That Extra-Special Night In

Home delivery boxes have boomed in popularity in recent years for several reasons, particularly during the pandemic. A night in became the new night out. If you have kids, it can sometimes be challenging to get a babysitter on short notice. Restaurants can be a little pricey these days with the cost-of-living increase. Or, you just prefer to dine in the comfort of your own home.

Whatever your reason, we are here to help with the six steps you need to help recreate an unforgettable fine-dining experience, all from the comfort of your own home. 

Let’s get into it…

Order your favourite Haar at Home box 

First things first, you will have to order some delicious food for your special evening. What better than a luxury box prepared by Chef Dean Banks and the team at Haar Restaurant. Dine on Dean’s signature dish of lobster with a mirin butter sauce, dry-aged Scottish steak, or dressed crab and spicy mango slaw. 

Our recommendations are the Best of Land and Sea box, the Luxury Lobster and Crab box or a Luxury Surf and Turf.

Getting the wine ready

You can’t have a fine-dining experience without a delicious bottle of wine. If you are drinking white or rose, ensure it is in the fridge for around two hours before your special evening kicks off.

If you are drinking red wine, it is advised that you should decant this anywhere between twenty minutes and two hours before you plan to sit down and eat. You may also want to decant your white or rose wine, which can be done five to fifteen minutes prior. Any longer, and it is advised that the wine could lose its freshness and vibrancy. 

Setting the mood. Candles, lighting, tablecloth, music

For an unforgettable fine-dining experience, the atmosphere plays a huge part in it. So, dim those lights, get some lovely music on and look out that tablecloth, nice dinnerware, and the candles. Bonus points if you use the ones that are just for display.

Pre-dinner drinks

Imagine you were walking into Haar Restaurant or Dean Banks at the Pompadour. You would always have a little pre-dinner drink. That is no different when you are creating a fine-dining experience at home! A glass of chilled Charles Heidsieck or a delicious cocktail should do the trick and have you ready for an unforgettably evening. 

Cooking your luxury box

One of the key differences between an evening out fine-dining and an evening in fine-dining is the fact that you will be cooking the food yourself. But fear not! This, in our opinion, is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the night. Cooking should be fun, and that is no different when you are cooking our luxury boxes.

While the idea of cooking to a fine-dining standard may fill you with dread, Dean and the team have prepped the boxes and carefully written out the instructions so nothing can go wrong when preparing them.

So now, it’s time to open that box and get cooking!

Presentation

There is the age-old saying that everyone eats with their eyes. And that is no different when dining at home.

It doesn’t need to be too fancy (don’t worry), but it is always nice to present your delicious food well before eating. You can take some tips from our Instagram page for inspiration.

Dean and the team also have tips on preparing and presenting your luxury box on our YouTube channel. Instructions on how to cook each ingredient are shown in the videos.

Are you interested in recreating an unforgettable fine-dining experience in the comfort of your own home? You can browse our selection of incredible luxury boxes right here.