Homecooking is nice and all, but we're not about to pretend we don't miss the odd pizza, sweet treat or drink out. As the days get warmer, we're longing for coffee in the park, drinks* with the girls and that special date night dinner.
If you're looking for something to brighten your week, or need a new activity to pull the friend group together, look no further. We've rounded up just a few of the inventive and delicious dishes, kits and treats available now so go on, treat yourself!
Read more: 5 Dublin hot spots you can order meals from
Decorate your own donut
Sometimes you just need to bury your face in a fluffy donut, am I right? Many of us are experimenting with sourdough starters, but we're a way off making sourdough donuts like the ones Rolling Donut dole out by the rack. Until we decide donuts is our new thing, we can indulge in their delectable treats, as they launch two DIY decorating kits.
The two sets – Awesome Creations and Unicorn Magic – come with five donuts and detailed instructions, as well as all the toppings you need for your creations. The Awesome Creations kit comes with Nutella, jam and a selection of chocolate and biscuit toppings, while the Unicorn Magic one has coloured icing, marshmallows, sprinkles and unicorn horn decorations. At €22 per kit, they're perfect for kids, both big and small.
Classy cocktails with the girls*
Dress up your weekly Zoom drinks with premium pre-mixed cocktails from the 1661 in Dublin, a bar that celebrates Irish gin among many other specially blended drinks. They've created no less than eight cocktails, including in-house specials like the Belfast Coffee – their take on an Irish coffee – and the 1661 Old Fashioned.
Each bottle costs €47, except for the Belfast Coffee which costs €40, and come with instructions for serving. Orders can be placed on WhatsApp and on their bar's website.
Bring the pub quiz to you
You've probably seen the pint deliveries by now, but the team at The Back Page in Phibsboro are doing one better by bringing the pub to you. Their newly launched Pub in a Box pack includes everything but the toilet graffiti: one pizza, 12 cans, two bottles of wine, pint glasses, wine glasses, a boardgame, crisps, peanuts, a quiz and a playlist.
While you can't recreate the exact feeling of meeting your mates down the pub, the pack includes all the important stuff for €125. At that price, admittedly, it's not an impulse buy but if you're looking for something novel and a bit of craic, a box of plain's your only man.
Get the brunch club back together
First, we got takeaway coffee, then we got lunches and sweet treats. Now, the most important meal of the day has returned to our cafe and restaurant takeaway menus and we couldn't be more delighted.
The Exchequer Wine Bar has launched an at-home menu, with their paella brunch special coming with a free bottle of prosecco on orders over €40. For something more informal, check out the counter specials at Daddy's in Rialto, which include a croissant sandwich, or the baps from Urbanity in Smithfield which are available for takeaway.
