Fresh Cuts

HOME P L AT E - EATING WELL WHEN YOU’RE STAYING IN

Anxiety over coronavirus is keeping us all indoors more, for better or for worse (home schooling, anyone?). That doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself from the comfort of your kitchen and dining room, though! Here are some of our favourite ways to eat well at home. By Carla Thomas

ORDER YOUR GROCERIES ONLINE For anyone trying to avoid the supermarket scrum, this Antipodean online store specialises in products sourced directly from New Zealand, a country famous for its unspoilt natural environment capable of producing high-quality, additive-free foods (as well as a kickass prime minister!). They work closely with local NZ farmers, only sourcing foods during peak season and from sustainable growers and producers. From artisanal dairy-free yoghurt and plant-based meat, to sustainably caught fish and chef-designed recipe kits, there’s over 300 premium ingredients to fill your coffers with. Free delivery on orders over $1,000. store.eatthekiwi.com

GET HEALTHY MEALS DELIVERED Finding yourself out of the gym due to closures and class cancellations? Designed with gym bunnies in mind, this meal delivery service cooks up balanced, results-oriented meals that focus on your specific fitness goals. Whether you’re trying to burn fat, gain muscle or just maintain weight, the handy precooked meals give you a precise and planned meal regimen that keeps you on track between gym sessions. Choose from two plan types: Swallow, for anyone looking to burn fat and get lean; and Eagle, which serves up a heavy dose of protein and extra portions for anyone trying to build muscle and get ripped. Meals are easily tailored to specific dietary needs (vegan, low-carb, etc.) and are dropped off at your home twice throughout the week so you’re always eating fresh. Starting from $1,700 for 20 meals over two weeks (an average of two meals per weekday) with more extensive plans available. mealthy.com.hk

HIRE A PRIVATE CHEF OK, so this isn’t exactly a long-term solution to eating at home more! But if you’ve got a special occasion you were hoping to celebrate in style, why not splash out while staying in? Tom Burney is the mind behind sustainable catering company Invisible Kitchen, as well as a formidable private chef in his own right. He’s cooked for stars like Keanu Reeves and Kylie Minogue, as well as kitchen stints in some of the world’s best restaurants. Whether it’s an important client dinner or a special anniversary just for two, Chef Tom will create a bespoke menu that serves up restaurant-quality standards from your very own kitchen, arriving an hour before mealtime to minimise the potential weirdness of having a stranger in your home. Dinner parties for six or more start at around $1,500 a head, including four courses, canapes, a waiter, cutlery and crockery, with an additional wine pairing option if you really want to make it a night to remember. Email tom@hongkongpersonalchef.com for more info.

TRY A JUICE CLEANSE If you’re just hanging out at home anyway, what better time to try a juice cleanse? These daily detoxifying sets from 12NOON promise to reduce inflammation, boost energy, support digestion, cleanse your liver and promote healthy skin. Each raw juice cleanse is delivered to you with six bottles to last you the day, recommended to be drunk every two hours. Depending on how zealous a cleanser you are, you can opt for a milder option (with fruit blends and almond milk) or a more extreme, green juice-only set. Costs $399 for one day’s cleanse. twelvenoon.net

DIY CHINESE SOUP PACKS Chinese grandmas have been saying it for donkey’s ears: good health starts with good soup. But don’t go bugging your poor old nainai to make you a bowl! These healthy soup packs from Soup4Health purport to cure just about every bodily complaint you can think of, from the general (“Body Strengthening & Cold Prevention”) to the oddly specific (“Nocturnal Enuresis”). Ingredients are picked up from the wholesale market first thing each morning, before being cleaned, cut and packed, then delivered to your door. Each soup recipe (and there are over 80, just FYI) is packed with nutrient-rich veggies, fruits and herbs that should keep your immune system in tiptop shape for the foreseeable future. Packs range from $75-$140, and make 5-7 bowls. Order online at Jou Sun.

FRESH CUTS Dining news that’s good for you

BAIN MARIE ZERO-WASTE LUNCH DELIVERY SERVICE LAUNCHES Love meal delivery but feel guilty about all that disposable packaging? New food delivery startup Bain Marie is looking to solve that diner’s dilemma with a new concept where they will deliver your lunch in glass jars, and pick them up again, saving unnecessary plastic and cardboard packaging from the landfill. Choose from a gourmet, vegetarian or low-carb plan, and you’ll be treated to a three-course meal for just $120. bainmariehk.com

NEW RESTAURANT HUE OFFERS HEALTHY DISHES AND EXPANDED VEGETARIAN MENU Located at the newly-reopened Museum of Art, the 5,000 square-foot Hue is committed to offering a healthy but gourmet dining experience on Kowloon side. Meals start with a complimentary immune-boosting ginger and beetroot shot, before opting for fresh, healthy dishes, such as Australian striploin with burnt carrot puree, trumpet mushrooms and fermented Shimeji mushrooms. The vegetarian dishes are as innovative as they come, like ricotta dumplings with toasted hazelnuts and broccolini. Save some room for dessert; we love the sound of the homemade fig leaf ice cream with rhubarb, fermented strawberry jelly and buckwheat crumble. 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 3500-5888, huedining.com.hk.