I've always found February a bit of a slog regardless of being in a global pandemic but this time having a job and home-schooling has been tough, much longer hours, no time for anything. So when a friend told me about restaurant kits, I thought what a wonderful idea to cheer me and the husband up and celebrate getting to the end of a hard week. The first kit we got was a 1970's inspired Chicken Kiev Dinner by Tom Griffiths - Flank (because i'm a chicken kiev fan!). Some friends of ours also got the kit and we attempted a zoom dinner party, which was fun and surprisingly easy to execute, it was delicious. This kit we purchased from Restaurant Kits where they have a lot of different kits on offer. Tom-Griffiths - Flank Menu:
Baked Camembert with Toffee Apple Sauce and Frazzle Cracking Crumble and Crackers
Truffle Chicken Kiev, Creamy Mash Potato, and a rich Flank Pan Stock
Home-Baked Madelines with Salted Caramel Dip and Popcorn Crumble
The camembert was inspired - frazzle crumb (as in those 70's crisp) - strangely yum!
The second kit, I purchased for Valentines day - this one was a little bit more special from DandD London and was inspired by one of my favourite meals I have ever had in Frankfurt. It didn't disappoint as the London Restaurant German Gymnasium specialises in German food (obviously!)
The Ultimate German Gymnasium Experience Kit Menu:
Smoked Salmon Potato Rosti
Whole Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Potato Dumpling, Duck Jus
Warm Apple Strudel
The third kit I got was a simple saturday night tv meal, but one of my favourite most guitly pleasures, that I relish getting when I visit the US... Buffalo Wings. This kit from Meat Liquor was super simple and a lovely film accompanying treat. They also offer their special negroni, which goes very well with these buffalo wings. I ordered this kit from a site called Plateaway
Meat Liquor's Buffalo Wings - with their Negroni Cocktail
Buffalo Wings with In-House Buffalo Sauce with Blue Cheese Dip
The last kit I ordered this month was the Fish Hamper from Aquavit, as we had been a bit meat heavy so far and I wanted to celebrate passing my probation for my new job. Aquavit is a London Nordic restaurant and isn't something I would normally go for but I was delighted I did, this was lip-smackingly gorgeous, perfect Friday night feast with a crisp cold bottle of Chablis. It was also so simple to make, this could have been done in the van, which opens up another world of van-life possibility for me! Aquavit Pescatarian Hamper:
Salmon Gravalax
Langoustine Bao Bun
Houghton Spring Trout
Smoked Cod papillotte, Rakor, Sea Herbs
Rye Bread
Long may these restaurant kits continue! Not just in lockdown but for all the parents in the UK that restaurant date nights are a thing of the dim and distant past! I would love to hear any kits you have tried and tested!