Melbourne Cup Day is the strangest, most beloved office event of the Australian calendar. Nobody is really working, but nobody has taken the day off. Everyone dressed up before 9am. The champagne is open by ten. Someone in accounts has a sweep spreadsheet. Someone in legal is wearing a fascinator that clashes on principle. And at some point between 11am and 3pm, food needs to happen, or the champagne will win.
Argentum caters office Melbourne Cup parties across Sydney with warm empanadas, chimichurri, and a delivery timing designed for the pre-race lunch window. We also do the at-home viewing party version, for smaller groups gathered around a TV with hats on and phones ready for the finish line.
Quick answer
Melbourne Cup falls on the first Tuesday of November. Argentum caters office Cup parties and at-home viewing gatherings across Sydney with warm empanadas, chimichurri, and salads. Corporate Box (100 empanadas, feeds 25 to 33 people) suits a mid-size office. Party Box (60 empanadas) suits 15 to 20 at home. Book by the Thursday before for guaranteed delivery on the Tuesday. Delivery zones: CBD, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Inner West, North Shore, South West.
The office Cup Day format
Every office does Cup Day slightly differently, but the pattern usually runs like this: mid-morning champagne arrival, sweep sheets distributed, some kind of formal-ish lunch around 1pm, then everyone in the boardroom or the biggest meeting room for the race at 3pm (post time is usually 3pm AEDT on the first Tuesday of November). After the race, the winners cash in and the day either winds down or accelerates depending on the office.
Food logistics matter here. Champagne on an empty stomach is a productivity disaster. A late lunch means people are three drinks deep before anything solid hits. Cup Day catering has to land by 12:30pm to 1pm at the latest, be warm, look elegant, and be substantial enough to soak up the drinks without being so heavy that people fall asleep before the race.
Menu building for Cup Day
The winning Cup Day menu is warm empanadas, chimichurri, a bright salad, and a cheese board. Empanadas hit all three of the important criteria: they are warm without needing chafing dishes, they photograph beautifully on a platter under a Cup Day sign, and they are substantial without being heavy. Three empanadas per person plus salad and cheese leaves everyone comfortable, not sleepy.
| Office size | Recommended | Approximate spend |
|---|---|---|
| 15 to 20 | Party Box baked (60 empanadas) | $319 |
| 25 to 33 | Corporate Box baked (100 empanadas) | $499 |
| 40 to 50 | Corporate Box plus Party Box baked | $818 |
| 60 to 80 | 2 Corporate Boxes baked | $998 |
| 100+ | 3 Corporate Boxes plus Family Box | $1,629 |
Add chimichurri jars ($12 each, one per every 20 people). For dessert or the post-race unwind, add a case of Franui to serve straight from the freezer over ice.
The at-home viewing party
Cup Day at home is having a moment in Sydney. Smaller groups, better food, none of the office politics. The format is more relaxed: hats, heels, prosecco, actual attention paid to the race. Food needs to be smaller-scale but still special.
For 15 to 20 guests at home: one Party Box (60 empanadas) baked, delivered warm at midday. Two chimichurri jars. A simple bright salad you throw together (rocket, pear, walnut, parmesan). A cheese board with fig jam and crackers. Total food spend: around $350 plus your own salad and cheese. Feeds 15 to 20 as a full lunch with plenty for the post-race grazing.
Fashions on the Field food pairing
Cup Day dress code trends light and elegant: florals, pastels, structured tailoring, hats that are architecture more than accessory. The food should match. Warm baked empanadas with chimichurri sit exactly at the intersection of light and hearty. Not so light that it feels like a snack. Not so heavy that it competes with the outfit.
Wine pairing suggestions for the pre-race lunch: sparkling wine or prosecco with the empanadas as canapes, then Malbec or a Pinot Noir with the sit-down course. For non-drinkers or designated drivers, a good soda water with citrus, or a virgin Aperol spritz.
Timing logistics for Cup Day delivery
The race is 3pm AEDT. Food should land 12:30pm to 1pm for the pre-race lunch. If your office does the post-race unwind, we can also do a 4:30pm to 5pm drop with baked empanadas warm out of the oven, ready for the winners to celebrate and the losers to commiserate.
Order deadlines: Thursday of the week prior is our cutoff for guaranteed Cup Day delivery. Cup week is our busiest of the year outside December, and we do reach kitchen capacity. Get your Cup Day order in as early as October if you can.
Delivery zones for Cup Day
We deliver baked catering across:
- Sydney CBD (all postcodes)
- Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Bondi Junction, Randwick, Coogee, Rose Bay, Vaucluse)
- Northern Beaches (Manly, Dee Why, Collaroy, Narrabeen)
- Inner West (Newtown, Marrickville, Balmain, Leichhardt)
- North Shore (North Sydney, Chatswood, Lane Cove, Hornsby)
- South West on request
Cup Day is closer than it looks. Browse corporate catering, order a Corporate Box now, or lock in your Cup Day slot.
FAQ
How much food per person for a Cup Day office lunch?
Three to four empanadas per person for a proper lunch, plus salad and cheese board. Two empanadas per person if you are running Cup Day as canapes only alongside heavier grazing.
What is the best flavour mix for Cup Day?
Carnivore (beef), Athlete (chicken, olives, capsicum), Classic (three cheeses) as the backbone. Add Patagonia for vegan guests and Habibi Yalla for variety.
Can you deliver right at 12:30pm on Cup Day?
Yes. Cup Day delivery slots are pre-booked. We arrive with a 15-minute window either side. Please book by the Thursday prior.
What is the minimum order for Cup Day catering?
Realistically the Party Box ($319 baked) is the smallest catering unit for a proper office event. Our absolute retail minimum is $48 for standard orders.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Yes. Vegan (Patagonia), vegetarian (Classic), and halal builds are all available on request. Confirm ratios when you enquire and we build the box accordingly.
Do you cater with drinks too?
We do not supply alcohol. We do supply chimichurri jars ($12 each), and can add cases of Franui for dessert. Order your drinks through Dan Murphy's business delivery or your usual supplier.
What wine pairs best with Cup Day empanadas?
Sparkling wine or prosecco for canapes. Malbec or Pinot Noir for the main course. Both work with the full flavour range.
What if we cannot attend on the day but want the food delivered?
Cup Day delivery is a locked-in window. If nobody can receive on the day, we can shift the order to frozen delivery earlier in the week, and you bake in your office or venue oven at 190C for 18 to 22 minutes.
0 comments