Where to Buy the Best Supplies for a Perfect Picnic
The essential picnic eats and drinks.
Gather your friends and make tracks to your favourite local green space this summer. With weather this fine, it makes sense to enjoy lunch al fresco. And you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen preparing, either — Melbourne's retail scene offers opportunity a-plenty. Curate your own gourmet picnic hampers from scratch, or, pay someone to do it for you. Here's our guide to the what's what of Melbourne's picnic-packing scene.
CURED MEATS, MEATSMITH
Meatsmith prides itself on sourcing the highest quality meat from dedicated, ethical farmers and specialises in skilled butchery and on-site dry-aging. The selection is what you'd expect from restaurant stalwart Andrew McConnell and butcher Troy Wheeler, whose shared insight ensures consistent quality and lots of options. Cured meats and charcuterie marry well with a wide selection of pantry items, including chutneys, relishes, sauces, olives and pickled goods. Pair some slices of wagyu pastrami and a pot of pork rillette with some house-made chermoula or sriracha, for example. Guests can also browse the wine selection, thoughtfully chosen by Leanne Altmann, sommelier and wine buyer for McConnell's Supernormal. Meatsmith has stores in Fitzroy and St Kilda.
CHEESE, THE CHEESE SHOP DELI
This South Yarra staple sits pretty within Prahran Market, serving a hearty selection of cheese from all over the world, as well as an impressive local assortment. The Il Forteto, a Tuscan pecorino stuffed with shaved truffle, is a best-seller, while the washed-rind L'Artisan Mountain Man raises the flag for local Victorian produce. If you like a side of conversation with your cheese, you won't be disappointed. Angelo and Diane Polidoras prefer to serve with a smile and are on a first name basis with many of their clientele — "don't brie a stranger", they say.
BOOZE, BLACKHEARTS & SPARROWS
Food and drink are a social experience in as much as they are a sensory pleasure, and nothing completes a warm afternoon more than a tipple with your close friends. Blackhearts & Sparrows calls itself a "purveyor of unique wine, beer and cider" and was established on the understanding that quality booze shouldn't be intimidating or overpriced. The independent chain now boasts seven stores across Melbourne (Brunswick, East Brunswick, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Kensington, Richmond and Windsor), each showcasing weird and wonderful alcoholic produce from local and international makers.
THE TRIMMINGS, VARIOUS FARMERS MARKETS
Dive headfirst into a world of local produce and pack your picnic with items from some of Victoria's finest farms. There are plenty of farmers' markets across Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs — Carlton, Hawthorn, Abbotsford, St Kilda to name a few. Enjoy fresh fruit and juices, seasonal veggies, fresh bread, artisanal jams and preserves, and sometimes even alcohol.
THE WHOLE SHEBANG, THE STABLES OF COMO
Settle yourself in the picturesque gardens of Como House and get stuck into a pre-prepared picnic, courtesy of The Stables. For $60 per person, your can enjoy a picnic hamper with all the trimmings — we're talking pastries and quiches, fried chicken, vegetable salads and desserts (and cotton candy). They'll also include picnic rugs, crockery and blankets. For an additional $40, they'll even throw in a bottle of house wine. We'll drink to that.
ALL-IN-ONE, FITZROVIA
The good folk at St Kilda's Fitzrovia are specialists in the picnic business. If you're pushed for time and can't curate your own hamper, sit back and let Fitzrovia prepare and pack the perfect picnic for you. They'll build a five course gourmet grazing lunch that showcasing items from the current Fitzrovia menu — enjoy pastries, sandwiches, salads, cheese and sweets without a hint of stress. Your hamper will also come equipped with cutlery, crockery, napkins and glassware, as well as soft drinks and sparkling water. All you have to do is return the basket the following day. Hampers cost $150 (enough for two hungry people) and it's suggested you order 24 hours in advance.
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