Frugal Feast: Budget ideas for a dinner for two

Want to impress your date but all the restaurants in town are booked out? Here’s a neat idea: Have a pop-up at home. Try these innovative ideas for a table for two with a difference, and serve your winning meal with pride. We’re doffing our toques to you.

1. Flat Out: Clear out a shelving unit and relegate a portion for the sole purpose of dining while using the rest to store away things. A cabinet like this wooden and aluminium one from Sidewalks of the World is perfect.

2. Jarring Issues: Fish out glass jars (the ones you’ve been meaning to store your priced pickles in, should do) to serve dessert in a stylised manner. We chose other dining accessories from Contemporary Arts and Crafts, The Bombay Store, Mora Taara and Premsons.

3. Heavy Metal: Turn large steel cooking vessels upside down. Add a vibrant trivet and use your dual-purpose contraption as a seater.