If you’ve ever felt the dread of going home to an empty fridge on an even emptier stomach, you’ll like the Cook’s Grocer. The online and bricks-and-mortar store, based in Rozelle, has created a very simple solution to dinnertime despair. They’re essentially a home (or office) delivery service that supplies all of the ingredients, measured and ready to use, so you can cook up a nourishing meal within 30 minutes.
For aspiring MasterChefs out there, this may sound like an expensive way to shop for the weekly groceries – but for novice home cooks, it’s a healthier alternative to reaching for the greasy takeaway menu yet again. Each recipe uses locally sourced, free range and chemical-free proteins, from fresh Australian mussels to gluten-free Cumberland sausages, and the month’s menu is tried and tested at the Rozelle kitchen by the retailer’s chefs.
Time Out gave the service a go, opting to trial a Moroccan chicken tagine and spinach and ricotta ravioli from the company's rotating monthly menu. We found the portion sizes to be generous without being wasteful, and the recipes were easy to follow without assuming too much knowledge or competency with a knife. In fact, we even found time to crack open a beer mid-cook.
Ordering online is straightforward, though we recommend purchasing more than one meal at a time since there’s a $50 minimum spend. Ingredients are carefully measured and packed so you can sling it all in the fridge and cook as desired before their use-by dates, which are clearly marked on the parcels. There are three size options for each meal, and prices range from $22 for a two-person beef stir-fry to $72 for a four-person rustic Sicilian style Barramundi with fennel salad. Delivery is $5, or free if the total order cost exceeds $100.
As for the shop itself, we figure that if you’ve made it that far from your desk/home/life then you probably deserve a visit to Rozelle’s weekly markets or one of the local pubs and cafés. However, the staff at the Cook's Grocer are friendly and keen to share samples of the produce they cook at the store. Plus, they stock a range of T-Totaler loose-leaf teas, fresh pasta and cold cuts from Salt Meats Cheese.