Northcote Autumn Gourmet Box - Part One: Arrival
The Covid pandemic has given us all unwanted threats and challenges. I don’t go so far as to suggest that hospitality is run by key workers but it is certain that they provide a key element in so many people’s lives. An element which has been compromised for months by restrictions and closure.
Professional kitchens have devised many successful strategies to offer an adapted service. When Northcote began to advertise their boxed meals it was not long before we dipped in.
Below you see the official written and photographic details of a wonderful menu devised by Executive Chef, Lisa Goodwin-Allen - perhaps allowing for a little input from her brigade! Covid-19 has reduced our opportunities to enjoy such lovely food at Northcote and so many other venues. This was a great opportunity to make up for that in a small way.
We decided to spread the contents of the box over two evenings by juggling in the cod starter as a main and creating a new fishy starter. I cooked an extra ‘tried and trusted’ dessert, ready to make an appearance.
Here are the two menus we planned and enjoyed so much. Northcote dishes are in blue with my efforts in a respectful and thoughtful black.
Before delivery I phoned and emailed Northcote with a few questions about the food itself and the suggested wine pairings which could be bought from their regular and rather wonderful merchants in Skipton - The Wright Wine Company.
‘Second hand’ messages from Chef Lisa helped us to increase quantities for the cod dish and raise it from starter to main. Much useful written advice from Craig Bancroft (officially Managing Director but essentially he is all over goings-on at Langho like a very welcome rash!) on wine alternatives reassured us that we already had enough in our racks to fit the bill. All except for a Portuguese white and the interesting pairing for the consommé. Both of those were sourced from The Wine Society as we had left it too late to order from Skipton.
On arrival our box induced an intake of breath which was only fully expelled after we found no real damage from the seriously dented top.
All present and correct with a few ‘flesh wounds’ which would do nothing to impair the flavour of our treat.
Our delivery driver three-point turned and passed back down the road to exit. We surveyed what he had left and refined and consolidated our plans to prepare meals for that evening and the next.
Separate posts for each meal will follow - to give you more time to digest things.
Meal One here
Meal Two here
Footnote
In early 2021 Northcote offered around 250 boxes for their February Gourmet Box. These sold out in about 30 minutes. We failed to secure one but will try again next time.
Here is Northcote’s reasoned explanation of the situation. I’ve generously - stupidly!? - made a link in the image below so that you too can join in with the battle for future Northcote bounty.
It is a prize worth fighting for!