Here's what's in store:
- Fuel up with a coffee and Spanish sandwich each at La Central
- A recipe scavenger hunt through South Melbourne Market to pick up a delicious haul of ingredients
- Head home to make Darren Purchese's gourmet sandwiches together
Welcome to The South Melbourne Market!
Opened in 1866, South Melbourne Market is Melbourne’s oldest continuously operating market and a much-loved village hub where locals come to shop, eat and catch up. It’s also home to the famous South Melbourne dim sim, a market icon since the 1940s.
Today it’s packed with family-run stalls, fresh produce and specialty traders, all under one roof. Enjoy it!
Meet Darren, your Recipe Trail co-curator
Pastry chef, Great Australian Bake Off & MasterChef judge and cookbook author
Getting started
First up, head to the Speciality Grocer section along Coventry Street.
Note: There is a paid rooftop car park on Coventry Street, with metered and free parking options in the surrounding streets.
You’ll be doing a loop of the market. Use the blue path on the map above as a rough guide, but feel free to wander.
Follow the stops below to collect everything on Darren's list.
At each stop, let the team know your name and that you’re with AmazingCo. Double-check what to collect and ask the team for anything that's missing.
📍 Stop 1

La Central Spanish Deli & Bodega
Coventry Street, Stall 44
Your first stop, and the most important one! Inspired by the vibrant markets of Barcelona and Madrid, this big-hearted deli brings a taste of Spain to the market.
Let the team know you have an order under your name for AmazingCo. You'll each choose a bocadillo sandwich and hot drink to sit down and enjoy before the recipe trail begins.
📍 Stop 2

Cobb Lane Bakery
Just a couple of doors down on Coventry Street, Stall 42
Former Vue de Monde chef Matt Forbes swapped fine dining for doughnuts when he opened the first Cobb Lane in a tiny Yarraville shopfront in 2013. Today, there are four stores and growing.
🚶 Head to the Food Hall
Continue on Coventry Street and head down to loop through the Food Hall to your next stop in the deli section.

A Food Hall recommendation

Gewürzhaus Herb & Spice Merchants
Food Hall, Stall S3
Browse over 350 single-origin spices, herbs, salts and unique curry blends. Don't forget to ask the team for recipe cards to go with your spices!
📍 Stop 3

Hagen's Organic Meat
As you exit the Food Hall on Aisle B, Stall S1
Royce and Susan Hagen started out selling organic fruit and veg at Prahran Market in the 1980s, until customers kept asking for organic meat. In 1999, Royce became one of Victoria’s first organic butchers, and today the family runs six stores across Melbourne.

Darren's recommendation
Ask the butcher to slice your scotch fillet thinly.
📍 Stop 4

Vangelis Deli
At the corner of the Deli Aisle, Stall 7
What started with John and Angela’s passion for sharing good food is now a four-daughter family affair, with John the meat connoisseur and Angela the cheese expert.

Darren's recommendation
Fancy some oysters? Plenty of vendors shucking oysters to order at neighbouring stalls.
🚶 Explore the market
Loop up the Deli Aisle and back down the Centre Aisle to find your next stop through the heart of the market.
Aisle names are marked on signs above the walkways. To orient yourself, reference your map above.
1
2Along the way

The Fresh Pasta Shop
Deli Aisle, Stall 14
Ready-to-cook fresh pasta, sauces, lasagne and arancini. Perfect for an easy dinner later in the week.

Emerald Deli
Deli Aisle, Stall 23
Step inside the walk-in cheese room and pick out something special for a cheese board at home.

Mary Martin Bookshop
Cr of Centre Aisle & Aisle F, Stall 138
A cosy corner of the market filled with stories. Worth a browse as you head down the Centre Aisle.

In2Homewares
Cr of Centre Aisle & Aisle C, Stall 193
Gifts, ceramics and pottery. Pop in for one thing, leave with five...
📍 Stop 5

Babe's Eggs
In the heart of the market, off of Centre Aisle on Aisle C, Stall 180
Two generations of one family are still cracking on at this very stall, keeping South Melbourne stocked with fresh eggs.
Next, walk back down onto Coventry Street.
📍 Stop 6

Fruits On Coventry
Back on Coventry Street, Stall 46
If it’s a hard-to-find Asian vegetable, herb or exotic fruit, they’ve either got it or they’ll hunt it down for you. They’ve also ditched single-use plastic produce bags for an eco-friendly bagging system!
💡 Skip the queue! Tell a team member you're with AmazingCo.
Recommendations before you leave
A few sweet treats and one classic market snack worth grabbing on your way out.
On Aisle B

Agathé Pâtisserie
Aisle B, Stall 63
French pastries baked fresh every market day. Try the famous green pandan croissant if there are any left.

Cannoleria
Aisle B, Stall 72
Cannoli filled fresh to order with local ricotta. Check the board for this week's rotating flavours.

Swords Wines
Aisle B, Stall 73
Pick up a bottle to pour alongside your sandwiches at home. The team are always happy to recommend a match.

Atypic Chocolate
Aisle B, Stall 88A
Small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate made right here at the market. Grab a bar for later, or chocolate soft serve on a warm day.
On Cecil Street

South Melbourne Market Dim Sims
Cecil Street, Stall 91
The market's famous cricket ball-sized dimmies, made here since 1949. Steamed or fried, with soy and chilli. Know your order before you reach the front!
Got everything? Let's head home
Double-check you've collected all the ingredients listed above before heading home to cook!
Darren’s Gourmet Sandwiches
Follow Darren’s step-by-step cooking tutorial to turn your Queen Victoria Market haul into some seriously delicious sandwiches.
First things first, set the mood
Before you start chopping, pop on a playlist to cook along to.
Upbeat Cooking Hits
Open in Spotify
Jazz in the Kitchen
Open in Spotify
Chill Cooking Sessions
Open in Spotify
Steak Sandwich with Chimichurri
The main event! Cook it for lunch or dinner, and don't skimp on the chimichurri.
- 50 mlSherry vinegar
- 50 mlRed wine vinegar
- Salt flakes
- Black pepper
- ½Red onion, diced
- 1 headGarlic
- ½ bunchCoriander
- ½ bunchOregano
- ½ bunchParsley
- ½ bunchMint
- ½ bunchThyme
- 1Lemon, zest and juice
- 1Green chilli, finely chopped
- 1Birdseye red chilli, finely chopped
- ½ tspSmoked paprika
- 180 mlOlive oil, mild
- 10Cherry tomatoes, halved (feel free to add more!)
- 2Steaks
- 2Eggs
- ½Lettuce
- 4 slicesEmmental cheese
- Turkish loaf or white sourdough loaf
- 100 mlSherry vinegar
- 100 mlRed wine vinegar
- Salt flakes
- Black pepper
- 1Red onion, diced
- 1 headGarlic
- 1 bunchCoriander
- 1 bunchOregano
- 1 bunchParsley
- 1 bunchMint
- 1 bunchThyme
- 2Lemons, zest and juice
- 2Green chillies, finely chopped
- 2Birdseye red chillies, finely chopped
- 1 tspSmoked paprika
- 360 mlOlive oil, mild
- 20Cherry tomatoes, halved (feel free to add more!)
- 4Steaks
- 4Eggs
- 1Lettuce
- 8 slicesEmmental cheese
- 2Turkish loaves or white sourdough loaves
- 1
Roasted tomatoes: Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the cherry tomatoes cut side up in a heatproof dish or on a baking paper-lined tray. Drizzle with olive oil, tuck in a few thin slices of garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 1 hour until soft and juicy, then remove and set aside.
- 💡 Tip: Short on time? You can also roast the tomatoes in a pan on the stovetop.
- 2
Chimichurri: While the tomatoes roast, combine the sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar and a pinch of salt in a jar, bowl or Tupperware. Add the red onion, 1 to 2 cloves of grated garlic, lemon zest and juice, finely chopped herbs, green chilli, birdseye red chilli and smoked paprika. Mix or shake well, then stir through the olive oil. Seal or cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- 3
Steak: Brush steaks with olive oil and season with salt only (hold the pepper until after cooking to avoid it burning in the pan). Heat a cast-iron or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat until hot. Cook steaks for about a minute on each side until nicely crusted. Remove from the heat, add pepper, and leave to rest for at least as long as you cooked them. Wipe the pan and keep it for the sandwiches.
- 4
Toast the bread: Cut the bread into thick slices and slice lengthwise. Drizzle a little oil in the pan and place both sides face down to toast lightly until warm and golden.
- 5
Assemble: In the pan, layer the bottom slice of bread with roasted tomatoes first (press them down gently so they soak into the bread), then lettuce, then steak. Drizzle over any resting juices and a spoonful of chimichurri. Top with Emmental slices and close the sandwich. Toast for a couple of minutes then flip to toast the top for another minute. Move to the side.
- 6
Fried eggs: In a clean cast-iron or non-stick pan, heat a little olive oil over low heat. Crack in the eggs and cook sunny side up until whites are set and yolk is still runny. Fold in the edges of the white to roughly match the shape of your bread. Season with salt and pepper.
- 7
Finish: Top each sandwich with a fried egg, a pinch of salt and pepper, and another drizzle of chimichurri. Serve immediately.
Leftover ingredients? Recipe inspiration
Store your chimichurri in the fridge. It keeps well for 1 to 2 weeks. Great uses include:
- Drizzle over fish or lamb
- Toss through roasted vegetables or potatoes
- Spoon over scrambled eggs or a frittata
- Use as a marinade for chicken before grilling
- Stir through cooked grains like farro or quinoa for a quick salad
Mix 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, and ½ tsp brown sugar. Rub generously over chicken thighs, pork ribs, or lamb chops before grilling or roasting. Stir any leftover rub into 3 tbsp mayo for a quick smoky aioli.
Strawberry & Prosciutto Sandwich
Save it for breakfast, brunch, or whenever it suits you.
- 40 mlOlive oil
- 60 gStrawberries, sliced
- 6 slicesProsciutto
- 100 gManchego, sliced
- Honey
- Salt flakes
- Baguette
- 80 mlOlive oil
- 120 gStrawberries, sliced
- 12 slicesProsciutto
- 200 gManchego, sliced
- Honey
- Salt flakes
- 2Baguettes
- 1
Preheat a toasted sandwich press or pan over medium heat.
- 2
Drizzle olive oil inside the baguette and place it onto a grill or into the pan to char and toast slightly.
- 3
Remove the bread and arrange the sliced strawberries, prosciutto, and manchego inside each piece.
- 4
Add a drizzle of honey and a pinch of salt flakes to each sandwich, close, and rub olive oil on the outside of each baguette. Heat in the sandwich press or pan until crispy on the outside. Remove, add another drizzle of honey and salt, cut in half and serve.
