BBQ Box Delivery
There’s no doubt that the ongoing pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the hospitality industry; from restaurants and cafes, chefs, waiting staff, wholesalers, suppliers, and more.
The upshot of this is that we’ve seen many of these individuals and businesses diversifying in order to stay afloat, offering everything from lockdown burger kits to DIY cocktail boxes and more.
One such lockdown start-up is the Surbiton-based BoxedLocal, which I had the pleasure of trying last week.
Celebrated chef Richard Hards has over 14 years of experience; he cut his teeth at Gordon Ramsey's Boxwood Cafe in Mayfair before moving upwards and onwards to Marco Pierre White's L'Escargot.
After 4 years spent in fine dining, he turned his hand to heading up smaller Soho bolt holes and rolling out street food royalty, Bob's Lobster.
He found his longer-term home as Group Head Chef at Soho's Bonnie Gull where he amassed a strong following with his contemporary take on British seafood.
Needless to say, the pandemic put a sudden stop this experienced chef’s professional life, but when the lockdown shutters came crashing down, he and wife Kaylie had a delicious idea.
Their new business, BoxedLocal, delivers a weekly-changing menu of slow-cooked BBQ meats and vegetables alongside fresh deli-style salads, boxed up and delivered to your door.
Hunks of top-quality meat and entire vegetables, such as aubergine, hispi cabbage and butternut squash, are smoked for over 10 hours on a Big Green Egg ceramic charcoal grill.
“Starting BoxedLocal has allowed me to pass on my passion for long and slow BBQing. People just don’t get the time to spend 10hrs plus on a meal. It’s a real labour of love and something I want to make accessible to my customers. Cooking slowly brings out all the flavours and textures that turns a meal into a real treat.” Richard explains.
Richard and Kaylie kindly invited me to try one of their boxed suppers, and I was seriously impressed.
Despite the meaty temptations (such as 10-hour salt and pepper smoked brisket and applewood-smoked 16 hours pulled pork) I opted for the coal-roasted aubergine with feta and pine nuts, which was beautifully cooked.
Much like slow-roasted meat, the aubergine flesh melted in the mouth and had a deliciously summery charcoal flavour.
A zingy mixed herb tabbouleh, caramelised red onion humous, and crunchy cucumber and tomato salad all added freshness and delightful Middle Eastern flavour, and on the side, I tried ALL the dips, which included a zingy zhoug yoghurt, fabulous apricot relish and incredible garlic mayo, all perfectly complementing my delectable mountain of aubergine, salad and humous.
It was heaven on a plate – bursting with flavour and all the goodness of homecooked food, food that has taken a really long time and a lot of love to prepare, but without having to do any of the hard work.
Kaylie also slipped in a couple of gluten-free, wonderfully chocolatey brownies, which really hit the spot.
BoxedLocal’s meals come in a variety of sizes from a single to a big family-sized box, so there’s an option that suits every household.
For larger groups, or for people who simply love BBQed meat, they also offer entire joints, ready to eat.
We had a ‘Double Boxed’ which generously fed two; there probably would have been leftovers had the food not been so delicious.
There are plenty of great delivery services around at the moment but this has definitely been one of the most delicious meals I’ve had during lockdown.
Richard’s talent and passion as a chef is obvious in his cooking and it was a real treat to enjoy some of his fantastic food at home. I’d recommend you get ordering fast, just in case the soon-to-be-reopened kitchens of Soho tempt him back once more. …
Single Boxed (a good portion for 1 person) £16, Double Boxed (for 2) £30, Big Boxed (for 4) £56.
Delivery each week on Friday & Saturday 4-6 pm to Kingston, Surbiton, Berrylands, Thames Ditton, Long Ditton, New Malden and Teddington, and bi-weekly on Saturday 10 am-12 pm to Petersham, Richmond, Kew and Barnes.
Orders need to be placed 48hrs before delivery. For private catering/group bookings and any new delivery, areas get in touch. Visit www.boxedlocal.co or email boxedlocal@gmail.com to order.