Sydney Eat Street: Best DIY food and cocktail kits to make in lockdown
From Dutch waffles and pretzels to ‘adult beverages’, there are loads of DIY kits you can order to keep you busy at home.
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Caramel Waffly
Arts and crafts have never tasted so good.
“It’s not just a box of homemade Dutch Waffles, it’s an immersive experience,” says Rossy Gutierrez, one half of the sister act who launched Caramel Waffly last January.
“People feel like a real pastry chef in their own kitchen. With the DIY kits, people have everything they need to personalise their Dutch waffles at home.”
Rossy and Judith usually only sell their sweet treats at The Rocks Markets on Friday night, but, well, lockdown changed that.
“We decided not to stand idly by, instead we’re brightening people’s days with a Waffly Experience they can enjoy at home,” Rossy says.
“Kids can put on their chef’s hat, grab the wooden spoon and paddle and play with lots of colourful toppings and get creative decorating their Dutch waffles in their own way.
“They can also use the packaging to emulate some of our Instagram photos in their favourite corner of the house. But without a doubt, what they love most is dipping the marshmallows in the smooth Belgian chocolate, eating the crunchy M&M’s and getting their hands a bit dirty. The Dutch waffle DIY Box can be a fun and delicious mess with guaranteed laughs.”
The box comes with six waffles, a bag of Belgian chocolate buttons for melting, and a choice of six toppings, including marshmallows, M&Ms and pistachios, serving board.
There’s also a cute paper chef hat, wooden paddle and spoon ($49.90).
For an extra smile, lockdown orders will come with an extra waffle and a surprise topping. Caramel Waffly ships nationwide, so contact them directly via Instagram (@caramelwaffly) or email order@caramelwaffly.com.au.
Cocktail Porter
There are essential services during lockdown, and then there’s absolutely essential. Food is important, of course, but grown-ups — especially those enduring homeschooling — should log on to the Cocktail Porter website for some self-care after your students have gone to bed.
If your liquor cabinet is not as stocked as you’d like, shake things up with DIY cocktail boxes from Sydney-based mixologists, Cocktail Porter.
From Negronis to espresso martinis, each kit contains the requisite ingredients, including premium spirits, mixers, and garnishes, along with step-by-step instructions. Because you deserve it, indulge in the dessert-worthy Messina Dulce De Leche Espresso Martini – Ketel One Vodka, coffee liqueur, cold drip coffee, Messina’s famous Dulce De Leche topping, finished with Messina Chocolate Hazelnut Spread and shaved coconut ($89, serves six; $149, serves 18), or try the tres regal, French Martini – Ketel One Vodka, Chambord (a black raspberry and vanilla-based liqueur) and fresh-pressed pineapple juice, that once shaken is poured over an airy ball of pink fairy floss ($80, serves six; $145, serves 18).
Then, of course, you can skip some steps and go straight for the single-serve or larger-sized bottled cocktails.
They also offer Zoom masterclasses for lockdown drinks with friends and plenty of posts with helpful bartending tips and tricks, gift ideas, and even advice on arranging the perfect charcuterie platter. Cheers.
DIY Pretzel Kit
This lockdown has come with a twist … or as many twists as you want. Pretzel’s DIY kit will keep your hands busy and your tastebuds even happier.
Each kit ($40) comes with 2kg of Pretzel flour, Pretzel salt, rising yeast, ghee and browning solution to bake 12 pretzels.
The boxes include 10 simple instructions, but if you need some more help, there’s also a step-by-step video to walk you through the process.
After some kneading, rolling and baking, your golden-brown creations are ready to be enjoyed straight-up or with a tick of the pretzel salt that’s included in the box.
Try your own toppings. Nutella, peanut butter and ice cream are always a win or turn them into a kid-friendly activity and get creative with some frosting, sprinkles, and crushed biscuits, or for a savoury take, cover them with melted cheese and your favourite pizza toppings.
So many options, but then again, that’s the point ($40, makes 12 pretzels).
Narocha – DIY Bubble Tea Home Package
Bubble has been one of the more overused Covid terms since March last year, but this is one you’ll want to keep closer to home courtesy of the DIY Bubble Tea Home Package from Narocha, the Melbourne-based premium tea house known for their signature hojicha latte, heated milk and a particular Japanese green tea with a nutty and smoke taste, as well as their Boba drinks, tapioca balls added to hot or cold tea with or without any number of sugary syrups.
For decades, Boba, or Bubble Tea, is more than a drink; it’s a way of life; “Boba life” to be precise – hanging out with friends at a local Boba shop – chatting, studying and basically doing whatever else teenagers do.
How to drink it is up to you, but one thing for sure is that it’s a heck of a lot easier to do with the specially designed wide-mouthed “Boba straws”.
So while you may not be able to meet up with friends at the local shop, you can still hang out over Boba teas.
The kits come with loose leaf tea (80g), uncooked Boba, fructose, and of course, Boba straws ($36.95 + shipping, 10 serves).
Koko Black – Hot Chocolate Bombs
If the cold weather, cloudy skies and Covid lockdown is giving you the blues, Koko Black has a chocolatey cure.
Appropriately named for the season (and the current situation), Koko Black’s, Melt Away with Chocolate limited-edition hot chocolate collection features a selection of hot chocolates and sweet treats.
For the true connoisseur who’s intent on channelling their inner chocolatier and being a bit more involved in the process, there’s also a box that contains all the makings for their famous Hot Chocolate Bombs.
Start by melting and tempering the dark chocolate buttons, and if you’re like most people wondering what that last bit is about, tempering is a way of putting chocolate through a cycle of different temperatures.
Thankfully, pretty specific instructions are included in the kit. Phew! Now comes the fun part.
The melted chocolate gets poured into the half-dome moulds, which get filled with creamy vanilla marshmallows then heat sealed to create the epic chocolate “bomb”.
Okay, so it’s a bit trickier than that, but again, thank heavens for the instructions. Last but not least, make a cup of Koko Black’s signature hot chocolate, and for the pièce de résistance, pour it over your chocolate bomb.
You can see why they’ve named it Melt Away with Chocolate.
Catalina Rose Bay
This renowned waterfront restaurant, known as much for their premium menu as they are for the stunning view, is now extending the service to your home.
“Although we have had to adapt the actual service offering and timings, we haven’t changed anything at all regarding the preparation of the food, our suppliers, or the ingredients which our regulars are used to,” executive chef Mark Axisa says.
“We use the absolute freshest seafood, meat and produce available.
“Basically, I want our food to be off the grill, into the car and to them within 10 minutes so the food is as hot and fresh as it can be.”
While not everyone will be willing to lay out a pretty penny for their luxury offerings such as mud crab and lobster box but owner, Judy McMahon notes: “Given that people come to Catalina for a high-quality dining experience, we feel there’s a real expectation for our takeaway food to be as close to our in-house meals as possible.
“People don’t want cooking kits from us. They want food to be cooked, presented, and ready to eat as soon as they get it home. At all times we replicate all of the procedures people have come to expect from Catalina.”
If these fabulous seafood feasts are a tick beyond your lockdown budget, you can always settle for a tipple with Catalina’s pre-mixed cocktails. Oh, and they accept your Dine & Discover NSW dining vouchers. So there’s that.
— Lyne Park, Rose Bay; catalinarosebay.com.au
Chargrill Charlie’s / Anna Polyviou
The punk princess of pastries is back to collaborate with Chargrill Charlie’s and offer tubs of cookie dough with such decadent recipes chocolate chip cookie and Caramilk S’mores.
Just scoop out a couple spoonful’s and bake for oven-fresh cookies ($15ea).
Order through their app for contactless pick-up and delivery options.
The Pottery Cafe
Tacos by nature are a DIY production, but rather than spending time prepping all the fixings, this North Beaches eatery has saved you the angst with their DIY Taco Kits.
There are three options - Halloumi, BBQ pulled pork (marinated and then slow-cooked for 12 hours), and mixed bean.
You get everything you need to build your own tacos – soft wraps, a selection of sauces and salads. Check out their Facebook page for daily specials, updates and hours.
— 996D Pittwater Rd, Collaroy; facebook.com/thepotterycafecollaroy
The Tea Cosy
Add a bit of civility to your day with afternoon tea and freshly made scones. The adorable little tea house in The Rocks has put together a Bake-at-Home Scone Pack that comes with you choice of three gourmet jams such as pawpaw Lime and Passionfruit, double-thick cream and six freshly-made but uncooked scones.
The staff do all the deliveries, so you know your comfort food is in good hands. Refer to website for delivery area and delivery dates however the usual schedule is Wednesdays to the Eastern Suburbs, Thursdays to the City and Northern Suburbs, and Fridays to the Inner West.
COCKTAILS
Catalina: Iconic waterfront restaurant offering luxury seafood and roast “boxes” as well as pre-mixed single serves of their signature cocktails including Rockmelon Rose Martini, Catalina Negroni, and Tommy’s Margarita.
— Lyne Park, Rose Bay; catalinarosebay.com.au
Pre-order for pick-up // Delivery to adjacent suburbs
Esteban: The Mexican-inspired fare of this popular laneway bar and restaurant is now available for takeaway and delivery via “Esteban at Home”, where you’ll find five set-menus ($65-$85, serves two) as well as freshly-made cocktails including the popular Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau and lime served in Patron bottles. $16, single serve; $90, six serves.
— 1 Temperance Lane, Sydney; estebanrestaurant.com.au
Pre-order for pick-up from 50 York St, Sydney / Delivery available ~ 5km radius (refer to website for details)
Tequila Mockingbird: The team behind this contemporary Latin American restaurant, have designed a home-delivery-specific menu with share-sized portions of some of their signature dishes such as Ceviche taco, Kingfish Curado, 700g Slow Roasted NSW Lamb Shoulder and Fire Roasted Cauliflower, as well as a $99 Fiesta Box (serves 4).
They’ve also brought back the full range of freshly-made cocktails in different sizes, including infamous “Tequila Mockingbird” in a single-serve ($16) Patron bottle.
— 6 Heeley St, Paddington; tequila-mockingbird.com.au
Pre-order for pick-up (Tuesday-Sunday) // Delivery available.
Four Pillars Gin & Four Pillars Laboratory: Award-winning gin distillers, Four Pillars, is delivering bottled cocktails, gin, mixers, wine, beer and a number of their “Made from Gin” products.
Their signature Double-Barrelled Negroni cocktails is available in 500mL bottles ($60) or order a 700mL bottle of Spiced Negroni Gin ($85) and start from scratch.
— Level 1, 351 Crown Street, Surry Hills; fourpillarsgin.com
Pre-order for pick-up (seven days) // Delivery Wednesday-Saturday within 10km radius, $5 flat fee
Twisted Shaker: Local boutique producing a range of expertly-crafted cocktails in larger-sized bottles (700ml) instead of single-serve ($39.99). The range includes Raspberry Hibiscus Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini and Cucumber Gin Gimlet and Whiskey Old Fashioned).
— bevmart.com.au; nationwide delivery
PRODUCTS
Single O’s Double Jab coffee Blend (250g, $18)
— 60-64 Reservoir St, Surry Hills; singleo.com.au
Takeaway, pick-up and online orders.
Special ‘booster’ shot (free 250g blend) with every purchase of 2 x 250g bags of Double Jab ($36), until the entire country has had their ‘Jab.
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