I had a corny phrase I’ll admit to using before the pandemic – shopportunity – that time when something comes up and you get to go shopping.
Whether it’s tax refund time, a wedding or an occasion, you can’t miss a good shopportunity. It seems somewhat trite to use it in the current climate, but Mother’s Day is an occasion when people go shopping and what that means for venues is the opportunity to offer something unique.
Not sure about what to do? We spoke to some different venues around the country to see what they had on offer in the hope it might inspire others.
In Melbourne Made in Shade has a number at offers at its venues.
Zara Madrusan told Bars and Clubs that Bar Margaux has launched a Mother’s Day Set Menu, designed with mum in mind, available to pre-order from this morning (Tues) for delivery this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9am-4pm.
“The full menu will be freshly prepared to cook at home at your convenience. Margaux’s famous French Onion Soup is back. We have a Coq au Vin Pie and decadent Mousse au Chocolat to finish and accompanying wine, Champagne or Martini packages.
“We also have cocktail and glassware gift sets available for those looking for elegant last minute gifts.”
The full Bar Margaux menu is available via barmargaux.square.site.
Madrusan added: “The Everleigh launches a new cocktail menu this week, including ‘Hot Buttered Rum – For Mum’, our first Hot Toddy to hit the delivery menu, and an all-time Everleigh favourite in the cooler months – Hot Buttered Rum: Aged rum, honey & butter topped with freshly grated nutmeg, served hot.
“The drink will come complete with an Everleigh Toddy Glass & fresh nutmeg to garnish, delivered to your door for $30. We will continue free delivery to select suburbs via Everleigh’s website.”
In addition the Everleigh Bottling Co. are running a ‘Together in Spirits’ initiative for those who can’t be together on the day – Send your mum a Two of a Kind, Martini + Glassware Gift Set (2 x Martini, 2 x Everleigh Cocktail Glasses – $59) and get a second for yourself at half price.
Buy one for mum and treat yourself to the second, then raise a glass together virtually. Total for 2 sets = $89, available to be shipped nationally via everleighbottling.com, with full T&Cs on the website.
In Sydney Barrelhouse Group will have its Gin Shop up and running later today, which will offer a complimentary case of tonic with each full bottle of gin purchased.
The Duke of Clarence will have its Sunday roast options available for mum’s lunch on Sunday, and Mike Enright told Bars and Clubs that the group has teamed up with Warner’s Gin to offer a complimentary gin cocktail with her Sunday lunch. Just order the lunch and the gin cocktail will be sent.
Kayla Grigoriou, Venue Manager at Bar Torino in Adelaide, told Bars and Clubs: “Our Mothers Day pack is a brunch number and also some lunch packages. A great way for husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, children to give mum something to wake up to.
“I think often it is the mothers that organise Mother’s Day themselves, they know where they want to go for breakfast or lunch or dinner but this year everyone is staying in.
“We are offering a brunch pack which includes; SheOak baker croissants, house pancake batter, orange caramel, strawberries, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, flowers and either a bottle of espresso martini or bellini. Our lunch pack includes; housemade foccacia, orchard raised organic chicken, eggplant rigatoni bake, Gazander oysters, grains salad and madelines with lemon curd to finish off.
“Often we find that bars are the place you go to either before or after lunch on Mother’s Day, but this year bars like us are offering take home cocktails, wines, beers, Champagnes. This is how we are still helping celebrate. We are still here for the celebrations, just in the comfort of your own home.
“We are still as involved in your celebrations whether we are open or closed – I think especially now our communities are becoming more involved and this is how we can also say thank you for the support over the past few months.
“Bars and restaurants are here to take the stress out of Mother’s Day with food and drinks delivered to you. Our packages are made to be cooked at home, so the kids can’t get out of helping.
“Our packs come with instructions from chef so it is super simple. Plus we are here to recommend a good wine or cocktail to go along with the packages. Our pick for wine to go along with our packs is the “Delinquente ‘Hell’ Malvasia” or our Native Spritz; Needle and Pin Seville Orange Gin, lemon myrtle, citrus, green apple and topped off with Strangelove Soda.”
Merivale has a number Champagne, Margarita and Palings Flowers bundles, through its website.
In addition Mr. Wong, Totti’s, Bert’s Bar & Brasserie, Fred’s and Vinnie’s Pizza have options available through Merivale at Home, which offers five menus to choose from ($70-95 for two to share with mum). The meals are nearly ready to eat, with the finishing touches easy enough for novice home cooks.
You can also order the accompanying Merivale at Home drinks pack ($40-$115). Franck Moreau MS has handpicked wines to complement each menu, while multi-award-winning Sam Egerton has created pre-batched aperitifs, like Negronis for Totti’s and Martinis for Bert’s.
Merivale told Bars and Clubs the group is also “supporting its long-standing food suppliers by offering home-delivered, restaurant-quality produce boxes, so you can also gift Mum with the fresh fruit and vege box from Parisi, premium meat including grain-fed sirloin steak, lamb cutlets and Riverina T-Bone steaks from Havericks, and high-quality fresh seafood like scallops, live mussels, snapper fillets, cooked farm prawns and rock oysters from Poulous Bros. The boxes are complete with a list of weekly recipe suggestions from Alvarez”.
You could also surprise Mum with a delicious Italian feast from Pick Up at Totti’s. The Bondi local offers takeaway, available to pick-up from The Bottle Shop, 5-10pm every night and every weekend lunch.
Applejack Hospitality, meanwhile, are doing it a bit different – rather than doing takeaway or delivery of ready-made food and drink, they have kits, recipes and vouchers on offer to spoil mum.
“Although you can’t take mum out for a feast at The Botanist, to marvel at the view at The Butler or enjoy live jazz at Bopp & Tone, we encourage you to surprise her with an IOU gift voucher for an experience in the future at one of our restaurants,” said Applejack Group Marketing Manager, Joanna Steuart.
“If you’re far away and love rosé, check out our Bottomless Rosé at Home Zoom party kit to bring some joy to your virtual Mother’s Day lunch. Or if you consider yourself an excellent iso-baker, try your hand at our Applejack Chocolate Sponge Cake with Spiced Poached Pear recipe and make a surprise delivery to mum on Sunday.”
The party kits include a how-to guide with everything you need to throw a bangin’ virtual party – from organising to prepping to hosting. The theme is Applejack venue SoCal, with everything from music to food and drink recommendations reminiscent of being at the bar while never leaving your house.
Other options include things like an interactive cocktail class with Brix Distillers, or Innocent Bystander’s Mother’s Day brunch.
If you are offering something special for Mother’s Day please let us know and if not, hopefully this gives you some inspiration to make the most of this shopportunity.
