Restaurant delivery with a twist: How you can cook your favourite fancy meals right at home

One of Sydney’s most popular restaurants is helping customers whip up gourmet meals at home – but you’d better get in quick.

Eating out was a luxury most Aussies took for granted before the coronavirus crisis closed the doors of our favourite restaurants.

But businesses have evolved to survive, creating DIY recipe boxes and turning their social media accounts into digital cookbooks – making chefs out of even the most inexperienced home cooks.

MR WONG, RIGHT AT HOME

If you’re dreaming of the Kung Pao chicken at Mr Wong’s or the beef rib from Bert’s, dream no more. The launch of Merivale At Home means you can cook up their famous dishes, along with others from Totti’s at Bondi, Fred’s at Paddington and Vinnie’s Pizza at Coogee, in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Semi-prepared, the three course menus start from $70 and include all the ingredients you’ll need to cook up the signature dishes you’ve been craving.

“Merivale At Home has been in the works for a while now, but we haven’t had the time to bring it to life,” says Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes.

“Now with our regular operations on hold due to government restrictions, and our chefs and sommeliers craving new creative outlets, we have been able to fast-track the launch and deliver it at a time when our guests need it most.

“We’re thrilled that we can keep being a part of their lives and bring the best of Merivale to their homes.”

You’ll have to be quick though – the Mr Wong’s boxes are so popular they keep selling out.

Looking for things to pass the time? The best shows to watch, the funniest videos, the best hacks and home workouts? Find it all at our Life (goes on) in Lockdown section 

You can savour this Totti’s spread from the comfort of your couch. Image: Merivale.

DIY PASTA

Ragazzi Wine and Pasta in Sydney’s CBD is offering drive-by collections of DIY pasta kits, starting from $26. A range of fresh pastas and sauces to cook at home are available, including spaghetti cacio e pepe, mafaldine with crab, mussels and saffron, and trottole with pork sausage ragu.

“Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for three minutes, and warm the sauce in a separate pan until simmering,” says Ragazzi’s Scott Williams.

“Using tongs, grab the pasta out of the water and put directly into the sauce, and toss to coat.”

ATLAS LEADING THE WAY

Chef Charlie Carrington from Atlas in Victoria’s South Yarra is doing The Atlas Masterclass. Each week, he's doing live cooking classes, complemented by an ingredient box to recreate the meals in 15 minutes. The produce boxes can be collected weekly and feed two or four people over three dinners from $79.

ROLL YOUR OWN PIZZA

Pocket Pizza in Manly is mixing it up with their take-home box, letting you make your own pizza from the comfort of your own kitchen. Each box is filled with fresh ingredients, a bottle of wine, a ball of dough, and the instructions you need to make your own pizza at home – pizza cutter included. Document the process and tag them on social media to win a voucher.

BREAKFAST CLUB

The Outfield Café at Ashfield in Sydney’s west has started a Breakfast Club, allowing at home cooks to create a café worthy breakfast at home every Saturday, with pick up boxes including all ingredients and instructions. Specials include the ‘Avo-Lanche’ – smashed avo stacked with dukkah, poached eggs, chilli sauce and labneh served on gluten free charcoal bread. Boxes for $38 feed two, with leftovers for days.

PLATE UP WITH BENTLEY

The Bentley Group has launched a new at-home dining service across their four hatted restaurants – Bentley Restaurant, Monopole, Yellow and Cirrus. While all of the hard work is done, you may have to sous vide something – and you’ve got the pressure of plating up.

“Bentley Group at Home has been born out of the necessity of not only trying to keep our business going but keeping our team busy, motivated and engaged while the restaurants can’t operate as normal,” says co-owner and chef Brent Savage.

“We have so many loyal diners who are missing the restaurant experience, and we’re happy that we can stay part of their lives during this difficult time.”

Designed for two, the menus range in price from $75 to $110.

BAKE YOUR OWN FOCACCIA

Sydney’s Prince of York is pre-prepping a few of your favourites, ready for you to whip up in under ten minutes. Each bundle comes with cooking instructions, from how to master the fresh crab spaghetti down to baking your loaf of garlic focaccia. They have also partnered with the ‘Shout a meal for Healthcare Heroes’ campaign, and have fed 50 frontline workers at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital each day. Through the program, people can buy and donate a restaurant quality meal for a healthcare worker for just $10.

WHEN NOT IN ROME …

Did someone say DIY Limoncello? Unico Zelo has lifted the veil on one of their most popular recipes so that you can make it at home.

We'll cheers to making DIY Limoncello. Image: Unico Zelo.

They provide everything you need so you can make 1.5L of your very own Unico Zelo Limoncello, and have something delicious to show for all that time you’re spending at home. It takes just 14 days from start to finish.