BEST STAYCATION GOURMET BOXES

Chantal Borciani rounds up the best gourmet at-home dining options from Michelin-chef catering to curated menus delivered direct to your door.

Holidays are all about relaxing and enjoying your surroundings and now more than ever the world of private dining and high-end restaurant meals delivered right to your luxury rental doorstep means staycationers can take all the work out of mealtimes. Whether you want a top chef to come and cook for you or a traditional afternoon tea delivery, some of Britain’s top producers are on hand to ensure you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your vacation…

ONE FINE DINE

One Fine Dine chef

One Fine Dine gourmet dishes

From the finest gourmet boxes you heat and serve at home to fully chef-catered private dining, One Fine Dine is the byword in exclusive gastronomy. One Fine Dine offers superseasonal gourmet menu boxes delivered to your doorstep and now its professionally trained fine-dining chefs can take all the work off your hands and cater your entire meal. The company has just announced a partnership with five-star UK property rental company Bloomsbury Estates, so guests at the luxury lodgings can enjoy bespoke dining packages from curated menus, fully catered dinner parties, luncheons or simply a wonderful family meal – all made to Michelin restaurant quality. From £65 per person.

→ onefinedine.com

JACK & SCOTT’S PRIVATE DINING SERVICE

The UK’s most foodie village now adds another string to its bow – Bray Cottages has teamed up with Jack Blumenthal (son of Heston) and Scott Perkins to offer delicious private dining experiences. Located in the heart of Bray-on-Thames, guests at the six luxurious, quintessentially British cottages can book the services of Jack and Scott to create truly memorable dining experiences at home from personalised menus to in-chef dining and virtual cooking classes. Jack Blumenthal and Scott Perkins are both Michelin trained chefs – the pair have worked across some of the UK’s finest restaurants including The Fat Duck, The Hand & Flowers, L’Ortolan and Petrus. Round off your staycation in Bray with a visit to one of the village’s famous eateries such as the The Fat Duck or Alain Roux’s The Waterside Inn, which both boast three Michelin stars. Alternatively, for those not making a pilgrimage to the pretty village of Bray, Jack & Scott’s private dining experiences are also available nationwide.

→ jackandscott.com

NORTHCOTE AT HOME

Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef of Northcote Hotel and Michelin-star restaurant in Lancashire’s picturesque Ribble Valley has introduced Northcote at Home Gourmet boxes – bringing restaurant quality dining to your home. Seasonally inspired and boasting four courses, the Gourmet Boxes can be delivered nationwide and are a fantastic foodie journey of British produce. For the ultimate staycation surprise, you can also have Northcote’s Michelin-star trained chefs cater for your private dinner party, afternoon tea or lunch, at your home or holiday cottage, complete with waiter service and sommelier, should you wish. From £125 for two people.

→ northcote.com/at-home/gourmet-boxes

AFTERNOON TEA TO GO

Elite Hotels is offering a luxurious Takeaway Afternoon Tea at two of its south of England properties; Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa in Bedfordshire and Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club. An ideal holiday treat or tasty celebration for a birthday or anniversary, the exquisite afternoon-tea boxes include freshly made sandwiches, fluffy scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and beautiful handmade patisserie such as matcha opera cake and hazelnut praline cream éclair, complemented by fine teas. From £25 for two people.

→ elitehotels.co.uk

STEIN'S AT HOME & BEACH RETREATS

Stein at Home Sticky Toffe Pudding

During the past year, Rick Stein has been ever-successful in providing a taste of his coastal menus through his Stein’s At Home Boxes – available nationwide. Now Stein’s At Home has partnered with Luxury Cottages, the staycation specialist offering 80 stunning destinations around the UK, enabling guests to pre-order a Stein’s At Home delivery box at a discounted rate. Luxury Cottage’s Guest Services team is also on hand to book and arrange delivery, so you can simply arrive and enjoy! Feast on a weekend breakfast box, fresh fish box, Stein’s at Home lobster or the ultimate foodie weekend box. From £35 for two.

→ rickstein.com/steins-at-home

BIRTELLI’S

Independent pizzeria, Birtelli's, has teamed up with holiday rental company, Crabtree & Crabtree, to offer its artisan make-your-own-pizza kits – a fun twist on pizza night for your holiday. The kits comprise ingredients sourced by Michelin Star Executive Chef Paul Foster and provide the perfect night-in meal with no hassle. The partnership is part of Crabtree & Crabtree's newly launched Doorstep Delivery service, which gives guests staying at their picturesque abodes discounts with home-dining specialists such at Birtelli’s artisan pizza, Pasta Evangelists pasta kits and Aubrey’s craft butchery. Crabtree & Crabtree also have a team of chefs who can cater for private dining at any of their beautiful settings. From £16.99.

→ birtellis.co.uk/pizza-kits

COOKAWAY

Cookaway Miso Tofu Steaks

Dine like kings on menus dreamt up by MasterChef finalists and longstanding chefs with flavour-packed recipe boxes from The Cookaway. The team has partnered with luxury villa company Oliver's Travels enabling guests to pre-order a recipe box for their UK and Irish holidays. Choose from recipe boxes created by former MasterChef finalist Sara Danesin, Kyoto-born chef and cookbook author Reiko Hashimoto, The Cookaway founder Nidhi Verma and former MasterChef finalist Jack Lucas to name but a few. Options available from just £16 for 2 people.

→ thecookaway.com

HARBOUR AT HOME

Fresh seafood from Harbour at Home

Overlooking the mesmeric sands of Elie Beach in the picturesque East Neuk of Fife in Scotland Harbour at Home offers boat-fresh lobster, langoustine, crab and more to diners around the British Isles. Chef patron, Amy Elles, has created a series of luxury Scottish seafood and fish hampers with produce from small boats landing at Pittenweem harbour, organic heritage breed beef from Butchery at Bowhouse and salads from East Neuk Market Garden. The hampers contain personal touches such as Elie stones from the beach for breaking open your lobster, bibs, Harbour Café placemats and gorgeous illustrations from artisan designer, Edinburgh Letters. Boxes from £25.

→ theharbourcafe.co.uk

BISTROT AT HOME

Bistrot at Home - Beef Box

Bistrot at Home - Vegetarian Box

The 25-year-old independent French restaurant group Bistrot Pierre is adding three new boxes to its range of high-end at-home dining boxes. Ideal for those staying out of town the new boxes include the Celebration, Steak and Breakfast boxes. From £35.

→ bistrotathome.co.uk

44 FOODS

Launched at the start of the pandemic, with national delivery, 44 Foods offers all the quality and freshness of a farm shop direct to your door. From producer to plate, 44 Foods is a collective of farmers and food producers who are passionate about ethically produced, fairly priced, sustainable food. Together, they supply fruit and veg, meat and dairy, and larder essentials to your home or holiday cottage – they are also the company behind the Ultimate Staycation Breakfast featured in our Travel News page 13. Meals for two from £20.50.

→ 44foods.com

DINE IN THE LAKES

Garden Gathering from Dine in the Lakes

If you’re travelling to the incredible hills, valleys and waterways of the Lake District, it’s imperative to sample the region’s incredible dining. Dine in the Lakes is a new gourmet food delivery service providing luxury food boxes from crème de la crème of Lake District producers, delivered direct to your door. The gourmet purveyor has teamed up with luxury holiday home company Lakeland Retreats meaning guests can have a breakfast, brunch or a garden picnic package awaiting their arrival. Prices from £35.

→ dineinthelakes.co.uk