Back the Best Caterer This Spring Racing

And they’re off! With gatherings now back on the menu, it’s time to throw a Melbourne Cup event with food and drinks that will do justice to this prestigious day on the Spring Racing calendar.

Held on the first Tuesday of November every year, Melbourne Cup day is the perfect chance for everyone in the office to get dressed up and socialise together, surrounded by glasses of bubbles and of course, delicious catering too.

We can’t all be out celebrating at the track, but hosting a Melbourne Cup function in the office or another venue can still be a great way to make the most of the race season with your colleagues and friends.

So whether your office is large or small, here are some top tips to make your Melbourne Cup party seamless, with food to remember.

About the Lexus Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is the most prestigious and well-known Thoroughbred horse race held annually in Australia. As part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Victoria Racing Club hosts a 3200-meter event for horses aged three and older on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. This race is part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

In 2018, the historic Australian Melbourne Cup had its 158th edition. The event started on November 6, 2018, at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne with a little twist. Lexus started a five-year naming rights sponsorship arrangement, taking over for Emirates, which had been in place for the previous three years.Organising Melbourne Cup Carnival Catering

Ever since 2018, the Melbourne cup day has been called the Lexus Melbourne Cup. If you are looking for some quality entertainment to celebrate this year's cup day, we've got you covered.

Whether you plan to visit the terrace and savour the beauty of the sport or you are having some guests over at your home, or you are treating your group at the office, we've got the right menu and drinks for you.

You can also call us if you will be having a a picnic or a party with friends as you enjoy the game from a boat.

Organising Melbourne Cup Carnival Catering

Getting a caterer to take care of your Melbourne Cup day food and drinks allows you and your team to enjoy your day (and your lunch) without racing around town the day before and on the morning of, making sure everyone’s different needs are met.

This means you can focus on pulling together the fun things like decorations and games without worrying about having to go out to pick up everything, or worse, taking a punt on a pot luck lunch where you never know what people will bring!

As a corporate caterer, we’ll take care of the finer points, so you don’t have to. For example, giving expert advice on how much food and drink to order for the number of people you have, helping ensure you’ve got things like cutlery and plates sorted, and assisting with making sure all dietaries are catered for with a delicious range of options.

When it comes to Melbourne Cup carnival catering in Sydney, it always pays to have it looked after professionally, with chef-created nibbles made with fresh produce delivered right to your door, exactly when you want it.

Sound good? We thought so!

Melbourne Cup Day Food Ideas

There are several ways you can go regarding the type of spread you put on for Melbourne Cup day. Think about the space you are holding your event in and what it might best suit you. Are you going for formal, luxe, or casual? Will you be inside or outside? Are you providing a full lunch or mid-afternoon nibbles before the race? What sort of budget do you have to play with?

Asian Food for Racecourse Sport Fans

Grazing platters, both hot and cold, make for the perfect Melbourne Cup event menu.

An Asian-fusion theme is always popular: try our Combination Rice Paper Roll Platter (think vegetarian omelette, Vietnamese satay prawn, and BBQ lemongrass chicken) alongside our BBQ Peking Duck Pancake Platter, and Signature Bao Bun Platter (pillowy bao filled with chickpea falafel, chilli beef, or prawn katsu).

These all come chilled – perfect with a glass of cold bubbly (or two). Or why not turn up the heat by adding the spiced Szechuan Beef Skewer Platter, which comes with black vinegar sauce, lemon wedges and lime mayonnaise?

Melbourne Cup Day Celebrations with Vegan Friendly Meals

Ordering an option such as our Vegan & Gluten Free Bites Platter of kale and onion pakora, Chickpea fritter, and beetroot and buckwheat fritter served with plant based tumeric mayo, coconut yoghurt with mixed seeds, and tomato relish will ensure plenty of selection for vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy-free guests.

Sumptuos Meat and Cheese for Melbourne Cup Carnival

For cheese and meat-lovers though, it wouldn’t be an event without the inclusion of a fabulous Charcuterie & Artisanal Cheese Platter.

Featuring the likes of Kingfisher Creek double cream brie, Isle of Man Creamery vintage cheddar, goats cheese, Sicilian olives, salami, pastrami and prosciutto, crackers, chocolate bark and more, it won’t just taste delicious but looks impressive too.

Equally, Insta-worthy is our Savoury Tart Platter with slow-roasted tomato, almond frangipane with truffle goats cheese and mountain pepper leaves, and roast beetroot with caramelised onion, goats cheese, candied walnuts, chives and truffle oil.

Side Dishes For Excitement and a Good Time

Outside of finger food, it can also be a good idea to include some more substantial options (especially if alcohol is also being enjoyed).

Warm Sliders can still form part of a roaming cocktail-style or food station-style menu and are guaranteed to go down a treat, especially in a range of flavours such as salmon gravlax with avocado, jalapeno and preserved lemon, or falafel with avocado puree, iceberg lettuce and garlic aioli.

Our Salad Platters also make for a beautiful food station or part of a sit-down lunch.

Melbourne Cup Day Desserts

And who could forget sweets! Any good meal ends with dessert, although it’s a good idea to offer a range from healthy, like our Seasonal Fruit Platter, through to indulgent, like our Mini Doughnut Platter.

No matter what style you choose, if you’re sourcing disposable plates and cutlery, we’d recommend making them eco-friendly, like our range of plastic-free utensils, straws, plates and cups.

Melbourne Cup Beverage Packages

When you think Melbourne Cup Drinks, you most likely think bubbles! Ensure you have plenty available on the day (although it’s always best to double check the boss’ comfort level with how much can be drunk in the office).

For those who don’t drink champagne – or don’t drink at all, we have alternatives such as beers, wine, soft drinks and water available.

So leave the racing around to the horses – with a variety of menu options to suit all tastes and budgets (or the option to create bespoke combinations), our freshly made canapes and platters will be the perfect ingredient to make your Melbourne Cup function a guaranteed winner. Get in touch now to discuss how we can help!