'Angels' deliver meals to seniors

A COOKING ANGEL: Co-owner Jane Lillington is proud of the home meal delivery service of Jamie's Angels.

Fresh home-cooked meals delivered daily to Whanganui's elderly, housebound and infirm are a blessing ...
And it is all thanks to a business - Jamie's Angels - which is serving up a little happiness to a growing number of customers.
Husband and wife team Jane and Graham Lillington took over from their son James two years ago after he left for Britain and a job as a chef in London.
The couple were already well known for their food cart selling delicious crepes at Saturday's riverside market on Taupo Quay.
Jane said working fulltime running the Angel food business had taken some adjustments and fine tuning but was now a smooth operation.
To ensure their clients are satisfied with the service, Graham goes out and interviews them in their homes first before their first meal is delivered, she said.
"He finds out their likes and dislikes so that we can always serve them the food they love."
The business is run from the fully compliant Annette's Kitchen in Halswell St. The kitchen had originally opened to cater for school-boarder meals.
Their workday starts at 7am and that day's meals are prepared, cooked and delivered. There are always three seasonal vegetables with each meal, Jane said.
The menu includes sliced breast of chicken with sage stuffing balls, gravy, pot roasts and three veg, homemade meatloaf with plain or kumara mash and three veg, roast angus pure beef rump with roast potatoes and three veg, baked hoki with sauteed potatoes and three veg, roast lamb, old English beef sausages and mash and much, much more.
The list is long, delicious and would tempt the fussiest appetite, Jane said.
Regular meals are $10.50, medium $12.50 and large is $14.50.
"We use fresh, locally sourced ingredients," she said.
The meals are served on ceramic china plates, Jane said.
"We don't do foil or plastic. We have nice white plates for the men and I have a selection of floral china for the woman. We serve the meals hot or 'chilled' for reheating later."
Sending out 300 meals a weeks keeps the Lillingtons and their four angel drivers on a strict schedule.
"Many of our elderly are in their 90s. We even have a woman who is 101. And they are all living in their own homes."
Jane laughed when she said pasta meals were not really an option for most of her customers.
"But our younger ones, the ones in their 80s, enjoy macaroni cheese."
Often orders for their elderly clients come via email from family all over the world.
"They see our website and contact us directly."
Comments on the website include; "The best meals I have ever had, simply wonderful," Jean of Gonville.
"Can't wait to get my meal, every day is a treat," Harry, St Johns Hills.
"Lovely people and lovely food," Audrey, Whanganui city.
As well serving their elderly clients with the very best food, the "angels" also check their clients' wellbeing.
"If we're concerned about someone we let their family or carer know."
Jane said cooking is her love as well planning the menus.
It is an ideal business for her and Graham, she said.
"We're certainly very pleased we took it over."