Fresh feasts of delight: Melbourne’s Grazeland; Magnetic Island beach picnic
Visit Melbourne’s new foodie haven or indulge in a secluded picnic on Magnetical Island.
Hot in the city
Grazeland, Melbourne
An industrial site in Melbourne’s west has burst back to life, this time to the sounds of happy diners toasting an innovative newcomer to its culinary scene. Grazeland, which sits beside the Yarra River in Spotswood almost under the West Gate Bridge, is touted as a permanent food festival at a condominium of 50 stalls housed in repurposed shipping containers on the site of an old bottling factory. Nearly all the providers represent respected cafes, restaurants and outlets from Melbourne’s under-appreciated north and west, and its scale – it can seat 1400 diners, mostly under cover – means Grazeland should entice foodies from all over, especially as it throws a blanket over the world’s cuisines. Italian, Japanese, Indian and Spanish are all there, but they’re joined by the likes of barbecue options from Africa and Argentina, classic Polish dumplings called pierogi, Scottish favourites at the Kilted Haggis, plus pizza, burgers, seafood, noodles – the hard decision is what not to have.
A rich treat is arancini served on a bed of gnocchi that, once cooked, is spread on a 40kg wheel of grana padano so the cheese seeps up into it. Sweet Street, meanwhile, is an enclave dishing up cannoli, crepes, Middle-Eastern semolina biscuits topped with the likes of M&Ms and Oreo, and a unique dessert called croioli – croissant ravioli no less, filled with banana and topped with chocolate. Popcorn turns artisanal via the addition of gingerbread and jalapeno, while fairyfloss is a work of pop art. Several bars pour good wine and beer, two stages host a substantial bill of live music, and expect live sport on a big screen. Grazeland operates on Fridays 5-10pm, Saturdays 12-10pm, Sundays 12-9pm.
JEREMY BOURKE
Cool in the country
The Beach Club Magnetic Island, Queensland
It’s an idea born of and during isolation. A secluded beach-picnic service on Magnetic Island, 8km from Townsville, makes it easy to social distance in style while enjoying some of the destination’s most pristine bays, many accessible only by boat. In a place that still hosts weekly cane toad races at the pub, the Beach Club Magnetic Island is a welcome sophisticated addition to parent company Pilgrim Sailing’s swish lunch and sunset sails. Owners Clare and Paul Ley made Maggie, as the island is affectionately known, their permanent home as COVID-19 entered the lexicon, after spending five years swapping seasons between Sydney Harbour and the island. They launched the beach picnics in July last year. Guests are chauffeured from Magnetic in a yellow RIB (rigid inflatable boat), which whisks them to beaches likely untainted by human footprints that day. In the shade of an umbrella, a blanket lies in wait on the sand, along with a spread of, say, cheese and chocolates from Gallo Dairyland on the nearby Atherton Tablelands, charcuterie, seasonal fruit and Clare’s pumpkin chutney. Post-feast, consider a game of petanque or a gentle stroll; reef-friendly sunscreen is on hand. Picnics start from $349 a couple, although most guests upgrade to include access the more remote Five Beach Bay and fresh seafood on the menu — bug tails and prawns from a local fisherman to dunk in coconut mayonnaise with hunks of fresh baguette. Alternative, they can order a lavish seafood spread by Saltwater Magnetic Island, with its Rockpool-trained head chef.
CELESTE MITCHELL
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