5 tips on how to recreate restaurant quality foods in your own home
As lockdown drags on, it feels like we’ll never get to eat out in a restaurant again. And while takeaways can be great, somehow, it’s just not the same.
But it is possible to prepare restaurant style food at home, and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now might be the perfect time to start planning a special evening in.
We take a look at 5 tips which will help you bring restaurant quality food into your home.
1. Find a recipe you want to recreate
Venison Wellington, pheasant and gammon pie, confit duck with green papaya & herb salad – all wonderful sounding dishes, but do you want to cook them at home? The best advice we have ever had from the chefs we work with is always cook something you love!
To get you started, we’ve put together some quick and easy chicken recipes. And take a look at this site, which has great modern meat recipes suitable for all the family.
And if you decide that you don’t want to cook from scratch, take a look at our wide range of meat boxes. Providing a choice of products, including gourmet burgers, kofta kebabs, and chicken wings in peri peri glaze, these are perfect if you don’t want to spend all night in the kitchen. Even better, on orders over £50, there is free convenient delivery straight to your door, so you don’t even have to stress about going to the shops.
2. Choose quality ingredients
If you want restaurant style quality food, buy the best food you can afford, and this is especially true for meat.
Always buy from a reputable butcher’s shop, which can vouch for the provenance of their meat. We have accreditation from some of the leading food quality standards agencies, so you can be confident all our meat has been reared with the highest quality and animal welfare standards in mind. As a result, you will experience the best flavours across all our product ranges.
As well as provenance, take a close look at what breeds your butcher has in stock as this will also affect the taste of your final dish. Our preferred beef breeds are Grass Fed Limousin, Hereford Red and Black Angus. All of them are renowned for flavour and tenderness – the perfect choice for a restaurant quality dish.
And don’t forget to also buy high-quality olive oil and use full-fat butter, cream and cheese. You’ll be amazed at what difference it makes to your meal.
3. Make sure you’ve got the right equipment
As professional butchers, we know the importance of using the right equipment for the job. In fact, one of the key things we teach at our Butchery Academy. is there is no point learning basic knife handling skills if you aren’t using the right type of knife for the job!
It might sound a bit simplistic, but by using the right equipment, not only will preparing food be so much easier, but you’ll also get the most out of your ingredients. So, after preparing a rack of lamb into cutlets, you’ll then be able to use the trimmings to make a batch of flavoursome sauces.
This list is not exhaustive but includes some must-have items, which make cooking so much easier.
- Set of knives
- Knife sharpener
- Food processor
- Hand immersion blender
- Chopping boards
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Non-stick pans
- Microplane
- Instant read digital thermometer
Probably the trickiest job is preparing your meat correctly, so if you don’t have the right equipment, or just don’t fancy doing it, find a butcher with the skills to prepare your meat just how you want it.
Our team is skilled in the art of butchery, so just let us know what you want, and we’ll prepare it to perfection.
4. Give yourself enough time
There is an old saying that if you make food with love, it will show in the finished dish, so whatever you do, give yourself plenty of time. In fact, work out how long it’s going to take, and then start half an hour earlier!
And this doesn’t just apply to cooking but also to ordering groceries online. We offer delivery services to London households within the M25 area, with free delivery on orders over £50. Our standard delivery option is 3-4 days, but we will be able to give you a 2-hour delivery window, so you don’t need to wait around all day. And for your peace of mind, we offer contact-free delivery.
5. Plate up like a pro
Plating up is just as important as the food – just think about how they criticise bad presentation on Masterchef! To make your dish look restaurant-standard:
- use white or plain coloured plates
- put any sauces under the meat or in a little jug on the side
- only use edible garnishes
- always wipe the rim of the plate so it’s clean.
Then all that’s left is for you to enjoy a wonderfully cooked meal.
Providing quality food products with exceptional service
As a family business, offering our customers the highest quality products and never compromising on freshness lies at the heart of everything we do, so if you are planning a restaurant-style meal at home, take a look at our extensive range of produce on our online shop. And if you’re a restauranteur or chef interested in our wholesale meats, please call our customer service team on 020 7383 3080 for details of the full range.
Lacking a bit of inspiration of what to cook for Valentine’s Day? This Beef Cheateaubriand could be the perfect romantic treat.