What you’re eating & drinking to get through the lockdown. Pt. 1 – Menai oysters to Marmite hummus

We asked Great Food Club members to tell us what they’re eating & drinking to get through the lockdown. You provided an interesting response. Here’s Part 1.


“I am enjoying Menai oysters. I took delivery of eight dozen to spread the delivery charge and keep the price at under £10 per dozen. The first few I enjoyed au naturelle. Then I cooked some with a simple onion & tomato sauce (as my wife only likes cooked oysters). Next, I shucked a dozen & a half for my daughter. Then I gratineed some. I also froze some to cook later. Then back to au naturelle, washed down with a crisp white! I’ll most probably order another lot in a couple of weeks as delivery is prompt and it’s much cheaper than driving to Anglesey.” – Stuart


“A market trader has an amazing fruit and veg stall in her garage on the road between Eastwell and Stathern in Leicestershire, very extensive. One person at a time, cash only, useful to know to make trips to the supermarket less frequent.” – Colette


“Just made these… dinky lockdown scones.” – Rebekah. Here’s the recipe.


“I want to mention Beardsley’s [Tea Room & Shop] here in Rearsby, Leicestershire. [Owner] Hollie has been amazing, keeping us locals supplied with bread, milk, eggs, her wonderful baking (raspberry brownies today), and some useful store-cupboard items including flour! She is happy to deliver to us oldies in the village if necessary, and it was such a treat to have her Mothers’ Day afternoon tea delivered. I’d like her to know how much we appreciate her and what a huge difference it is making in these challenging times. I’ve ordered hot cross buns for later in the week so that will be a treat.” – Kathy


“Well, one of our biggest happy food experiences during this present situation has been ordering & eating roasting chickens from our good friends at Waterloo Cottage Farm, Great Oxendon (just south of Market Harborough). We’ve tried many chickens in our time but theirs are the best for texture, quality and flavour. Having roasted it in our chicken brick – a great invention that keeps all the flavour and juices in and cuts out having to clean the oven – we use any meat remaining after the first meal (there are just the two of us) in a curry, a paella or whatever we decide at the time. I also make stock with the carcass and giblets (yes, they supply good old fashioned giblets, hurrah), adding loads of veg and herbs. Hey presto, we have the best chicken and veg soup for the rest of the week.  If we don’t fancy eating all the meat that week, it can, of course, be frozen for another time.

The Waterloo Cottage team

“When I collected the chicken this time (they offer a click-and-collect most days, or if you want to order other provisions through the edibLE16 website, which is based at the farm, you can collect or have delivered on Fridays), I decided we needed a treat so, alongside the very large free-range eggs from a local supplier, Clipston Eggs, I ordered some Old English sausages.  I put these in a quick braised red cabbage casserole – delicious – full of meat and flavour. You can tell the pigs were well kept and happy. 

“One of my biggest cravings during this time is for a latte made by the coffee barista supremo Michelle at the Café on Welland Park in Market Harborough.  I dream of those coffees, and Roy the chef’s tasty treats.  I hope they’re all managing to survive through these days, I miss them very much.” – Beth

The Cafe at Welland Park, pre-lockdown

“I can highly recommend the farm shop at The Cholmeley Arms in Burton-le-Coggles, Lincolnshire. Hubby and I walked there yesterday from Corby Glen (our daily exercise) and among other things, we picked up some beautiful pork belly, which we slow roasted with some veg for a lazy Sunday dinner. We also grabbed some sirloin steak for date night later in the week. This farm shop also has a good range of everyday essentials including veg, bread, milk and washing powder, etc.” – Heather

The butchery counter at The Cholmeley Arms’ farm shop

“We recently had sea bass fillet on spiced cannellini beans with fried diced sweet potatoes.” – Hillary


“We shared a meal with our family at the weekend but 30 miles divided us. We all cooked simple scampi and chips and had a wonderful meal using FaceTime.” – John


“The one positive I can take from this time is that we have had three sit-down meals a day with our two daughters, Arabella (4) and Beatrice (1) for the past few weeks. We have cooked and baked together. We have talked and laughed over delicious meals as a family.

“My husband and I are key workers and still super busy… but for the next few weeks we can fortunately work from home. Spending time together as a family cooking lovely things and spending quality time together has been a joy in these uncertain times.

“Not much money for takeaway at the moment but wanted to give a huge thank you to The Dog & Gun in Enderby, Leics, who have delivered us emergency wine 😉 … They also do a fabulous burger and Sunday roast for delivery!

“We are out of quarantine from tomorrow and plan to utilise the local farm shops and butchers rather than the bigger supermarkets… it feels safer to me.” – Ellie

Ellie’s lockdown photos – Arabella (4) and Beatrice (1)

“We’re loving my creamy fish pie with smoked haddock, cod, salmon and king prawn…..plus a whole lemon’s worth of zest underneath the mash topping. Comfort food & very much needed!” – Jo


“We are getting deliveries from Maxey’s Farm Shop in Kirklington, Notts, as well as ordering and collecting from Gonalston Farm Shop, also in Notts. And we’re using a lovely little independent wine shop in Southwell who deliver – Mr & Mrs Fine Wine. They give excellent service and wine but I don’t really want to share too much for obvious reasons!” – David & Sue.

Mr & Mrs Fine Wine in Southwell

“We’re using Stamford Garden Centre, which is open for food. And here’s my recipe for perfect Welsh Rarebit – so simple.

Ingredients (no need for flour or butter)

150g strong cheddar grated
20g Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padana grated
100g cream cheese
1 tbsp double cream
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Mix ingredients and spread over slices of lightly toasted Hambleton Bakery granary bread. Pop under grill for 5/6 minutes until browned – voila! Serve with grilled tomatoes and wash down with your beer, wine, cider, apple juice of choice. Gorgeous.” – Paul


“We are making a big thing of brunch to get us through the day. My favourite so far is toast spread with Marmite and cream cheese or humous topped with a poached egg and a sprinkling of Parmesan. To make it even better I lightly brown some chestnut mushrooms with a teaspoon of butter and some spray oil and serve them on the side. Really a taste sensation!” – Julia


“I’m taking delivery of mystery cheese bags from The Cambridge Cheese Company. This one, my second, consisted of Artisan Manchego, Cambridge Blue, Kirkhams Lancashire and St Cera. I’m also having the occasional sundowner beer, having had a case delivered by Papworth Brewery.” – Philip, Great Food Club editor-at-large


Thanks for everyone’s responses. We’ll publish more soon. Please tell us what you’re eating & drinking to get through lockdown by emailing matt@greatfoodclub.co.uk. We’re giving away a free Great Food Club membership to every response we publish.

The author:

Matt lives in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He is passionate about the independent food & drink sector and founded Great Food Club in 2010 after being inspired by local producers near his home town.