Muddy Stilettos

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-4-1000x667.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-61804" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-4-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-4-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-4-787x525.jpeg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-4.jpeg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Do you have friends who take a leisurely afternoon to prep their dinner parties – pootling around with the tablescaping with an artful flourish of ivy or dried flowers, and writing inky name cards by hand? Hey, maybe this is your own glorious, instagrammable life! (in which case let’s all file in an orderly queue and sign up to be you).



My reality is somewhat different. I have three teenage kids who rip my house to shreds every week. Designated taxi driver, chef and 20 years a slave, I’m knackered most of the time. I work six days a week, and on the seventh day I rest horizontally, mostly eating crisps. There’s never enough food in my house, and always too much wine and the thought of cooking for my kids &#8211; let alone guests &#8211; is a mental leap I never quite manage by Friday night, when one hand is already on the speed dial to Domino&#8217;s.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-33.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61598" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-33.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-33-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POWFood-HollyFarrier-33-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



So what to do? What if like me, you’re at heart super-sociable, you love your friends, you desperately want to entertain but, frankly my dear, you can’t quite be arsed with the effort? &nbsp;Easy. You call in <a href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/">Pow Food</a>. This is my new secret weapon that I will happily deploy again and again for now and forever. Basically it&#8217;s à la carte catering, made to order and delivered to your door &#8211; all you have to do is heat it and serve. Think a deluxe Go Fresh without the irritation of actually cooking. I mean, it’s genius.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-667x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61638" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-400x600.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45-350x525.jpg 350w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-45.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>



Pow Food is the online ordering arm of longstanding London events and catering business Ravenous (now fully rebranded as Pow Food) whose mother/daughter team Ali and Emily Warburton spotted a gap in the market &#8211; catering to time-poor women with busy lives and an appetite for good food and friends. Launched quietly over the summer nationally (though much of the business is coming from the M4 corridor), it’s taken off quickly, with customers going wild for the concept of high quality restaurant food that’s also healthy, thanks to two nutritionists work on the menu alongside the executive chef.







<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Ali-and-Emily.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61663" width="1000" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Ali-and-Emily.jpg 841w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Ali-and-Emily-600x389.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Ali-and-Emily-810x525.jpg 810w" sizes="(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" /></figure>



My cards on the table here. I had already cancelled a garden party over summer because I couldn’t face the organisational headache. Then last month I found myself staring at the abyss of my upcoming birthday celebrations &nbsp;&#8211; knowing I should get my friends over, but sensing that I couldn’t pull off a dinner for 12 at the end of a bruising week. 



A breezy 15 minutes on Pow Food’s website solved that one. All you do is order online for national delivery five days before your party from a whole range of à la carte entreés, mains and desserts made without gluten and dairy (vegan, nut free and veggie also catered for); then store in your fridge the afternoon before your party on delivery, and then on the night… just unpack, heat and serve. Seriously, it&#8217;s as easy at that. I ended up ordering three courses for 12 guests plus brownies for just over £200 which, to my mind, is a total steal. 



That left me enough time to chuck on a frock (thanks All Saints), light some candles, create an outdoor entertaining space that was too cold to use, and generally get into the spirit of things.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-75-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61643" width="640" height="426" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-75-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-75-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-75-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-75.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-87-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61646" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-87-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-87-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-87-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-87.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-90-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61647" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-90-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-90-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-90-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-90.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



But what of the food? Knock-out delicious was the verdict and no, I didn’t try to pass it off as my own &#8211; not even tempted. (OK, tempted). What I particularly rated was how special the courses felt for a dinner party. 



We started the evening with sharing platters of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/kalamata-olive-tapenade/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/kalamata-olive-tapenade/" target="_blank">Kalamata olive and red pepper tapenade</a> served with sourdough crostini and raw hemp crackers along with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/feta-preserved-in-olive-oil-with-herbs/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/feta-preserved-in-olive-oil-with-herbs/" target="_blank">feta with rosemary and sundried tomatoes</a> while we were having early stand-up drinks&#8230;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-38.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61636" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-38.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-38-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-38-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-38-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-103.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61649" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-103.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-103-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-103-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-103-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



&#8230; before moving onto the main event &#8211; sustainably sourced golden <a href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/sustainably-sourced-fragrant-golden-goan-fish-curry-made-with-salmon-hake-and-prawns/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/sustainably-sourced-fragrant-golden-goan-fish-curry-made-with-salmon-hake-and-prawns/">Goan fish curry with salmon, cod and prawns</a>, below, which was a huuuuuge hit. It looked and tasted incredible, and was generous with the fish too.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1512" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-goan-fish-curry-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61799" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-goan-fish-curry-.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-goan-fish-curry--595x600.jpg 595w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-goan-fish-curry--992x1000.jpg 992w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-goan-fish-curry--521x525.jpg 521w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Goan fish curry </figcaption></figure>



Even better, I twinned it with the hit of the night, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/vegan-forbidden-black-rice-with-mushrooms-peppers-and-fermented-beans-dp/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/vegan-forbidden-black-rice-with-mushrooms-peppers-and-fermented-beans-dp/" target="_blank">forbidden black rice with mushrooms, peppers and fermented beans</a>, below. The combination of the slightly sticky, rich rice with the fragrant curry was spot on &#8211; totally recommend it. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1338" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-forbidden-black-rice.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61808" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-forbidden-black-rice.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-forbidden-black-rice-600x535.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-forbidden-black-rice-1000x892.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-forbidden-black-rice-589x525.jpg 589w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



 Unfortunately I don’t have any pretty home-plated versions to show you because, in keeping with a birthday party where I wanted zero stress, I decided that everyone could just serve themselves so I could just relax into the evening. Totally selfish, yes, and I&#8217;m totally going to repeat at my next dinner party!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-187-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61654" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-187-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-187-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-187-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-187.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>These breasts do not belong to me. I wish they did though</figcaption></figure>



However, I can confirm that everyone went back for seconds and even thirds. Everyone apart from my vegetarian pal, obvs &#8211; she had her own <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/vegan-sesame-crusted-organic-tofu-teriyaki-with-mushroom-brown-rice/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/vegan-sesame-crusted-organic-tofu-teriyaki-with-mushroom-brown-rice/" target="_blank">Vegan Sesame crusted Organic Tofu Teriyaki with Mushroom Brown Rice</a>, which I&#8217;d chosen as a separate ready meal in the same Pow Food order.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2250" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61651" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136-400x600.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-136-350x525.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>The tofu teriyaki</figcaption></figure>



Dessert was an elegant Pear Frangipani with organic crème fraîche, the perfect foil to the more frou-frou main course. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="855" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-frangipani--1000x855.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61802" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-frangipani--1000x855.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-frangipani--600x513.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-frangipani--614x525.jpg 614w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-frangipani-.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Not served, you&#8217;ll be pleased to hear, to my severely nut-allergic friend, who instead ate a pretty vegan superberry mousse which I ordered from Pow Food singly. Given how tricky it can be to cater for different dietary requirements when you&#8217;re cooking from scratch, being able to order individual portions was incredibly helpful.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-232.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61662" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-232.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-232-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-232-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Muddy_POW_Sept22-232-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



By one o&#8217;clock in the morning, lost in the giddy excitement of pulling off a dinner party with almost zero effort, it was time for coffee and goodbyes. Only afterwards did I remember the gluten and dairy free <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/box-of-luxury-gf-df-brownies/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/product/box-of-luxury-gf-df-brownies/" target="_blank">12 luxury brownies</a> sitting tantalisingly out of sight. Such a shame that I had to methodically scoff them all weekend, but there you go &#8211; I&#8217;m selfless to a fault. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="774" height="772" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61793" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies.jpg 774w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies-600x598.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies-526x525.jpg 526w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/POW-Food-Brownies-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 774px) 100vw, 774px" /></figure>



Hosting your own dinner party? Head to Reader Treats to <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-new-years-eve-dinner-with-pow-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">win £600 worth of sumptuous party food from Pow Food</a> &#8211; plus wine, cocktails and the washing up thrown in! 



<a href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/contact-us/">Pow Food</a> delivers nationwide. Tel: 0345 340 5397. Email <a href="mailto:hello@powfood.co.uk">hello@powfood.co.uk</a>. Check out the website for <a data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-a-la-carte/" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-a-la-carte/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">à la carte</a>, <a data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-meals/" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-meals/">ready meals</a> and <a data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-meals/" href="https://www.powfood.co.uk/shop-our-home-range/pow-meals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corporate catering</a>

POW! Your à la carte dinner party delivery has arrived

You may also like