Chef on Board

This company, owned by Jonathan and Olivia Parker, specialise in handmade meals which can be delivered nationwide by overnight courier. The delivery charge is waived for orders over £75. Jonathan was formerly Editor of Debrett's People Today but he decided to give that up in order to follow one of his passions, food. He brushed up his skills at Darina Allen's Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland.

There are about twenty main courses on the menu and includes basics such as boeuf bourgignonne, fish pie, pork stroganoff. There are three vegetarian dishes on the list. The servings are in individual portions, a generous portion for one or a modest one for people with bird like appetites.

Jonathan uses good quality and locally sourced ingredients. This is a cottage industry at its finest, with each dish being prepared in small batches. They all reheat superbly and you would be hard pushed to tell that you hadn't cooked them yourself.

The online ordering system is a fairly new concept. You can buy Chef on Board meals through various retailers, a list of which is on the menu. Otherwise click and go.