Someone said the other day: “If you want to know what it’s like in the hospitality industry right now, remember when the Titanic was sinking and the band played on, well we’re the band!” With restaurants across the state closed for dine-in meals from Monday 23 March 2020, I’m so worried for our hospitality industry. Chefs and restaurateurs have always been the first to put their hands in their pockets for a worthwhile cause and the last to close their doors to those in need. I’m inspired by the way these small businesses are flexing in an attempt to stay viable and support their communities, including the staff and suppliers who rely on them. And I’m so very afraid that a lot just won’t be here in a few months’ time when the dust settles. Many are now offering takeaway for the first time. You need to eat and they need to cook … it seems like a pretty easy proposition. Wherever you are, please avoid the home delivery companies that strip any profit out of restaurants’ takeaways and support your small, local, independent businesses. Here are just five good news stories, the city is full of them, please do everything you can to support them. Stay safe, stay positive and keep eating well.
Lucio’s Italian Restaurant Takeaway/Home Delivery
Previously only offering it as a favour to loyal regulars feeling poorly, Lucio’s was the first fine-diner to flex into takeaway. They’ve been keeping grateful locals well fed for weeks with their takeaway menu. From this week they’re also offering Simply Delicious, frozen meals (like lasagne, gnocchi alla Sorrentina and fish wrapped in parchment) to pop in the freezer and heat and eat whenever you like.
Nilgiri’s Community Support
www.nilgiris.com.au
It’s heart-warming (but not surprising) to see Ajoy and Meera Joshi offering free meals to those in need including unemployed hospitality workers and foreign students – and inspiring their regulars to ‘pay it forward’ with an online gift voucher to feed even more people. Details on their website along with their takeaway/home delivery menu including Ajoy’s delicious simmer sauces to pop in the fridge or freezer for easy home-cooking later in the week.
Efendy Soup Kitchen
www.efendy.com.au
In many cultures, the first thing you do when someone’s unwell is drop by some soup. And so Somer Sivrioglu and his team have set up their cart at the front of the restaurant with free Turkish vegetable soup and warm pide. Their takeaway/home delivery menu even includes Turkish wines and spirits, plus great value family packs of dips, kofta, pide and baklava (just $52!).
Red Lantern Staff Meals
www.redlantern.com.au
‘Family meal’ is a hospitality tradition where all staff share dinner together before the guests arrive. A multicultural affair, apprentices and kitchenhands often recreate favourite childhood recipes for their colleagues. Join the Red Lantern family by dining on the likes of lemongrass, chilli & garlic chicken with green beans (for just $15!), ready to heat and eat. Collect or home delivered.
Moxhe Prix Fixe
www.moxhe.com.au
David and Helen at Bronte favourite Moxhe are offering a set 3-course dinner menu at great prices (pick-up or delivered). There’s also a daily market of fresh baked goodies (sourdough bread, Liege waffles, crepes, Paris-brest, cannelle and more), housemade pasta and charcuterie, vegies and a simple lunch special. Details on their Instagram.
Here are just a few more faves doing their bit to keep us nourished and feeling good. Please support them.
In the east, Beppi’s (Sydney’s oldest restaurant) has launched their ‘a casa’ menu of ready to eat gnocchi, saltimbocca, osso buco and other comfort food favourites along with housemade dried pasta. Meanwhile in Bondi, Mike Eggert is still cooking Totti’s puffy wood-fired bread for collection or delivery along with antipasti, pasta and bottled cocktails!
The north side is well catered for with Alessandro Pavoni’s Chiosco offering a drive-up service where staff run orders of their famous vitello tonnato, housemade focaccia, rigatoni Bolognese and more out to your car. While down at Freshwater, Giovanni Pilu’s takeaway menu includes family-size trays of lasagne and eggplant parmigiana ready to heat at home. Rudi Dietz at Stuyvesant House (Crows Nest) is opening up his amazing cellar for takeaway (if ever we deserved a bottle of Grange, it’s now!), along with a meat market (including ready-to-cook crumbed schnitzels) and a full takeaway menu of true comfort food.
Pyrmont favourite, Blue Eye Dragon is offering DIY dumpling kits (just the thing to keep the whole family entertained) along with their take away menu of Taiwanese favourites. And if you need to stock up on some awesome booze, check out P&V Wine & Liquor for delivery Australia wide.
The situation (and therefore Sydney restaurants coronavirus response) is changing daily; all or some of these restaurants may be closed soon without your support. Wherever you are, please support small, local, independent businesses as much as you can. Now more than ever – use it or lose it!! #KeepCalmAndCarryOnEatingWell
When restaurants closed for dine-in meals due to Covid19, some Sydney restaurants turned into grocers, bakers and suppliers of great produce to cook at home. Check out their offerings here.
Updated 4 May 2020
