Ordering in just got easier

They can get you everything from caterers' quotes to your favourite restaurant meal and the hottest cupcakes in town. And in a refreshing change from the norm, they don't bill the customers for the service they provide. All you need to get acquainted with this magical Delivery Chef is an Internet connection

Every now and again, especially when the mercury falls, one wants to cosy up in front of the telly and watch an old favourite while gobbling down a steaming portion of American Chop Suey from that neighbourhood Chinese food vendor.

What you don't want right then is to initiate an apartment-wide search for menus and phone numbers and then spend an hour on the phone waiting to get through to that precious little eatery because everyone in the neighbourhood had the very same idea.

Of course, you're limited to ordering from just a handful of eateries, a list that varies, depending on what time you place your order and where you live, but it does offer a complete menu for each restaurant. So, at least your food choices are varied.

Explaining how the website earns its bread and butter, Aditi Talreja, the brain behind the start-up says, "We charge the restaurants. And, as we also list promotional offers and discounts, ordering through us can actually work out cheaper."

Having set out with the ambition of creating an ultimate food website, Talreja, who studied Business at New York University's Stern School, tells us, "If you're hosting a party and would like to compare what different caterers can offer, we'll get the quotes to help you decide. If you need cupcakes or mithai for an upcoming occasion, we can present you with a list of options based on your requirements. Eventually, we hope to offer all of this online too."

Food can be ordered online now though, provided you place an order within a 24-hour period. If you'd like to plan ahead, sadly, you'd have to speak to the bloke (customer service number is available on the website) who took our order and had us popping Paracetamol by the end of it.

Though clearly well-versed with their FAQs, when we asked him to recommend a dish from a restaurant, his response was restricted to a determined, "Yes." We tried asking what the restaurant's specialty was... same answer.

Eventually, he directed us to the website and when we pointed out that the website couldu00a0 not be used to order two days in advance, Singh once again responded with a, this-time-accurate, "Yes."

Using their website did however help us discover a restaurant we hadn't ordered from ever before (The Flute at Hotel Krishna Palace)u00a0-- that delivered on time, at a fair rate (no service charge) and offered good food (we loved their Conjee Crispy Lamb, priced at Rs 240). Talreja also pointed out, "Though we don't offer recommendations, subscribers tag their preferences on the menus."

To use the service, log on to www.deliverychef.in or call 22003330

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