Nothing quite beats the smell of freshly cut grass, salty sea air and delicious gourmet food. Ok, maybe add plenty of quaffable wine, a spot of croquet and fellow food lovers to hang out with and you’ve got the BEST day ever!

Find your way down the winding path to a park full of picnic rugs, pillows and picnic baskets. Out on the harbour, the water shimmered and the boats bobbed with the waves. Then under the shade of an enormous fig tree, guests took their place on the rugs and poured themselves a glass of delicioius wine.

Welcome to Blackburn Gardens – the ideal setting for Secret Foodies Picnic In The Park. 

Picnic baskets sat on the colourful rugs with plenty of gourmet food and cask wine for all. Each basket was packed with one chilled white cask wine and one rich red varitey from Banrock Station, De Bortoli and Yalumba. With a picnic style event, it was only natural that cask wine was chosen. The no-fuss style of cask wine is perfect for the relaxed feel of a picnic and brings sophistication with chilled wine and cheese pairings.

Guests opened the picnic baskets to find an assortment of mini baguettes with tiger prawns, cos lettuce, lemon aioli and crispy shallots. There was also a parmesan and herb chicken baguette with butter lettuce, chive and tarragon aioli or a tomato chutney, crumbed eggplant, zucchini and haloumi salsa with wild rocket. There were four indiviudal antipasto boxes with a range of sliced cured meats, marinated veg, flatbread, beetroot dip and olives. A pentiful supply of snacks to get the party started or pick at throughout the day.

Throughout the day, a cheese and fruit table was set up next to a wine tasting and pairing table. There was a plentiful supply of cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, lavosh and water crackers.

With a quick word from Ms Darlinghurst, she welcomed the large number of new Secret Foodies and told us about the partnerships with Banrock Station, De Bortoli and Yalumba to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Australian Cask Wine. With a toast to the last event of the Secret Foodies 2015 calendar guests helped themselves to wooden trestles full of food.

Mains were stationed on a buffet table at the waters edge of the park, where there was a choice of seared sliced sirloin with horseradish or lemon & herb chicken tenderloins. This was accompanied by a selection of chargrilled ‘corn on the cob’ with chipotle butter as well as roasted pumpkin salad with chickpea, toasted sesame and chard or a leafy shopska salad with fresh herbs and sheeps milk feta.

A few friends popped up from their picnic spots and began a spritely game of croquet. With a glass of cask wine in hand, the game turned into a fun and slightly competitive game on the grass.

Later on a tasty arrangement of cakes came out including a sponge, sticky date pudding, chocolate raspberry and buttermilk and a double chocolate cake.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event. We hope to see you again in 2016!

*View more pics of the experience click here
*To see pics from our Melbourne Picnic in the Park click here

Occassionally we get the opportunity to collaborate with likeminded brands to create a unique, bespoke experience. This event was created in partnership with Ask For Cask.

So why Cask?
IT’S CLEVER: There’s no wine pack which is more convenient, lightweight or portable.

STAYS FRESH: The tap keeps air out keeping your wine fresh for several weeks, from the first glass to the last.

QUALITY:  You’re getting bottle quality in a convenient pack.

ECO-FRIENDLY: Did you know a cask has 13% of the carbon footprint of bottled wine? Plus it’s also almost 100% recyclable.

PERFECT OCCASIONS: I’s ideal for picnics just like this one and places that don’t allow bottles. Think beach lunches, rooftop parties and more!

For more info visit http://askforcask.com.au/