Looking for ways to shake up your quarantine routine? There’s more to lockdown life than Netflix and banana bread! Here are 10 ways for foodies to keep busy, support restaurants, and plan for the future.
Find ways to help out. There are lots of ways you can give back to your community in these difficult times. You could offer to pick up some essentials for relatives or neighbours that can’t get out or make a donation to charities like FareShare or Meals for the NHS. Why not reach out to your local food bank and see if there are things you can donate?
Start a restaurant wishlist. Keep track of all the places you want to try or revisit once lockdown is lifted. If the restaurant is on OpenTable, you can tap the ‘Save This Restaurant’ button on their profile to add it to your favourites. This is the ideal time to do your research and find the perfect restaurant for your next anniversary, date night, or family lunch. Consider buying gift vouchers for future meals so you’ve got something to look forward to.
Plan your next foodie trip. Just because you can’t travel now, doesn’t mean you can’t start planning your next adventure. Whether you fancy tapas, sushi, or tacos on the beach, the possibilities are endless. Pin the places you want to visit – museums, markets, restaurants – on a custom Google map, and when it’s time to fly, all you need to do is pack your bag!
Skip the supermarket. If you can, skip the stressful supermarket queue and support smaller independent shops and local delis instead. You could try a new delivery service – lots of restaurant suppliers (like Natoora) are now doing home delivery, as are local fishmongers, butchers and wine shops. If you’re in London, The Infatuation has a great list of restaurants selling fresh produce and supplies – Quality Chop’s pies are top of our list!
Plan the perfect foodie day out. What would your ideal foodie day look like? A visit to your favourite farmers’ market? A Sunday roast after a long walk? Or a date night dinner and cocktail crawl? Map out the perfect foodie day so you’re ready to go once things are back to normal.
Cook the books. Got a stack of cookbooks you rarely cook from? Challenge yourself to cook a recipe from each one or create a 3-course feast from one of your favourites. You can keep kids busy with jobs like stirring or meatball rolling or get your housemates to shake up cocktails for a home happy hour. Why not support your favourite restaurants by adding their cookbooks to your collection?
Host a virtual dinner party. Lay the table, pour yourself a glass of wine, and invite friends and family to a virtual dinner, lunch break, or brunch party. To help you set the scene, we’ve created a #VirtualDining Instagram filter so you can add a restaurant background to your next Instagram video chat. If you miss catching up over dinner, this is the next best thing!
Plan a staycation. In the UK, you don’t have to travel far to find good food. Check out which food festivals are running later this year or plan your dream staycation, whether that involves camping, country walks, or exploring a new city. If you need some inspiration, take a look at some of our favourite UK beach breaks, restaurants with rooms, and foodie hotels.
Stay social. Stay engaged and show your support by following your favourite chefs, restaurants and food bloggers on social media. You’ll be rewarded with cookery demos, virtual tasting sessions, pub quizzes, workouts and more! You could also take a few minutes to write a review and spread the word about your favourite places to eat.
Have you got any quarantine tips to share with fellow foodies? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page.
