The Essential Ingredient

Sport: Love it or hate it, this is the time of year when it’s almost impossible to ignore.

One thing the finals season for the major Australian football codes does every year, whether you’re a passionate, face-painted supporter shouting yourself hoarse at the television, or a devout sport-avoider forced into supporting your partner’s team, is bring people together.

Around the country, grand final day is punctuated in every neighbourhood by the sound of cheers, the chime of the cheese knife hitting the platter and the cracking of beers.

Perhaps it’s a barbeque with friends that moves promptly to the couch for the kick off or first bounce, or it might be a post-game cocktail party to celebrate the return of sanity to your friends and colleagues who, outside of the footy season, are perfectly lovely people.

Whatever your code, team, preferred outcome or feelings toward sport in general, these finals mark the beginning of the entertainment season and it’s hard not to get a little excited about the parties that lie ahead.

Races follow before long, the Melbourne Cup replacing the AFL and NRL, and soon the festivities of summer are upon us. Once the barbeque is dusted off for the grand final cook-off, it’s destined not to stay cold again for long.

And the change of seasons is timed perfectly, with warmer days, brighter evenings, more vibrant ingredients, blooming flowers, singing birds and a not-yet-unmanageable level of insects all helping make your guests eager to party long after the post-game analysis has died out.

So whether you’re mourning the impending end of the football season or celebrating it, consider these grand final party tips, and start the party season off with a victory:

• The sport may be Australian, but the food and drinks don’t have to be. Choose an exotically foreign destination and plan your menu and bar accordingly; Sangria, tapas, whole barbequed fish and paella aren’t just for soccer fans.

• Embrace your national pride and make yours a true Australian feast, by featuring all local products.

• Confirm each guest’s team allegiance before the game, and create a special dessert for those that back the winning side (whether they choose to share with the other side is up to them…)

• Cater to every diet and taste with a make-your-own-salad table, full of extravagant fresh ingredients and a selection of warm options (let your guests choose from calamari, lamb fillet, grilled eggplant, roast pumpkin or anything else)

• Embrace your inner Heston and recreate the traditional ‘footy food’ in true gourmet style. Home-made pies, flaky sausage rolls from your oven, barbequed potato slices instead of chips; your only limit is your imagination.

Of course, however you choose to celebrate (or commiserate), The Essential Ingredient can help by supplying you with everything you need.

Each Essential Ingredient store stocks a range of local ingredients, often exclusively, that will keep local pride alive even if the football team doesn’t. And for entertaining, we have all the cooking equipment, dinnerware, cutlery and glassware you could want or need.

Even if all you need is inspiration, our expert staff, wide selection of cookbooks and incredible range of the highest-quality internationally sourced ingredients will ensure a goal every time.

Whether it’s a selection of memorable finger food, or a fully-laden banquet table, visit your nearest The Essential Ingredient store for the win.

Posted under Essential Ingredients, Featured.