Where to buy cheese hampers, platters for a Melbourne picnic

Warm weather and plenty of sunshine this weekend means picnics are on the cards. Here’s where to order a pimped-out platter or something small to snack on for your lockdown picnic.

COOKES

Choose from either a brunch, grazing or Euro grazing-style platter from Cookes Food’s Park Life hampers,which cost between $120 and $185. Non-drinkers can request a non-alcoholic beverage in their hamper. Each hamper serves two to three people and comes in a natural oatmeal box with simple instructions and bamboo forks, knives and plates.

Cookes Foods is among the many Melbourne cafes and restaurants selling picnic hampers. Picture: Kate Shanasy.

KING AND GODFREE

The Lygon St icon has several picnic box offerings, including thepicnic time box ($65) which will feed four people — with three filled baguettes, a ciabatta roll with Italian fillings, mixed salted nuts, chips and four cans of beer. There’s also the Primo Picnic ($95) and avegetarian picnic time box ($65).

King and Godfree picnic time box. Picture: Supplied.

VICTORIA RACING CLUB — PETER ROWLAND

Crowds may not be allowed at this year’s Spring Racing Carnival but we can still enjoy the hospitality at home.

Peter Rowland has plenty of platter options to enjoy in front of the telly or at a picnic in the park with friends.

The Get The Girls hamper costs $125pp and includes the famed Peter Rowland chicken sandwich, as well as sushi, a cheese platter, sweets and other small bites.

The Pop Up Picnics caters for single, couples and small groups. The hamper for two costs $165 and includes poached lobster and smoked Wagyu beef baguettes, cheese, salads, and desserts. Each hamper comes with custom folding table hamper, picnic rug, stemless bio-champagne flutes, plates, cutlery, napkins and a personalised menu.

MAKER AND MONGER

Cheese lovers, this one’s for you.Maker and Monger’s Premium Cheese Platter ($150) comes with three French cheeses Brillat Savarin, Marcel Petite Comté and Carles Roquefort, crackers and a jar of Attica’s Pine Plum Jam. You also get an American Walnut wooden board included. The Victorian farmhouse cheese platter for two (starts at $40) is another option.

Maker and Monger cheese platter. Picture: Kate Shanasy

PICNIC BOX CO

Picnic Box Co’s Petite Grazing Box ($50)comes with two cheeses, prosciutto, crackers, dip and fruit. Serves two to three people. $12 flat rate delivery, within 20km of Bentleigh. Order via Instagram, three days in advance.

PLATTER REPUBLIC

Platter Republic sells grazing boxes perfect for a picnic. Boxes start at $80 each, which include two types of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fruit and sweet treats.

ENTRECOTE

Picnic? Umm it’s pronounced ‘pique-nique’ here at Parisian bistro Entrecote. The

“Le déjeuner sur l’herbe”box is packed with the finest French fare like a baguette, chicken and tarragon terrine, quiche, camembert for $84. You can even hire a picnic rug or table and chairs for the ultimate date in the sun.

BIBELOT

Bibelot’s High Tea at Ho me pack is a good mix of savoury and sweet treats enjoyed how it says on the pack — or in the park. This pack includes pastrami and sauerkraut sliders, chicken and mayo sandwiches, raspberry and rhubarb tarts and buttermilk scones.

Bibelot High Tea At Home. Picture: Supplied.

MILK THE COW

Cheese lovers can choose a hamper that suits their needs. Martini lover? There’s a Martini and Cheese Hamper (from $150). Only love soft cheese? The All Soft Cheese hamper ($110) should do the trick. Pregnant? There’s even a Mum to Be hamper packed with pregnancy-friendly cheeses ($100).

FITZROVIA

This five-course grazing lunch for two is designed to be enjoyed in the spring sunshine. Collect your wicker hamper from Fitzrovia in St Kilda (pick-up only), wander over to the park and tuck into pork and fennel sausage rolls, vegetarian tart, mini sandwiches, local cheeses and sweets. Each hamper comes with cutlery, crockery, napkins, glassware, soft drinks and sparkling water.

EARL CANTEEN

Earl Canteen’s Spring Picnic Package ($60) is an affordable option to share between two or four people. The pack includes mini chicken sandwiches, veggie tartlets, fritters, cheese, quince, and crostini, shaved prosciutto, berry friands and chocolate brownies.

I’M PLATTERED

These grazing and cheese boards look the goods on Instagram. I’m Plattered’s Take Me Away boxes come in three different sizes (between $70 and $150 each) and comes with prosciutto, cheese, salami, olives, sun dried tomatoes and chocolate coated pretzels. Add on Dilly Delly cocktail — Gin Daisy, Daiquiri or Old Fashioned — to your I’m Plattered and Sweet Treats boxes.

The Pav Queen Pavlova. Picture: Supplied.

PAVS IN THE PARK

Nerida Conway gifted her friend a pavlova for her birthday in Melbourne’s first lockdown. By lockdown 2.0, she’d turned the one-off bake into a booming pavlova business. The PavQueen Pavlova comes in two flavours (strawberry choc or classic berry), two sizes (8 or 10 inches) and costs between $29 and 35 each. Delivery within 35km of Collingwood, fee applies.

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