… as you can imagine, being the international food blogger extrordinaire that I am, I receive a lot of requests from brands to review stuff and if i’m brutally honest… which I probably shouldn’t be… most of the stuff is utter crap… which is why it’s nice to have received an honest email from the good people at Gousto asking me to review their Gourmet Bag delivery… I was a little reserved at first as this is such a busy month for all of us and I really didn’t know if i’d find the time to review anything but when they explained the concept behind their company I was intrigued…
… and Gousto is a simple concept… it’s essentially a weekly organic food delivery service with added recipes…every week they create recipes on their website… you choose which recipes you like and they send you the ingredients for that exact recipe… most of the stuff is already portioned, all you have to do is prepare and cook it… it’s like opening your favourite cookbook and the ingredients magically appearing… or if you still don’t quite get the concept yet, imagine that annoying bit in Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals, where Mr Oliver advises you to ‘have everything prepared in advance’… well this is that bit… genius…
… the gousto gourmet bag includes 2 meals for 2 people… I had about 8 recipes to choose from and I went for thai beef lettuce wraps, which I made for lunch on Monday… and tagliatelle with artichoke hearts, courgette puree and capers, which The viking and I will had for dinner last night… the box of goodies was delivered to my door and was beautifully wrapped in eco-friendly swaddling to keep it nice a fresh… each recipe comes with it’s own recipe card and very, very clear and user-friendly instructions, with pictures… it honestly couldn’t be simpler and is ideal for us folk with slightly manic lifestyles… the food is all very fresh, the menu’s are all healthy and delicious… the boxes are not cheap but at Β£42 for a couples pack, which equates to 3 meals for 2 people it works out at Β£7 per meal, which last time I looked is cheaper, healthier and probably tastier than a take-away so it actually isn’t too bad…
thai beef lettuce wraps
i’ve never really made anything like this before and they were indeed delicious… I actually felt quite virtuous eating them… they were packed with flavour and I devoured them with glee… and it was also quite a relief to be eating something succinctly not christmassy… here’s the recipe if you fancy making them yourself…
250g minced beef
15g cilantro
1 medium red onion – finely sliced and quartered
1 red chilli – finely chopped
1 lime
1 iceberg lettuce
160g rice noodles
2 cloves garlic – finely crushed
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
30g peanuts – crushed
1 carrot – sliced thinly with a vegetable peeler
– place the beef in a bowl, squeeze the lime over it and let it marinade whilst you make the rest of the meal
– place the noodles into a pot of boiling hot water, off the heat, and let them sit for 15mins or until al dente
– put a pan on a medium heat and saute the beef in some olive oil until cooked, reduce the heat and add the chilli, onion and garlic… add the fish sauce and the soy sauce and simmer for a minute or two until the ingredients and hot
– peel off a few large iceberg leaves and place a handful of noodles in each one, add some of the meat mixture and then top with the carrots and cilantro… sprinkle with the crushed peanuts to serve
the giveaway
… the good people at Gousto have very kindly given me one of their Gourmet Bags as a giveaway prize… this consists of two, 2-person meals and the winner will, as I did, get the opportunity to choose from a selection of menu’s…. Gousto delivers nationwide except for a few very remote places, this means that sadly the giveaway is only open to residents of the UK… or friends of people who live here… so please check here to see if they will deliver to you (or someone you know) before you enter the competition…
… all you have to do is fill in the rafflecopter thingamy below and we’ll pick a winner before the end of the month…
a Rafflecopter giveaway//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js
eat and of course, enjoy!
Jane Willis says
Something really fresh and unchristmassy sounds like a good idea at the moment. I might give these a go, although I know Mark will read this later on today so I'll have to promise to leave out the coriander and fish sauce.
CHOCOAJ says
Sounds yummy !. What a great idea π
Kavey says
I thought Gousto were excellent when I reviewed them, so much so that I bought another week's bag a while after. I'd buy again if I had more cash, as I liked that the recipes got me to try things I wouldn't normally.
Am entering because, so good, want to eat more!
John Gray says
they EVEN deliver to Trelawnyd!!!!!!!!!!
can you believe it!
Marmaduke Scarlet says
Ha ha, virtuous at Christmas – we should have t-shirts made!
Sounds like a very good idea for those with busy lifestyles and your cooked dishes look gorgeous. I'm impressed. Gousto's recipes actually look like the kind of food we would cook and eat!
Foodnerd4life says
Love thai flavours and so good at this time of year to kill off all those horrible bugs going around. More chilli the better!
StephenC says
Sounds like a clever business plan. Hope it works for them. Lucky for the UK.
Mel Briscoe says
Their meals look great.
Laura Caraher says
The Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps sound delicious π
Jenn says
I adore Thai beef lettuce wraps… actually, I like any type of lettuce wraps.. they are so much fun to eat and usually pretty healthy! These look amazing.. nicely done for your first time π
I love this delivery meal service too… just right for the person who still wants to cook but doesn't have all the time for prep work.
Patricia Owen says
What a super idea – I'm always in need of inspiration for meal ideas and Gousto take out the exasperation of finding all the ingredients.
Sue/the view from great island says
I love this idea! I wonder if there is the equivalent in America. I'm assuming the service is pretty pricey, but what fun— I think I have to get working on the American version of this!
Choclette says
I've been seeing Gousto featured all over the place and it looks good. Tried the link to see if I was in to remote a place, but couldn't find anything on the site to tell me, so have to assume fine BECAUSE surely I will win this time?????
twannywun says
Yummy
karen s
Zoe Price says
This sounds like an excellent idea, I'd love to try it!
Coffee and Crumpets says
Those look delicious and very healthy. I love all things Thai so these are a no brainer! It's very convenient and takes the hassle out of thinking what to cook everyday. It's kind of like the supper places we have here in the US but here, we have to go to the place and cook it and bring it home.
I like this way much more.
I am glad to have found your site, I look forward to perusing it.
Nazneen
Hotrod mum says
looks yummy
Recipe Junkie says
I always wonder about these sorts of things – I got a 'meal in a box' from another company in the summer which was great and delish but I had to joint the chicken – not tha I minded but I could really have done with out it. Love the sound of those wraps. I might well try them myself. Also love the sound of the pasta.
Ally - Digital Diva says
Becs at Lay The Table reviewed a similar sounding service from Hello Fresh – http://laythetable.com/reviews/hellofresh-food-delivery-service/
I'd be interested to know how they compare….
My Kitchen Stories. says
We have some of these great suppliers here in Sydney too . A great giveaway
Magnolia Verandah says
My man makes this every Monday night (its his favourite! you know he is addicted to asian food) It is called San Choi Bau here – mostly the same ingredients wrapped in a lettuce cup. Absolutely delicious I love these flavours and so refreshing down here at this time of the year.
Shu Han says
for me, one of the favourite part abotu cooking is shoppign for the ingredients, so this will be taking part of the joy out fo cooking for me. but, i still think this is one brilliant idea for the time-starved people who still want to cook a great healthy meal at home for themselves! the san choi bau looks great(: familiar flavours and a prettty virtuous change to the treats we;ve been seeing around the blogs lately(: merry xmas dom!
Tink Rhonda Lee Mse says
Wow what an amazing give away! the food looks delicious!
pazanne says
I love this idea, its like eating out in.
vision123 says
Looks delicious
Hannah ONeill says
These look lovely!
Alan S says
Looks Yummy
John Mousley says
Delicious, I could treat the wife
Alison Bruce says
would love to try thesetr
amymillband says
would love to win this
littlebean says
Great giveaway would love this, the food looks really yummy π
Victoria says
You can never go wrong by trying new things!
Lynsey Buchanan says
great giveaway
philiboy says
What a great idea – Hope it goes well. Happy Christmas
Jo Mapp says
I am no good at weighing ingredients. I always put 'a bit more' or 'a bit less' than the recipe states. This can quite often be disastrous. The concept of having the ingredients weighed out in advance and delivered is really appealing. No more kitchen disasters for me!
Deborah Munn says
Fabulous. Happy Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.
Alice Hindley says
Thanks for the giveaway and the wonderful blog
zoboze says
Looks intriguing.
Lindsay Seels says
Thai beef lettuce wraps sounds fantastic, a tasty way to get my family to enjoy lettuce.
angie mummy says
Their meal ideas look lovely
Gillian Holmes says
Please put me into the draw – thank you xx
Janice5972 says
Food, Food, Food yes please
rachel says
Never heard of it but would like to try it!
mpad6869 says
Looks delicious
nicola says
looks tasty
Sally Poole says
Looks delicious
diavolina1610 says
Would love to try these!
kiki says
I really must try some of the ideas on here!
allansmithuk83 says
Great competition!
Liza appleton says
Really exciting prospect
jenniwren12 says
I would love to try this
xSJo says
Really like the idea of this, would love to try them.
mister_steven says
2013… must remind myself to eat more Thai food π
Midastouch says
I've now gotta try it.
Anonymous says
Would love to try this
webrunna says
GOING TO TRY THIS
blue10 says
The menus are fantastic; so fresh and original. A tempting feast of deliciousness after the excesses of Christmas.
Emma says
Their pork with butterbeans looks delicious x
mummy24 says
These look great!
@ashlallan
princesssmithee says
ENTER ME :] X
doejaney says
These meals look fab, just right for serving something tasty when in a hurry
Linda says
yum yum
joanna_kow says
Count me in, please
debwh142 says
Looks interesting
Lesley Walsh says
Would be great to give this a try
Jenna Dick says
I've had chicken wraps at a Chinese restaurant and love them so I'm sure these are delicious!
Katie Finlay says
What a great idea
soozybee says
Looks delish
Joanne Blunt says
Fantastic idea
Adele Hill says
Looks delicious I will have to try it.
matphil says
Looks great thanks.
diva1977 says
thanks for this
tracy says
Something different to try, looks good and healthy.
Cheryll says
Oh, would be lovely to try something different π
apn1179 says
Lots of crispy salad is very appealing after Tinsel and Turkey for what seems like weeks
Mickie Bull says
Very interesting idea
Anonymous says
great idea i may try, like the idea of something different
Foulds Charley says
looks FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alison says
These look lovely
Alison Joyce says
These look great Would be handy for quick dinners on work days.
Lynsey Graham says
would love to try
Anonymous says
FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
Anonymous says
Definitely going to try the “Thai beef lettuce wraps”
thanks,
@Jamiecomps
π
Pooky says
Great idea. Please enter me.
sweetiepie82 says
Oh my tummy is growling at me now, all this sounds lush, thanks! x
Caroline says
Love cooking a great meal for a night in but often can't face the supermarket (or even faffing about online) so this sounds like a great idea for a treat.
emmav6 says
avoiding the supermarket with the kids sounds bliss & looks so yummy!
Jo says
I love the choice of recipes on the site, the ingredients all look fresh,this weeks recipes all appeal. Fillipino Stir Fry Pork, Pad Thai and Cumberland Sausages,kidney beans leeks and mash.Yum, even at 9am in the morning. What a great idea.
Charlotte Jones says
They look fab! Great food and a great idea π
Caitlin at Pretty Dainty says
They look so yummy!
Jenni says
They look fantastic!
Lo-Lo says
Please count me in
ali thorpe says
Must admit I'm ready for something fresh and light!
Primrose M says
Please count me in
pepicola says
Great competition, thanks
Sarah Parker says
Looks and sounds delicious
natz101 says
My mouth is watering! Great giveaway!! π
phillippa lee says
Thanks for the giveaway.
Sharon Worsley says
Making my mouth water just looking at all the food!