Indulge Dining at home: An easy yet elegant DIY kit that enables any diner to plate like a pro
Final touches can bring about the total ruin or the heavenly ascension of a dish. The delicate floral toppings, the not-so-casual drippings of colourful sauces and the the geometric positioning of the different elements have the power to make the plate Instagram-worthy and, most importantly, to balance interlacing flavours with millesimal precision. With the rise of delivery services and meal kits which can require everything from a simple composition to a complete cooking process, culinary creativity has conjugated into an enjoyable variety of shapes and forms. Among these, Indulge has captured our imagination and taste buds in an original and elegant way.
Andy Bowler, the mind and hands behind the fine dining meal kit service, boasts a career honed in top Michelin-starred restaurants in London – Roganic and Gordon Ramsay’s Pétrus to name just the latest in the line-up. When the pandemic aimed its noxious darts at the industry, Bowler put his skills and talents into the planning and realisation of a personal project: providing guests with a relaxed fine dining experience at home.
The boxes actually take the majority of the hurdles away from the equation, removing all the steps and fancy equipment usually required for a refined dinner. The ingredients, already portioned and meticulously labeled, are accompanied by instructions and even imagery to help one acheive the suggested final result. The diners need only to warm up a few of the components and have fun by piping sauces and scattering shoots for a top-notch plating.
In order to guarantee originality and freshness, the service is up and running Fridays and Saturdays only, with menus changing weekly. The upcoming offerings are available to check and order from a fortnight ahead, with the possibility of adding a perfectly paired bottle of wine.
Our tasting of the day begins with rosemary focaccia to dip into a pot of parsley, chilli and garlic oil. The showstopper makes its entrance one second later: Jersey Royal potatoes, Montgomery cheddar, wild garlic and smoked crème fraîche. The crunchiness of the top layer satisfyingly complements the soft base and velvety cream cheese surrounding the easy-to-assemble construct. And if it’s true that we eat first with the eyes, the enamoured gaze of this writer devours this starter in a single bite. The main course is a smooth combination of a rich cut of meat alongside a modest triumph of vegetables, comprising beef short-rib, sprouting broccoli, black garlic and turnip. Where the meaty main could have been sinfully sweet, the dessert brings equilibrium back to the table. The anticipated tangy kick of the blood orange marries with the apple and a hint of anise sauce in a delicate and delightful way, proving surprisingly light and tasty at the same time. The salted caramel macarons mellifluously bring our experience to a close.
The compact package of Indulge encapsulates a multitude of small pots, squared containers and small-scale piping bags (all vegware-conscious). An understandable bewilderment is soon dissolved by a list of careful instructions and precise descriptions. The plating becomes a game, delivering a gratifying, top-level result. With great produce and impeccable techniques at the heart of the operation, Indulge transports a decadent world of fine dining to your home.
Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Cristiana Ferrauti
Indulge Dining offers a weekly changing menu, with delivery across London on Fridays and Saturdays. For further information or to book, visit their website here.
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