How to eat out in the new normal
IF YOU’RE fed up of cooking after more than seven weeks of homecooked meals, read on. Many caterers — short on simchas — have swiftly pivoted their businesses to stay afloat. And, despite the awful times, the home diner has never been better catered for. You can order meals in from Friday night dinner to a cosy, gourmet meal a deux. Food ranges from simple, haimish meals at very affordable prices the more luxurious end of the market, styled by top-end caterers.
It’s a chance to taste food cooked by chefs who normally cater for stylish weddings and barmitzvahs. So grab the chance to eat some of the best kosher food in town — with no need to tussle with a pair of Spanx.
Last night, I was treated to Ben Teneblat’s finest chilli beef — sweet, spicy and tender strips of beef and peppers with a side of my own steamed mange touts. Sticky chocolate babka completed my meal and made my children’s week! I’ve several more Teneblatproduced meals in my freezer, including a spectacular beef Wellington; spicy Thai fish cakes; chicken and courgette burgers and Tandoori chicken legs.
Oh, there’s also apple crumble and chocolate fondant — which I’ll crack open for Shabbat. Tenenblat is also delivering grocery items — a one stop shop.
Over the last few weeks I’ve treated myself to much of Adam Nathan’s weekly changing menu — which uses kosher meat cooked in an unsupervised kitchen. Dishes we’ve ordered have included fish pie, aubergine and butternut Massaman curry; shawarma chicken with sweet potato mash and the richest pasta Bolognese sauce I have ever tasted. My son is a huge fan of the unspeakably rich Bolognese sauce.
JC colleague, Debbie Rose, took delivery of a banquet from Adam Zeitlin’s MyKoCo (short for My Kosher Company). Her full review will appear in Food onthe JC’s website, but highlights were a tender but super tasty, Thai basil beef and a melting beef Bourguignon
For simpler tastes (and budgets) catering company Josepha White are delivering individual frozen meals, which, unlike those from other caterers, arrived in airline-style trays with main, potatoes and vegetables all ready to go and can be cooked from frozen. Perfect for dispatching to older relatives.
We’ll be tasting the meals on your behalf over the next few weeks and sharing the results online. I’ll also share a list of the kosher restaurants that are offering takeaway and/or delivery services. Even though early lockdown had us all in an eggless tizz, we will definitely not starve — no matter how long Boris keeps us at home.
Order from: ben-tenenblat-ltd. myshopify.com; adamnathancatering. com; mykoco.co.uk; josephawhite.co.uk