faqs

We always love to hear your questions, whether they’re about our recipes, or just food in general. Here are some that we get asked a lot.

  • Who is Charlie Bigham?

    Charlie is the man behind our range of delicious dishes. He was originally inspired to start the company after his travels around the world where many of his best meals were created from a handful of fresh ingredients tossed into a pan.

  • Where can I buy Charlie Bigham’s dishes?

    All our delicious dishes are available in Waitrose stores and online at Ocado.

    To find your nearest Waitrose, just go here and tap in your postcode. Not all stores sell our full range but if you ask the manager nicely they may be able to stock it for you.

  • Where is your beef from?

    We only ever use fresh British beef, sourced from suppliers we know and trust, who do not handle beef from other countries. We’re very pleased to say that all our meat can be fully traced back to the farm it came from and all our suppliers carry out their own testing on a regular basis. In addition and to further reassure our customers we have tested our dishes and as expected no horse meat was found

  • How do you know your meat is what you say it is?

    Like you, we are horrified by the events as they are unfolding: it really is quite shocking. We would like to reassure you that we take huge care and pride in all the food we buy, are rigorous with selecting the suppliers we work with and never choose our ingredients with price as the primary concern. Additionally we make all our food using fresh ingredients, by hand in our London kitchens and never use third parties. We’re very pleased to say that all our meat can be fully traced back to the farm it came from and all our suppliers carry out their own testing on a regular basis. In addition to further reassure our customers we have tested our dishes and as expected no horse meat was found

  • Which dishes do not contain gluten?

    The recipes below are gluten-free. But please bear in mind that although we don’t add any ingredients containing gluten to these recipes, other dishes cooked in the same kitchen do have gluten in them.

    We don’t add gluten to our:
    Breton Chicken
    Moroccan Chicken Tagine
    Thai Green Chicken Curry

  • I am vegetarian, which Charlie Bigham’s dishes can I eat?

    We’re afraid we’re rather a carnivorous bunch, and most of our dishes are based around meat. We are always looking at new recipes so if you have any lovely vegetarian dishes you think we should make, do let us know here.

  • What can I do with my left over ramekins?

    Once you have polished off your pies there are lots of fantastic ways to reuse your ramekins. Here are some of our favourites:

    Plant pots for herbs.
    Dishes for pre-dinner nibbles and dips.
    Individual Yorkshire pudding dishes.
    A brilliant way to cook and serve individual shepherd’s pies, or apple crumbles.
    Finger bowls (just add hot water and a slice of lemon).
    Sous-chef dishes (add your chopped ingredients and get organised in the kitchen!)

    If you have any other ideas, do let us know.

  • Can I recycle my ramekins?

    We’re sorry, our ramekins aren’t recyclable just yet. But they come in really handy in the kitchen, see above.

  • Where do your ingredients come from?

    Every single ingredient that we use for our lovely dishes, ranging from meat and poultry to vegetables and spices, are all very carefully selected from a handful of trusted suppliers, many of whom we have worked with for several years. All our suppliers undergo rigorous quality audits to ensure you enjoy a delicious meal each and every time. If you have more queries about specific ingredients please do not hesitate to contact us here.

  • How many people does each pack serve?

    Each of our dishes serve two hungry adults when served with some yummy accompaniments such as salad, creamy mashed potato, or maybe some simple boiled rice. For ideas on what goes well with each dish, just follow the link on its page. Happy cooking!

  • Can you freeze all Charlie Bigham’s products?

    All of our dishes are made with fresh ingredients, so they’re at their very best when cooked from fresh.
    If you do plan to freeze your dish, please pop it straight in the freezer on the day you bought it and eat it within one month.

    There are two dishes in the range that we’d recommend you always eat from fresh, as some of the ingredients don’t freeze too well:

    Charlie Bigham’s fish cakes

  • I am watching my calorie intake but love eating Charlie Bigham’s. Which dishes are for me?

    The main things we’re aiming for are quality and taste. Because of this, many of our dishes, although wholesome, are also a little decadent.
    If you’re cautious about your calorie intake, these two dishes are the best ones to choose:

    Macaroni cheese: 256 Calories / 12.3g of fat per half pack
    Sweet and sour: 341 Calories / 11.1g of fat per half pack
    Catalan chicken: 286 Calories / 12.4g of fat per half pack