Top 20 tastes to try at the Australian Open
It’s not only the world’s best tennis players that bring fans to Melbourne Park, there’s lots to love about the food served at our Grand Slam too. Here are 20 food aces to try at this year’s Australian Open.
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Last year more than 780,000 tennis fans flocked to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open, smashing the previous record attendance of 743,667.
But it wasn’t only the world’s best tennis players who drew such incredible crowds.
What is served up for fans to feast on has become almost as important as five-set tiebreaks, with such names as Neil Perry and Donna Hay now sharing the Melbourne Park spotlight with Serena, Novak and Australia’s world number 1 Ash Barty.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley says food plays a key role in ensuring people keep coming back to our Grand Slam.
“The reception from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, with many coming not only to watch our great sport, but to try some of the very best produce from around Victoria as well as some specialty dishes that can only be experienced at the Australian Open,” he says.
“Whether it be fine dining at Rockpool and Nobu or trying a dish on Grand Slam Oval from some of Australia’s most renowned and sought after chefs, our aim is to create a truly memorable experience that we build upon each year that is unique to our tournament alone.”
While the world’s top 100 men and women battle it out from Monday, here are 20 ace tastes of this year’s Australian Open to try.
ATTICA – SMOKED KANGAROO KRANSKY
At the Australian Open for the first time, one of Melbourne’s best restaurants will offer tennis fans a Taste of Attica. Chef patron Ben Shewry has created two dishes — black ant and avocado tostada; smoked kangaroo kransky with Davidson plum sauce — that will be served each day of the tournament at the Grand Slam Oval.
NOBU – TENNIS BALL CHEESECAKE
Attica isn’t the only top restaurant heading to the AO this year. World-famous Nobu returns to the Riverside Terrace serving its new-style Japanese, including the very Insta-friendly tennis ball-shaped sudachi cheesecake.
ROCKPOOL – THREE COURSE FEAST
Rockpool is also back for the third time, with chef Neil Perry and his team again cooking up a three-course feast for fans — this year’s signature roasted scallops with orange oil and Aleppo pepper is sure to be a smash.
THE AO CHEF SERIES
It’s not just our top restaurants that will be courtside. The AO Chef Series returns for its third instalment, but this year is the first to feature an all-female line up of top culinary talent. Cooking queen Donna Hay will be joined by rising star Analiese Gregory (ex Franklin, Hobart), India-based restaurateur Sarah Todd and Duangporn ‘Bo’ Songvisava from Bangkok’s Michelin-starred Bo.Lan, who each will create a four/five-course menu that will be served for two days across the tournament’s first week. With champagne on arrival and matched wines, the AO Chef Series is the premier dining experience of the fortnight.
SUN KITCHEN – STEAMED PANDA BUNS
Straight from Albert Park Lake to Melbourne Park’s Grand Slam Oval comes Melbourne’s newest high-end Chinese restaurant. Sun Kitchen will serve its acclaimed Sichuan and Cantonese dishes in banquet form to dine in, with a casual takeaway menu also offered. The super-fun steamed panda buns filled with golden custard will be available across both menus.
3000 ACRES – FRESHLY MADE REUBEN
It’s one of the world’s best sandwiches and there’s no better way to see you through a big day of tennis than with a freshly made reuben from 3000 Acres at Rod Laver Arena — think corned beef piled high on rye teamed with Swiss cheese, pickled and sauerkraut.
HELLENIC REPUBLIC – FETA CHIPS AND CHICKEN SOUVA
Hellenic Republic’s famous feta chips served alongside a chicken souva or the slow-roasted lamb bowl and followed by some loukoumades (Greek doughnuts) drizzled in honey? Game, set and match.
FOOD TRUCK FEAST
Food trucks will offer a feast of fab food for music fans out by the AO Live Stage. Grab a Ralph Burger from the OG foodtruck Beatbox Kitchen, an AO chicken shawarma from Andy McNab’s Kebabs or a Barty Bao — filled with crisp chicken, pickled slaw and spicy aioli — from Om My Bao.
PINCHY’S – LOBSTER ROLL
They’ve been plying Melbourne with their Maine lobster rolls and bottles of bubbles at various pop ups for the past couple of years and Pinchy’s will do the same at the AO Ballpark this year. While mum and dad sip champagne and scoff a luscious lobster roll, kids can tuck into fish and chips and tennis ball meringues — family meal packs are available from 5-6pm nightly.
GRILL’D – FAMILY MEAL PACKS
If burgers are more your style, Grill’d is also offering family meal packs featuring meals and drinks and Natural Confectionary sweets.
CANADIAN CLUB RACQUET CLUB – BANH MI
Ex-MasterChef contestant Khanh Ong is currently smashing it at George on Collins and will do the same at the Canadian Club Racquet Club at Fed Square. Expect fresh and vibrant Vietnamese hits with a twist alongside a large line up of banh mi.
400 GRADI – AO PIZZA
Melbourne’s Mr Margherita Johnny di Francesco is firing up his 400 Gradi wood oven to keep the Open in freshly made authentic Neapolitan pizzas. The AO ham and mushroom number — with San Marzano tomato, Romana leg ham, mushroom and mozzarella — looks set to ace his award-winning margherita this year.
MR MIYAGI – PEKING DUCK BAO
Prahran’s Mr Miyagi is famous with the cool kids for its Peking duck bao and Miyagi Fried Chicken. See if they are indeed as finger lickin’ good at the Grand Slam oval.
LOMAH – ISRAELI STREET FOOD
Young gun chef Charlie Carrington is bringing his new modern Mediterranean restaurant, Lomah, to the tennis. Short for Land of Milk and Honey, Carrington’s fresh take on Israeli street food at Lomah in Prahran has quickly found fans and he’ll serve the same salads and pitas at the Grand Slam Oval.
BIGGIE SMALLS – KBABS
Shane Delia’s Biggie Smalls Kbabs are now only available from the travelling food truck that will be parked at the Grand Slam oval for the two weeks of the tennis. Snack on the signature Kbabs that include a new lentil and pumpkin vego number.
MAMASITA – ITALO-MEXICANO MASH UPS
Melbourne’s favourite Mexican is also a favourite with tennis fans but this year Mamasita is mixing things up with wild menu of Italo-Mexicano mash-ups. Grilled calamari, pesto and cavolo bianco tacos sound good to us.
MAGILL ESTATE – FIVE-COURSE DEGUSTATION
South Australia’s acclaimed Penfolds Magill Estate restaurant will be in town for the tournament’s second week. Currently ranked 15 in the South Australian delicious.100, executive chef Scott Huggins will serve such dishes as Mayura Station wagyu across a five-course degustation matched with Penfolds’ wines that can include Australia’s most famous wine — a 2015 Grange. At the Glasshouse opposite Melbourne Park.
56 BY THE GLASSHOUSE – DINING STATIONS
Alongside the Grand Slam Oval, 56 By The Glasshouse (named after the 1956 Melbourne Olympics swimming pool) will be transformed for the first time into a showcase of local produce cooked across themed dining stations (The Sea, The Garden, The Land, The Fire, The Ice).
ROYALE BROS – BURGERS
But sometimes all you want is a good burger and thanks to Royale Bros that scratch can be itched.
GRAND SLAM OF MELBOURNE’S BEST RESTAURANTS
A grand slam of Melbourne’s best restaurants will also offer exclusive dining experiences over the finals weekend where a meal will be followed by personal transportation to either the women’s or men’s final. Restaurants include Vue de monde, Attica, Cutler & Co, Tulum, Stokehouse, Lesa, Sunda and more.
Australian Open 2020 is at Melbourne Park from Jan 20. ausopen.com
READ MORE:
WHAT WE ATE AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN LAST YEAR
MARIA SHARAPOVA’S FAVOURITE MELBOURNE ATTRACTION
AO 2020: WHERE TO GET TICKETS, HOW TO WATCH
AT THE 2019 AUSTRALIAN OPEN, FANS CONSUMED:
• 145,101 Haagen Daz ice-creams
• 15,000 Hellenic Republic souvlakis
• 18,370 Sushi Sushi packs
• 28,000 400 Gradi pizzas
• 50,000 corporate meals
• 15,000 glasses of Piper-Hedsieck champagne
• 160,000 Lavazza coffees
• 18,000 meals were served at the Australian pop up restaurants – Beijing Betty, Rockpool and Nobu
• 14,591 plates of Mamasita nachos at Grand Slam Oval