premium take on the ‘Makeaway’ meal kit trend, providing foodies with the inspiration and knowledge required to achieve moments of luxury in their own homes, whilst also putting the fight against food waste at the heart of the culinary experience.
Featuring weekly-changing menus, which can be ordered up to four weeks in advance to bring dishes bursting with in-season, quality ingredients to your doorstep, You Be Chef is a novel way to create restaurant quality food at home, all made with sustainably sourced produce from the Isle of Wight. Furthermore, with reducing food waste a key focus for the brand, the weekly menu model means the company only cooks exactly what is needed for each week, so nothing is wasted.
FEMAIL’s Bridie Pearson-Jones tried out their weekly meal kit with, bread, linguine, lamb, panna cotta and a cheese board.
FEMAIL’s Bridie Pearson-Jones tried out their weekly meal kit with, bread, linguine, lamb, panna cotta and a cheese board.
It comes ready to cook with meals easily packaged – you just need to heat them up at home
Bridie enjoyed the first course of King Oyster Mushroom ‘Carbonara’, Spinach linguine, garlic cream & cured egg yollk but said the portion was huge for a starter
Bridie added the lamb main with aubergine was ‘melt in the mouth’ good and very tender
Bridie said: ‘I love masala chai so was excited to check this out. I appreciate the mix of sweet and savoury, the cardamom flavour really came through, and the tropical fruit salad was tasty too – but was perhaps a bit too much (plus it came in glass bowls which you can keep).’
BRIDIE SAID: Wow, what a feast! This was a lot a lot of food. I think any one of these course individually would be what I’d usually have in a meal.
To start we had a lovely freshly baked sourdough with a sage butter that was well-packaged and swirled. It looked great on the table (it was bright green!) and was gorgeous with subtle creamy flavour.
What’s in the You Be Chef meal?
Changes weekly, FEMAIL tried..
Sage & Pumpkin Sourdough with Whipped Sage Butter King Oyster Mushroom ‘Carbonara’ (V) Spinach linguine, garlic cream & cured egg yolkBarbecued Rump of LambAubergine – Braised in Marsala, chargrilled and confit, braised lentils and black olive tapenadeChai Tea Panna Cotta Alphonso mango, tropical fruit salad and black cardamom meringueTasting of cheeses – Perfectly Matured. Malted crackers, house chutney and quince jelly (can be added as an extra course)
The bread was freshly baked and divine . It feels like a real luxury to have a bread course and it was a nice pre-starter – but I think if I’d realised how much food was to come I’d have saved it for later.
Next up was the King Oyster Mushroom ‘Carbonara’ with Spinach linguine, garlic cream & cured egg yolk. It again was a real treat to look at and very easy to cook.
In fact, there was no real cooking required, I just had to heat it up in a pan, and chuck in the sauce.
I adore garlic so I think the sauce could have a a bit of a stronger flavour, it lacked the complexity you usually get in a carbonara as it was without bacon. But the cure egg yolk offered a real umani and nice deep flavour profile – I just wish there was m ore of it.
As delicious as it was, the portion was huge! It was more than I’d usually have for a main course – not to mention there’s a whole lamb course coming.
The lamb was very easy to cook – they were also able to source halal lamb for me, which I really appreciated.
The rumps didn’t look too big, but when I was eating it felt like it. It was super tender and melted in my mouth, a real nice smokey taste.
Feeling with I was about to explode, I left a little gap before trying the chai tea panna cotta.
I love masala chai so was excited to check this out. I appreciate the mix of sweet and savoury, the cardamom flavour really came through, and the tropical fruit salad was tasty too – but was perhaps a bit too much (plus it came in glass bowls which you can keep).
If somehow you can handle a fifth course – the cheese was great, it comes out a cardboard board for serving.
All in all delicious!
10. Gousto Pistachio & Cranberry Nut Roast
Cost: £24.99
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 60 minutes
FEMAIL’S Bridie Pearson-Jones tried it out Gousto Pistachio & Cranberry Nut Roast with surprising results
What’s in the Gousto Pistachio & Cranberry Nut Roast? 15ml Henderson’s Relish1 tsp dried sage 360g Christmas vegetable pack 25g pistachio nuts 30g dried cranberries 100g parsnips 1 can of green lentils (400g) 150g portobello mushrooms60g panko breadcrumbs 1 brown onion30ml soy sauce 4 white potatoes
WHAT IS IT: Everything you need to create the perfect veggie Christmas dinner! You’ll make our fruity take on a nut roast using flavoursome mushrooms, studded with pistachios & cranberries. Serve with all the trimmings including crispy roast potatoes, Chantenay carrots & parsnips. Merry Christmas!
FEMAIL’S Bridie Pearson-Jones tried it out..
BRIDIE SAID: A lot of vegetarian Christmases can be sad – and I have to admit generally I’m not the biggest fans of nut roasts.
They can be dry and tasteless, and with the vegan and vegetarian market absolutely exploding in the last few years, I thought there are very good alternatives to turkey out there.
But this Gousto pistachio and cranberry nut roast may have just won me over!
It was really quick and easy to make. Not quite throw it in the oven like some of the others but simple do it, just required some chopping up and mixing together before shoving it in the oven.
The veg were clearly high quality and had lots of flavour. I wouldn’t have minded some gravy though!
The nut roast itself was delicious. It actually tasted more like a stuffing than nut roasts I’ve had before (it did have a sage and onion base).
Again, it’s a very generous portion, it was meant to serve just two but was enough for three with lots spare. Would recommend!
11. Gymkhana Lamb Raan Feast from Restokit, the nationwide restaurant delivery service
Cost: £140
Serves: 4
Cooking time: 20 minutes
WHAT IS IT: Celebrate the festival of lights, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or just the weekend with Gymkhana’s brand new Lamb Raan Feast. Your chance to enjoy a Gymkhana classic at home, served just how They would in the restaurant. The Lamb Raan centrepiece even comes with Gold Leaf garnish.
FEMAIL’S Danny Hussain tried it out…
Celebrate the festival of lights, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or just the weekend with Gymkhana’s brand new Lamb Raan Feast. Your chance to enjoy a Gymkhana classic at home, served just how They would in the restaurant. The Lamb Raan centrepiece even comes with Gold Leaf garnish. Picturedi s the Makai Palak
The dish came with pilau rice (left) and dal (right) – which Danny said were both delicious
Kachumber salad topped with kebab masala spice was a delicious side dish to the raan
Danny said: ‘As for the lamb itself – it was really well cooked, perfectly spiced and very easy to cook. It was the most tender lamb I’ve ever tried. So tender that it literally fell off the bone as I took it out the pan. Luckily it landed on a plate and I narrowly avoided disaster.’
DANNY SAID: This is what I’d expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant.
High-quality, perfectly spiced, and so much food. I’d be happy to serve it as a fun alternative on Christmas day, new year or for another celebration.
We started with poppadums’ and mango chutney – which were probably the weakest part of the meal.
The instructions said they only needed to be cooked for 30 seconds – ours was more like 5 minutes. While they were nice and the mango chutney was spiced perfectly, fruity and fresh – it wasn’t anything special.
What’s in the Gymkhana Lamb Raan Feast?Papad with Mango ChutneySamosa ChaatLamb Raan (with gold leaf garnish)Makai PalakDal MaharaniKachumber SaladLacha ParathaPilau RiceGulab Jamun
That being said, the samosa chaat was out of this world good. An incredible array of flavours, crispy samosas with sweet yoghurt, pomegranate, spicy green chutney – I could eat this every day. An ideal combo.
On to the main event! The lamb raan (leg) with pilau rice, paratha (bread), kachumber salad, makai palak and dal maharani.
It was all very easy to prepare, the lamb is vac-packed and just needed heating up, and the curries, rice and bread just needed microwaving or heating on the hob.
That said – it can definitely take a bit of coordination to get all the timings right.
Unless you have a lot of hob (or microwave space) it can be a bit tricky to get them all hot at the same time (especially with the lamb and lamb sauce taking up two hobs) – as there were two boxes of rice, two more of bread, one for the popadums and three for the curries.
The instruction booklet (which is beautifully printed) has instructions for each individual dish but doesn’t offer any guidance on when to cook them or what order, so it definitely takes some thinking.
As for the lamb itself – it was really well cooked, perfectly spiced and very easy to cook.
It was the most tender lamb I’ve ever tried. So tender that it literally fell off the bone as I took it out the pan. Luckily it landed on a plate and I narrowly avoided disaster.
Unfortunately this meant it didn’t look as pretty to serve – so I didn’t bother adding the gold garnish, which seemed quite fiddly and an unneeded extravagance.
The curries too were amazing, the daal was earthy with a wonderfully fulfilling taste, while Makai was full of green goodness – would recommend!
12. Bocca Di Lupo Christmas Meal Kit ‘Piemonte Cacciatore’
Price: £65
Cooking time: 60 minutes (with prep)
WHAT IS IT: During lockdown and beyond, Big Night brings some of the nation’s best restaurants into homes for unforgettable culinary experiences.
This Christmas Big Night offers meal kits from renowned restaurants and chefs, all with the wow factor, for an extra special celebration.
Jessica Rach tried a ‘Piemonte Cacciatore Bocca Di Lupo kit…
Jessica Rach tried the Bocca Di Lupo Christmas Meal Kit ‘Piemonte Cacciatore’ for £120
During lockdown and beyond, Big Night brings some of the nation’s best restaurants into homes for unforgettable culinary experiences. This Christmas Big Night offers meal kits from renowned restaurants and chefs, all with the wow factor, for an extra special celebration. Jessica Rach tried a ‘Piemonte Cacciatore Bocca Di Lupo kit…
Jessica says: The ingredients came with clear directions and charming Italian tributes and felt high quality and hand picked. They were organised into parcels sectioned by course, which was very user friendly.
Piemonte Cacciatore *Agnolotti del Plin (Femail were sent anchovies) *Partridge with Polenta and Bagna Cauda*Grappa Panna Cotta (Femail were sent Tiramisu)
JESSICA SAYS: I decided to go for my favourite cuisine Italian – and try a Mediterranean Christmas. I was sent the Bocca Di Lupo at home range – two partridges with polenta and bagna cauda, anchovies in parsley, bread, castel franco salad and homemade tiramisu.
The ingredients came with clear directions and charming Italian tributes and felt high quality and hand picked. They were organised into parcels sectioned by course, which was very user friendly.
We pan fried the partridges before placing them in the oven with the two sauces provided, and mixed the salad together before adding the parsley to the anchovies.
The prep took about 20 minutes and the three courses and sides were ready in about 40 minutes.
I was surprised by how minimal the stress was and how great the food looked – definitely Christmas worthy.
I haven’t had partridge before and am not an anchovy fan but the food – especially the butter soft salad leaves – was very good, and the tiramisu tasted straight from an Italian grandmother’s kitchen.
At £65 it’s on the pricey side, but if the food choice is to your taste and you don’t have a huge guest list it’s worth trying for a Christmas with a twist.
13. The Cookaway Beef Wellington Christmas Recipe Box
Price: £58
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 1 hour
WHAT IS IT: Build your own Christmas banquet with a choice of meat and vegetarian wellingtons, plus some luxurious side dishes. You’ll be fully equipped to create a feast fit for a king and celebrate the most special of occasions.
FEMAIL’s Chloe Morgan tried out the Beef Wellington kit…
Build your own Christmas banquet with a choice of meat and vegetarian wellingtons, plus some luxurious side dishes. You’ll be fully equipped to create a feast fit for a king and celebrate the most special of occasions. FEMAIL’s Chloe Morgan tried out the Beef Wellington kit…
CHLOE SAYS: ‘I am a very amateur cook so you can imagine my surprise when a huge box arrived filled with a LOT of different ingredients. Despite initially thinking I wouldn’t be capable of rustling up a beef wellington, two luxurious sides of creamed leek & spinach, and crispy smashed potatoes, plus a chocolate fondant & orange chantilly cream for dessert, the clear and concise instructions made everything a whole lot easier.
Pictured is the beef wellington perfectly wrapped up before being seved
Chloe said: ‘And, to my delight, the rich chocolate fondant had a gooey melt-in-the-middle when it was cut open. I was equally shocked and proud that I’d been able to create something which looked so restaurant-worthy!’
CHLOE SAYS: ‘I am a very amateur cook so you can imagine my surprise when a huge box arrived filled with a LOT of different ingredients.
Despite initially thinking I wouldn’t be capable of rustling up a beef wellington, two luxurious sides of creamed leek & spinach, and crispy smashed potatoes, plus a chocolate fondant & orange chantilly cream for dessert, the clear and concise instructions made everything a whole lot easier.
What’s included Beef WellingtonCreamed Leak & SpniachCrispy smashed ptoatesChocolate fondant with chantilly cream
The produce arrived sealed and appeared fresh while the ingredients seemed high quality and were clearly marked out (although this didn’t stop my partner mistaking the flour for icing sugar when it came to the chocolate fondant!)
The prep time for the beef wellington said 15 minutes and I knew before I’d even started it was bound to take a lot longer. It took me 15 minutes just to cut the mushrooms up for the mushroom duxelles – let alone roll the pastry out and sear the beef!
Apart from some misleading prep times (but maybe that’s because I’m not experienced?!) the beef was tender and melted in your mouth, with no fat to be seen. And, to my delight, the rich chocolate fondant had a gooey melt-in-the-middle when it was cut open. I was equally shocked and proud that I’d been able to create something which looked so restaurant-worthy!
The quantity of food for two was generous and I was left feeling stuffed but satisfied.
For me, it’s the perfect alternative Christmas banquet to those who find turkey too dry or boring.
Besides, if I can do it, anyone can…just make sure give yourself more time!
14. Rick Stein’s festive at-home menu
Cost: £120
Serves: 2
Cooking time: 20 minutes plus prep
WHAT IS IT: Rick Stein’s famed at-home boxes have been enjoyed by households up and down the nation this past year, from Cornwall to Carlisle, South-end-on-sea to Scotland. This festive season, Stein’s at Home will launch their exclusive Christmas feasting box, delivered with love, nationwide.
Treat yourself, or give a loved one, the gift of a prep-free, seafood feast this Christmas with Rick Stein’s festive at-home box.
Filled with three courses of Rick Stein classics, each box caters for two people, ideal for enjoying a relaxed Christmas meal without the usual hassle.
On the menu is the choice of Langoustines dressed with Pernod and tarragon, Seared tuna guacamole and Brill with truffle butter and buttery mashed potato. Dessert is a seasonal Christmas spiced custard tart with Cornish clotted cream.
On the menu is the choice of Langoustines dressed with Pernod and tarragon, Seared tuna guacamole and Brill with truffle butter and buttery mashed potato.
Bridie loved the tuna guacamole with spring onion, chilli and soy dressing
The dessert was a spiced custard tart which wasn’t at the level of the rest of the meal. There was zero preparation required and the spiced topping nice. But the texture of custard bland and laggy. It had a nice quality clotted cream.Decent, off the shelf, custard tart.
BRIDIE SAYS: This was delivered as advised and packaged well. The menu card a nice touch and made it feel very special.
I did have a pack of fresh coriander included, but this is not a requirement of the recipes, as stated on the card. I was also sent two limes which are not listed on the recipe card – assume these are substitute for the lemon in the brill recipe.
This requires a lot of cooking equipment, therefore a lot of washing up!
The starter was tuna guacamole, and it was a very generous portion and very easy and quick to prepare – no skill required.
I could tell the fish and veg were well sources as the ingredients were very high quality.
What’s in the box?
Tuna guacamole with spring onion, chilli and soy dressing
Langoustines with Pernod and tarragon
Brill with truffle butter and mashed potato
Spiced custard tart with Cornish clotted cream
I did need a sharp knife to cut the tuna, so worth keeping in mind.
The tuna had a balance of soy and ginger to tuna excellent taste – but there was too much guacamole – only needs a smear.
Next up was two langoustines – which requires some some seafood prep skills to make. The instructions aren’t clear which side to cut the langoustines – is it through shell or flesh?
You also need a sharp knife and confidence to cut the langoustines. Could have used all the parsley here, but some is required for the brill – instructions not clear on recipe card.
Once prepared, the cooking is very easy, simple to serve and very tasty.
Pernod sauce a pleasant enhancement. Fidelity to eat though and the herbs seemed irrelevant.
The main event was brill with truffle butter. The preparation was relatively straightforward for a sophisticated dish – and there was no skill required.
Recipe states fresh lemon, but not included in box -I think he two limes substitutes and I don’t think impacted taste.
Recipe didn’t state how much of the fresh parsley should be used, again a generous portion.
It had a really good taste, at the standard of a great restaurant. All in all tasty fresh fish. Nicely balanced sauce, but a little rich (as can happen with truffle!)
Microwave mash was ok, but a little stodgy – little disappointing. Alternative recipe suggestion is heating in pan and adding milk, which may be preferable, but would add to washing up.
Fresh parsley very nice accompaniment – the best course overall.
The dessert was a spiced custard tart which wasn’t at the level of the rest of the meal.
There was zero preparation required and the spiced topping nice. But the texture of custard bland and laggy. It had a nice quality clotted cream.Decent, off the shelf, custard tart.
Portion size 9/10 Quality of food 7.5/10 (let down by custard tart) Restaurant quality 7.5/10 (custard tart let down) Value for money 7/10.
15. Dart’s Farm Christmas Veggie Tuck In
Cost: £59
Serves: Up to four
Cooking time: 0
Everything you need for a proper ‘tuck-in’ festive feast, this hamper is full of the best seasonal produce from our local artisan food and drink producers. The perfect gift or a festive treat for you and your loved ones this Christmas!
What’s in the Dart’s Farm Christmas Veggie Tuck In? Vicky’s Bread Sourdough Bordelaise Loaf250g Olive Branch Anti PastiSeggiano GrissiniTracklements PiccalilliThe Little Herb Farm HoumousIsle of White Classic Vine Tomatoes200g Cornish Blue200g Sharpham Brie200g Cornish KernFour Elms Apple JuiceHeron Valley Mulling SpicesRyders Mince Pies
WHAT IS IT: Everything you need for a proper ‘tuck-in’ festive feast, this hamper is full of the best seasonal produce from our local artisan food and drink producers.
The perfect gift or a festive treat for you and your loved ones this Christmas!
BRIDIE SAYS: This made a gorgeous grazing board, with beautiful high-quality ingredients and would make a lovely present for guest to bring for anyone hosting Christmas.
But I don’t think it’s quite a replacement to a Christmas dinner!
All lovely produce, perhaps a little on the pricey side at £59 and would work if you fancy a ploughman’s Christmas.
It could work better as a grazing board on Christmas Eve or even on Christmas morning if you’re eating later in the day.
The Sourdough Bordelaise Loaf was delightful. The smell of freshly baked bread as you opened it really whet the appetite and made me want to try a bit of each spread and cheese.
The houmous was dangerously moreish – I wouldn’t trust myself to share this with my family without arguments!
Brie was my favourite of the three cheeses – and the Isle of Wight tomatoes were just the right balance of sweet and punchy – a great spread!
Olive Branch Anti Pasti was tasty too. Not too salty as olive-dishes can be.
All together a fab Christmastime spread – but a long way from turkey and the trimmings. It would be perfect if you don’t fancy the traditional meal or it’s just a couple of you eating and you don’t want the fuss or cooking.
16. Cote Festive Vegetarian Menu
Cost: £7.95 + extra for sides
Serves: 1
Cooking time: 40 minutes
WHAT IS IT: Vol au Vent filled with creamy Chanterelle mushrooms and saffron, served on a bed of courgettes, peas and broad beans.
FEMAIL’s Jessica Green tested it out..
Cote’s veggie menu includes a vol au Vent filled with creamy Chanterelle mushrooms and saffron, served on a bed of courgettes, peas and broad beans. FEMAIL’s Jessica Green tested it out..
All the ingredients were clearly labelled and well protected in mostly recyclable packaging, according to Jessica
What’s in the Cote Christmas menu? Vol au Vent filled with creamy Chanterelle mushrooms and saffronBraised red cabbageRoasted spiced butternut squash & baby carrots with walnuts, brussels sprouts with herbs and garlic,Roast potatoes with olive oilCheese gougères Mushroom sauce.
JESSICA SAYS : If a December 25th turkey doesn’t float your culinary boat, then Cote has a mushroom tart with chestnuts & grilled shallots to enjoy.
The main dish is teamed with braised spiced red cabbage, roasted spiced butternut squash & baby carrots with walnuts, brussels sprouts with herbs and garlic, roast potatoes with olive oil, cheese gougères and a mushroom sauce.
The brand box up and delivers all the elements for a festive feast; they arrive ready to be placed in your fridge before use.
All the ingredients were clearly labelled and well protected in mostly recyclable packaging. The instructions were easy to follow.
The vegetables and roasties were delicious, as my diners now expect from Cote At Home offerings.
However, the mushroom tart wasn’t to our tastes. It was very rich, almost overpowering when teamed with the other flavours.
17. Darts Farm Christmas Tuck In
Cost: £59
Serves: Up to four
Cooking time: 0
Everything you need for a proper ‘tuck-in’ festive feast! This hamper is full of the best seasonal produce from our local artisan food and drink producers. The perfect gift or a festive treat for you and your loved ones this Christmas! FEMAIL’S Jessica Green tried it out..
WHAT IS IT? Everything you need for a proper ‘tuck-in’ festive feast! This hamper is full of the best seasonal produce from our local artisan food and drink producers.
The perfect gift or a festive treat for you and your loved ones this Christmas!
FEMAIL’S Jessica Green tried it out..
Jessica said: ‘While not the perfect box for Christmas dinner, this hamper makes a great addition to any festive day or as a spectacular gift for a loved one. Containing honey roast ham, Vicky’s Bread Sourdough Bordelaise Loaf, mince pies, stilton and the ingredients to create Mulled Wine, it went down a treat.’
JESSICA SAID: While not the perfect box for Christmas dinner, this hamper makes a great addition to any festive day or as a spectacular gift for a loved one.
Containing honey roast ham, Vicky’s Bread Sourdough Bordelaise Loaf, mince pies, stilton and the ingredients to create Mulled Wine, it went down a treat.
The bread was a particular high point, being probably the tastiest loaf I’ve ever tried and made for a mouth-watering bite when paired with the many cheese and meats on offer in the hamper.
However, the reason my rating isn’t a little stronger is in part due to the hamper’s variety, as I felt it was just a lot of meat and cheese and could’ve done with some sweet treats or another kind of dish added to it.
18. The Black Farmer – Vegetarian Christmas
Cost: £45
Serves: 6-8
Cooking time: 20 minutes
This box offers delightful ingredients – from the delicious cheese and tomato quiche to the tasty carrot cake and the moreish natural sea salt crisps.
What’s in the Black Farmer Veggie box?
Plant Based Cocktail Sausages (250g)
Plant Based Mince (300g)
Spicy Bean Crush with Tomato and Coriander 110g
Cheese & Tomato Quiche Medium 400g
Carrot Cake Dairy and Gluten Free x2
Plant Based, Gluten Free Brownies x2
Natural Sea Salt Crisps 100g
Ashaninka 72% Dark Chocolate Bar (70g)
Brinkworth Blue (250g)
Snowdonia Truckle (200g)
WHAT IS IT: Featuring delicious nibbles including plant based cocktail sausages, as well as plant based mince and spicy bean crush with tomato and coriander, you will not go hungry.
The cheddar and tomato quiche compromises nothing on taste nor texture. Sweet treats are a non-negotiable, particularly at Christmas time, so Black Farmer includes include a mouthwatering carrot cake (which is both gluten and dairy free) and our tempting plant based, gluten free brownies which are sure to satiate your senses. If you’re looking for a little snack, try some of our Ashaninka 72% Dark Chocolate Bar which is an absolute treat, or our crisps for a savoury nibble.
FEMAIL’S Jessica Green tried it out..
JESSICA SAYS: This box offers delightful ingredients – from the delicious cheese and tomato quiche to the tasty carrot cake and the moreish natural sea salt crisps.
There’s also brownies and high-quality cheese, as well as Spicy Bean Crush with Tomato and Coriander which is suitable for vegans.
It also boasts plant-based mince, which is one of the best I’ve tried, and vegetarian cocktail sausages.
But the cocktail sausages are about as festive as this box gets as it appears to miss the mark if you’re a vegetarian wanting a more traditional Christmas dinner offering.
However, all the ingredients seem to be of the highest quality, meaning it’s still worth the money if you’re looking for a good alternative to the festive roast. – Jessica Green
19. Riverford Vegan Nut Roast and Vegan Gravy
Serves: 2-3
Cost: £8.95
Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes
HARRIET SAID: Flavoursome, with a deep nutty flavour which goes well with a lovely gravy and roasted veggies. However, unfortunately it’s rather unappealing in appearance
WHAT IS IT: Rich and flavoursome, our organic nut roast makes for a really tasty vegan Christmas. It’s bursting with festive chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts, and sweet butternut squash – plus satisfying lentils and quinoa, fresh Riverford veg, and a touch of miso for a depth of savoury flavour. Ready to cook, with no prep needed; simple.
FEMAIL’s Harriet Johnston tried it out…
HARRIET SAID: Flavoursome, with a deep nutty flavour which goes well with a lovely gravy and roasted veggies.
However, unfortunately it’s rather unappealing in appearance and quite dry, which means it does need a good serving of gravy to go with it.
It’s easy to toss into the oven and comes with simple cooking instructions. It wouldn’t be my number one Christmas nut roast – I like something with a little more texture – and it’s quite a small portion for two.
20. Riverford Vegan Chestnut + Mushroom Casserole
Serves: 2
Cost: £12.45
Cooking time: 1 hour
WHAT IS IT: This vegan recipe uses the nutty sweetness of cooked chestnuts with mushrooms in a hearty casserole, with red wine and thyme.
Served alongside miso mash (the miso adds extra umami (savoury) flavour), this is seriously good comfort food!
Add greens of choice for a dash of colour.
This vegan recipe uses the nutty sweetness of cooked chestnuts with mushrooms in a hearty casserole, with red wine and thyme. Served alongside miso mash (the miso adds extra umami (savoury) flavour), this is seriously good comfort food! Add greens of choice for a dash of colour
HARRIET SAID: This festive casserole would make a fantastic Christmas Eve or Boxing Day meal for vegetarians or meat-eaters alike.
The chestnuts give it a nutty sweetness and texture, while the mushrooms and red wine make offer a rich and deep flavour. The instructions are very clear, it took about an hour to make in total, and it was a generous portion for two (with extra leftovers for the next day!)
The only reason I’ve given it just a three is that my partner thought the suggested herb servings were far too strong – and I was conscious of how many plastic containers I was tossing into the trash while cooking it – it didn’t feel like the most sustainable of options for the eco-conscious!
Riverford Vegan Chestnut + Mushroom Casserole
1 red onion, peeled & thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled & finely chopped
15g thyme, leaves picked off the stalk
400g mushrooms, quartered
1 pack cooked chestnuts
1½ tsp cornflour
1 tbsp tomato purée
100ml red wine
1 tbsp Worcester sauce
½ tbsp bouillon powder
500g potatoes, peeled & diced into 2-3cm chunks
15g parsley, chopped
2 tbsp white miso paste (optional)
21. Drake and Morgan at Home – Festive Feast for Two
SERVES: 2
COST: £120
Cooking time: 30 minutes without prep time
WHAT IS IT : This festive feast for two is perfect for a Christmas Day spent at home with your loved one. Start off with nibbles & two of our favourite starters followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings; it wouldn’t be Christmas without the turkey
CLAIRE SAYS: This festive meal kit divided opinions in my household. The quality of the ingredients made it an indulgent experience, and definitely made for a fancy evening. Pictured is the main course
What’s in the Drake & Morgan Christmas box? Sourdough bread, butter, balsamic and oilNocellara OlivesSmoked almondsSharing startersSmoked salmon from Chapel & Swan smokehouse, rye bread & piccalilliDuck liver parfait, spiced pear chutney & brioche Free range British turkey breastPigs in blanketsPork & apricot stuffingBrussel sprouts, lardons & chestnutsJus & bread sauceRoast potatoes in goose fatRoasted carrots & parsnips Christmas pudding & red currants, clotted cream & custardChocolate brownie & chocolate sauceMini mince pies & brandy butter
WHAT IS IT: This festive feast for two is perfect for a Christmas Day spent at home with your loved one. Start off with nibbles & two of our favourite starters followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings; it wouldn’t be Christmas without the turkey!
For dessert, Christmas pudding & warm chocolate brownie with plenty of custard & clotted cream.
‘Tis the season to indulge so finish off with a couple of mini mince pies & brandy butter; we won’t mince our words, these are delicious!
FEMAIL’s Claire Tourielle tried it out
CLAIRE SAYS: This festive meal kit divided opinions in my household.
The quality of the ingredients made it an indulgent experience, and definitely made for a fancy evening.
However, the preparation was more hazardous that you’d expect from a meal you receive in a box.
One thing we noted was that all ingredients were wrapped in plastic, which did not make for a very eco-friendly meal.
The bag containing the Brussels sprout ripped open in the boiling water, and we had to fish them out.
Considering the price of the meal, it felt like a lot of effort to put into a home dinner, when you could go to a restaurant for the same meal, without the hassle of the cooking and cleaning up.
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
READ MORE: Travel News
