Deliveryhero.com.au Blog

So Christmas is over, you’ve just about sobered up and digested Christmas dinner and before you know it, New Year’s Eve is here and it’s time to start all over again. Well this time around there’s no need to worry about planning and preparing a meal for your party as Delivery Hero can swoop on in and take care of all your New Year food needs!

If you’re in Sydney and in the Glebe vicinity, for example, consider putting on a Thai buffet and order your New Year food from the tasty Eat Thai. Classic Thai fare such as spring rolls, satay chicken, pad thai and stir-fry noodles are all offer as well as the chef’s specials such as sweet potato prawns and stir-fried seafood. Order a stack of dishes and lay out a Thai feast, your guests will love it.

If you’re in Melbourne, why not opt for something a bit different for your new year food and serve up a Turkish Takeaway extravaganza from Pasha’s Fine Ottomon Cuisine. Kick things off with some vine leaf dolma or Turkish pide as an appetiser. For the main course, choose from such culinary deliciousness as Guvec (slow cooked lamb with eggplant, zucchini, onion, mushroom, carrot, celery and garlic served with bulgar wheat) Or perhaps some Imam Biyaldi (Braised stuffed eggplant) along with traditional Turkish food such as Kofte and Adana Kebab.

Or for the classic choice that everyone will love, go for some pizza takeaway. Benino’s Pizza in Melbourne has a fabulous array of pizza and pasta on offer including the Flamin’ Meatball pizza (Napoli Base, Mozzarella Cheese, Flame Grilled Meat Balls, Crispy Bacon, Spanish Onions, Roasted Capsicum, Sundried Tomato, Feta Cheese, Garlic, Chilli ) or Firecracker (Napoli Base, Mozzarella Cheese, Hot Salami, Italian Sausage, Spanish Onion, Fresh Tomato, Jalapenos, Garlic and Chilli Flakes ). Pizza is always a wonderful New Year food option too as any cold leftovers make for an instant 1st Jan hangover aid!

So there you have it, three great Delivery Hero options to ensure you have a brilliant New Year’s Eve without the stress of having to cook. Just remember to order in some booze, perhaps some champagne for midnight and get those New Year playlists together. What better way to kick off 2012!

Image: Nigel Howe

Here at Delivery Hero we’re super psyched about summer and to celebrate we’ve partnered with Australian Surf Tours to run an awesome competition for all those would be surfers out there!

That’s right, if you’ve ever wanted to learn  how to surf or are already a surfer hoping to take your skills to the next level, then all you need to do is answer 3 simple questions via the Delivery Hero Facebook page and you’ll enter the draw to Win a Weekend at Surf Camp in NSW.

This brilliant prize is valued at $249.95 and includes transfers to and from the destination, all meals and camping accommodation for 2 days and 2 nights and surfing equipment.  As well as learning how to surf, winners will see some of Australia’s most stunning beaches and all manner of wildlife from kangaroos, possums to dolphins and giant sting rays – which you can feed by hand!

All surf camp instructors are qualified Level 1 Surf Coaches with the Academy of Surf Instructors and provide a friendly, social and safe environment for surfers to have fun and learn at every level. After a day tearing up the waves you can expect to chill out by the camp fire, enjoy a beer, some traditional Aussie food and relax before  hitting the big blue the next day!

So when you’re finished placing your order with your favourite food delivery guru Delivery Hero – jump over to our Facebook page and take a minute to enter our Surf Camp comp for a weekend adventure to remember!

It’s that time of the year again! Time to get everyone together and sit round a table to eat more than we all know we should! If you’re like us here at DH headquarters, then the silly season of food is your favourite time of year. But it’s also one of the busiest!

So before you run off to buy your last minute presents (and I run off to do the same), we at Delivery Hero would like to wish you a very happy holidays, however you may be celebrating!

And if you find yourself in any sort of food dilemma- never fear! We will be here ready to bring you the best delivery food over the entire Christmas break and into the New Year!

I find my next hero to chat with two minutes into his shift and just as he walks to his desk. I dash over and start talking quickly and enthusiastically. The surprise interview tactic works; he is startled and immediately agrees to answer my questions, quickly and honestly.
I know what you’re thinking, it sounds like interrogation, but it wasn’t. I even got him to sign something which says so…

Hey Rob, thanks for sparing a minute to chat with me (casual politeness after my ambush, *wink*). Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
About myself… well, I don’t like to use the word ‘hero’ very often. But when I look at my life and accomplishments, I’m kinda out of options. I guess tumultuous, robust and delectable are other words that I hear every now and then, I’m going to assume that people are describing me.

What’s your position here at Delivery Hero?
Legally speaking, I’m one of the Customer Service Representatives and Editorial Associates (yes ladies, a dual role. Whats up).

…Who told you to speak legally? (*shifty eyes*)
Anyway, what were you doing previously to working at Delivery Hero?
Before changing the face of customer care as we now know it, I was studying to be a counsellor and working as a newsagent, often trying to combine the two whenever possible. Dual role, ladies…

Do you have any interesting stories since working here?
I love customers, such great characters. Especially when they like to come up with imaginative stories and locations for themselves. Like, a few weeks ago when I almost transmitted an order for someone who claimed to live in China street, Chinatown. Google maps disagreed that this place existed, but I for one support this visionary.

OK here is a tougher one. Tell us something we don’t know about you.
Something you don’t know… let me think… I have a ridiculously long tongue? So long that at will, I can pick my nose with it (not that I would. Or do. Or have. Sigh… goodbye ladies)

*Extended silence* I’m going to leave that one alone and move on now- quickly.
How about your favourite food or restaurant in the city?
Pizza is definitely the greatest concept ever. And Darling Pizzeria is pretty incredible too. When you put the two together, life just makes sense for me.

What are some good tips for hungry customers to make sure the process goes smoothly for them?
The same advice that I would give as a hopeful counsellor- be open, honest, communicate clearly, and let us do the rest!

So it’s the week before Christmas and in the frenzy of finishing up work for the year, last-minute shopping, going to Christmas parties and planning your own family get together, there’s not much time left for cooking yourself. That’s where ordering in takes the pressure off and we’re happy to be able to recommend a few of our favourite restaurants that will make sure you have sustenance in the lead up to the silly season.

Maroubra’s So Good Kitchen knows how to fill those rumbling bellies with its extensive menu of authentic Chinese cuisine. Kick things off with a Mixed entrée (2 spring rolls, 2 curry puffs and a fried dim sim) and then head straight for the chef’s famous Crispy Skin Chicken. In addition to classics like Sweet & Sour Pork, and Beef with Black Bean Sauce, if you’re a noodle aficionado, you can’t go past the Chow Kwai Teow (with small prawn) – a spicy and filling dish that will give you the stamina you need to get through the Christmas madness. So Good Kitchen already has a loyal following and besides serving up delicious food, the dishes are reasonably priced.

Indian food has a reputation for being hearty, quick and light on the wallet and Tamana’s North Indian Diner in Newtown is no exception. In fact they’ve been serving hungry customers since 1991. Vegetarians will have a field day with the range of options available. The Vegetable Korma (mild) is a hit made up of seasonal vegetables cooked in a creamy sauce with cashew nuts, onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. Splash out on a Mango Lassi and Kashmiri Naan (filled with semolina, cashew nuts and sultanas). Carnivores won’t be disappointed with the Chicken Tikka Masala (marinated tandoor fillets, served with tomato and capsicum) and if you like your food a little hotter, make a beeline for the Beef Vindaloo.

Ever wanted to know what Elvis has to do with pizza? Elvis Pizza in Rushcutter’s Bay boasts an “Italian menu with an American iconic theme and a Memphis feel”. Choose from a wide variety of pastas (Boscaiola, Marinara and Gnocchi), salads, entrées (bruschetta) and even spare ribs (that’s the Memphis feel right there). But you know you’re really here for the Elvis-inspired pizza menu. Traditional pizza options include Viva Las Vegas (Chicken Breast, Mushroom, Capsicum, Onion, BBQ sauce & Cheese) or the Jailhouse Rock (The Lot with Seafood), but the gourmet options are even more impressive. Vegetarians will swoon at the Veg Lovers Fresh – Big Hunk O Love (Avocado, Eggplant, Artichoke, Fire Roast Capsicums, Field Mushrooms, Olives, Sun dried Tomatoes, Fresh Herbs, Onion, Fresh Tomatoes, & a light sprinkle of Mozzarella Cheese). Other highlights include Kentucky Rain (Tomato, Bocconcini, Roast Pumpkin, Potato & Fresh Rosemary) and the King Gourmet Hot Lovers – Don’t Cry Daddy (Pepperoni, Onion, Tabasco, Sundried Tomatoes, Tomato & Cheese). Elvis Pizza

Thankfully Delivery Hero can help take some of the stress out of the lead up to Christmas, by making sure that you don’t forget to eat! So sit back, take 5, crack open a coldie and take refuge in the sanctity of your own home, away from the hordes of shoppers.

Images: photo_gratis,  Tamana’s North Indian Diner

Italian, Indian, Chinese and Thai…whatever cuisine you’re craving Delivery Hero Melbourne can hook you up! With over 100 restaurants online and more joining every day, Delivery Hero is working his special brand of food delivery magic all over Melbourne.

Finding the best food in Melbourne:  As easy as 1, 2, 3….

As more eateries join our food delivery revolution, we want to share our insider knowledge of the best restaurants around. Known as a seriously food-focussed city, Melbourne has a slew of terrific eats to choose from. We’ll keep updating the blog focussing on new restaurants every month and are super excited to tell you about today’s Top 3!

Le Bangkok is right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. A treasure trove of Thai delights, Le Bangkok has built up a reputation as purveyor of authentic, delicious Thai food. Offering all the classics, popular dishes include Pad Thai and Penang Curry. For a lighter snack or as accompaniments to a Thai feast, try their warming Tom Yum soup or moreish vegetarian spring rolls. Le Bangkok also specialises in dishes from Northern Thailand – just the thing for those who want to try something new!

Not far from the CBD sits Carlton Curry House. Known for its exceptional value as well as scrumptious food, the Carlton Curry House is a must for lovers of Indian cuisine. With an impressive list of curries you are sure to find your favourites from comforting Butter Chicken to spicy Beef Vindaloo. Dahl Makani is popular with vegetarians and meat eaters alike, as is the Baingan Bhartha – a roasted eggplant dish cooked with garlic, herbs and masala.

A stone’s throw away in bustling Prahran, the Good Luck Chinese Restaurant is keeping Cantonese cuisine devotees fed and happy. The expansive menu covers all manner of temptations from deep fried wantons and fried squid appetisers, soups of all sorts (our favourite is the shredded duck!), loads of vegetarian stir fry options, seafood and noodles. Famous for their to-die-for dumplings, you would be foolish to pass up their scallop and prawn or pork and prawn dumplings if you get the chance!

More updates on Melbourne restaurants that deliver to you coming soon from Delivery Hero – so do stay tuned!

Images: Melbourne: Linh_rOm, Pad Thai: adactio

Our faithful Delivery Hero hit the beach with a third of the team to brush up on his skills.

In a bit of good old team building we headed to the south coast of New South Wales, set up camp and even saw a giant sting ray! With our instructor at hand, first up we practised the basic skills of getting up and standing on the board – on dryland.

Once we hit the water,  Delivery Hero showed the rest of us how it was done, while Fabian had a rather unique experience.  After falling off his board, he managed to haul himself back up and ride it sitting for 10 metres – the only catch was, he was going backwards!

Thanks to Australian Surfing Tours for a great time!

Christmas party season is soon to be upon us. If you’ve decided to host one this year, take a look at our Christmas party ideas below to help you successfully plan your festive fun with minimal stress!

 Our top Christmas party ideas…

Some festive decorations are a must but you don’t have to go all out with copious amounts of tinsel to generate that perfect festive ambience. In fact, in our opinion less is usually more when it comes to generating that perfect Christmas ambience.

Homemade bunting (keeps the kids busy), white fairy lights and a great-looking tree with minimal decoration.  Stick to 3 colours within the décor if you can – red, green and silver are the classic Yuletide shades but also consider blue and gold for a more modern take on things.

Traditional Christmas carols or timeless classics like Miracle on 34th Street or White Christmas with Bing Crosby are always a sophisticated choice.  Avoid anything that you could imagine being played in a shopping centre.

If you really want to get the party started, buy or make your own Christmas song compilation.  Another fun option is get a dvd of a roaring fire, instant Christmas ambience with out the hassles of being too hot!

When it comes to food, minimise on stress and cater your party with some fantastic takeaway.

3 Great Christmas Party Food Ideas

Pizza is always the safe choice for party food, but it needn’t be boring! We love Two Fat Chefs  in Rushcutters Bay they have a brilliant selection so buy a few different pizzas to keep everyone happy. Office favourites are Tiger Prawn & Scallop, Duck Sausage and the Roast Pumpkin Pizza. Two Fat Chefs also does a wonderful selection of salads, pasta and other Italian classics.

For a rowdy Christmas feast, why not order some Chinese! Wok Master in Randwick has an extensive menu so they’ll be something for everyone. For a real Christmas treat order the Peking Duck and the Wok Master Wasabi Fillet Steak. We also love the deep fried bean curd with chilli spicy salt – no order is complete without it!

For fans of Salt and Pepper Soft Shell Crab look no further than Fine Food King  in Parramatta. The Chef’s Recomendations are filled with fantasitc seafood dishes like Tropical Chilli Fish and XO King Prawns. They also cover classic Aussie Asian dishes like Lemon Chicken and Sweet & Sour Pork.

With the food taken care of by Delivery Hero and no washing up in sight, your on you way to having a very merry Christmas!

Image: Paparutzi 

Last night here at Delivery Hero we celebrated our first Christmas party as a company- officially kicking off the festive season and giving us the chance to celebrate the hard work and effort everybody has put in the last few months.

Christmas hats, canapés and cocktails were the order of the evening, but never missing a chance to stamp our own ‘Delivery Hero style’ on the night- the superhero costume was of course on hand for photo ops.

Guest post by Sheree Joseph  @Flyfromadream  www.clichemurder.com

It all began on a dark and stormy night. No really, it was raining and everything. I’m just setting the mood here man. So there I am, working back late and day dreaming about what to eat when I get home – the Cinnamon Duck Chef’s Special from my favourite Thai restaurant in Pyrmont, Wok Station. I usually walk in and am greeted with ‘Hello ma’am, takeaway duck?’ and I nod meekly, trying not to look too predictable or like a person that orders adorable ducks and eats them.

Sometimes I jazz it up and order an entrée as well, depending on whether hunger has reached dire emergency warning levels yet. Once I ordered something with chicken in it. It was difficult for all parties involved.

Somewhere between my flailing umbrella and the howling winds, it was decided that I would catch a taxi home. I specifically motioned to the driver to take the longer route home, so I could jump out, make the order and run through the rain. That’s when I saw it.

An empty space where my favourite Thai restaurant once resided, boarded up, empty, forlorn, a ghost of its former self*.

‘Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo’ I screamed in my head, so as to not scare the poor Taxi driver, ignorant to my Thai-deprived plight.

Dazed and confused, I rushed home and rang all the available brochures on my fridge, but none were open/ awesome enough to answer/ have anything with duck on the menu. Would I die of starvation? I didn’t even stop to look in my fridge, which had food in it. Irrelevant. Spicks and Specks was coming on and it won’t be on TV for much longer, ‘There’s no time for you kitchen!’ I yelled, because that’s what crazy people do.

That’s when I remembered a certain online superhero that had recently plagued my newsfeed with adorable food-related anecdotes, the best kind. ‘He’ll know what to do’ I said out loud to no one in particular, as I was home alone and, it would appear, totally mad.

I logged onto Delivery Hero and swiftly found a local Thai place – Thai Space Glebe. I decided I would order duck pancakes and Thai fried rice with prawns. The experience with Delivery Hero encouraged me to opt for something different, now that I could so easily browse through the menus and click. I had just enough cash in my wallet. Delivery Hero informed me of the status of my order, with sweet, high tech graphics and user-friendly instructions. They even sent me a text message, how nice of them! Everything was delivered on time without a single hiccup. World order (and my derailing sanity) had been restored. I have since discovered a range of new Thai places in my area.

I sat on my couch, eating, and contemplating the meaning of life. It seems that superheroes are real and they help the hungry and the lazy while wearing nifty yellow capes. Thanks Delivery Hero. I owe you one.

* Wok Station was undergoing renovations at the time and is now back in full swing with a jazzy makeover and, thankfully, the Duck special is still on the menu hazzah, I think I’ll order seafood from now on though.

Do you have a great Delivery Hero story that you would like to share?  Send it to matilda [at] deliveryhero [dot] com [dot] au