The meals people are ordering in Adelaide’s medi-hotels: Chefs on Wheels and Deliveroo reveal their top 5 dishes

Ever wondered what people eat when quarantining in SA’s medi-hotels? We asked major delivery services to find out – see the full list.

Comfort food like lasagne and pasta, and pub classics such as schnitzels and burgers are among the most ordered meals by people quarantining in SA’s medi-hotels.

Food delivery has become an increasingly popular option for thousands of returned overseas travellers who are placed in 14-day hotel quarantine when they arrive in Adelaide.

A survey of food delivery platforms Chefs on Wheels and Deliveroo has revealed traditional fast food favourites like burritos and Indian dishes such as rogan josh and butter chicken are also in high-demand.

Chefs on Wheels founder Paul Baker said his ready-to-eat business has “skyrocketed” in recent months, as people look to treat themselves while stuck in their hotel rooms.

“We get a lot of orders from people self-quarantining at home, or in medi-hotels, people who only have microwaves, we’re a great resource for them,” he said.

Chefs on Wheels founder Paul Baker with his daughter Margot, 4, with some of the meals. Paul says orders have been going through the roof in lockdown, especially from those in quarantine. Picture: Keryn Stevens.

“It breaks up your 14 days (quarantine) and it’s a little bit more homely than the normal three meals a day you’d get in your hotel.”

Mr Baker said butter chicken was their “biggest seller by far” while their lasagne options were also popular.

“We sell so much lasagne … it’s the comfort food factor and it’s a bit better than you can make it at home,” said Mr Baker, former executive chef at Botanic Gardens Restaurant.

Chefs on Wheels - Braised Wagyu Beef & Truffled Cauliflower Lasagna.

“It all comes fresh and you don't have to cook it, which is great when you’re stuck in a hotel or home quarantine, you can just re-heat in an oven or bang them in a microwave.”

Deliveroo head of consumer communications Joey Satari said it was no surprise to see people looking to indulge in medi-hotels.

“We know that every little pick me up helps while in quarantine,” he said.

“As the pandemic continues, providing those creature comforts has never been more important, whilst also supporting our local hospitality providers.”

Yankee’s Classic New Yorker (Hamburgers) - one of Deliveroo’s top five dishes ordered to Adelaide medi-hotels.

After launching Chefs on Wheels at the start of the pandemic last year, Mr Baker said he now sells almost 2000kg of food each week and has up to 20 staff on the books.

In the last two months, he’s also expanded his frozen deliveries into lockdown-ridden Victoria and NSW.

“It’s a whole new world … and it’s getting bigger than Ben-Hur. I didn’t think it would grow like this,” Mr Baker said, with Chefs on Wheels offering a special all-bacon menu for Father’s Day on September 5.