The Meals
Where are your ingredients from?
We use a number of national suppliers to the restaurant trade, including a UK based Italian product importer.
Are your ingredients organic?
No, we do not use organic ingredients. We are however proud of the quality of our ingredients some of which are organic.
Do you have Vegetarian Meals?
Yes, many Italian meals are vegetarian and we have a good selection.
How long will my meals last?
No unnatural ingredients are added to your meals to prolong life and therefore meals should be eaten as soon as possible. In line with Food Safety guidelines we give products 3 days life and therefore your meals will normally have 2 days life following delivery, unless we produce them on the day of delivery when you would have 3 days.
Can I freeze my meals?
Yes, many of our meals can be frozen although any product that has previously been frozen should not be frozen again. We do use a frozen prawn and our Ciabatta bread is currently a frozen product. Any dish with a frozen ingredient is clearly marked as not suitable for freezing.
You make a big thing about being additive free are there any E numbers in your meals?
E numbers are given to both natural and artificial ingredients, so it is not possible to say that we are free of E numbers. What we can say is that we do not use artificial Preservatives, stabilisers, Antioxidants, Emulsifiers or Thickeners.
Where we use bacon it has to have a salt based preservative otherwise it would be Pork, as a producer told me at a recent trade show, this is a natural salt!
We want you to be confident that our food is a natural as possible.
Where are the meals produced?
We have two purpose designed kitchens in Loughborough. In one, we do all the big pan cooking and preparation of ingredients. In the other we prepare the meals ready for dispatch.
Are your meals Nut Free?
Only a small number of our meals contain nuts, although as nuts are present in our kitchens we cannot guarantee any of our meals to be nut free.
How big are your portion sizes?
For meals we have three main sizes; our standard 600g, Small 300g and Multi-portion 3kg. A healthy appetite should find they are satisfied with a 600g portion. 300g portions are for the lighter appetite. A 3kg portion would feed a family or party of 6-8 people. It does depend, however, if you are making a salad to go with it or if you have ordered garlic bread as a side order.
What should I do if there is a problem with my meals?
Simply Email info@thegastronomic.co.uk or call 0800 028 2998 explaining what the problem is. We are here to help. |
Ordering & Payment
How many meals do I have to order?
There is no set number of meals, you can order one if you wish, although unfortunately there is a delivery and packaging charge payable. We have three sizes of delivery box which will take either 2, 4 or 6 standard meals.
Can I place more than one order a day?
You can order as many times to as many addresses as you would like. There is no restriction.
How do I pay for my meals?
Once you have confirmed your order you will be transferred to the World Pay site for credit or debit card processing, this is a secure site and we do not handle your details throughout the process.
I am having the meals delivered to a relative, how will they know it is from me?
Simply fill out the message box online and we will ensure that your message is the first thing they see when opening the box.
I have been given an introductory discount code from my friend, how does this work?
If you enter this code at the end of the order process, as instructed, the discount will be automatically taken from your meals total.
The discount doesn’t work on your special deals, why is that?
These meal deals are already heavily discounted and we simply cannot offer further reductions. We hope you understand.
You say that I will get a discount credit when a friend enters my code, how does that work?
Every time one of your friends or family has a delivery for the first time, our system automatically credits you with a discount on your next order. For every time your code is used to have a delivery another credit will be added to your account. It is therefore beneficial to you to give your code out to your friends, before your friends give out their code to your other friends! If you see what we mean!
|
Our Packaging
How do you keep my meals chilled?
We deliver your meals in a special insulated box and add ice packs to ensure that the temperature is maintained.
How will I know that the temperature has been maintained in transit?
When your meals arrive the ice packs may have defrosted, but don’t worry about the temperature. We add a special smart sticker to each box that contains a dye that reacts to temperature over time. If the sticker is green when you open the box then you can be assured that the chill chain has been maintained. If it is red or bright orange simply contact us at info@thegastronomic.co.uk and we will advise you on the action to take. How are my meals packaged?
All meals are supplied in a plastic or foil container, depending on if they are for the microwave or oven. We then place the meal in a plastic bag and partially vacuum pack it to ensure that the meal doesn’t get damaged in transit.
Is the packaging recyclable?
Yes, most of the packaging can be recycled or used for other things.
Can the insulated box reused?
We are looking at packaging to enable you to return the insulated box free of charge. If you have a delivery from our own vans the driver will be happy to collect them from you on your next delivery, just ask when he calls.
How do I prepare my meals for heating or baking?
It is important to remove the outer bag from the meals before cooking. It will melt in the oven and become extremely hot in the microwave. Simply cut the end of the bag open and pull the meal from the bag. For microwave meals remove the thin protective film. Each microwave meal has a plastic lid which should be loosely fitted to the meal before heating. For oven baked meals once out of the bag simply remove the card lid and pop in the oven.
|
The Delivery
Who will deliver my meals?
We have a number of selected national courier partners who delivery your chilled meal box depending on your location. We also have our own delivery vans which depending on location can do local and special deliveries.
What days do you deliver?
Our normal delivery days are Tuesday to Friday. The online booking calendar will confirm if we can deliver on your chosen day. As a general rule we cannot deliver on Bank Holidays, Sundays or Mondays.
Can I get a Saturday delivery?
Couriers consider Saturdays a premium service day but delivery is possible
Do I pay for delivery?
It depends on how many meals you require. We can absorb the cost of delivery if you spend over £25.
When will my meals arrive?
Your meals will be delivered between 8am and 6pm on your chosen delivery day.
What if I need my delivery for a specific time?
We currently cannot guarantee timed deliveries.
What will a Saturday delivery cost?
Saturday deliveries cost £20 and apply to all deliveries.
How can I avoid delivery charges?
Our aim is to keep the cost of meals as low as possible and therefore do not like to add additional charges. If you are ordering a larger amount of food when we review your order, if we can offer any further discounts on your order we will email you.
Do I have to sign for delivery?
Couriers really like to get a signature for a delivery, so you can have your meals delivered to work if you are out. If you wish to have them delivered to your home, we recommend you select a delivery option from the choices or give us a delivery instruction. It is best if it is to a neighbour that you know will be in. Our couriers are instructed not to return the box to their depot as they are perishable good. If you choose a no signature delivery please select a safe location as we cannot accept responsibility once delivery has been made.
What do I do when my delivery arrives?
Once you open the box, before opening the insulated lid, you will find your delivery note and a letter explaining what to do. Once you have opened the lid you should refrigerate your meals as soon as possible. Make sure you check the temperature tracking sticker immediately to ensure that it is green. If you have a delivery to work and open your box to show your colleagues constantly, or you leave the insulated lid open for any length of time, the sticker will change colour. The sticker is only for monitoring whilst in transit, although it is wise to keep the lid closed until you are ready to place your meals into the fridge.
Can I cancel my delivery?
You can cancel you order any time up to 10am the day before delivery. Simply email us at info@thegastronomic.co.uk. We will cancel your order and within 2 working days contact you to credit your card. Who do I send flowers and Chocolates to, to thank you for a great meal!
We don’t need you to send flowers or chocolates, but we would love to hear from you if you have enjoyed your food or have any comments to make our service even better. Need more information simply Email info@thegastronomic.co.uk or to speak to us call free on 0800 028 2998. |
