IT'S the culinary delight sweeping Southampton.
Serving bistro style cuisine hot to your door, Dinner Date Dining is anything but your average takeaway, and is one of the biggest success stories to come out of lockdown.
With its third kitchen now open, the company has just celebrated its first birthday.
Of course, it wouldn’t have been a Dinner Date style celebration without a fully booked stylish, affordable, three course meal delivered to dozens of happy customers across Hedge End, Botley, West End and the surrounding areas.
They tucked in to pan fried scallops to start, followed by a choice of Chateaubriand, fillet steak or roasted vegetable tart and caramel cheesecake dessert.
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Founder Kelly Picton needed a lockdown proof income stream a year ago and Dinner Date was born.
She told the Daily Echo: “I’m a firm believer that there are no rules in cooking and anything in life is possible.
"Creating happiness with food is one of my favourite things to do so it made absolute sense to explore the possibility of building a business with my passion, and within an hour Dinner Date was born. I still can’t quite believe what followed."
Dinner Date sent its first meals out on April 25, 2020 and before long was fully booked for each service.
It soon became known for its incredible fillet steaks and nacho meals followed by unique cheesecakes and brownies.
In January, Laura Smeeth joined the company as co director and the pair are busy plotting the future success of the business, which now has a following of more than 3000 on social media, grown entirely through word of mouth and recommendation.
On the menu in May are an impressive selection of steaks, gourmet burgers and nacho meals, served alongside cheesecake or brownies.
"We are so proud to be celebrating our first birthday and it wouldn’t be possible without our loyal customers and the amazing reviews and recommendations they have given us," Kelly added.
"Without the support of our local community Dinner Date wouldn’t be where it is now, and we can’t wait to share all that the next year brings."
To book a Dinner Date, head to facebook.com/dinnerdatedining
The firm is also looking for super organised people who love to cook to run new kitchens.
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