Food sourcing claims can be vague or misleading. "Locally sourced," "premium ingredients," "farm fresh" - these phrases often mean very little. We prefer to explain what we actually do, honestly.
How Our Model Works
HomeCooks connects you with independent chefs who prepare meals in their own commercial kitchens. Each chef sources their own ingredients according to their recipes and standards.
This means sourcing varies by chef and by dish. A Mediterranean specialist might source olive oil from specific Italian producers they trust. A British comfort food chef might use local butchers they've worked with for years. An Asian cuisine chef might source specialty ingredients from specific importers.
The Chef Model Difference
Unlike factory meal production with centralised bulk purchasing, our chefs make individual sourcing decisions based on quality for their specific dishes. They buy like professional chefs, not like mass manufacturers.
Our Sourcing Standards
Protein Quality
Our chefs source from quality suppliers - proper butchers, fishmongers, and reputable wholesalers. We don't use "reformed" meats, mystery proteins, or extended-with-soya products. When a meal says chicken, it's actual chicken pieces.
Fresh Vegetables
Fresh vegetables from market suppliers and quality wholesalers. Seasonal availability influences what's on the menu - if British tomatoes aren't good in February, dishes adapt or use properly ripened alternatives.
Specialty Ingredients
For authentic cuisine, specialty sourcing matters. Thai curry paste from proper suppliers, not supermarket shortcuts. Italian olive oil from producers the chef trusts. Proper miso for Japanese dishes. The details matter for authentic flavour.
No Compromise Ingredients
Some ingredients can't be compromised. Good olive oil, proper spices, real cheese, quality butter. These make the difference between mediocre and genuinely good food. Our chefs don't substitute with inferior alternatives to cut costs.
Being Honest About Limitations
What We Won't Claim
We won't pretend every ingredient is organic, or that all our meat is from one farm we can photograph for marketing materials. Our chefs source excellent ingredients, but "excellent" isn't the same as "bespoke artisan organic single-origin." We believe in quality without pretension.
The truth about meal delivery ingredients:
- Not everything is organic - organic doesn't automatically mean better quality for all ingredients
- Not everything is British - some ingredients (olive oil, certain spices, specialty Asian ingredients) simply aren't produced here
- Costs matter - we balance quality with realistic pricing. Everything could theoretically be "premium" but the meals would cost £15+ each
What we can promise: real ingredients, properly sourced, from suppliers our chefs trust and have worked with professionally.
Allergens and Dietary Information
Every meal includes full allergen information. Ingredient lists are available for each dish. Our chefs are required to maintain proper allergen controls in their kitchens.
If you have severe allergies or specific dietary requirements, please check individual product pages or contact us directly. Cross-contamination risks depend on each chef's kitchen setup.
The Quality You Can See
Ingredient quality shows in the finished food:
- Recognisable ingredients visible in the dish
- Flavour that comes from real food, not artificial enhancement
- Textures that indicate proper cooking, not industrial processing
- Nutrition that makes sense for the ingredients listed
The Bottom Line
Our chefs source ingredients the way professional chefs do - prioritising quality, trusting their suppliers, and choosing what's best for each dish. We're honest about what this means and what it doesn't. The proof is in the food itself.