A RESTAURANT is hoping to help everyone keep calm and curry on amid the coronavirus crisis by pioneering a new delivery service and donating a slice of the profits to the NHS.

Just a few hours after the Government’s announcement on Friday that all restaurants and bars in the UK were to close their doors to the public, Brighton’s Curry Leaf Café launched a special cold delivery scheme.

The company is now transporting meals in a refrigerated van as part of its Curry Leaf Cafe At Home service. Cool meals travel further in good condition, meaning cooped-up customers far and wide can tuck into their favourite South Asian dishes from the safety of their homes while staying in lockdown.

The restaurant’s founder Euan Sey said: “Because the food is already cold, it can be transported much further across the city in our refrigerated vehicle than hot food stored on the back of a scooter or bike, and the quality is identical to the dishes we serve in the restaurant. As far as I know we’re the first people in the area to offer a service like this.”

The meals arrive packed in biodegradable, compostable containers that keep them fresh in the fridge for at least three days.

Euan said: “With so many people self-isolating at home and supermarkets struggling to maintain stocks of essential ingredients, let alone ready meals, we feel that our new Curry Leaf Cafe At Home service offers something really worthwhile.

“The ordering process couldn’t be easier – you simply visit our online shop, add your dishes to the basket, choose a delivery date that matches your postcode and checkout up to 3pm on the day of delivery.”

As well as individual curries, street food, tandoor dishes and sides, Curry Leaf Cafe At Home’s online shop features meals for two for as little as £20 and a £35 two-course family dinner for four people.

Euan added: “Because so much of it is sauce-based and coated in spices, our food is ideally suited for home freezing, so you can build up a stockpile of meals, ready to be defrosted and reheated when you’re sick of cooking or craving a bit of comfort food.”

As it launched the scheme, Curry Leaf also announced a collaboration with Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital. Ten per cent of all sales from the service will go towards providing free meals for hospital staff during the pandemic. Euan said: “The outpouring of love and admiration for the NHS has been amazing. Using some of the money we make from the scheme to give doctors, nurses and care workers at our local hospital with free meals felt like the best way for a business like ours to help out right now.

“The last thing these amazing doctors, nurses, care workers and support staff should have to spend time worrying about is where their lunch or dinner is coming from. Hopefully a supply of hot, tasty South Indian food will make their long and stressful work days a little more bearable.”

If you know a local business struggling in these tough times and offering support to the local community, get in touch at news@theargus.co.uk.

The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund