The home cook behind BATCH & BOARD

Meet Owen.

Owen Mercer · Founder & home cook

It started with a familiar scene: a fridge full of good intentions and no clear idea of what to make for dinner.

  • Plan.
  • Prep.
  • Store.
  • Mix.
Owen Mercer, the home cook behind BATCH & BOARD, in a yellow apron
Owen Mercer
How it started

An ambitious pile of ingredients. A big Sunday. The same lunch, again.

Owen was the home cook who bought an ambitious pile of ingredients, attempted too much on a Sunday and discovered that repeating the same lunch was not quite the solution he had imagined.

1The shopAn ambitious pile of ingredients, bought with the best of intentions and no plan for the week.
2The SundayToo much attempted at once. Every pan on the hob, every worktop full, one very long afternoon.
3The week afterFive identical containers. The same lunch, again. Not quite the solution he imagined.
His turning point is smaller

Not a bigger Sunday. A smaller start.

What he tried first

  • Cook the whole week at once.
  • Fill every container he owned.
  • Eat the same thing five days running.

What actually worked

  • Plan a few meals.
  • Prepare a few useful components.
  • Give each container a clear next step.

Not a perfect kitchen. Not an impressive collection of equipment. Just a practical connection between planning, preparing, storing and serving.

Owen Mercer preparing food at his kitchen counter
Owen Mercer
How Owen cooks

Made for an ordinary week.

That is the idea behind these guides. This is how Owen approaches it:

  • 01Curious enough to try.
  • 02Honest about the mess.
  • 03Always looking for the version that fits an ordinary week.
Owen MercerFounder & home cook · BATCH & BOARD
Why these guides exist

Meal prep advice often begins in the middle.

With the cooking already organised and the containers already lined up. BATCH & BOARD starts a little earlier and follows the routine a little further. The collection separates four different jobs so you can work on one at a time: decide what is useful, prepare a manageable amount, handle it thoughtfully, then turn it into meals you want to eat. You do not need to master the whole routine before making a start.

Explore the Guides

Plan. Prep. Store. Mix.