Gourmet Sandwich Hunt at South Melbourne Market


Before You Head In

A quick hello from Darren Purchese, celebrity chef, author, television personality and the designer of this experience.


On the Day: South Melbourne Market

Aim to arrive at South Melbourne Market between 9 and 11 am so you've got time to settle in before the hunt kicks off.

South Melbourne Market map
1

Enjoy brunch and collect your map

Start your day at La Central Spanish Deli & Bodega on Coventry Street and let them know you have an order under your name for AmazingCo. You'll each choose a bocadillo sandwich and hot drink, and collect your physical map plus bottles of red wine vinegar and sherry vinegar for the cook along.

2

Hunt down your ingredients

Map in hand, work your way around the market, solve the clues, and track down everything on Darren's list. Once you've got everything, you'll head home for your cook along with Darren!


Map Hints? Only open these if you want a little help!


Got Everything? Let's Head Home

Check the back of your map before you head off. Everything you’ll need is listed there!


Cook With Darren

Follow Darren’s step-by-step cooking tutorials to turn your South Melbourne Market haul into some seriously delicious sandwiches.

Steak Sandwich with Chimichurri

Ingredients

  • 50 ml sherry vinegar
  • 50 ml red wine vinegar
  • Salt flakes
  • Black pepper
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • 1 garlic head
  • ½ bunch coriander
  • ½ bunch oregano
  • ½ bunch parsley
  • ½ bunch mint
  • ½ bunch thyme
  • 1 lemon, zest and juice
  • 1 green chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 birdseye red chilli, finely chopped
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 180 ml olive oil, mild
  • 10 cherry tomatoes, halved (feel free to add more!)
  • 2 steaks
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ lettuce
  • 4 slices Emmental cheese
  • Turkish loaf or white sourdough loaf
  • 100 ml sherry vinegar
  • 100 ml red wine vinegar
  • Salt flakes
  • Black pepper
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 1 garlic head
  • 1 bunch coriander
  • 1 bunch oregano
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 1 bunch mint
  • 1 bunch thyme
  • 2 lemons, zest and juice
  • 2 green chilli, finely chopped
  • 2 birdseye red chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 360 ml olive oil, mild
  • 20 cherry tomatoes, halved (feel free to add more!)
  • 2 steaks
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 lettuce
  • 8 slices Emmental cheese
  • 2 Turkish loaves or white sourdough loaves

Method

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.

Strawberry & Prosciutto Sandwich

Ingredients

  • 40 ml olive oil
  • 60 g strawberries, sliced
  • 6 prosciutto slices
  • 100 g manchego, sliced
  • Honey
  • Salt flakes
  • Baguette
  • 80 ml olive oil
  • 120 g strawberries, sliced
  • 12 prosciutto slices
  • 200 g manchego, sliced
  • Honey
  • Salt flakes
  • 2 baguettes

Method

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.

🌿

Extra chimichurri

Darren recommends storing 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
🥩

Simple smoked paprika spice rub

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.


While You Cook & Eat

Click below for some extra activities!

Foodie Games