WITH restaurants closed and many of us furloughed or working from home, a lot of people have been experimenting in the kitchen.
But you could be forgiven for occasionally wanting a three-course meal cooked by someone else for a change.
Luckily Brighton’s restaurants have been experimenting too.
Before the pandemic began David Toscano was serving authentic Italian food at his Cin Cin restaurants in Vine Street and Western Road in Hove.
But a day before lockdown was announced the Italian-Australian launched the Cin Cin At Home box containing a three-course meal for two.
The initiative has become so popular the boxes sell out in just 30 minutes each week.
“We have been busy getting our Cin Cin at Home deliveries off the ground and our popular dinner for two boxes sell-out in record time each week,” David said.
“We have a limited run for delivery on a Friday and Saturday and the response has been amazing.
“Whether it’s missing your local restaurant, celebrating a special occasion in lockdown or just enjoying a date night we’re able to offer three-course restaurant quality food, straight to our customers’ doors.
“One of the positive things that will come out of this pandemic is new ventures, ideas and creative partnerships. Great things will come from this.
“The response has been so incredible that we have now set up a subscription service so our regular loyal customers are guaranteed their Cin Cin at Home boxes weekly, fortnightly or monthly.”
Just as the city’s community has pulled together, so have its restaurants.
Cin Cin has partnered with popular independent cafe chain The Flour Pot Bakery, launching a range of handmade lasagnes to complement the bakery’s bread and sweet treats.
“We have found comfort in this collaboration during these challenging times, just as I hope our customers will find comfort in our tasty lasagnes to enjoy at home,” David said.
“It’s been great to be able to expand our offering in a unique partnership with The Flour Pot Bakery.
“Together we will be able to bring more locally-sourced and locally-made dishes straight to our customers’ doors.”
And it is not just the loyal customers who are benefitting from changes at Cin Cin.
The restaurant is providing free meals to NHS staff at the Royal Sussex County Hospital as part of the Brighton and Hove Feed the NHS scheme.
More than £23,000 has been donated via a crowdfunding campaign and another £16,000 was raised at a silent auction with prizes donated by independent restaurants, shops and suppliers across Sussex.
A Cin Cin spokesman said: “Cin Cin at Home boxes cost £35 and serve two.
“Ordering goes live each Wednesday at 6pm, but you have to be quick as they sell out in 30 minutes.
“Their weekly menus are posted on their Instagram and Facebook.
“Cin Cin’s lasagnes, along with The Flour Pot Bakery’s bread, pastries, cakes and other essentials can be ordered at theflourpot.co.uk/product/cin-cin-lasagne.
“Cin Cin first opened its doors in Brighton’s North Laine in 2016 in a little 20-seat restaurant on Vine Street, winning a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2018.
“A second Cin Cin opened in busy Western Road, Hove in 2018, winning an AA Rosette earlier this year.”
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