Eating out, I have only ever noticed Mac and Cheese in the kiddies’ section of the menu at different establishments. However, I may have missed the adult portion because when dining out, one always wants to have something that’s far removed from a home cooked meal. Mac and Cheese isn’t a very popular dish in our region and for me, it is not an immediate go to home cooked meal as opposed to a Macaroni Tuna Mayo for instance. But that’s just me tota hela. My husband on the other hand renown’s himself for having learnt how to make Mac and Cheese when he was around 10-years-old overseas (even if it was from a box, lol). He and our boys love it!
When Neighbourfood Watch came out with their Mac n Cheese Fridays, it definitely caught my attention as a foody. Catchy name for starters, which is communicated by the logo, a chef with binoculars looking into other kitchens in the neighbourhood...lol. As well as a boldness to explore and think outside the confines of conventional meals.
The owner is an all-round creative and this comes across in the brand holistically. They have a simple, wholesome meal, which is not very common yet known to most. This became a flagship meal for the son and mom duo, and the son (who is the main brand liaison) believed that the consistency of this dish would be what wins them favour with their customers as they compete in the food space. Having had this very same meal for as far back as he can remember, from seeing friends and family enjoy it as well as the pride the head cook (mom) has for her dish, is what convinced him they had a winning formula.
I became curious to find out why this particular dish of choice and couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it. Orders are placed in the week and deliveries made for Friday lunch. It is very easy to suffer a case of Fomo (fear of missing out) weekly as individuals all over Gaborone post their takeaways on social media with the big catchy logo in the front. Earlier this year the Neighbourfood Watch developed and launched a secondary menu for mid-week meals. These are made up of a ¼ Chicken and a side of vegetables or some macaroni.
We finally got an opportunity to review both dishes. Delivery time is precise. If you do not have a fixed location, through communication your meal will still locate you at the exact time that is agreed upon. The packaging is a precise sleep foil container, which keeps the food nice and warm. It is clean, placed in a plastic bag alongside crockery and a napkin. Ke shortile toothpick, but that only became notable as I cleared my meal in the car before getting home. What a treat!! So delicious! The presentation was perfect. The Mac and Cheese is beautifully golden, you can instantly see they do not skimp on the cheese. It is some melt in your mouth goodness and there is a unique seasoning to the dish, which gives it body. The other meal, which includes a tenderly cooked quarter chicken, was just special. For rona ba re ratang nama, this is the perfect go-to on offer.
The quarter chicken meal is definitely a healthier offering from the Neighbourfood Watch, and this way you won’t have to feel bad about eating from there twice in one week because, Wow! The mixed vegetables were steamed well. I wished the delivery bag had salt and pepper to allow me to season them to taste. However, I still really enjoyed my culinary experience. Here and there some potatoes weren’t cooked all the way through though, sad because they had a great sauce drizzled on them. Unlike the other veggies, which had a good crunch to them, potatoes have to be cooked for much longer to get soft. The chicken leg was a great portion of chicken, the meal does not leave you lacking. It was seasoned well, and tender. All orders are pre orders and this system allows the eatery to navigate operations smoothly. In instances where certain vegetables are not available, they either offer substitutes or move the order forward should the client prefer. They strive to make their customer happy.
Visit the facebook page: Neighbourfoodwatchbw to get contact numbers, place orders for the week, as well as to keep up with exciting developments.
