Spring Racing. It stops a nation. On top of the races, there are a serious amount of fashion, and always a good party. Even away from Flemington, Melbourne comes alive with parties, brunches, and of course Champagne. We find some events worth attending off the track.
The Langham Melbourne – For Old School Glamour
On both Melbourne Cup Day and Oaks Day, The Langham will hold a lunch hosted by Gorgi Coghlan. After a glass of Domaine Chandon on arrival, guests will be able to watch all the action at Flemington on plasma screens, while enjoying a range of cuisines at Melba. In addition to sweeps there will be prizes for the best dressed and the best hat, so make sure to dress to impress.
Tuesday November 5 and Thursday November 7, 12.30pm-4pm. $125 per person. www.melbourne.langhamhotels.com.au
Syracuse – For The Champagne Trolley
Cup day eve is always a good night with a public holiday looming. Syracuse is celebrating with a Champagne Trolley and a night of fine dining. For either $20 a glass or $45 for a flight, the Champagne trolley will include Laurent Perrier Brut, Pol Roger Brut, Bollinger ‘Special Cuvee’ Brut, 2002 Claude Carre et Fils and Le Mesnil ‘Blanc de Blancs’. Head Chef Hugh Sanderson has designed a menu focusing on seasonal produce ending with the Bitter chocolate parfait with salted macadamia, chocolate cake and salted caramel. It’s divine. Live music will keep the party going.
Syracuse Restaurant & Wine Bar 23 Bank Place, Melbourne 03-9670 1777 www.syracuserestaurant.com.au
Taxi Dining Room – For The Best Views of Melbourne and Bottomless Mimosas
Taxi Dining Room, perched above Federation Square has some of the best views in Melbourne. The Good Food Guide One Hatted restaurant is celebrating their hat with a Melbourne Cup Day breakfast to kick start your day before heading to the track. For $55 you’ll get breakfast design by chef Tony Twitch Twitchet and bottomless mimosas. Cheers to that.
Tuesday November 5, $55 per person, 9.30am – 11.30am, www.taxidiningroom.com.au
St Ali – For the Salvadore Arnold Bennett Omelette
In a celebration of indulgence, more so than horses, St Ali is dishing up the Salvadore Arnold Bennet Omelette. Andrew Gale, chef at St Ali has put together a dish that is a nod to the Arnold Bennett Omelette from the Savoy in England. The dish that will be served up during the Spring Racing Carnival will see a three-egg open face omelette with crayfish, chives, a chili crayfish vinaigrette and Parmesan crisp. You can also drink a glass of Cremant de Bourgogne sparkling wine on the side. If watching the races isn’t your thing, maybe this omelette is.
Salvadore Arnold Bennet Omelette, $28 per person, www.stali.com.au
Epicure Hampers – For The House Party
If you’re planning to have people round to your place for The Cup, you’ll want to put on some good food. Epicure can help with canapés and hampers. For 10 people or more you can get hampers delivered to you wherever you are filled with things like roasted butternut pumpkin puff pastry galettes, pork and prawn rice paper rolls, rare rose beef, toasted buckwheat and quinoa salad and chocolate flourless cakes. They also have canapé menus with a full service option for larger events. Making parties a cinch.
Epicure hampers $65pp, minimum 10 person order. www.epicure.com.au
