During lockdown, it’s safe to say that we all connected with our inner baker or chef. Some of us were more successful than others. Many even had the bright idea of launching dark kitchens from their family homes. Providing their neighbourhoods with some much-needed home-cooked food. Well, a new food-delivery service, All About The Cooks, has taken this concept to its fullest potential.
Described as the “Etsy for food”, All About The Cooks provides a home for home cooks to sell dishes to their local neighbours. Bristol is a particularly diverse and multicultural place. It means these high-quality home cooks have cuisines and dishes you’re unlikely to find in restaurants or other delivery apps.
There’s Nisa Nur in the City Centre selling traditional Turkish specialities. There’s also Bradley in Yatton whipping up dairy-free and vegan American-inspired sweet pies. While Vida & Sajeda in Speedwell are serving up Afghani food. But you’ll also find a range of cuisines from Chinese to Cuban, South African to Filipino. There’s a whole universe of authentic flavours waiting in your neighbourhood.
Of course, we had to try it out ourselves, deciding to try the Malaysian dishes of former MasterChef contestant Woei. (You might be surprised to learn there are some proper talented cooks masquerading as your neighbours on the platform.) All collections and deliveries are arranged with the cook. So after the Brislington-based Woei hand-delivered our big bag of food – with a cute handwritten note – we got to work devouring it all.
Deciding on Malaysian-style fried noodles (Mee Goreng Mamak) was our main dish – which was fresh and comforting with a healthy kick – we also picked up a couple of sides to bulk out the meal. We ended up with more food than we could ever dream of. The vegetable spring rolls were a hearty snack all by themselves, brown butter roti with coconut dahl a creamy delight, and chicken skewers with some of the best satay sauce we’ve ever had. (We want the recipe Woei!)
If like us, you’re at first a little unsure of the health and safety regulations, don’t be. These home cooks have to go through the same food safety checks as any restaurant. They must achieve at least a 4-star food hygiene rating and pass the industry-standard food hygiene certification before being featured on All About The Cooks.
Claire Ladkin, Founder of All About The Cooks, said: “This platform has community at its heart, which we know people are hungry for, so customers should expect tales aplenty from the cooks themselves when they pop round to collect their dishes!”
Since launching in Bristol in 2019, over 60 home cooks have joined the platform. Sold over 800 meals in their neighbourhoods too. One of the earliest home cooks on the platform, Trung Trinh, was even able to open his own Vietnamese restaurant, The Saigon Kitchen, in 2022 after using All About The Cooks. Late last year, the project even expanded into the Bath area.
To see which home cooks are cooking up a storm in your neighbourhood head here.