Is your restaurant meal actually a ready meal?

A number of high street restaurant chains are serving up pre-prepared dishes that have been made off the premises. And while many people may not be surprised to discover their local chain isn't knocking out a vast range of homemade deserts, the show revealed that a number of companies were bringing in pre-prepared main courses too. The question is whether this is fair.

Channel 4 show, Tricks Of The Restaurant Trade, asked a number of restaurant chains if they used pre-prepared food. Most of them either didn't reply or refused to answer. They also asked some of the major catering companies who they supplied food to - and they largely remained tight-lipped. However, some chains were upfront about their use of centralised kitchens or external catering companies, and in other restaurants staff members let slip the firms they used.
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Good business?

The show made it clear that in many cases it made perfect sense. In the case of desserts, for example, hand making them in store is expensive and time-consuming, so if restaurants were to make a profit from them they would have to charge far more. By using a pre-prepared dessert bought from a catering company they can cut their costs, and keep the food affordable.

Likewise, many of the main courses are made in centralised kitchens owned by the company, which are than taken to each outlet. Pizza Express, for example, said its dough was made in a central bakery, before being turned into pizzas in stores. This again makes sense, as making the dough can be done more cost-effectively, and the chain can guarantee the same quality of dough is being sold everywhere. The store also buys in its lasagnas from a family-run business in Italy, which it says enables them to use their special recipe, and ensues they are made from quality ingredients.

Leon also uses a centralised kitchen with highly skilled chefs who can make the more complex dishes - which require a high skill level.

Is it fair?

The programme said that many people dining in these chains would be surprised to know that their food wasn't being made entirely on-site - and questioned whether restaurants ought to be more up-front with diners.

Some of the feedback on social media would seem to show some customers are unimpressed with food being made elsewhere. On Twitter one said: "This 'Tricks of the Restaurant Trade' programme just shows why I won't order dessert when out. It's overpriced ready-made supermarket stuff."

Meanwhile, others seemed well aware already, and not terribly concerned. One wrote: "Watching tricks of the restaurant trade and thinking it should be renamed 'stating the obvious tricks of the restaurant trade'." While others felt this was just the restaurants using a sound business approach, one writing: ""Tricks of the Restaurant Trade" on Channel 4 is hyped tedium. "How to Run a Business Sensibly" probably wasn't catchy enough, tbh."

But what do you think? Are you surprised by these practices? And would it put you off eating at a chain? Let us know in the comments.