Delivery is about convenience and ease. The thing is, pasta takes minutes to cook. So do simple sauces, if not a proper bolognese. And given Britain has been taught to cook basic Italian by now — Delia, Jamie, Nigella et al — it’s quite lazy to order pasta in a box. Few of us could whip up a laksa and so on a cold autumn day, I understand why someone might get some to their front door to be enjoyed in front of Slow Horses. Likewise ramen or sushi. But pasta? Come on, you boil a kettle and you’re halfway there. If Britain can cook anything, it’s a decent pie, roast dinners, and spaghetti with mince. If we’ve shot ourselves in the foot, so be it. It’s a national dish. I’d say the same about chicken tikka masala but I’m not sure we’re quite there yet with the spicing.
