SO many businesses are coming up with great ways to keep business rolling in during the current self-isolation and social distancing rules due to Coronavirus. The Groundstone Cafe recently appeared in the Central Western Daily with a fantastic initiative – providing packs full of ingredients to cook at home with a live online demonstration. I love it – check out the full article here…

Groundstone Cafe runs cooking classes as social outlet for customers during coronavirus

RECENT social distancing measures have meant a lot of meals at home recently.

But Groundstone Cafe has found a way to make food social again, thanks to online cooking nights.

In an effort to diversify the business while dining in is off the table during the coronavirus pandemic, staff have started putting together packs of ingredients to order for customers to collect or have delivered, with a live cooking demonstration that night on Instagram.

Last Thursday was the first, with head chef Peter Thoms demonstrating a mushroom risotto.

Cafe owner Katie Baddock said about 35 portions were prepared on the night and it provided a chance for the cafe to maintain social contact with its customers.

“We had quite a few friends getting stir crazy at home and we thought it would be fun for people to cook in an environment that’s not … in front of other people,” she said.

“We had a look at other live platforms but they didn’t allow for live comments and we wanted it to be interactive so people could ask questions.”

She said it allowed the business to continue supporting its suppliers.

“The hospitality industry has been closing down and there’s a flow-on effect that producers are getting as well,” she said.

Mrs Baddock said many customers ate together online following the event and the main lesson from the was not to leave the phone streaming the footage too close to the hotplate.

“The phone overheated so there was a slight delay by the time we chucked the phone in the freezer,” she said.

The next night will be run on Tuesday, with burnt butter gnocchi on the menu.

Original article https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/6711734/cafe-takes-menu-online-for-social-media-cooking-class-during-covid-19-restrictions/