Background
La Goccia opened in Covent Garden in 2017, offering an Italian interpretation of Petersham Nurseries’ seasonal philosophy. Founded by Gael and Francesco Boglione in 2004, the Richmond-based lifestyle brand has always drawn on the couple’s Australian and Italian cultures within an English garden setting, and La Goccia is an extension of that in its central Covent Garden location. La Goccia’s Dine at Home boxes are the perfect way to invite some of that ethos into your home through deliciously curated dishes you can finish at home via the Restokit delivery service.

The Meal Kit
We enjoyed the seven dishes of the March vegetarian menu, designed to share, and celebrating the produce of early spring while championing comforting veg still ripe from winter. We were sent everything we needed to prepare burrata with squash agrodolce, cauliflower with sundried tomatoes ailoi, pear and pecorino Toscano, fresh spaghetti with wild mushrooms, leek gratinato, borlotti beans with cavolo nero and potatoes al forno with garlic and rosemary. Oh, and a dreamy tiramisu. A real feast, indeed.

How many does it feed?
Two to share, generously.

Packaging
Mostly recyclable packaging.

Prep
With so many dishes to be served at once for sharing, this is one meal kit that involved a fair bit of kitchen juggling but nothing was difficult and the instructions were super clear.

The food
From the creamy burrata and roasted squash to the tangy pear and pecorino salad, this was a fresh feast for the senses. Perfectly capturing the best of every ingredient and making the most of the natural flavour found in fresh seasonal produce, each and every dish was a treat. The creamy, earthy spaghetti with wild mushrooms was wholesome and warming as was the borlotti beans dish but for us, the simple dishes showcasing the beauty of the hero ingredient were the stars of the show. The texture and flavour of the herby, creamy potatoes al forno with garlic and rosemary were divine, and every mouthful of the crisp, sweet and earthy cauliflower and broccoli with rich sundried tomato aioli was delicious. The leek gratinato holds a particularly special place in Brummell’s heart, a delicately cheesy, sweet, wholesome and all-round mouth-watering delight. Topped with a healthy portion of light and creamy tiramisu, it was a fresh Italian meal not to forget.

The price
Vegetarian menu, £80 for two.

The verdict
Showcasing the best of the season’s ingredients, this Italian feast fresh from the English garden is a luxury sharing experience to brighten any lockdown dinnertime. Thoroughly delectable.

petershamnurseries.com; restokit.co.uk