There’s no denying that 2020 has had a huge impact on the way we live. From flexible working arrangements to virtual concerts and birthday parties, lockdown life has come with a new set of daily routines, many of which we will take with us post pandemic.
One of the biggest changes to our day-to-day was the way we could enjoy our favourite bars and restaurants. With restrictions shuttering many of our most beloved haunts, we were forced to experiment with at-home alternatives. Thanks to quality supermarket buys, delicious deliveries and virtual classes, food and wine enthusiasts can now experience restaurant-level excellence à la home.
Here, five luxe dining experiences you can enjoy at home.
1. Home-Delivered Cannoli
Proving it’s not all bad news in 2020, Sydney-based pastry lovers are now able to order a box of cannoli straight to their door. Brothers Matt and Jordan Marchetta were born into a family of pastry chefs and have worked at cake stores across Western Sydney. Wanting to share the ricotta-filled sweets with the rest of Sydney, the duo launched a home-delivery service in February. From Wednesday to Sunday, Sydney sweet tooths can order a box of the Italian pastries, choosing from 15 different flavours, including Limoncello, Bounty, Biscoff and Salted Caramel. Pastries in bed? Don’t mind if we do.
2. Chef-Made Meals
Rather than let your busy week result in unhealthy take outs and another bland Bolognese, why not turn to ready-to-eat snap frozen meals that are loaded up with great taste and goodness. The Super Nature’s Australian Super Native Collection allows you to enjoy restaurant-quality dishes at home. Created by the brand’s award-winning chefs, each meal is made with Australian native superfoods such as Cinnamon Myrtle, Mountain Pepper Leaf, Aniseed Myrtle, Quandong Peach and Wattleseed, and made from the healthiest, most natural ingredients around (they’re completely free from preservatives, artificial flavours and colours). Ready in minutes, and with portion sizes that leave you satisfied, Super Nature meals make eating well 100 per cent easier and more delicious. Restaurant-standard meals at a supermarket price point? We’re sold. Choose from beautifully balanced dishes including Braised Beef Cheek Lasagne with Truffle & Porcini, Manuka Honey & Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Chips and Vegan Spinach Gnocchi in Romesco Sauce.
Super Nature’s Australian Super Native Collection, available at $9 in Coles freezers.
3. Pasta Masterclass
If you’re looking for a five-star dinner that challenges your culinary skills, sign up for an at-home pasta masterclass by Pizzini Wines. Victoria’s King Valley wine producer has been hosting cooking classes since 2010, and this year, due to COVID-19, it took its offering online. Sign up for a virtual class (our pick: Art Of Gnocchi Making) and you’ll be sent a box of ingredients, all locally sourced, to your home prior to your Zoom class. Boxes are shipped Australia-wide, so anyone can enrol. The perfect date-night idea.
4. At-Home Melbourne Bar Hop
Melbourne may still be in lockdown but there’s no need to miss out on the city’s incredible bar scene. Following the sell-out success of its first line-up, The Everleigh Bottling Co has dropped its second cocktail pack, The Melbourne Mixtape Vol. 2. The collaborative cocktail pack features a mix of bottled (and bagged) drinks from some of Melbourne’s buzziest haunts. Reboot your home bar with a delicious set of sips, which includes the Mediterranean-inspired Antica Fashionista from Bar Americano, Capitano’s sherry cobbler and Everleigh’s classic martini. Bottoms up.
5. Antipasto Boards
Melbourne-based late-night cheese bar and licensed fromagerie Milk The Cow offers cheese hamper deliveries across all of Victoria. Elevate your living room nibbles with Milk The Cow’s selection of specialty cheese and booze. Perfect for backyard picnics as the weather heats up, the fromagerie also has cheese boxes, which come complete with a branded, disposable wooden cheese board inside.
Brought to you by Super Nature.
