Abel & Cole

A little while back I read a review on a fellow bloggers blog about an organic produce company called Abel & Cole. I'd never heard of them before and didn't even know you could buy fruit and veg over the Internet. I left a comment and then followed the link to their website, I was amazed that they deliver right to your door by a designated delivery driver (not a courier) and that they had such a huge selection to choose from. I was over the moon when I was contacted about a week or so later asking if I would like to try some of their produce in return for a review on my blog (so here it is). Friday morning last week I found this box on my back doorstep, which was in the designated place for leaving the box if we weren't in. I thought it was very sweet of our delivery man to have left it rather than waking us up as it was early (so thoughtful!)

And WOW!!! what a box!!!

Inside there were: Potatoes Carrots Spring onions Cabbage Lettuce Cucumber Broad beans Apples Banana's Mango

I couldn't believe that I had received this fantastic box of goodies, I love fresh fruit and veg. Did you spot the soil on the spring onions!! Now that's fresh!! Already I was planning what I was going to make. I halved the carrots and broad beans and together with the cabbage sent them to Chris's Mam (as we were going round for lunch on the Sunday I thought she could use them) Whilst doing this I had already opened one of the banana's and was munching my way through it :D

In the past people have told me that organic produce tastes better than the normal stuff you get from the supermarket (and I have tried the odd thing in the past) but kinda thought, "yeah right", but after having this box it has totally changed my opinion. The banana's and apples were so tasty and the banana's (the only one left) still haven't gone that yucky brown, which really surprised me. And I did notice that the apples didn't have that awful film on the skins that you get on the ones in the shops (this would be because they were organic'y). But now for the big shock!!

I've never really been a fan of 'Green's' especially cabbage and normally given the choice I would pass on the offer of broad beans.....but I thoroughly enjoyed them. The carrots were so sweet and full of taste and the cabbage was well I can only describe it in my own words as I don't normally eat it so bare with me. It was creamy'ish, the leaves were thick and meaty and was delicious!! And as for the broad beans, I have been converted, they were tasty and very meaty and I'd love to have them again.

I've even looked a recipe up on the Internet for Broad bean Provencal, it looks so yummy!!
On Tuesday night we decided to make a salad to go with our mackerel, which was the lettuce, spring onions and cucumber. Crisp and fresh lettuce even after 4 days!!!!!!!!!! and the cucumber was so crunchy and very delicious. Even from them being delivered on Friday you could smell the spring onions, they were full of flavour and were perfect on the salad. The only thing that let us down was that the tomatoes were NOT from Abel and Cole :( Not to worry we will be trying them in our next box.

I'm planning on using the potatoes tonight, roasted with rosemary (out of my garden) and garlic and the mango with meringue nests and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
We were very impressed with the standard and quality of the produce and it has lasted so much longer than the supermarket bought stuff. So we will be ordering our next box next Tuesday.
If you're interested pop by their website http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/ and have a look at what they have to offer, they also do dairy products, fish, meat, wines, beers, bakery products, children's food and lots more all organic.

The service is great, a thoughtful delivery driver, a 'safe place' to leave the box, a courtesy call before delivery, a courtesy call after delivery, and a very lovely young chap on the phone!! :) Perfect!