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I’ve always been a lover of cooking (and eating, more so), but never more than I am during lockdown. For me, cooking is the best way to unwind after a hard day at the home office. And at the weekend, when I’m stuck for things to do at home, there’s nothing more wholesome than whipping up a delicious meal for the family (I’m lucky enough to be isolating with them).
That said, I have two stumbling blocks. The first is that I always resort to the same portfolio of tried-and-tested meals (pesto pasta bake tends to make the most appearances). Secondly – and with a more practical head on – I’m trying to avoid the supermarkets where possible. Home is the safest place to be right now, and it’s increasingly important to support smaller businesses. So, in a bid to broaden my recipe horizons and make the most of a service which can deliver direct to my door (even during lockdown), I turned to healthy recipe box delivery service, Hello Fresh. Here’s exactly what I thought…
What is Hello Fresh?
Founded in Berlin back in November 2011 by Dominik Richter, Thomas Griesel and Jessica Nilsson, Hello Fresh is the largest recipe box subscription service on the market. Operating in 12 different countries including England, Ireland and America, it offers households the opportunity to enjoy wholesome, home-made meals with no preparing, no shopping and no hassle. It was one of the first of its kind to hit the UK.
Hello Fresh, which is loved by celebrities including Jamie Oliver and Jessica Alba, aims to help people enjoy their meal times again. The ingredients come pre-portioned, resulting in *much* less waste (and more suitably sized portions for self-proclaimed pigs like me) and every recipe is quick to make. When you’re ordering online, you can even tailor your box to speed. Not that speed *really* matters in our current situation.
There’s actually a hell of a lot of science and thinking which goes on behind the scenes of Hello Fresh. A huge data-driven technology platform puts the brand in prime position to manage supply chains, demand and customer experience. They really are changing the food supply chain as we know it.
As well as offering options for the entire family, Hello Fresh have an excellent vegetarian and vegan offering. There’s no time better than lockdown to try something new, but if you’re put off trialing a plant-based diet through fear of not knowing what to cook, Hello Fresh could be your answer.
How does Hello Fresh work?
Hello Fresh could not be more simple. You literally log onto their website (or download their v. easy-to-use app) and choose from the available recipes to create your perfect box. You can even order extras if you want to push the boat out, like wine and dessert. Isolation date night, anyone?
Upon ordering, customers choose between a Family Box, a Classic Box or a Rapid Box, each for either two, three or four people and for either three, four or five meals. Oh, and don’t be put off if you’re a single person. The two-person boxes would provide you with dinner plus lunch the next day.
As mentioned, I had been looking to try new and exciting recipes that I’d never cooked before. For that reason, the chorizo and sweetcorn risotto (nope, I’ve genuinely never cooked a risotto in my life), Thai-style beef and Serrano ham, parsley and butternut linguine took my fancy. If only I’d have known quite how good they were going to be.
My box was delivered directly to my door on a Sunday afternoon. I love that they deliver seven days a week, because I was able to receive my box just in time for the week ahead. The team have been working so hard to get everyone’s orders to them during the Coronavirus crisis and continue to do so.
My box contained fresh, pre-portioned ingredients for every recipe I had chosen. The ingredients for each recipe came in numbered, recyclable paper bags which were easy to store, and every recipe was clearly presented on a recipe card.
Since I’ve been isolating with my family and was adopting the role of Head Chef, I wanted recipes which didn’t take too long but which everyone would love. And that’s exactly what I got. Despite everything being pre-portioned, I still felt like I’d cooked from scratch and had that feeling of great pride at the end. I’ve also kept the recipe cards so that I can recreate the meals in future – with or without Hello Fresh. In fact, I’ve already recreated the risotto by adding some additional ingredients that needed using up in my fridge. Hello Fresh has definitely encouraged me to be more creative with my cooking.
How much does Hello Fresh cost?
Hello Fresh offers family and classic boxes, which can each be tailored for up to four people.
There are more and more choices being added to the site every week, and meals start from just £3.44 per person.
All boxes are delivered free of charge, at a time that suits you, seven days a week. Mine got delivered on a Sunday, which was so handy, because I had it in time for the beginning of the week!
There is so much to choose from at Hello Fresh, but here are some examples of the meat, vegetarian and quick recipes on offer.
- Herby Chicken with Red Onion Mash and Garlicky Green Beans
- Thai-Style Beef with Peppers, Mangetout and Fluffy Rice
- Serrano Ham, Parsley & Butternut Linguine with Crème Fraîche
- Rigatoni Caprese with Pine Nuts, Mozzarella and Balsamic Tomato Salsa
- Duck A L’Orange with Parsley Mash and Roasted Carrots
- Indian-Style Chickpea & Pistachio Burger with Turmeric Wedges and Rocket
- Veggie Tostadas with Roasted Peppers and Zesty Crema
- Sticky Mango Chicken Wraps with Spiced Red Pepper and Potato Wedges
- Mushroom & Bacon Risotto with Mangetout and Leek
- Spicy Beef Stir-Fry with Noodles, Green Pepper and Peanuts
- Bombay Style Lamb Curry with Potatoes and Green Beans
The verdict
For someone like me who loves cooking but needs a bit of a helping hand when it comes to stepping out of their kitchen comfort zone, Hello Fresh is great. If you’re a single person, the two person meal kits would be life-changing, as you can have one portion for dinner and the left-overs for lunch. But they work just as well for families.
In such unprecedented times, it’s important to support smaller businesses, stay at home and take the pressure off of our supermarkets. By ordering from Hello Fresh, you’re doing exactly that. I’ll be ordering from Hello Fresh again and again. Long after we return to normality.
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