Is It Safe To Dine Out In COVID-19 Lockdown?
Here are 7 restaurant-style meals you can prepare at home…
In recent weeks, growing COVID-19 clusters in Sydney have been linked to interstate diners in restaurants, pubs, clubs, and cafes. Naturally, parents in Sydney are worried about taking their families out to dine. One of the questions of every parent’s mind today is ‘How safe is it to take the family out for a meal now?’
Dining out during COVID-19 crisis can expose you and your family to some risks. Here’s how:
You cannot wear a mask to protect yourself when you are eating
Workers and patrons in the restaurant could be asymptomatic (Asymptomatic people have COVID-19 in their bodies but do not show any symptoms. Asymptomatic people can spread the virus to others)
Some of our favourite places to eat are small so your risks of coming in close contact with others are quite high
There is no such thing as a ‘zero-risk’ situation when we are out in public so long as a vaccine has not been developed. In reality, risks are an innate part of life. Risks are embedded in every moment of our existence. Driving a car or crossing a road, are normal things we do but each activity comes with risks. Knowing what these risks are and taking steps to mitigate them is how we survive.
How to lower your coronavirus risk when dining out
What should you look out for and how can you minimise the risk when you are dining with the family in a restaurant?
Here are some important things every parent must know about dining out in a pandemic emergency:
NSW Government contact tracing can identify hotspots quickly and inform the public.
Food & Beverage outlets in Sydney must have COVID Safety Plan for each dining and drinking area.
The allowable distances in restaurants and cafes are one customer per 4-square metre.
Bookings per group cannot be more than 10 persons (unless it is a wedding, funeral, or corporate function).
Floors must have markers according to the prescribed 1.5-metre social distancing rules.
Restaurant workers must wear masks to protect others.
The restaurant’s management must practise strict hygiene including cleaning and sanitising all surfaces, equipment, crockery, and cutlery.
Parents can take extra precaution to protect themselves. Here are some safe things you can do:
Follow the government updates on hotspots and stay away from suburbs that have been affected.
Scan the restaurant or café, before you sit down. If you do not feel safe, go somewhere else.
Give your name and phone number in case you have to be contacted by the authorities.
Use the hand sanitisers provided by the restaurant or café upon entering.
Wash or sanitise your hands before you eat.
If you have to touch your face while you are eating, use a hand sanitiser first.
Sanitise your hands after you touch high-point surfaces (for example door handles, bathroom taps, countertops, and other surfaces).
Carry additional hand sanitisers and antibacterial wipes.
Keep your distance from others.
Use cashless transactions.
Wear a mask where possible.
Consider choosing takeaways instead of dining in if you are worried.
Are takeaways safe in lockdown?
Many restaurants and cafes have reinvented themselves and now offer a safe takeaway service. If you are missing your favourite restaurant but do not want to take the risk of dining out, ordering a takeaway is a good option.
But how safe are takeaways? Here are some things every parent must know:
Drivers and riders of delivery companies have to practise COVID-Safe practices.
Empty the food from their packaging. Use a fork or spoon not your hands.
Throw the containers in the bin and wash your hands before you eat.
Consider sticking to hot cooked foods in the pandemic rather than fresh uncooked dishes.
5 restaurant-style meals to cook at home in COVID-19 lockdown
If you are not keen to take risks with dining out, now is the time to explore cooking at home. Cooking is therapy. It has a calming effect on us because when we’re cooking our minds are not focused on the virus. Cooking is also a good way to stay connected with our family and our cultures.
The teachers at TopKidz have done some research on the internet. We’ve found seven recipes from some of Sydney’s best restaurants for our parents to try at home. Max is a great cook, so we asked him to adapt the recipes to make it easier for our parents. Max has made the recipes simpler (no difficult tasks like baking your bread for instance). He has also adapted the ingredients slightly to make them kid-friendly (i.e. your kids will love to eat it) and super nutritious of course! Enjoy!
Here are our top 7 restaurant-style meals to cook at home:
1. Momofuku-Seibo’s Famous Crab Roll
Ingredients
500gm crab meat
150gm Kewpie mayonnaise
2 tbs chopped chives
½ tsp ground celery salt
½ tsp togarashi (Japanese spiced pepper)
Brioche rolls
Potato chips and softened butter to serve
Method
Mix all ingredients in a bowl
Cut brioche rolls in half
Spread with butter and toast on a hot pan
Serve with potato chips
2. Edition Café’s Gorgeous Souffle Pancake
Ingredients
2 large eggs
1 ½ tbs milk
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup cake flour *
½ tsp baking powder
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp neutral-flavoured oil for greasing the pan (Canola is a good choice)
2 tbsp water (for steaming)
Fresh whipped cream
Topping of your choice
*For a healthier option, substitute cake flour with wholemeal flour
Method
A 12-inch pan can cook 3 pancakes at a time
Separate eggs into two bowls. Put the egg whites into the fridge for 15 minutes
Add milk and vanilla into the egg yolks and whisk until light and frothy
Sift in baking powder and cake flour
Whisk to combine
Take egg whites out of the fridge and whisk on medium speed. Add a little sugar at a time until you get a stiff, glossy consistency
Heat pan on low heat
Mix half the eggwhite with the egg yolk mixture. Fold gently with a whisk. Take care not to break the air bubbles.
Transfer the egg yolk mixture to the remaining egg whites and fold gently
Cook pancakes. Serve with your favourite topping
3. Bill’s Best Scrambled Eggs
Ingredients
2 large eggs
80ml cream
10gm butter
Method
Mix egg with cream
Melt butter in a pan
Pour in egg mixture
Cook for 10 seconds until it starts to set around the edges
Use a wooden spoon to fold the sides into the centre. Fold. Don’t stir.
Cook for a further 20 seconds
Season
Serve on toasted sourdough with finely chopped chives and your favourite sides
4. St Peter’s Genius Fish n’ Chips
Ingredients
600gm Ling fish
Batter:
400gm rice flour
210gm self-raising flour
10gm baking powder
345ml vodka
45gm honey
550ml beer
Extra rice flour for dusting
Salt & Vinegar onion rings
500ml malt vinegar
80gm sea salt
2tbs caster sugar
4 large onions cut into rings
Rice flour for dusting
Method
Heat oil in deep-fryer or pan to 140 degrees Centigrade
Sift flours together
Whisk honey with vodka
Add vodka mixture and beer to flours to make a batter
Dust fish with rice flour
Coat with batter
Fry for 2 minutes. Turn and fry the other side until cooked
Top with onion rings and serve with fries and yoghurt tartare sauce
To make onion rings, remove the centres of the onions. Separate the rings and cook in vinegar, salt and sugar solution. Remove. Drain. Coat with rice flour and deep fry until golden brown and crispy. Season with salt before serving
To make yoghurt tartare sauce, mix finely chopped dill with Greek yoghurt. Season with salt and a dash of pepper
5. Bella Brutta’s Scrumptious Pizza
Ingredients
Fresh ready-to-roll pizza dough
¼ cup tomato passata (Italian tomato sauce)
140gm fior de latte (substitute with buffalo mozzarella)
½ cup finely grated parmesan
50gm medium spicy salami
Toasted fennel seed to serve
Method
Heat a heavy bottom pan
Cook cheese until it starts to melt around the edges
Pour in honey and lemon juice
Sprinkle oregano
Serve hot with warm sourdough bread
6. The Apollo’s Sticky Saganaki
Ingredients
1 wedge of saganaki (If you are buying cheese fresh, ask for kefalograviera)
50ml honey
½ lemon
A pinch of dried oregano
Method
Mix all ingredients in a bowl
Cut brioche rolls in half
Spread with butter and toast on a hot pan
Serve with potato chips
7. That viral Dalgano Coffee
Ingredients
2 tbs instant coffee
2 tbs granulated sugar
2 tbs cold water
Ice for serving
Milk for serving
Method
Combine sugar, water and coffee in a medium bowl
Use a hand blender to whisk the mixture until it is thick and foamy. Approximately 8 to 10 minutes
Fill a glass halfway full with milk and ice
Dollop the creamy coffee mixture on top
Enjoyed our recipes? Want more ideas? Drop us a line and tell us your request!
Stay safe. Be well.