Published 19 February 2021
by the CODE team
Until we can finally visit restaurants again, we’ll keep sharing everything the CODE team loved eating at home and out. Here’s what we enjoyed this week
This week we hosted a competition on our Instagram – you can click here to enter – asking people to name their favourite takeaway or kit during lockdown. Unsurprisingly, a lot of people said Dishoom, so I decided to see what the fuss was about and ordered a vegan naan kit. The sausages are definitely some of the best we’ve tried – developed with Neil Rankin and bursting with fermented beetroot, mushroom and onion flavours. Think Dishoom’s bacon naan roll, with a vegan twist! With not 2 but 3 naan rolls, their signature tomato chilli jam, fresh coriander and vegan cream cheese, this was a quality and super easy mid week breakfast/brunch. You also get enough chai tea for 2.
Tom Pilgrim, partners & members
I’m all for relishing the small wins in life at the moment – and with an array of wonderful options on offer, I was excited for Restaurant Kits to join the CODE app recently. There was an even bigger cause for celebration when I tried the cauliflower shawarma kit with hummus from Berber & Q – a whole cauliflower roasted in shawarma-spiced butter and drizzled with tehine, pomegranate molasses, pine nuts and more. Nailing the art of making something so simple taste so delicious, the signature hummus with spicy zhoug and crispy chickpeas is a real winner -plus, the pita breads were some of the fluffiest I’ve ever tasted. A kit that provides a much needed moment of joy.
Berber & Q has an offer on the CODE app via restaurant kits. See the app for more details or become a member here
Harriet Prior, staff writer
It’s been many years since I went to Sri Lanka but a yearning for travel and seeing many reports of how good the food is, I pounced on ordering from Kolamba when its meal-kit service went nationwide. The feast that arrived did not disappoint – I bought the chicken curry box and boosted it with cashew and pea curry and rotis – which when added to the rich chicken thigh dish, earthy beetroot curry, dal, seasoned rice and green beans made the most deliciously generous supper for three. This one might just become a regular…
Lisa Markwell, editor
Flesh & Buns are well-known and much-loved for their bao buns and ‘Japanese drinking food’, so fans of the restaurant will rejoice to know that you can now enjoy the famous fried chicken bao from home. The kit comes with 6 buns which are super easy to cook in the bamboo steamer provided, and the chicken is pre-marinaded, so just requires a quick dip in some hot oil. Be warned, the BBQ mayo is highly addictive, and totally delicious with some sweet potato fries dunked in, too.
Minna Gabbertas, partners & members
Keeping me sane during lockdown has been walking around Chiswick House & Gardens with my lockdown pup Alfie. We’ve perfected our meander so as to stretch out the relatively small park into a relatively decent walk, invariably ending up at the café. Operated by Colicci (who also operate cafés/kiosks in Richmond Park, Hyde Park and others) it has become my go to breakfast spot for when I fancy a treat. The almond croissant and vegan sausage rolls are both worth a mention, but it’s the bacon bap with a generous helping of HG Walter bacon and soft pillowy brioche bun that makes my heart skip a beat (make sure you get one made fresh). I genuinely think it might be the best bacon bap I’ve ever tasted…
Will Lake, COO
The aesthetic and atmosphere of Petersham Nurseries Cafe is not easy to replicate but the box that arrived via their partner Restokit went some way towards getting me in the Richmond mood. A booklet of beautifully shot plating pictures and an easy cooking/heating guide was included, with the box insulated with wool and straw! The dreamy feast included fresh pasta with tema artichokes and pangrattato, porchetta that was superb, served with braised endive, lemon-spiked cavalo nero and hearty lentils. Oh dear, I seem to have eaten both steamed date puddings with pouring cream, leaving no space (till later) for the cheese course of winslade with Petersham honey and pane carasau. A luxury, yes, but worth it.
Lisa Markwell, editor