Here's what's in store:

  • Fuel up with a Campfire Hot Chocolate at Mörk and a gourmet toastie at RIPE
  • A recipe scavenger hunt at Queen Victoria Market to pick up a delicious haul of ingredients
  • Head home to make Darren Purchese's gourmet sandwiches together, plus a bonus breakfast sandwich recipe for later

Welcome to The Queen Victoria Market!

Trading since 1878, Queen Vic is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere and one of Melbourne's most loved landmarks. It actually started out as the city's first cemetery and thousands of early settlers are still buried beneath the car park.

Today it's home to generations of traders, fresh produce and delis packed with flavours from around the world. Enjoy it!

Meet Darren, your Recipe Trail co-curator

Pastry chef, Great Australian Bake Off & MasterChef judge and cookbook author


Getting started

Head to the Dairy Produce Hall, entering via the Therry Street entrance.

  • 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.

💡 If you'd like a market map, pick one up at the Information Hub at the corner of F Shed and Queen Street.

📍 Stop 1

Mörk Chocolate

Mörk Chocolate

Dairy Produce Hall, Shop 51–54

Start your day with a decadent Campfire Hot Chocolate each! Let the team know you have an order under your name with AmazingCo.

Mörk Chocolate is a Melbourne-born luxury chocolate brand and the home of specialty, ethically sourced hot chocolate.

📍 Stop 2

RIPE

RIPE

Dairy Produce Hall, next door to Mörk

Next, head two doors down and choose a gourmet toastie each to fuel up. Let the team know you have an order under your name with AmazingCo.

Singapore-born cheesemonger Hakim started at a market deli, where he noticed no one was showcasing Australian cheese. So in 2019, he opened RIPE, the world’s first and only all-Australian cheese shop.

📍 Stop 3

The Corner Larder

The Corner Larder

Heart of Dairy Produce Hall, Shop 33–35

A long-time local and market lover, Kev was such a regular here that he was offered a job as a cheese expert at The French Shop. So when the chance came to open The Corner Larder deli with his family in 2016, it was the obvious next step.

Cheese

Darren's recommendation

While you're here, taste some of Kev's favourite cheeses at the front of the shop. It's the perfect spot to grab a few extras for a charcuterie board at home.

📍 Stop 4

Bill's Farm

Bill's Farm

Facing The Corner Larder, shop 17–20 in the Dairy Produce Hall.

Bill's Farm owner Malcolm was once the CEO of Queen Vic Market. In 2017, he traded 30 years of corporate retail for the deli counter, and together with Anna, took over this market favourite. Talk about a career change!

📍 Stop 5

Andrew's Bread Shop

Andrew's Bread Shop

Dairy Produce Hall, Shop 29–30

Home to some of the finest artisan breads, bagels and pastries at the market.

🚶 Head to the Meat & Fish Hall

To orient yourself, reference your map above.

Stall numbers in the Meat & Fish Hall

Look for the shop numbers

Highlighted in orange above the storefronts.

📍 Stop 6

Hagen's Organic Meat

Hagen's Organic Meat

Meat and Fish Hall, Shop 16

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.

🚶 Head back to the Dairy Hall

Retrace your steps through the Dairy Hall before moving on.

Dairy Hall recommendations

Before heading outside to the market sheds, stop by a few more of our favourites.

Swords Wines

Swords Wines

Dairy Produce Hall, Shop 47–50

Pick up local and independent drops from organic and low-intervention makers, plus craft beer, cider and Aussie gin.

10% OFFJust mention AmazingCo
Gewürzhaus

Gewürzhaus Herb & Spice Merchants

Dairy Produce Hall, Shop 7–9

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!

🚶 Head to the market sheds

Exit the Dairy Hall the way you entered and walk right up Therry Street.

The sheds are labelled alphabetically from right to left, and you'll find stall numbers marked up in the rafters.

D Shed entrance with the letter D highlighted1

Find the shed letter

Each shed’s letter is on its front gable, above the entrance.

Inside D Shed with a rafter stall number highlighted2

Look up

Once inside, stall numbers are marked in the rafters above each stall.

📍 Stop 7

Orchard Wholefoods

Orchard Wholefoods

A Shed, Stall 109–112

Inspired by traditional Turkish traders, owner Lokman and his wife bring a touch of Turkey to the market with freshly roasted and raw nuts, dried fruits, nougat and hard-to-find Australian spices.

Native ingredients at Orchard Wholefoods

Darren's recommendation

Check out all the native cooking ingredients like Strawberry Gum and Tasmanian Pepperberry (Bush Pepper), some can be hard to come by.

10% OFFJust mention AmazingCo

📍 Stop 8

Queen's Harvest

Queen's Harvest

D Shed, Stalls 5–12

Over 60 years ago, shortly after arriving from Calabria, Italy, the family behind Queen's Harvest started selling fruit and veg here. Today, you'll often spot three generations behind the counter, serving up the market's widest range of fresh produce and specialty groceries. Now that's a market family!

Queen's Harvest tote bag

Darren's recommendation

While stocks last, grab the perfect shopping companion: a Queen's Harvest signature tote for a special discounted AmazingCo rate.

$5 TOTEJust mention AmazingCo

📍 Stop 9

The Eggporium

The Eggporium

D Shed, Stalls 1–4

Known as the market's original "birds and bees" stall, The Eggporium has been serving Melbourne for over 20 years. Expect one of the biggest egg selections around, from free-range to duck and quail, all from Australian farms.

Recommendations before you leave

String Bean Alley beside M Shed

String Bean Alley

Alongside M Shed

26 independent shops in converted shipping containers, selling everything from vintage and jewellery to art, skincare and books.

It's named after the lane where green beans were once sold! Open Friday to Sunday.

Books for Cooks

Books for Cooks

115 Victoria St, right of A Shed

One of Darren's favourite sources of culinary inspiration, with over 40,000 books on food, cooking and wine.

ReWine

ReWine

456 Queen St, Cnr of Queen & Therry St

Australian wine by the bottle or straight from the barrel. Bring your bottle back for a refill discount. Some regulars have refilled theirs over 500 times!

Mintstone Candles

Mintstone Candles

K Shed, Stall 101–102

Hand-poured soy candles and reed diffusers, made in Melbourne by founder Saemyi, whose candle-making hobby grew into a business.

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. 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.

  2. 💡 Tip: Short on time? You can also roast the tomatoes in a pan on the stovetop.
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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. 1

    Preheat a toasted sandwich press or pan over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Drizzle olive oil inside the baguette and place it onto a grill or into the pan to char and toast slightly.

  3. 3

    Remove the bread and arrange the sliced strawberries, prosciutto, and manchego inside each piece.

  4. 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.

While you eat

Click below for some extra activities!

🎲 Foodie Games