Contista Media
Chantal Borciani brings you the best gourmet options for at-home meals, from Michelin chef catering to curated dishes delivered directly to your front door.
Staycations are able to enjoy their surroundings while they relax and take the hassle out of the mealtimes with the availability of high-end restaurant food delivered directly to the luxury rental. You can choose from a variety of services, including a private chef who will cook for you and a traditional afternoon-tea delivery.
One Fine Dine
One Fine Dine offers exclusive gourmet dining in a variety of ways, from the finest gourmet menu boxes that you can heat up and serve yourself to chef-catered dinners. One Fine Dine delivers gourmet menus to your door, and its fine-dining chefs are now available to cater the entire meal. One Fine Dine has announced a partnership to offer bespoke dining packages for guests of five-star UK property rentals, Bloomsbury Estates. These include curated menus and fully catered dinner parties, luncheons, or even a family meal. Starting at PS65 per person.
JACK & Scott’s PRIVATE DINING SERVICES
Bray Cottages, the UK’s foodie, have teamed up to offer private dining experiences. Jack Blumenthal and Scott Perkins (son of Heston Blumenthal) will be providing delicious meals. The six quintessentially British cottages are located in Bray-on-Thames. Guests can hire Jack and Scott for a truly memorable experience at home, from personalized meals to virtual cooking classes and in-chef dinners. Jack Blumenthal, Scott Perkins, and other Michelin-trained chefs have worked in some of the UK’s best restaurants, including The Fat Duck and The Hand & Flowers. Visit one of Bray’s famous restaurants, such as The Fat Duck and Alain Roux’s The Waterside Inn. Both have three Michelin stars. Jack & Scott offers private dining experiences nationwide for those who don’t want to make the pilgrimage to Bray.
Northcote at Home
Lisa Goodwin Allen, executive chef at Northcote Hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, has launched Northcote At Home Gourmet boxes. This brings restaurant-quality dining to your own home. The Gourmet Boxes are available nationwide and feature four courses that are inspired by the seasons. They’re a great way to experience British food. Northcote’s Michelin-starred chefs can cater your private lunch or dinner at home or even in your holiday cottage. They will provide waiter service and a sommelier if you so desire. Starting at PS125 for 2 people.
Afternoon Tea To Go
Elite Hotels offers a luxury Takeaway Afternoon Tea in two of its properties located south of England; Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa, Bedfordshire, and Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club. The exquisite afternoon tea boxes are a great way to celebrate a special occasion, such as a birthday, anniversary or holiday. They include freshly-made sandwiches, fluffy scones, strawberry preserves, and clotted crème, along with beautiful handmade patisserie, like matcha opera cake or hazelnut cream eclair.
STEIN’S BEACH & HOME RETREATS
Rick Stein has had great success in the last year with his Stein’s at Home Boxes, which are available across the country. Stein’s At Home, a staycation specialist with 80 beautiful destinations in the UK, has teamed up with Luxury Cottages to offer guests a Stein’s At Home box at a reduced rate. Luxury Cottages’ Guest Services team can also book and arrange for delivery so that you arrive and simply enjoy! Enjoy a weekend brunch box, a fresh fish box, or Stein’s At Home lobster.
BIRTELLI’S
Birtelli’s independent pizzeria has teamed with holiday rental company Crabtree & Crabtree to offer their artisan make-your-own-pizza kits – a fun twist for pizza night on holiday. The kits are made up of ingredients that were sourced by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Paul Foster. They make for a great night in a meal without any hassle. This partnership is part of Crabtree & Crabtree’s newly launched Doorstep Delivery Service, which offers guests at Crabtree & Crabtree’s picturesque abodes discounts at home-dining experts such as Birtelli’s artisanal pizza, Pasta Evangelists’ pasta kits, and Aubrey’s art butchery. Crabtree & Crabtree has a team that can cater private dining in any of its beautiful settings.
COOK AWAY
The Cookaway’s recipe boxes are packed with delicious recipes from MasterChef finalists, as well as long-time chefs. The Cookaway team has partnered up with luxury villa company Oliver’s Travels to allow guests to order a recipe for their UK or Irish holiday. You can choose from a variety of recipe boxes, including those created by Sara Danesin (former MasterChef finalist), Reiko Hashimoto (Kyoto-born chef, cookbook author, and The Cookaway founder Nidhi Verma), and Jack Lucas, a former MasterChef Finalist. Options start at just PS16 per person.
HARBOUR AT HOME
Harbor at Home, located in Scotland’s East Neuk, overlooks the mesmerizing sands of Elie Beach. Here, diners from all over the British Isles can enjoy boat-fresh lobsters, langoustines, crabs and more. Amy Elles has designed a range of luxury Scottish seafood hampers using produce from the small boats that dock at Pittenweem Harbour, organic heritage beef from Butchery At Bowhouse, and salads from East Neuk Market Garden. These hampers are adorned with personal touches, such as Elie rocks from the beach to crack open lobsters, Harbour Cafe tablemats, and illustrations by artisan designer Edinburgh Letters. Boxes start at PS25.
BISTROT AT HOME
Bistrot Pierre, a 25-year-old independent French restaurant group, has added three new boxes to their range of premium at-home dining boxes. The new boxes are ideal for those who stay out of town. They include the Celebration, Breakfast, and Steak boxes. Starting at PS35.
– bistrotathome.co.uk
Foods that are good for you
44 Foods, launched at the beginning of the pandemic and with nationwide delivery, offers the same quality and freshness as a farm store, delivered directly to your front door. 44 Foods, a group of food producers and farmers, is dedicated to ethically produced food that’s fair priced. Together they provide fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products, and essentials for your holiday home or cottage. They are also behind the Ultimate Staycation Breakfast that was featured on page 13 of our Travel News. Meals for two starting at PS20.50
DINE ON THE LAKE
Garden Gathering at Dine in the Lakes
It’s important to try the local cuisine when you visit the Lake District. Dine in The Lakes, a gourmet food delivery service that delivers luxury food boxes directly to your doorstep from the best Lake District producers. The gourmet purveyor teamed up with luxury holiday home company Lakeland Retreats to offer guests a breakfast package, brunch package, or garden picnic upon arrival.