The best home-delivered food hampers for your Melbourne Cup Carnival party
There will be no trackside fare or backyard barbecues, but there are still plenty of ways to go gourmet for the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Experts rate the best home-delivered hampers to elevate your race day celebrations.
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This year’s crowd-less Melbourne Cup Carnival will look very different at Flemington, but that doesn’t mean the famed four days of race festivities are another corona-casualty.
For along with placing a cheeky box trifecta on race 7, this year’s carnival also features gourmet hamper boxes for home.
Caterers who would usually be flat out this week at Flemington preparing chicken sandwiches, blinis and buns for crowds at the carnival on course are, instead, flat out preparing chicken sandwiches, blinis and buns for the four-day carnival to be celebrated at home.
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There’s a huge selection of hampers for home for all tastes and budgets, with the Victoria Racing Club curating offerings from Flemington’s own Peter Rowland Group and Blake’s Feast, among others.
Usually taking up prime position in the Birdcage, Lexus this year has chef Neil Perry creating a luxe lunch box of his famed Asian-inspired fare, while restaurants and caterers around Melbourne are putting their own spin on snacks, brunch and lunch, with many available to be ordered directly or through delivery services such as providoor.com.au
Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassador Nadia Bartel joined Fashions on the Front Lawn ambassador Rob Mills and Herald Sun food writer Dan Stock in putting a selection of hampers for home to the taste test.
Mills says while this year’s carnival will look a little different, it’s a great chance to indulge in some top chefs’ food at home.
“I like the fact that people have the chance to cater themselves. Think of all the skills you learnt during lockdown – or not learnt – maybe you’ve saved your cash this year by not going out, now’s the chance to splurge on some really incredible catering,” he says.
“Good antipasto, some nibbles, get it catered. Treat yourself. And dress up, have fun.”
Bartel says given Victorians have spent so much time at home this year, the carnival provides the perfect opportunity to let someone else do the cooking.
“We’ve spent all this time at home and cooking a lot more, so I think now when you’ve got the races happening, you don’t want to cook any more – just delivered to you to plate it up, so you can enjoy the day,” she says.
Here’s the box trifecta for this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival at home.
ATLANTIC GROUP: SNACK PACK HAMPER
Cost: $80 for two.
Inclusions: Chicken sandwiches, cauliflower and gruyere pie, lamb and date filo cigar, mushroom arancini, onion and kale tartine, red velvet lamington
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace
Nadia Bartel’s verdict: “I think the Atlantic’s hamper is great, love the double serve of chicken sandwiches.”
THE BIG GROUP: NEIL PERRY X LEXUS PICNIC HAMPER
Cost: $250 for two.
Inclusions: Salmon pearl blini, pea and ricotta tartlet, prawn cocktail finger sandwiches, Sichuan eggplant with jasmine rice, beef tataki, black sesame salmon with sticky rice, tea smoked duck, strawberry mascarpone cake, rocky road, plus: official Lexus apron and Lexus X Flight Facilities Spotify playlist link.
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace
Nadia Bartel’s verdict: “This is the ritziest of them all. It’s a good one when you want to impress.”
CO-LAB PANTRY: PREMIUM SPRING RACING PACK
*DAN STOCK’S TOP TIP*
Cost: $245, serves two
Inclusions: Four Pillars Marmalade, Ned’s Portuguese tarts and baguette, Yarra Valley caviar, Via Porta dip, olives and cornichons, That’s Amore cheese, Saluministi specialty cheese, cured meats, nuts and biscuits, Borgo cacciatore, Artisan’s Table lavosh; Marionette mini liqueur, Moet & Chandon.
Buy it: clickforvic.com.au
Dan Stock’s verdict: “With its focus on artisan Victorian producers (with a Cup Carnival leave pass granted to the bottle of French bubbles) this is first past the post for mine. Luxurious, generous, local and undeniably delicious. Worth splashing out for.”
COOKES FOOD: NIBBLES ALL DAY HAMPER
Cost: $163, serves two or three
Inclusions: Pickles with bruschetta, grissini sticks with prosciutto, smoked ocean trout crostini, classic chicken sandwiches, lamb kofta, zucchini flower pasties, flathead fingers with tartare, vanilla panna cotta.
Buy it: cookesfood.com.au
Dan Stock’s verdict: “This really is grazing for gourmands. A day’s worth of bits and bites elevated. Finger food’s an art form and caterer Sophie Cook doesn’t paint by numbers. All style.”
FOOD AND DESIRE: GOURMET GRAZING PLATES
Cost: $180, serves two
Inclusions: Lemon myrtle cured salmon, traditional prawn cocktail slider, glazed ham with pickles, beetroot hummus, Australian olives, heirloom tomato and broad bean salad, Oven baked pumpkin with spiced pepitas, beef cottage pie, braised lamb pita, sourdough loaf, grissini, cheese with accompaniments.
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace
Rob Mills’ verdict: “It’s a party pack. Lots of ham, cheese, little pita pockets. Definitely one you’d have with a nice glass of wine. Crack open that bottle you’ve been saving, on this hamper.”
KING AND GODFREY: CHAMPAGNE RACE DAY HAMPER
Cost: $180, serves two
Inclusions: Chicken sandwiches, chickpea fritter rolls, frittata, three cheeses with grissini, crackers and nuts, a bottle of Louis Roederer champagne and six Peronis.
Buy it: kingandgodfree.com
Dan Stock’s verdict: “A fab crowd-pleasing selection that covers all bases, including bubbles and beers for the win.”
LIBBY REID: A RACE DAY CLASSIC HAMPER
*NADIA BARTEL’S TOP TIP*
Cost: $95, serves two
Inclusions: Cured meats, olives, antipasto, hummus and crisp bread; cheese with lavosh crackers, chicken finger sandwiches, Tom yum mushroom rice paper rolls, lamb and rosemary pies, mini pulled pork sliders, Rocky road, plus selection of wine, beer or soft drinks.
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace
Nadia Bartel’s verdict: “This is my favourite, it has everything, and you get a lot in this pack for the price. I love the cheeses, olives, antipasto, that’s the way I love to do my board when I go out to picnics, in the parks, and at home.
PETER ROWLAND GROUP: SPOIL YOURSELF HAMPER
Cost: $220, serves two
Inclusions: Peter Rowland chicken sandwich, poached prawns, vegetable and noodle rice paper roll, gin cured Tasmanian salmon, chargrilled chicken breast with broccolini, cos and parmesan salad, roast baby carrots with goats fetta, local cheese platter, lemongrass panna cotta tart, strawberry meringue.
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace
Nadia Bartel’s verdict: “This looks amazing, a big generous spread. After lockdown, chicken sandwiches have never tasted better!”
ROCHFORD WINES: SPRING RACING BRUNCH
Cost: $140, serves two
Inclusions: Six free-range eggs, maple smoked bacon, brioche loaf, fresh fruit and veg, orange and almond tea cake, and a bottle of Rochford Estate Blanc de Blanc 2018.
Buy it: rochfordwines.com.au
Dan Stock’s verdict: “Get the day under way in the only way that matters – and that’s with bubbles. A DIY brunch for home that adds a touch of luxe to brunch.”
TRUFFLEDUCK: THE NIBBLES KEEP COMING HAMPER
*ROB MILLS’ TOP TIP*
Cost: $60, serves 2
Inclusions: Gorgonzola fig tart, poached chicken sandwiches, corn and black bean tostada, beetroot, thyme and goat’s cheese tart, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, prawn & chorizo lollipops, duck bao buns, beef, mushroom & ale pies, maple fried chicken skewers, pulled lamb brioche.
Buy it: cupweek2020.com.au/marketplace (Bellarine/Geelong region only)
Rob Mills’ verdict: “The chicken skewers are great, the little burgers are sensational. Lamb burger. Tostadas, perfect. There’s something for everyone in this. I do love a beetroot tart, too. They’ve nailed it.”
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