DIY meal kits are all the rage now. But not all are made equally. That’s especially true when you take the meal box from Lyle’s, the Michelin-starred restaurant based in Shoreditch.
This smashes just about every other competitor’s offerings. And we wouldn’t expect anything less from these innovative chefs who are known for pushing the envelope when it comes to modern cooking. Their success with these pandemic-born meal kits is not surprising.
And, just as it goes with their usual offerings, nothing is as simple as it seems. First off, they’ve got four different boxes to choose from – The Game Box, The Duck Box, The Lyle’s Box and The Mid-Week Box. Each consists of a selection of dishes which are mostly prepared and only require some simple reheating and plating.
We tried out their classic Lyle’s Menu Box, for it is packed with classic Lyle’s dishes. Expect a bunch of their favourites made from fresh seasonal produce. If you’ve been to Lyle’s and loved it, then get this bad boy – it’s quintessential Lyle’s fine dining, but at home.
The menu changes regularly, but is generally made up of six-courses, priced at £140 for two people. Not cheap, but entirely worth it. This is a ‘treat yourself’ meal kit. For when you want to feel like fine dining royalty but don’t want to put in all the effort of making it yourself. But, if we are being honest, few can recreate these dishes at home.
NOW READ: Why Eat Out to Help Out won’t be enough to save UK hospitality
Even if a pumpkin soup looks fairly simple, a huge amount of time and skill has gone into preparing it. They will pack all the pumpkins into your bowl, add a pumpkin seed reduction, throw more roasted pumpkin cubes on top, and then shave a few roasted chestnut shavings and toasted pumpkin seeds on top for good measure.
What you’re left with is the best god damn pumpkin soup you’ve ever had. Seriously. These guys don’t mess about. And this is the standard of each dish.
Start off with some homemade sourdough bread with proper homemade butter. Move on to two starters which will only take you about 10-minutes to prepare. Then grab your main – usually some top cut of meat. End it on a double dessert high and make sure to pair it with some really good wines. Don’t ruin the whole occasion with cheap wine or beer. You’re better than that guys.
And what we loved so much about these meal boxes, is how much you really appreciate the artistry of chefs who are at the top of their field. You get a better understanding of what goes into the dishes they create.
Even though it’s super easy for you to do at home, you can see how much extra work has gone into making something so special. We now have even more respect for these guys, and a greater desire to support them during these incredibly challenging times. For restaurants are still struggling. Insanely so. That’s why we are all about these DIY kits. They are the best way to support struggling restaurants.
You’re keeping these guys alive so that, when the City eventually reopens, you won’t find all your favourite foodie spots shut down for good. Help keep these guys going, all the while feasting on all manners of deliciousness at home. We can assure you – you will not regret splashing out the cash on this one.
