Deli Delights – DIY or Delivered

By Jackie McMillan

With the entertaining season upon us, I spend a fair amount of time foraging for ingredients for platters of sharing food. This month I found two ways to make it easier ‘ a new one stop supermarket and deli stop, and a company that will do all the hard work for you, and deliver it to your door at midnight!

Whilst I am a fan of supporting small business and the little guy, I must admit that sometimes I need the range and variety that you get in a bigger brand supermarket ‘ in particular the one-stop shopping convenience that suits a busy lifestyle like my own. So it was with particular delight that I discovered that the new Supa IGA at Pyrmont is a viable competitor for Coles and Woolworths. Not only are they independently owned (by people who live in the local area), they also have a large range of products, very competitive prices, a gourmet range and a deli. In fact I found it quite easy to do my weekly shopping in the store, including general groceries, fresh meat, deli products, fruit and vegetables.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, one of the first things I tried out was the deli. I was particularly impressed with the moist roast chicken ($4.99/half, $7.98/whole) and the fresh salad selection ($3.49-4.49/small, $5.49-6.49/large).The gourmet range of salads includes a lovely Seaweed Salad that would work a treat with a Japanese styled menu. I created my own platter (pictured) of cold meats, salad, olives, figs and stuffed pepper dews for under $30, and my guests all commented on the quality of the produce. I would say my best buys included a lovely fresh tub of Turkish Delight ($3.30), Parma Prosciutto ($34.95/kg) and the tasty sliced Roast Beef ($17.49/kg).

In terms of gourmet products, I was pleased to see items like South Cape Quince Paste ($4.99/100g) and Maggie Beer’s new range of heavenly ice-creams in flavours like Vanilla Bean and Elderflower ($8.99/500g) at competitive prices. I was also impressed by the meat on offer. The profile and price of the Peppercorn Pork Sausages with Ginger and Shallots ($6.79/500g) earned them their place in my trolley, but the taste of them will ensure that I buy them again!

With off-street parking that is free for an hour and a half, Pyrmont Supa IGA is well worth checking out even if you don’t quite live in their immediate area. But if you still find it hard to find the time to get to a supermarket, there’s a new kid on the block delivering platters of gourmet produce into the wee hours of the morning! Late Plate is the brainchild (and labour of love) of David Chambers who saw a gap in the market for ‘an intelligent late night food option.’

With last orders at two am, this is the perfect option for people returning from the theatre, working late or perhaps when unexpected guests drop in. They’d also be the perfect saviour for a dinner party disaster, as they endeavour to deliver within thirty minutes of your order. Stick it on some crockery, and nobody will be any the wiser! Chambers believes in ‘spontaneity and creativity” but he’s also ‘very particular about food and very professional.’ He has the (slightly enviable) task of tasting all the produce that goes on the plates – produce which is bought fresh daily.

Whilst it was hard to choose between the five plates on offer (which include a vegetarian Falafel Plate ($28) and a Chocolate Plate ($25)), I eventually decided to try their Italian influenced Antipasto Plate ($30). The plate was made up of five cheeses and four different meats, as well as some olives, artichoke hearts and a cracker/toast selection. I liked the range of European cheeses, which included a lovely slab of Ambrosia and an interesting Scarmoza (smoked Mozarella), all at optimum ripeness. The pick of the meats was the Borgo Prosciutto, wrapped around some Israeli Pickles, but the Mortadella was also lovely. Only the Salami disappointed, but that was just because it was too mild for my taste. What impressed me most was that during the wee hours of the morning when they deliver, it would be virtually impossible to go out and procure compatible produce yourself at the same price.

Pyrmont Supa IGA
63 Miller Street, Pyrmont (02) 9571 5199

Late Plate
7 nights, 8pm-2am (02) 9332 1448