Online shopping: Fill up the fridge and pantry while supporting local businesses

Keeping your fridge full and household well-fed has taken on new meaning in the past few weeks with the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.

With a growing number of our population in quarantine, and the rest trying to do our part by avoiding leaving the house as much as possible, online shopping and home delivery have been a saviour.

Many local businesses have taken up the baton, working around the clock to change and upscale their operations to keep up with growing demand.

From gourmet pizza bases, frozen bake-at-home croissants to restaurant-quality ready-made meals, and a high calibre of fresh produce, it is all a click away.

Here is a list of my top picks that I frequently use to support local and get items delivered with no contact straight to my door:

Three Mills Bakery

The beloved Majura Park bakery-come-café, renowned for its sourdough and artisan pastries, met the COVID-19 curveball head-on last year and hit it out of the park with their new bake-at-home range.

The list of products available for delivery is ever-evolving. It currently includes the new range of bake-at-home goodies of croissants, sausage rolls and family-sized pies. Also available is a range of ready-made sourdough, granola, brownies, and cookies, along with some pantry staples of flour, and their very own cookbook Beyond Bread and Butter.

To stock up on the Three Mills Bakery range, head to the website.

Lonsdale Street Roasters

Lonsdale Street Roasters are pioneers of coffee culture in Canberra. For over 10 years, they have been sourcing, blending and roasting their own coffee to the highest standards possible.

The magic still happens on the street where it started in Braddon, with the same original owners roasting the coffee. Their specialised infrared roasting technique delivers precise, even heat and airflow, which in turn allows superior manipulation to extract the true flavour and character of each origin. Their sole focus is back to the beans as a roaster, wholesaler and supplier, and all their products are available to purchase for at-home use.

To purchase the beans, visit the website.

Farrah’s Liquor Collective

Farrah’s Liquor Collective’s producer-to-consumer concept store in Fyshwick has been a hit with shoppers, with savings available of up to 70 per cent off normal prices for wine.

The online store sells the same products you can find in the warehouse but with the bonus of free delivery in Canberra, Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra.

Visit Farrah’s Liquor Collective website to check all the current local wine available.

Alpha Fresh

During the height of lockdown last year, Alpha Fresh, Canberra’s largest fresh food wholesaler, transformed its wholesale operation and began offering fresh produce direct to consumers. With a fleet of refrigerated trucks at their disposal, they offer delivery six days a week across Canberra, Queanbeyan and Googong. The wholesale business also makes regular trips to Yass, the South Coast and Snowy Mountains, so regional customers are also catered to.

They have transformed their website into a Digital Fresh Produce Market, allowing people to do all their market shopping from the comfort of home. They have also expanded their offering to cover cost-effective set fruit and vegetable boxes, meat packs, seafood and grocery items.

To get your hands on some fresh produce, head to Alpha Fresh’s website.

Jordo’s Chop Shop

Jordo’s Chop Shop is a traditional Australian butcher connecting with its customers beyond the traditional bricks and mortar. They share their product knowledge, inspiration, and advice through their Wanniassa shopfront and their online presence, including an e-store, website, and social media channels.

They offer online and over-the-counter specials advertised every Monday and each week put up an easy-to-follow recipe on social media to showcase those specials.

Find Jordo’s Chop Shop at the Wanniassa Shops, Sangster Pl, Wanniassa, or head to the website to order online.

Alex the Pizza Guy

Making it easy for at-home cooks to nail their own pizza creations was the challenge Alex the Pizza took on during the COVID-19 lockdown last year.

He came up with a range of at-home products, including handmade wood-fired pizza bases and sauces to add a gourmet edge to the humble family pizza night.

To order your gourmet pizza pack, head to the Alex the Pizza Guy Facebook page.

Ziggys Fresh

Ziggys Fresh is one of Canberra’s seminal names in fruit and vegetables. Family-owned and operated since the business began, Ziggys provides fresh, quality seasonal produce to market-goers every week at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Market (and until recently, Belconnen Fresh Food Market).

Now that same seasonal produce is available for home delivery with a choice of set produce boxes.

To order head, to Ziggys Fresh

Dinner’s Ready

Need to eat but can’t be bothered cooking? I hear you! For those occasions, fill the freezer with ready made meals from Dinner’s Ready.

Alison and Tim Wilson are the team behind Dinner’s Ready, preparing and delivering the fresh snap frozen meals that are ready with a few minutes in the microwave.

Meals range from pasta, curries and some classic comfort foods that are available in independent retailers throughout Canberra and the Snowy Mountains. There is also an online store with home delivery offering a completely contactless experience across the Canberra Region every Tuesday and Thursday.

Dinner’s Ready is available to order online.

The Bunched Co

For a little bit of sweetness and whimsy, gift yourself or someone in lockdown a donut bouquet.

The digital business is delivering mouth-watering, Instagram-worthy edible sweet gifts around Canberra.

The current range of ‘bunches’ includes Iced and Sprinkled donuts or the decadent Nutella donut bunch that comes with a personalised syringe filled with Nutella.

To order visit The Bunched Co website.

The Merchant’s Feast

The Merchant’s Feast concept is a first for the Canberra region. While the online platform acts exactly as a bricks-and-mortar delicatessen – slicing all cold meats fresh to order, offering daily freshly baked bread, stocking deli goods like cheese, marinated vegetables, pasta sauce, and more – the difference is you can order it from the comfort of the couch.

The Merchant’s Feast also features ready-made meals, pantry items, and grazing box options on the site. Order everything from a lasagne ready to heat up in the oven to stuffed olives to olive oil along with everything from ricotta to rashers of bacon.

To find out more or place your order, visit the website.

Original Article published by Sophia Brady on The RiotACT.