Former chef at the Groucho and The Ivy launches ready meal home delivery service across Thanet and Canterbury
Published: 10:41, 29 May 2020
Updated: 11:16, 29 May 2020
A leading chef who has run kitchens at some of London's most prestigious venues is bringing a 'restaurant-to-you' ready meal service to people's doorsteps.
Tim Wilson, from Canterbury, has rolled out his new food delivery venture across Thanet, Canterbury, Whitstable and Faversham so people can enjoy restaurant-quality food while unable to go out to eat during lockdown.
The 44-year-old, who was executive head chef at exclusive members' clubs including the Groucho, Annabel's and George, was in the process of setting up a charcuterie business as the pandemic hit.
"I got a barn and I was planning to do charcuterie but that market kind of went with lockdown so I've adjusted it by making restaurant-quality ready meals to be delivered to people's homes," he said.
"They are not delivered hot, people can put them in the fridge for a few days if they like and plan their weekend menu.
"You can eat it under your own terms, so not when it arrives like a restaurant or take away."
Tim offers the choice of small or larger dishes. The first includes Sevenscore asparagus and goat's cheese tart for £4 or pork and pistachio terrine with chutney for £5.
Those with bigger appetites have a choice of four dishes including pulled pork kohirabi remoulade with pickles for £8 or navarin of lamb, pearl barley and anchovy aioli for £10.
And for dessert, his dishes include raspberry and frangipane tart with creme fraiche for £5.
The dad-of-two, who lives in Canterbury with his family, co-founded Harbour Street Tapas in Whitstable in 2016, but due to suffering a bad knee after more than two decades working in demanding and fast-paced kitchens, including celebrity haunt The Ivy, he left to set up his own charcuterie business,
But he admits that even once lockdown is lifted, he will carry on with his delivery service, Wilson's Provisions.
"There is definitely a market for doing a restaurant-to-you," he said.
"For example, for people with kids, by the time they get a baby sitter, a taxi, have bought a bottle of wine, you're looking at quite a big outlay.
"With this, you can order loads of different dishes, a whole box of them, and work your way through it over the weekend."
He uses produce from Chandler and Dunn farm in Ash, where his barn is based, and others nearby, and sells his food at Sandwich market on Thursdays.
Mr Wilson, who has planned and delivered events including at the Oscars and Cannes Film Festival, cooks and drops it all himself.
He added: "It's nice to be out of the kitchen and cooking under my own terms."
To see the menu and place an order visit wilsonsprovisions.com
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Marijke Hall