Where To Order A Special Occasion Dinner From

One of the biggest bummers about the current situation has been not being able to celebrate those special occasions in restaurants, with family, with friends and all the beers. We can't fix that (although every few weeks there's another sliver of relief), but in the meantime here's some options for when you need a special occasion dinner at home, and want someone else to do the cooking...

Etto's Collection Menu

Big news people. Etto is officially back. Their "food for collection" menu starts this Thursday and features a set menu for two people for €60. There's olives and almonds, cured meats and sourdough, then a weekly changing starter, main and dessert (although if they try to change from this week's red wine prunes and vanilla mascarpone there will probably be an uprising). The food comes cold with minimal assembly at home, and collections are available from Thursday - Sunday. See the menu and how to order here.

Rosa Madre At Home

Also launching this week, Temple Bar's Rosa Madre have designed a new at home menu with the most minimal of prep involved. There's a choice of three starters (straciatella, foccacia with pesto and cured meats and cheeses), then you pick a pasta (gnocchi, tagliatelle or ravioli) and a sauce (tomato and basil, puttanesca, nduja ragu or parmesan), and either tiramisu or chocolate mousse for dessert. There's also a lasagne for two, and because all of the sauces only come in two person portions (and they're very reasonably priced) you may as well order another one and save yourself cooking the next day. It will be available for collection and delivery (Dublin 1 - 24) from Thursday to Sunday, and we'd advise keeping an eye on their website and social channels this week if you want to be first to know when they go live.

Bresson's Classic Collection Menu

Upmarket neighbourhood French menu Bresson in Monkstown are doing a 'classics' collection menu at the very reasonable price of €24.50 for two courses and €29.50 for three. As the name suggests it's classic all the way, with seafood cocktail or Roquefort salad to start, tuna niçoise salad or daube of beef to follow, and lemon posset or strawberry pavlova to finish. Light some candles, open some fizz, job done. Collections available Thursday - Saturday. See here for all the info.

Circa At Home

Circa have been in and out of the takeaway game, but they're back, with a new head chef. Gareth Naughton has departed and Darryl Haynes, who had been working with him in the kitchen, has taken over. There are no starters so maybe pick up some antipasti, then choose from their famous game pitivier, wild mushroom wellington, braised lamb shoulder or pork belly confit for mains. Desserts include Cashel Blue cheese with quince jam, rye crackers and truffle honey, chocolate cremeaux with toasted hazelnut, or if you want to really destroy yourself you can have their 'Snickers' French toast with chocolate ganache, peanut butter caramel & vanilla mascarpone. Collection only from Thursday - Sunday. Order here.