Fashion, food and a little race-day excitement!
Strangers’ Dining Room came alive on Tuesday 3 November for our sold-out Melbourne Cup Luncheon, bringing together guests for an afternoon of food, fashion and plenty of excitement in one of Brisbane’s most historic settings.
From pre-luncheon bubbles at Lucinda Bar to the live broadcast from Flemington, it was a wonderful celebration filled with delicious food, lively conversation and a touch of race-day glamour.
A menu worth celebrating
Our culinary team created a special Melbourne Cup menu celebrating seasonal ingredients, Queensland produce and creative flavour combinations, complemented by a beverage selection showcasing Queensland wines, spirits and craft beers.
The luncheon began with a selection of chef’s snacks, including a Mooloolaba prawn cocktail with tomato gel and herb salad, Black Angus striploin with pepper berry, mandarin and carrot crumb, and a native-inspired salsa served with buckwheat cracker, macadamia cream and bunya nut pesto.
For entrée, guests enjoyed citrus-cured salmon with pink grapefruit, kombu mayonnaise, edamame and wasabi dressing, with a beautifully crafted asparagus tart featuring fermented stalk, crunchy quinoa and cinnamon myrtle oil offered as a vegetarian alternative.
The main course featured tender braised Darling Downs short rib, served with silky pomme purée, heirloom carrot, crispy lemon onion and rich red wine jus. A sesame and mirin-glazed eggplant dish with spicy pumpkin seed nam jim, pickled Thai basil and flaxseed cracker provided a vibrant vegetarian option.
The sweetest finish
And then came the dessert station!
Our pastry team created a beautiful display of petite desserts, offering guests the chance to indulge in a selection of delicious little creations.
From rich chocolate crunch with ganache and pistachio to delicate waffle tarts filled with vanilla cream and raspberry compote, there was something to tempt every sweet tooth.
The selection also featured milk chocolate gianduja with hazelnut and gold leaf, sesame cones filled with yuzu gel and matcha cream, and delicate vanilla mousse with cherry and coconut.
Almost too beautiful to eat, these bite-sized desserts were a wonderful way to finish the luncheon, and certainly worth making room for!
Hats, heels and heritage: The style edit
Melbourne Cup is always a wonderful excuse to dress up, and our guests certainly embraced the occasion!
And, of course, there were some lucky winners who went home with more than just great memories, thanks to our sweepstakes and lucky door prize.
Our Best Dressed and Lucky Door Prize winners
Thank you for joining us!
A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon such a wonderful occasion.
We loved seeing everyone embrace the festivities, enjoy the food and make the most of this special setting.
And if you missed out this year, we’d love to welcome you to Strangers’ Restaurant for another memorable dining experience soon!
