Aston Lucas Gourmet

A Christmas Recipe with an Italian Twist: Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Burrata

Adriana, Mirko — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 13:51:52 +0000

GNOCCHI ALLA SORRENTINA WITH BURRATA

When we think Christmas in Australia, we picture fruit-topped pavlova with fluffy meringue, fresh seafood or a traditional English roast with all the trimmings. And whilst these Christmas favourites aren’t going anywhere (your Great Aunt may well fall off her chair if you mess with the roast turkey and Christmas pudding), sometimes adding a little something new to the spread can help to keep things interesting.

We’ve gathered our traditional plain gnocchi and put together a festive dish with a twist that will delight everyone around the table. Taking inspiration from the Mediterranean coastline, this recipe hails from the Italian seaside town of Sorrento, nestled along the Amalfi Coast.

Made from a fresh cherry tomato base and topped with creamy burrata, a crunchy garlic crumble and a drizzle of homemade basil oil, this dish offers the perfect balance between fresh and flavourful that makes the perfect unexpected addition to any Christmas spread.

Using our ready-made potato gnocchi, our Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Burrata ensures you can impress at any Christmas event without spending hours painstakingly rolling your own gnocchi (because let’s be honest, there’s not a moment to spare in December).

Convinced? Here’s how to make it:

Serves: 4 | Prep time: 10 min | Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients:

The base:

900g Aston Lucas Gourmet Plain Gnocchi
400g cherry tomatoes, halved
100 g red onion, finely diced
2 tbsp extra–virgin olive oil
10–12 fresh basil leaves
Salt, to taste

The garlic crumble:

40g fine breadcrumbs or panko
1 tbsp extra–virgin olive oil
½ clove garlic, finely grated
Pinch of salt

The basil oil:

50ml extra-virgin olive oil
4 fresh basil leaves
Pinch of salt

The topping:

4 x 100g mini burrata
Basil oil (recipe above)
Grated parmesan, optional

Method:

Make the garlic crumble: Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, breadcrumbs (or panko), grated garlic and a pinch of salt. Toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until golden and crispy. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
Prepare the basil oil: Combine olive oil, basil leaves and a pinch of salt in a small jug. Blend briefly until combined or crush with a mortar and pestle. Set aside for plating.
Prepare the homemade tomato sauce: Heat 2 tbsp extra–virgin olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the diced red onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and release their juices. Lightly crush a few tomatoes with a spoon to create a creamier sauce. Add 3–4 basil leaves, torn by hand, and reduce the heat to low.
Cook the gnocchi: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the Aston Lucas Gourmet Plain Gnocchi. Once the gnocchi floats to the surface, cook for 30–40 seconds more, then drain. Transfer immediately into the pan with the tomato sauce. Alternatively, heat the gnocchi for a few minutes in the microwave, or pan fry for a crispier finish.
Combine and finish: Gently toss the gnocchi with the sauce over medium heat for 1 minute. Add a little extra olive oil and a few basil leaves. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Plate up: Divide the gnocchi among 4 deep plates. Place one mini burrata on top of each portion, or divide a larger burrata ball between the plates. Spoon the basil oil over the burrata and around the gnocchi. Add one tablespoon of garlic crumble on top of the burrata. Finish with some fresh basil leaves and a light sprinkle of parmesan (optional).

What to pair it with:

Our Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Burrata pairs beautifully with a glass of crisp Riesling or a Chilled red for a summery but hearty meal. Prepare this for a simple yet impressive side at any festive gathering or make as a show-stopping addition to the Christmas-day lunch. This makes a particularly good addition to a seafood or barbeque spread for the perfect summery selection.

Adjustable serving size:

One of the great things about this meal is how easy it is to adjust the serving size to suit your needs. If there’s one or two of you, opt for our 450g portion of plain gnocchi, or if you’re feeding a crowd, try our 2.5kg size. Regardless of whether you’re entertaining the masses or enjoying some quieter moments, our variety of traditional plain gnocchi sizes means that everyone can enjoy a version of Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Burrata this Christmas season.

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide

Adriana, Mirko — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:40:05 +0000

The ultimate Aston Lucas Gourmet Gift Guide, making gift-shopping a breeze. We’ve got everyone in your life covered, from the foodies to the fitness fanatics to the time-poor. Check out our comprehensive guide and give the gift of gourmet this Christmas.

1. Students

Have a student in your life who hasn’t quite mastered the art of cooking? Our gourmet heat and serve meals, ready in minutes, provide the perfect dinner for time-poor students. They’re fool-proof, balanced and you know they’re getting a homemade meal using real ingredients. Plus, it beats eggs on toast.

Our Picks:

Penne Amatriciana for a meal that packs a punch with rich roma tomatoes, juicy bacon and a hint of mild chilli.
For the vegetarians, our Eggplant Parmigiana is a crowd-favourite, even among eggplant-skeptics.

2. Busy Parents

For most of us, December is the busiest time of the year. But for parents, this busy period never really ceases. Having delicious, convenient meals can be a huge time and stress-saver. Not to mention that our gourmet meals please every fussy kid and adult alike. No more last-minute takeaway orders or arguments over the dinner table. Our meals are for everyone, big and little.

Gift our family-sized 1.2kg and 2.8kg ready-made meals to a busy parent in your life and give the gift of time this Christmas. Better yet, give them an early Christmas gift and help get them through the silly season.

Our Picks:

Gnocchi Bolognese is full-proof in pleasing the whole family. This kid-favourite uses simple ingredients that little ones love, whilst still delivering plenty of authentic flavour for the adults.
Beef Lasagne has been a family staple since forever. Our traditional recipe is no exception, bringing everyone together around the table through love and delicious food.

3. Solo dwellers

Whilst our family-sized meals often make the perfect gift, for those that live alone, this just isn’t practical. Our small portions, ranging in size from 350g to 500g, offer the perfect solution for those living alone. Our ready-made meals can be ready in as little as 3 minutes in the microwave, or heated low and slow in the oven. If you’re worried about fridge space over the Christmas period, our meals are made using the freshest ingredients, meaning they can pop them in the freezer and pull them out when it suits.

Our Picks:

Our Chicken Tortellini with Creamy Basil Pesto comes in a 350g portion, perfect for smaller appetites.
Our bestselling Beef Lasagne now comes in a smaller 400g portion, making it the perfect single-serve meal. No more waste, plus everyone gets to enjoy this favourite.

4. Fitness Fanatic

For the exercise-obsessed health-nuts in your life who already own the latest running shoe and an overflowing wardrobe of activewear, why not gift them something they won’t expect? Stock up on their favourite healthy convenience foods and make fuelling their fitness regime easy and delicious.

Our Picks:

Our Grab & Go salad range keeps things light and fresh for the health-conscious, plus they’re packed with fibre-rich fresh produce, sourced locally from Aussie farmers.
Are they training for a big fitness event? An order of our ready-made pasta meals is perfect for a pre-race carb-load. Quick and delicious meals ready in minutes…we may be biased, but we really do think our authentic pasta is the ideal way to fuel pre-race.

5. Foodie

Whether they fancy themselves a bit of a chef in the kitchen, or they simply love to tick off every gourmet restaurant in town, it goes without saying that the ideal gift for your foodie-friend is a food experience.

Our Picks:

Artisan Plain Homemade Gnocchi without the sauce means they’re free to get creative with their own recipes. (Hint: Keep an eye on our socials for a Christmas-inspired gnocchi recipe, landing soon).
Our Cannelloni with Spinach & Ricotta combines fresh local ingredients with a traditional Abruzzi-born recipe to deliver a gourmet vegetarian meal that is as delicious as it is convenient. Even the hardest-core culinary appreciators sometimes need a break from dining out, and this dish promises to please even the fanciest taste-buds.

Christmas gifting can be a headache at the best of times, which is why we’re simplifying it with our Christmas Gift Guide. Even the hardest-to-buy-for are covered in this guide, meaning you can give something they’ll enjoy and won’t throw away.

Simplify gifting by having our ready made meals delivered to your door when you shop online and give the gift of gourmet this Christmas.

Christmas Catering Made Simple

Adriana, Mirko — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:09:09 +0000

We hate to say it, but December is well on its way, and it’s time to start planning the catering for Christmas. Hosting Christmas get-together’s can be stressful, time-consuming and somehow drag on for weeks. Between accommodating complex dietary requirements, thinking about kid-friendly options and plotting a knock-out dish that will finally impress your in-laws, there’s a lot to think about. That’s why we’ve put together a guide for making Christmas catering a breeze (or at least not a total nightmare).

1.Catering for different diets:

Balancing multiple dietary requirements can be challenging when catering for a crowd. With our gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options, ordering some of our ready-made meals can take a fraction of the hassle out of hosting. Our plant-based Gnocchi Basil Pesto and Gnocchi Primavera make for the perfect elevated vegan meals, and our gluten-free range provides delicious options for catering for a coeliac. Having a few of these in the fridge or freezer can also save you in situations where your guests “forgot to mention” their dietary requirements.

2. The main affair:

Whether a full Sunday roast is a tradition you’re not willing to mess with, or a barbeque or seafood spread is more your style, side dishes are almost always necessary. We think side dishes are the perfect opportunity for out-sourcing. Preserve your energy for perfecting the main affair by asking guests to bring a side. Better yet, purchase one of our gourmet salads, pop into your own fancy bowl, and pass it off as your own. With our anything-but-boring fresh salads filled with high quality artisan ingredients, your guests will assume you’ve been slaving over your impressive side dishes for hours.

3. Simplify dessert:

We’ve all been in situations where we’ve burnt the pavlova hours before everyone arrives, or run out of eggs mid-pudding-making. There’s enough stress around Christmas as it is, and the last thing anyone needs is additional dessert-related disasters. Our gooey caramel Sticky Date Pudding and moist Chocolate Almond & Raspberry Brownie are perfect crowd-pleasers that delight little kids and grown adults alike. Simply heat in the microwave for three minutes, pair with vanilla ice-cream or whipped cream and berries, and you’ve got a delicious dessert to feed the masses. Trust us when we say that once you’ve tasted our mouth-watering desserts, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a reason to ever make your own again.

There’s enough stress that goes into hosting Christmas lunch or a December get-together without adding dessert-disasters and dietary-dilemmas to the mix. Have our authentic ready-made meals delivered to your door when you order online, and rest assured that at least one element of your event is full-proof. Filled with high-quality locally sourced ingredients and made from authentic family recipes, our meals will have your loved ones nominating you for the next season of MasterChef, or at least leave them in a satisfied food-coma.

How To Stay Sustainable this Festive Season

Adriana, Mirko — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:56:16 +0000

With all the joy that Christmas brings, it also brings a lot of waste. Endless plastic toys, mountains of wrapping paper and over-catered lunches don’t exactly leave the planet jumping for joy.

But the festive period doesn’t have to mean all your green efforts go out the window. With a few simple swaps and hacks, we can all do our bit to minimise what ends up in landfill this festive season.

1.Smart wrapping

There’s nothing like the garbage bags full of wrapping paper on Christmas morning to act as a visual representation of the mountains of waste that the festivities bring. We’re not ones to put a dampener on the most wonderful time of the year, but it does sting to dwell on just how much Christmas contributes to waste and pollution. The last thing anyone needs during the busy season is another thing added to the mental load: sourcing sustainable packaging. But some clever swaps can a) save you money, and b) means you can clean up the post-gifting mess with a glow of sustainability-smugness.

Set yourself the challenge not to buy any new wrapping paper this year. Use what’s already in the cupboard (no-one minds if the paper has pink fairies as opposed to reindeers) or be creative with whatever you can find around the house. Save old tissue paper, hessian, newspapers and whatever else you can think of. If you have the time and are feeling creative, why not add a little flare by painting or drawing on your makeshift wrapping paper. This can also make a great activity for kids- not only does it keep them involved and entertained for awhile, but your loved ones will appreciate the personal touch.

2. Sustainable meals

Whether you’re catering for a big friends’ get-together or simply trying to feed the family on a busy weeknight, a lot of the supermarket choices we make are packaged with excessive amounts of unnecessary plastic. We’re not suggesting that the busiest time of year is the right moment to swap to organic-only, everything-made-from-scratch extremes, but a few simple swaps can have a big impact.

It’s the time of year where we’re reaching for easy options that save time and brain power, but those convenient frozen meals or last-minute takeaway orders are often packaged in materials that the planet doesn’t love. Instead, grab our ready-made meals when you’re shopping in-store or order ahead online and prepare yourself with meals that are convenient, delicious and 100% recyclable. Oh, and did we mention that our pasta meal packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials? Happy planet, happy home.

3. Upcycling

No one has bucket loads of time to dedicate to making sustainable homemade gifts, but if we can make even a few of our gift choices a little more planet-conscious, we’re doing our bit to reduce what ends up in landfill. Having a pre-Christmas spring clean can help you rediscover things you no longer want but that may be great for regifting.

Upcycling is a great way of breathing new life into discarded items: turn an old dress into a new skirt, give some old toys a lick of paint or turn some broken necklaces into some new jewelry.

If upcycling isn’t your thing, try making some simple homemade treats: think gourmet relishes, rocky road or artisan jams. Use old jars to package them up, add a bow and a little message, and you’ve got beautiful homemade gifts that save you money, save the planet and really show you care.

You don’t have to make drastic or time-consuming changes to have a positive impact on the planet this Christmas. By simply making a few simple swaps and some more planet-conscious choices, you can contribute to a happier earth and a happier wallet.

Time-saving Tips During the Silly Season

Adriana, Mirko — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 02:21:29 +0000

It’s the time of year where every store window has been crammed with fake snow and you can’t enter a shop without hearing Mariah Carey’s iconic voice blasting through the speakers. With the most wonderful time of the year comes a calendar jam-packed with Christmas parties, work events, kids concerts and the pressure to catch up with everyone you’ve ever met before December 25th. Saving time wherever you can is crucial in ensuring you finish the year on a high (or at least relatively unscathed).

See our top time-saving hacks for maximising the season’s joy and minimising the stress:

1. Outsource your meals

There’s nothing like the unpredictability of December to throw your schedule off and have you reaching for the Takeaway menu. But the busiest time of the year is often also the most expensive, and frequent last-minute takeout meals can really throw off your budget when it’s already being strained. That’s why a freezer full of our delicious gourmet ready-made meals is ideal over the Christmas period. Try our bestselling Beef Lasagne for a fail-safe crowd-pleaser or our Gnocchi Bolognese for a delicious staple that’s guaranteed to please even the fussiest members of the household.

2. Make your gift-wrapping a social activity

Get the kids involved with any gift-wrapping possible- think teachers, colleagues and family. The recipients of your gifts will appreciate the personal touch, plus it’s a great way to keep the little ones occupied for a while. Better yet, gather your closest friends and combine the social catch-up you’ve been meaning to schedule with some mutually-beneficial Christmas admin. Trust us, your friends will thank you for bringing some joy to the never-ending chore of Christmas wrapping. While you’re at it, enjoy a glass of festive fizz!

3. Online shopping

Present shopping can be time consuming, overwhelming and inconvenient. If you can shop local during the Christmas period, this is the best way to support independent businesses at a challenging part of the year. But for those last-minute forgotten gifts or people who ‘don’t want anything‘, jump online for a quick and easy solution to getting your gift shopping done in one hit. Many small businesses are online now, so you can still support local with your online purchases. For a gourmet present they won’t try to re-gift, try one of our family-size ready-made pasta meals. With sleek artisan labels, your gift will look fancy as well as taste great. Order online and give the gift of time, convenience and deliciousness this Christmas.

We know that the lead up to Christmas is often stressful, expensive and exhausting. That’s why it’s so important to be selective with your time wherever you can, so that you can maximise the time spent with the people you love. Try these simple tips to lighten the load (even just a little) and pack in the joy this silly season.

How to Elevate your Ready-Made Meal

Adriana, Mirko — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:09:51 +0000

The term ‘ready-made meal’ doesn’t exactly scream sophistication, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a gourmet homemade meal without the cost associated with a swanky restaurant or the inconvenience of a complicated hours-long recipe. There’s a stigma associated with ready-made meals, and we’re here to combat it, one delicious lasagne at a time.

Convenience doesn’t have to mean skimping on flavour or experience. Our carefully crafted meals do the heavy-lifting on their own, but if you’re looking to really elevate your ready-meal experience, we’ve got some helpful ideas for adding that touch of sophistication…

Set the scene

Just because you’ve opted for a ready-made meal, doesn’t mean you can’t create an elevated atmosphere to enjoy it in. Whether you’re entertaining guests, feeding the family or simply enjoying some solo time, taking a few moments to create that restaurant feeling can go a long way in changing the meal-time mood. It can be as simple as setting the table with some nice linen or your best crockery, lighting a candle and playing some low-key background music to create a moody ambience. Who would ever know that your mouth-watering eggplant parmigiana plated on your fanciest dish took only three minutes to make?

Add a side dish

A great way to make your ready-made meal go further and to add that restaurant-feel is to add some side dishes. Toss together a simple salad, slice up a fresh baguette and sprinkle some parmesan in a bowl, and just like that you’ve created an elaborate meal. One of our favourite ways to add interest to the meal is to add one of our colourful and diverse fresh salads. Minimal effort with maximum results.

Try pairing our bestselling beef lasagne with our roast pumpkin and chickpea salad for the perfect combination of fresh and gourmet.

It’s all in the preparation

All the extra time you’ve saved in slaving away over a hot stove for hours, means you may have a few extra minutes up your sleeve. Our ready-to-eat meals can be heated in just a few minutes in the microwave, but if you’re really looking to elevate your meal and give it your own twist, we’ve got some great suggestions. Try pan-frying our gnocchi meals for just a few minutes on a medium stove, and you’ll have a crispy yet pillowy gnocchi meal that rivals that of your favourite Italian bistro.

Ready-made doesn’t have to mean boring. If anything, saving time on cooking allows those extra few minutes to really set the scene for an elevated dining experience. For an extra time-saver, shop our gourmet meals online and have them delivered to your door, so that you can enjoy convenient, delicious meals without the fuss.

Our Top Ready-Made Meal Picks for Fuelling your Fitness Regime:

Adriana, Mirko — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:17 +0000

Summer is approaching and the silly season is just moments from being in full swing. For many of us, that means we’re about to embark on a fitness rehaul. Whether you’re trying to run that 10K you vowed you would back in January, win the family backyard cricket match or simply retain your sanity during the busy season, fuelling your body properly is key to feeling and moving your best.

Here are our top meal picks to complement your exercise regime:

1. Making protein the priority?

Enjoy one of our protein-packed Grab & Go options for a delicious meal that will replenish those muscles post-workout. Try our Chicken Schnitzel Turkish Roll, packed with over 28 grams of protein! Or give our Roast Turkey French Baguette a go for over 35 grams of protein in one hit!

2. Upping your veggie intake?

Opt for one of our fresh, fibre-filled salads that pack a range of nutrient-rich vegetables all in one flavourful meal. Our Macro Bowls offer a balanced range of vegetables, protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats to give you a delicious, nutritious, macro-friendly meal on the go. For a vegetarian option that’s flavour-filled and far-from-boring, give our Charred Broccoli & Soba Noodle Salad or our Roast Pumpkin & Chickpea Salad a go!

3. Carb-loading for a big race?

Whether you’re running a marathon or simply going about your day, we often neglect carbohydrates when we’re being health-conscious. Carbs are the body’s source of energy when we exercise, and more than that, they provide both our bodies and our brains with the fuel we need to function optimally everyday. Try one of our delicious homemade pasta dishes with no preservatives, ensuring you get the convenient carb-hit you need without compromising on quality. If hot pasta in the warmer months isn’t your thing, try one of our fresh paninis, containing over 45 grams of carbohydrates per serve, and packed with an assorted range of delicious fillings so that you can meet your nutrition goals.

4. Looking for a healthier dessert?

Our yoghurts provide a balanced sweet treat that won’t make your blood sugar crash. Our Passionfruit Yoghurt is the perfect after-dinner dessert, or our Homemade Bircher Muesli provides the ideal afternoon pick-me-up.

Whether you’re training for a marathon or locking in for the hustle and bustle of Christmas, priming the body to meet your fitness goals is wasted without your nutrition in check. There’s something in our range of ready-made meals and grab-and-go bites to suit every goal. Shop online today for ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door, or swing by your local grocer.

Making Plant-based Eating Simple and Delicious

Adriana, Mirko — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:01:48 +0000

Get plant-based meal delivery to your door when your order online

We all know that eating more plants is beneficial for our health. From providing us with a rich range of micronutrients through to feeding the gut microbiome, prioritising plants has become prominent in the world of health. Whether you’re a full-time vegetarian or vegan or just trying to cut back on animal products, adding more plant-based food to your diet can offer a range of benefits for your health and the planet.

For many of us, the thought of adopting a whole new diet can be overwhelming and unrealistic. That’s why we’re not about promoting restrictive diets here at Aston Lucas Gourmet. Instead, rather than taking away certain food groups, we’re focusing on what we can add in. For us, it’s more plants. Check out some of our favourite plant-based products here and how you can incorporate them into your daily life:

1. Gnocchi Basil Pesto:

Our signature homemade potato gnocchi with fresh basil pesto offers the perfect balance between light and filling. This delicious dish is completely free of animal products, making it the perfect option for vegans, vegetarians and everyone in between. It may omit meat and dairy, but it certainly doesn’t compromise on flavour!

Top Tip: For an extra helping of plants, try adding some spinach or greens of your choosing.

2. Gluten Friendly Penne Primavera:

This punchy penne primavera maximises on flavour with its aromatic combination of plump roma tomatoes, red capsicum, button mushrooms and kalamata olives. Gluten-friendly and vegan, this dish is perfect for those with multiple dietaries or if you’re catering for a crowd. Packing plenty of veg and a multitude of flavour, this ready-made meal never disappoints!

3. Gourmet Pumpkin Sandwich:

This simple yet delicious plant-based sandwich combines roast pumpkin, tomato, eggplant and spinach on wholemeal bread for a vegan sandwich that is anything-but-boring. This sandwich offers the perfect plant-based option for when you’re on-the-go and ensures you can up your veggie intake even when you’re short on time.

4. Charred Broccoli & Soba Noodle Salad:

With charred broccoli, soba noodles, pickled ginger, oyster mushrooms, edamame, spring onion, fried shallots, nori and Korean chilli dressing, this plant-based salad sure knows how to keep things interesting. Perfect for work lunches or summer picnics, this salad packs plenty of plant goodness.

With our extensive range of vegan products, adding more plants into your diet is simple and delicious. Shop now at your local grocer or order online for plant-based meal delivery to your door.

Back to School: Our Top Picks for a Nutritious Lunchbox they’ll actually eat

Adriana, Mirko — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:23:20 +0000

School is going back and that means one thing: the dreaded lunchbox packing is back. Is there anything more frustrating than spending your precious time painfully preparing healthy and satisfying packed lunches, just for it to come back at the end of the day untouched and somehow squashed into crevices of the schoolbag you didn’t even know existed?

Luckily, we’re taking the stress out of lunchboxes with our delicious range of lunchbox-friendly meals. Not only will it save you time and stress, but you can be confident that you’re providing them with a lunch that is not only nutritious, but that they’ll actually eat.

Here are our top lunchbox picks for every type of kid:

The picky eater

Got a fussy eater on your hands? We hear you. Our extensive range of Grab & Go products means there’s something for everyone. Try our Classic Ham and Cheese Sandwich or our Sourdough Range for options that are fresh yet simple.

The snacker

For the kids that bring the lunchbox home with a single bite taken out of everything, our range of smaller snacks offer a perfect variety of tastes. Our yoghurt range is perfect for every sweet-tooth, and our fruit salad provides the ideal fruit break for the kids who get bored with a single option. For savoury snacking delights, try our Dip ‘n’ delight boxes, perfect for little snack monsters.

The big appetite

Running around all day certainly works up an appetite. Not to mention the hunger that can arise from those growth spurts. Our baguette range is ideal for fueling kids with a hearty lunch that will see them through big sports games and keep them full for hours.

The won’t-sit-down

For the kids that can’t wait to race to the playground as soon as the bell rings, on-the-go options are best. We recommend our wraps for the ideal one-handed eating experience that doesn’t put a stop to play.

The microwave-privileged

Some teenagers are lucky enough to have access to a microwave at school, which is where our delicious pasta range comes in. Boring lunches be gone when you can heat up an authentic ready-made meal in just three minutes. From simple Gnocchi Napoli or Spaghetti Bolognese for the fussy eaters, to Penne Amatriciana or Eggplant Parmigiana for the more adventurous, we’ve got a hot lunch sorted for every kid.

From on-the-go wraps to carefully crafted salads, we have ready to eat meals that take some of the hassle out of the school-week. We know that the school term can be chaotic to say the least, which is why our ready-made meals home delivered is perfect for busy parents. With our gluten free ready-made meals and vegetarian meal delivery, we cater for every diet. We’re happy to take one thing off your plate: with Aston Lucas Gourmet, lunchboxes are sorted.

The Benefits of Eating Local Produce

Adriana, Mirko — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:24:04 +0000

How often do we hear that local is best? There are many upsides of eating produce sourced locally, but what actually are they?

At Aston Lucas Gourmet, we source all of our produce from Australian soil. With our base in Melbourne, the majority of our ingredients come from local Victorian farmers. This commitment to prioritising high quality local produce brings with it a range of benefits.

Here are our top 3:

1.Helping the planet:

Keeping things close ensures our produce isn’t travelling miles and miles to reach our manufacturing premises. In reducing mileage, we’re reducing emissions by minimising the need for long and planet-costly delivery journeys.

If there’s one thing we’re passionate about here at Aston Lucas, it’s making sure we can continue to provide delicious authentic food for many years to come, and we can’t do this if we don’t play our part in protecting the planet.

2.Supporting our farmers:

Community is at the forefront of our ethos. Providing delicious meals and bringing people together through the joy of food is what we do best. We believe the combination of our Italian roots with our Australian upbringing makes our products what they are…and what better way to show this than through the fusing of authentic Italian recipes with Aussie-grown ingredients?

As a business born in Covid-times, we understand better than anyone the importance of supporting local business and standing together to reach better outcomes for all Aussies.

3.Highest quality ingredients:

High quality meals start with high quality ingredients. Our farmers grow some of the best quality produce in the world, so why wouldn’t we leverage having this on our doorstep? Not to mention that keeping things local means we can keep our products preservative-free! Aston Lucas Gourmet is dedicated to delivering real food, and real food only comes from real, wholesome ingredients.

As a company that prides itself on bringing gourmet to your home, we don’t skimp on quality.

Our ‘Would Nonna Do It?’ Policy

Our ethos is that our food tastes like your Nonna made it…and Nonna certainly isn’t packing her lasagna with preservatives, which means we aren’t either. When you picture your Nonna making your favourite Italian meal, you see the whole process: picking the ingredients from her garden that she’s lovingly grown herself before spending hours in the kitchen crafting a dish for the whole family to enjoy. We operate on the same premise, just on a bigger scale; Australia is ultimately our backyard. Our ready-to-eat meals pack the same love as an authentic Italian homemade dish, but we’ve done the work for you.

Fresh, home-grown…it doesn’t get better than that! We pride ourselves on being community-minded, planet-focused and fresh-first. And there truly is no better way to meet these core values than by using local ingredients from our Aussie farmers.

Aston Lucas Gourmet

A Christmas Recipe with an Italian Twist: Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with Burrata

GNOCCHI ALLA SORRENTINA WITH BURRATA

Ingredients:

Method:

What to pair it with:

Adjustable serving size:

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide

1. Students

2. Busy Parents

3. Solo dwellers

4. Fitness Fanatic

5. Foodie

Christmas Catering Made Simple

1.Catering for different diets:

2. The main affair:

3. Simplify dessert:

How To Stay Sustainable this Festive Season

1.Smart wrapping

2. Sustainable meals

3. Upcycling

Time-saving Tips During the Silly Season

1. Outsource your meals

2. Make your gift-wrapping a social activity

3. Online shopping

How to Elevate your Ready-Made Meal

Set the scene

Add a side dish

It’s all in the preparation

Our Top Ready-Made Meal Picks for Fuelling your Fitness Regime:

1. Making protein the priority?

2. Upping your veggie intake?

3. Carb-loading for a big race?

4. Looking for a healthier dessert?

Making Plant-based Eating Simple and Delicious

1. Gnocchi Basil Pesto:

2. Gluten Friendly Penne Primavera:

3. Gourmet Pumpkin Sandwich:

4. Charred Broccoli & Soba Noodle Salad:

Back to School: Our Top Picks for a Nutritious Lunchbox they’ll actually eat

The picky eater

The snacker

The big appetite

The won’t-sit-down

The microwave-privileged

The Benefits of Eating Local Produce

1.Helping the planet:

2.Supporting our farmers:

3.Highest quality ingredients:

Our ‘Would Nonna Do It?’ Policy