Gone are the days of boring sandwiches for lunch! On Monday (6th November) Zouk Tea Bar & Grill launched a new lunchtime delivery service in Manchester city centre. They've made the decision to go green and deliver their popular tiffins on an e-trike. The team even celebrated the launch in style last week (Wednesday 1st November) with Zouk lover Bez from the Happy Mondays.
A tiffin, also known as a lunch box, consists of three to four stacked stainless-steel compartments. These can accommodate several different dishes and are clipped to prevent any spills, guaranteeing a quick and easy way to get a freshly cooked lunch.
Tiffins have been a fundamental part of Mumbai’s culture since the 1890s, with box collectors (known as dabbawallas) delivering them to homes and workplaces daily and then picking them up later that day. Dabbawallas are so committed that they fail to be deterred by the peak of Mumbai’s monsoon season, continuing their deliveries regardless of the weather.
Much like in Mumbai, Zouk promise to collect the finished tiffins at the end of the day at a convenient time between 4-6pm. By using durable insulated metal tiffin tins, they promote sustainability through reducing packaging waste. They reuse the tins, washing them in time for orders the following day.
Interestingly, Zouk promise to offer something different each day. The menu will always include meat, vegetarian and vegan options, with each including a starter, two mains, rice, raita and a naan for £15 per person. Choose from main dishes like butter chicken, lamb karahi, dall makhani and palak aloo.
Orders are only currently available within a one-mile radius of Zouk but there are no delivery charges. There's a minimum order of 10 tiffins per booking. Zouk offer deliveries Monday to Friday, with customers able to book a specific time slot up to 5pm for next day delivery or order up to 12 weeks in advance.
Find out more here