cj’s Kitchen – a fresh take on ready meals

Corinne Jansen has been a part of Folkestone’s Food scene for nearly five years.  She started the hugely successful Gourmet Kitchen on the Sandgate Road in 2019.  Now, having sold this business, she has a new focus – CJ’s Kitchen.  Having always worked with food in the hospitality industry, Corinne is doing what she’s always been passionate about, creating good, fresh, home-cooked food for you to order each week.  Folkelife caught up with Corinne to get a few samples.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved at Gourmet Kitchen. Taking into account that we started just before Covid and survived.  We’ve managed to achieve growth despite the cost-of-living crisis and I’ve loved every minute of it.  But, it’s been exhausting and I want to do something new.  So, after selling the business in August, and having a wonderful holiday in Greece with my family, I came home with a new idea.  A friend said that I would always know what I wanted to do when it came to me, and this is it… 

“CJ’s Kitchen is me, cooking food that I love, and sharing it with customers around Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe.  Each week we have a different menu.  The idea is there are main meals, vegetarian and meat based, soups and cakes.  You plan your week, and if you need a meal from me, then order with 24 hours notice, and we will deliver a freshly cooked dish to your door.  The meals we bring are chilled so you can put it straight in the fridge and it will keep for two days, you can also put them into the freezer too, or you can pop it in the oven for dinner.”

home-cooked food

“It’s important to me that I use the best ingredients, and the food is made from scratch.  There are family favourites such as Shepherd’s Pie and Lasagna, and I also make other more exotic dishes such as coconut chicken curry and fennel and red pepper bake and others.  The soups could be for your lunch, and also last a couple of days.  The cakes come from a local baker who supplied me at Gourmet Kitchen, and so you can order your favourites and that will last you the week. 

“I’m not a take-away service.  You do need to plan a little.  But, with 24 hours notice, we will deliver your chosen oven-ready meals, made freshly to order, with no preservatives or added nasties.”

passionate about food

“I’ve been in hospitality all my working life and it’s an incredibly hard job.  But, being here in Folkestone for the past 5 years I’ve made some really good friends.  I was looking for a commercial restaurant to work from, in order to create my new business.  I do need to leave my house to work!  I was lucky enough to be able to find someone with an existing kitchen who would let me share the space.   

“I love cooking and food, and creating dishes that people enjoy eating.  And I want to have that good work-life balance where I can do what I love, and get the pleasure of seeing people enjoy what I do.  It’s also a business that helps out – you might know you have a busy week coming up, and you just want some decent food but haven’t the time to make it.  CJ’s Kitchen delivers to Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe and works from Tuesday to Friday.  I love meeting my customers, so I look forward to seeing you on my rounds.”

To order visit CJ’s Kitchen.