Featured image: Silas, owner of The Pantry credit: Fumika Takagi
Over the last 18 months, with international travel off the cards, and currently, most of interstate travel off the cards too, people have been spending money in other ways. Car upgrades, home renovations, big screen TVs, and dining out, has all become more popular than ever – but celebrating special occasions sometimes doesn’t get the attention they deserve. I mean, if you didn’t go to Sydney for your birthday weekend, did it even happen?
Luckily for those in South Australia, we have THE BEST food and wine scene in the country (not biased at all here… haha), with even those in Sydney taking note (that’s right, WE are now the ultimate destination). Now incredible SA dining experiences are also available in your house – so you don’t even have to take off your COVID uniform of trackies and Ugg boots if you don’t feel the need.
With a range of incredible restaurants and caterers offering in-home dinner party packages, all you need to do is approve the menu, and invite your nearest and dearest, for the easier dinner party you’ll ever throw.
Whether you just need quality food delivered, or an all-out styled dinner party, this list has you covered with all the best South Australian at-home catering businesses.
Prepared dinner party meals delivered
With current capacity restrictions of 10 people per house, this delivery option is the way to go. You won’t need to worry about in-house chefs or caterers and waiting staff taking up space for guests. These caterers offer pre-cooked meals ready for you to cook, reheat, or have delivered hot, ready to plate up and serve. The best part about these options is that you can fake it and pretend you made it all yourself….
Georges on Waymouth
George’s to Go offers heat and enjoy hampers for easy restaurant quality food delivered. Customers can pick up orders at their Waymouth location on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Delivery is available on Saturdays between 1-3pm, for residences within a 5km radius of the CBD.
Their delicious 12 Hour Braised Lamb Shoulder is the hero of the food pack, which needs to be warmed in the oven for 30 minutes or so before serving, so that its piping hot, and restaurant-quality when it’s plated up. The hamper also includes all the other trimmings including salads, sides and dessert, to cater for 4 people (there’s also a 2 person pack), so you can add extra hampers to cater for the number of guests you have.
Simply book online here to order your hamper.
In-home cooking by a professional
After a private chef experience? Allow a professional catering team to cook and serve meals hot for a restaurant quality experience at home. You won’t need to worry about the clean up afterwards, they have that covered as well. It’s the no-fuss dinner party you’ve always wanted, but no matter how hard you prepped, you spent the night flitting around organising stuff. Now it’s your time to shine as the host/ess with the most.
The Vermilion Table
For Modern Asian cuisine with a spin on the traditional, The Vermilion Table has you covered for your next dinner party. A collaboration between expert chefs from popular venues such as Concubine and Busan Baby, you can now enjoy these successful restaurants’ creations from the comfort of your own home.
The Vermilion Table specialises in catering for functions, but offers experienced chefs that can cook South East Asian cuisine in your own kitchen. The minimum cost is $220 an hour from when the chef arrives, or beforehand if additional prep work is needed in a commercial kitchen.
Meez On Plus Catering
Specialising in bush food and tucker, with produce they grow themselves or source from local suppliers, Meez On Plus Catering is your go to for a unique Australian dining experience. They’re known for their bush tucker, but of course, they also offer other cuisines.
Meez On offers “in house cheffing” where a team will cook onsite in your kitchen for 10-30 guests. They will supply crockery from local artist Bramble Pottery in Strathalbyn and cutlery, and will take care of the cleaning up afterwards. They also offer a beverages service. They tailor the menu to your needs, and can include bush tucker such as crocodile and emu, or green-ant butter and wattle seed scones for a unique and educational dining experience.
For a typical three course dinner with 10 people, customers can expect to pay $90 per head, excluding other fees like beverage waiting.
Tuk Tuk Catering
Described as a “fusion of culinary delights,” Tuk Tuk Catering offers flavours from the Far East right in your own home with the private chef experience. Adelaide-based executive chef Yukiko Anschutz, who has previously worked in international hotels, will tailor-make a menu designed to wow and please your guests. They deliver, or Yukiko can personally cook in your kitchen. An experienced waiter and bartender will also be at your service, so there will be no need to stress over the perfect dinner party, Tuk Tuk has it sorted.
Yukiko can offer fine-dining for a minimum of 2 people at $100 per head.
The Pantry on Egmont
Silas Ulbrich, café owner at The Pantry on Egmont (a cult-classic brunch spot in Hawthorn), explores his passion for fine-dining and culinary creativity after brunch hours. He offers a highly-tailored dining experience of up to six courses, cooked especially in the client’s kitchen with up to 30 guests.
As with The Pantry, Silas takes a zero-waste approach in his cooking, aiming to recycle and repurpose by using his own equipment and no disposable aluminium trays.
As a bespoke service, pricing varies depending on the number of people and courses. Offerings start at $80 per head for a three course meal for a larger gathering of guests.
In-home cooking with event styling add-ons
For those hosts who really want to wow their guests, this option is for you. These businesses cater for weddings and corporate functions– and they can offer their expert catering and event styling for your dinner party at home. Level up your next special celebration for a fabulous night, it will be worth the cost.
Out in the Paddock
Out in the Paddock’s dinner party service is basically a down-scaled version of what they usually offer at Adelaide’s best events. Not only do Out in the Paddock offer delectable food and exceptional service, they can also organise all the frills like tablescaping and florals for a seamless and stylish dinner party.
They can cater for a minimum of 10 people, and their menu ranges from a simple three course meal to degustation.
The menu package starts of $175 per head, will additional costs depending on what the client needs.
Hand Made Catering
Hand Made Catering offers three sit-down dining experiences to choose from: a set menu three course dinner, an alternate drop entrée dinner, and a lavish five course degustation dinner.
A dinner party isn’t complete without booze, and Hand Made Catering can also supply a beverages menu and professional front of house and bar staff.
They can also take care of lighting, floristry and styling, marquees, and party hiring. Their website includes a list of recommended suppliers to choose from.
Dine Fine Dining Catering
Dine Catering offers an exquisite five course degustation menu perfect for your next dinner party at home. Including two to three canapes and pre-dinner drinks as guests arrive, and finishing with dessert, your guests will leave fully satisfied. A chef and waiting team can cook and cater for a house of 8-50 guests.
Desiring unique menu options? Dine Catering can get into contact with various suppliers to make sure your menu includes exactly what you want.
“We had one client wanting Kiwami wagyu beef,” Glen says, “And we can offer seasonal produce like truffles from WA.”
Dine Catering can look after the table settings, linens, crockery, and cutlery. If you want to leave the styling to Dine, that is an option too.
Clients can expect to pay $1500 for the menu, with additional costs of waiting staff and styling.
Have we missed your favourite dinner-party caterer? Contact us here: [email protected]
More News
