DELIVERY
> How do you deliver?
We deliver to most addresses in the U.K, using overnight couriers, in insulated boxes. You will receive the items frozen, ready for your freezer. For some areas of Yorkshire, one of our team may deliver, at an agreed time.
> How long does it take to deliver?
Once you make your order, we will contact you within 24 hours to arrange a convenient delivery date. Ours is slow food. We don’t have warehouses to stock food and we cook based on orders. Sometimes you may have to wait a few days for delivery, but we promise it’ll be worth the wait.
> Where do you deliver?
We deliver to most addresses in mainland UK using DHL/UKMail’s next day delivery service.
Next day delivery with our couriers is not available to Northen Ireland and some parts of Scotland. If you are in doubt or live in a remote area where you usually have delivery issues, please contact us to check before ordering.
> What if I am not in?
No problem. You can mention delivery choices (leave with my neighbour etc.,) when you order. Alternately when our couriers contact you with delivery time, they will give you alternate options. Since it’s frozen food, please endeavour to get it in your freezer as soon as you can.
> Will I get the items frozen?
Yes. Our insulated delivery boxes act like mini-freezers and they are tested to keep food frozen for upto 24 hours. Items are wrapped in special wool liners and packed with ice/gel packs. If for any reason (delivery delays, hot weather etc) the items are thawed please take photos/videos of them and send us, we will arrange replacement.
> Is the packaging material food safe/recyclable?
All our packaging materials are certified food safe and comply with all the regulations. All packaging materials used are recyclable. The wool liners we use are compostable. The ice/gel packs are perfectly safe to dispose or empty in the sink if you choose to.
> What are the delivery costs?
Delivery is free to most of the UK for orders over £39.
ORDERING
> How do I order?
Please order online on this website if you can. If you really need to order by phone please text or WhatsApp 07760 648911 to order.
> Can I order for a large party?
We can do many of our items in larger party packs by special order, providing there is enough notice. We can cater for large parties by special arrangement. Please contact us for details.
> Can I gift your food to someone?
Yes indeed. If you know people who are curry lovers, have parents or kids who would love better and healthier curries, you can order on their behalf.
> Is there any minimum order value?
Yes there is minimum order value of £39.
OUR FOOD
> Why Frozen?
Freezing is a natural and safe way of preserving food. If done properly using special equipment like we do, it locks-in all the nutrition, flavour and taste. It reduces risk and helps us deliver you the food to taste in its peak condition.
> How do you freeze food?
We freshly cook quickly freeze within minutes of cooking. We use special blast freezers to freeze quickly at the right time. When you heat-up our food, it’ll look, smell and taste as if it was freshly just made at home.
> Isn't “fresh” food better?
Yes, slightly better, only if you source the finest ingredients, spend a lot of time to cook at home without short-cuts and eat straightaway. We believe that the longer Indian food is stored in ambient/chilled state, the more it loses taste and nutrition.
Most commercially available “fresh” food, particularly Indian food isn’t as fresh as they say. Supermarkets use cheap ingredients and factory-make food and do things to food to increase shelf-life. Takeaways and restaurants have to use lot of shortcuts and cut corners to serve many customers in a short time. Greasy, artificially coloured/flavoured food with cheap ingredients isn’t natural or healthy, even if it’s served hot as “fresh” food.
There are only a few high-end restaurants who are meticulous about ingredients and cooking from scratch, but they cost a lot more for the same quality of food you get from Chef Akila.
> Where/How is your food made?
We hand-cook each item from scratch, in small batches in our Yorkshire kitchen. No base gravies, no sauces and no chemicals. Chef Akila, Chef Selva and a small team of helpers lovingly cook and taste each item before packing on-site and blast freezing within minutes.
> Do you use any additives/colours/presevatives?
No. We don’t use any chemicals, artificial colours, flavour enhancers, preservatives, sauces, base gravies or MSG. We cook using traditional methods and Chef Akila is keen on things like hand crushing spices using mortar and pestle and grating fresh coconuts by hand.
> I'm allergic to something. Where can I find allergen information?
You can find allergen information on each pack and on each item on our website. We take extreme care to avoid cross-contamination of allergens, cook and store allergen containing items separately etc., However our food is cooked and packed in a kitchen which handles allergens. So if you are sensitive to traces of allergens please contact us before ordering.
> Are the calorie/nutritional values accurate?
We meticulously analyse calorific and nutritional values of each of our items using industry/legal standards and verify using accredited labs. However please be aware that the values are typical. We hand-cook each batch and there is a possibility of small variation in values.
> Is your food safe?
Our kitchen is registered and inspected and we comply with all food safety requirements in the U.K. Our HACCP/NCASS standards are monitored and inspected. All our staff are adequately trained in food safety and hygiene. All packaging materials we use are certified food safe to industry standards.
> How long would it last in my freezer?
Each item will have a “best before” date on the pack. While technically our food may last longer, we’ve taste-tested every item and give the “best before” date based on this. On average, our items will last in your freezer for 3 months.
OUR INGREDIENTS
> How do you source your ingredients?
We use the freshest possible ingredients with the least food miles. We use organic ingredients where possible. We source as much as possible locally in Yorkshire. We use local markets, butchers and farm shops to procure many of our ingredienrs.
> Where do you source your chicken/lamb?
We only use traceable and premium British chicken and lamb. We buy lean meat but still hand-trim the any fat off. We buy from local butchers and farm shops in Yorkshire.
> Which oils do you use?
We use the best quality, cold-pressed, virgin/extra virgin oils, organic where possible. We never use any cheap commercial oils/GMO oils or refined oils. We tested and analysed 16 different oils before deciding on the best ones. We use the least amount of oil required for each recipe. Some of our non-vegan items have a touch of home made organic ghee, which is made from Irish organic butter.
> Are there any chemicals added?
None whatsoever. We don’t need to add any preservatives due to how we freeze food, we don’t need to add flavourings as our food is naturally flavoursome. We don’t add artificial colours or sweeteners as we think they are harmful.
OUR VEGAN FOOD
> How is your Vegan/Plant-based food made?
We cook and pack our Vegan food on separate cooking days, using different utensils and equipment. We store our Vegan ingredients separately to non-vegan items. We have separate fridges and freezers for animal and plant products and clean everything meticulously before and after cooking non-vegan items.
> Why so many plant-based options?
Many Indian recipes are naturally plant-based and are ideal for our “as healthy and clean as possible” ethos. Whether you are a vegan/vegetarian or just want meat free meals, we have a large range of vegan items.
COOKING/HEATING
> How do I cook/heat your food?
All our food is pre-cooked and you only need to defrost and heat thoroughly. Instructions for each items will be on our website and on individual packs.
CUSTOMISING OUR FOOD
> I like my food spicier/milder. Can I customise to my taste?
You can choose items varying from mild to hot. We tend to add less spice/chillies and much less oil/fat, so everyone can enjoy our healthy food. We know tastes vary, so we always recommend checking seasoning and salt before serving. You can add own personal touch with garnishings etc. You can contact us if you have any queries or need advice from our chefs.
CONTACTING US
> How do I contact you?
Click here to
contact us or by sending a message through text or WhatsApp to 07760 648911.
