Mindful Chef has teamed up with Bib Gourmand and Michelin Green Star restaurant Pythouse Kitchen Garden in Wiltshire to launch a limited-edition seasonal roast dinner box priced at £65. The box promises a restaurant-quality roast at home, with produce sourced locally to the UK.
Preparation and cooking experience
The box arrived on Friday, neatly packaged with all meat, vegetables and sides in perfect condition, ready to go straight into the fridge. On Sunday, preparation and cooking began at 10.30am at the writer's parents' house, with a step-by-step magazine making the prep work straightforward.
The chosen box included Norfolk Black Chicken with golden baby potatoes, orange, purple and white skin-on roasted carrots, roasted cavolo nero, candied beetroot and kale salad, and a chicken sauce. The quality of the produce was described as incredible, vibrant and fresh, with all preparation completed within 30 minutes.
Plating up and taste test
Once all components were out of the oven, the sheer amount of food was overwhelming. One criticism was the imbalance of carrots compared to roast potatoes, which were considered integral to a Sunday dinner. However, there was plenty of gravy for four people.
The one thing missing if cooked exactly as instructed was Yorkshire puddings, which the writer deemed essential for a roast dinner. Luckily, her mum provided her legendary puds.
The Norfolk Black Roast Chicken was beautifully soft and tender, with leg meat falling off the bone. The candied beetroot and red onion, roasted under the chicken, became deliciously sweet. The baby potatoes, smashed before roasting, were crispy and soft, and the roasted cavolo nero felt almost healthy.
The carrots varied in taste, with white carrots sweeter and purple ones earthy and subtly peppery. The fresh kale salad with pickled shallots and maple-mustard dressing added a zippy touch. The only disappointment was the gravy, which lacked flavour and felt like gloop.
Final verdict
Despite the gravy letdown, the overall meal was spectacular and felt like restaurant-standard dinner at home. At £65, or £16 per person, the box was considered good value compared to eating out at a Bib Gourmand restaurant.
The writer would buy the box again as a treat, noting it helped build confidence in the kitchen and taught new techniques. The Mindful Chef x Pythouse Kitchen Garden box is available online with Friday deliveries in October, with two other options including Grass-fed Aberdeen Angus Beef Sirloin and Tenderstem, Artichoke & Cheddar Gratin. New customers can get 30 percent off their first four boxes and free delivery on the first, reducing the roast dinner box to £45.50.
