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Dial for food

Home delivery of food proves a boon for customers

OVEN FRESH Hot pizza being cut and packed before being delivered home PHOTO: SATISH

It's a boon for many a bachelor and homemaker. No need to slave over a hot stove when you are dog tired, or have an unexpected guest or two at the doorstep, or even when you are just plain lazy to whip up a dish. You also need not head to the nearby restaurant to fill your stomach. Just punch in the number on your phone, and voila, your choice of cuisine is at the doorstep. Home delivery is here to stay.

Meera K., who is employed in the software industry, leaves for work at 9.30 a.m. and returns home by 6.30 p.m. By the end of the day she is exhausted.

"Cooking is, at times, the last thing on my mind. But my husband expects a hot meal when he returns home from work. Ordering out is a blessing, as he will often be too tired to eat out," she says.

For Mathew Jacob and his roommate Ashok Kumar, who are living as paying guests, dialling for food is a way to break the monotony of having to eat the predictable menu served by their land lady.

"For dinner, on Mondays' it's chappati and vegetable curry, Tuesdays' lemon rice and fried potatoes, Wednesdays' rice with sambar and avial... It's boring. Our dear landlady being a strict vegetarian gives us only green food," says Ashok and Mathew with a grin.

Laksmi Raju a homemaker has limited culinary skills, which often pose a problem as her husband often entertains guests via business dinners, and at times invites them to their house.

"I then serve them a meal fit for a king, courtesy the various home delivering restaurants. A few garnish on top of the dish or by the sides of the platter, and you can pass it off as yours," she says.

Hot food and prompt delivery

Hot food and prompt delivery is what draws customer, claims Abuthahir of Pizza Corner while Sheenej of Park Field says it's having the food of their choice at the comfort of their home.

According to Sajan Joseph, Kalavara, calls for home delivery are frequent during a cricket match.

Says Shaiju P.S., Executive chef, Sindhoor Palace, more and more people are ordering out. In fact he says the restaurant receives several calls per day. The orders range from Indian, Chinese and Continental items.

However, not all restaurants provide home delivery and there is a specified distance in which the restaurants deliver food. It's often within a radius of five km. There is also a minimum amount ordered. While for some it's Rs. 100, for others it's Rs. 150.

LIZA GEORGE

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