by | April 26, 2012

Hello Fresh: the no-shop food service

The temptation of hosting a girls night-in is never an over-whelming one.  In fact, the occasion usually feels a great deal more worthy of a night out, even if only to a local pub or restaurant.  When home entertaining, there’s the task of working out what to cook, the trip to the supermarket and then the inclination and energy needed to cook – when all the girls really want is a big glass of wine and some juicy gossip.

sizzling steak stir fry – serves 2

So I was curious when, last week, in popped an email from a keen PR announcing the launch of Hello Fresh.  Hello indeed.  Promising the delivery of not only an inspirational recipe but also measured out ingredients at 5pm on the day of the soiree, I was sold on the idea of reviewing this new gourmet delivery service.

Curious as to what would be arriving in my Hello Fresh box, I pestered the PR to disclose the menu I was being sent.  No, I was told, the exercise was one of ‘food discovery’ and I had to be patient and wait for my surprise.  At this point, I did point out that my review would involve 3 hungry girlfriends and I also stressed that the food parcel should not include pork nor shellfish.

At just before 6pm last night the box was delivered (reminding me of my diet delivery service review).  Inside were 3 menu cards each with corresponding food to serve 2.  To clarify:  chicken Caesar salad for 2, steak stir fry with egg noodles for 2 and…. roasted pepper with herbed PORK!  Not only did the 3 recipes not ‘go together’, there wouldn’t be enough for all 4 of us to eat the same meal.

Flinging the kids into bed and popping open the first bottle of Champagne, I panic speed-dialled the local Chinese.  And then as my guests arrived, I tasked them up for a spot of communal cooking.  We set about making the chicken Caesar salad and the steak stir fry, even challenging ourselves to do so before the man on the motorbike arrived with the aromatic duck.    The evening was a huge success; stories of mad mother in laws, crooked ballet teachers and even some career advice between mouthfuls of home-cooked cuisine and chinky nosh.

Here is our sum up of Hello Fresh:

  • we don’t like surprises and want to look forward to what we will be cooking/eating
  • recipes for 4 need to be included
  • no pork means no pork

but….

  • the menu cards are the right amount of quirky and useful
  • the food was fresh and well labelled
  • the concept is a winner for the less cost sensitive and more time poor

The final task I gave the girls was to guess how much the service costs.  Granted we had already finished our second bottle of the posh fizz by then but I should reveal that they all guessed £10 less than the actual price.

www.hellofresh.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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by | April 25, 2012

female agents calling the shots

Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, in the gripping TV drama Homeland, is a very current and compelling character, the latest in an illustrious line of top female TV agents.

For longer than a decade we have admired the legend that is Jack Bauer (24’s season 8 finale was aired May 2010). The male protagonist has repeatedly wowed us as, single handed, he prevented major terrorist attacks on US soil. But was his relentless determination, energy and focus  – dare I suggest – unrealistically flawless?

So now at today’s water cooler, there is no doubt our Sunday evening is currently dominated by less-than-perfect but equally addictive Carrie Mathison, the CIA officer in Homeland. Debate sparked at Culture Compass as to what makes a great television agent or cop? Do we feel more comfortable with a character defect or two?  Does a woman in, what was, a man’s world make for more dramatic viewing? And if so, who have been our favourite knuckle-busting females over the years?  Head strong, tough as nails, quick witted, a wardrobe to drool over… here’s our guide to the women calling the small screen shots on Culture Compass.

 

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by | April 22, 2012

I just called…

carrier pigeon

I am sitting at my desk enjoying a quiet house (nursing a big hangover – yes, never a good idea to do tequila shots after midnight) and, out of the corner of my eye, I can see the answer phone winking at me.

Now I wonder if this strikes you as odd; I am not even curious as to who has left me/us a message.  In fact, it might take me hours or even days for me to get around to listening to it.  But, on the other hand, my life draws to a standstill every time an email, direct tweet, blog comment or Facebook message flashes up in front of my eager eyes.  What has happened to what we used to call the ‘landline’, the poor relation to the fist full of technology we are never more than an arm’s reach away from?  And why is it dropping off our message radar?

The answer is probably simple; replying to an answer phone message takes us longer.  First we have to wait for the machine to spit the message out, then a wait of at least another 5 seconds before it can be deleted and then… we have to call back our message leaver.  The whole process feels tedious.  Our grandparents would never have considered this process to be longwinded but channels of communication have gone berserk over the last decade, leaving us all unhealthily frazzled and impatient.

Now, back to that message.  Full apologies if it is from you.  Next time, just send a carrier pigeon.

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Filed under life, social

by | April 21, 2012

tickling the ivories

pianos for auction

I like to pride myself on how impulsive I can be when I shop.  But clearly, this skill is only relevant when frivolous purchases are being made.  And this particular spending spree needed to be fully researched.

A little background.  Mini-Me is really enjoying the piano but He and I are less enjoying the quarterly rental bill.  Initially we weren’t keen to buy a piano, essentially because we weren’t at all sure her keenness wasn’t just a passing phase but we also felt sofas, a coffee table and some curtains should come first.

Eventually when we did ask the piano renters if we could buy their piano, we were faced with a shockingly  over-priced valuation.  That was when the research began: How much does a mediocre upright cost?  How easily do they lose their value?  Where does one find a good value 2nd hand piano?

Piano Auctions is run by a charming (but not sales-y) team who have over 26 years experience in pianos, auctioneering and valuations.  Their advice was sound; I should look for a re-conditioned Yamaha U1 as this was not only affordable but would also sound good and hold its value well.

However, I still needed more advice as all the pianos looked and sounded the same to my ignorant eye and similar ear.  I was put in touch with the man who tunes the pianos at (wait for it) the Royal Opera House, Downing Street, BuckinghamPalace… need I go on?  He met me at the auction yesterday and – for a small fee – pointed out an Ibach  in the corner of the room which he considered to be ‘an undiscovered gem needing a little work’.

Today I bid low while adrenalin ran high and we are now proud owners of a 1970s (currently very) flat upright needing my piano tuner’s love and attention.  It will serve Mini-Me well for years to come and I just need to make sure I don’t sing the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.

The next piano auction is on Thursday 20th September 2012 at Conway Hall, Holborn.

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Filed under kids, music, shopping