The set as it arrives from Brown's Hotel - they've even wrapped the lemons in muslin for you.
So what do we need to know about Charlie's?
This is the main restaurant at Browns Hotel in Mayfair - Rocco Forte's flagship London hotel. Named after the original Forte, Lord Charles, its Chef Director is Adam Byatt and the Head Chef is Matthew Starling. Food-wise, think luxury modern British.
And they have a home delivery offering?
They do. In addition to being able to get the hotel's afternoon tea delivered to your door, you can also order food from Charlie's. They occasionally do event-specific boxes, for things like Valentine's Day, but there's also an always-on Weekend Feast Box which is what we took for a Test Drive. That menu changes every month.
How much effort is required?
Very, very little. The starter just needs lifting out of the box and putting on a plate (as does dessert) and the main course is just a bung in the oven job. Couldn't be easier. Here's what we had:
House baked bread and whipped unsalted butter. Pop the rolls in the oven for a minute or two to warm up. Loving the beautiful quenelle of butter too.
Smoked salmon with traditional garnish, muslin-tied lemon and rye bread - they've even artfully draped the salmon (from Moxon's) so you literally lift and put on the plate to make it look all cheffy, and just sprinkle over the gremolata mix.
Beef Wellington with truffle jus, potato gratin and green beans with herbed butter. Very specific cooking instructions made it easy to get this right - although it helps if you have a meat thermometer. The beef and gratin are popped in the oven while the beans and jus are heated on the hob. And it really was an amazing bit of meat.
Baked lemon tart served with raspberries. A hint of summer to come.
Petit fours - salted caramel ganache dipped in 66% dark chocolate with a sprinkling of Maldon sea salt on top. These are very, very good chocolates.
What about vegans/vegetarians?
There's a vegetarian menu, consisting of Spiced cauliflower soup with walnut pesto, Butternut squash Wellington, potato gratin and green beans with herbed butter and, for dessert, Yorkshire rhubarb crumble.
Overall thoughts:
If you're after a quintessentially luxury British experience, then this weekend box is just the ticket. It's very low effort for such great results - so particularly nice if you're after a relaxing meal at home after a busy week.
More about Charlie's Weekend Feast Box
Where is it? Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BP
Delivery: Collection from hotel or delivery within an eight mile radius of W1 on Fridays. The box is £125 for two.
How to order: Call Claire on 07788 329 268 or email ctenhacken@roccofortehotels.com
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @charliesmayfair
Hot Dinners were sent this box as a gift from the hotel. Prices correct at time of publication.
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