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MELBOURNE ISSUE 58 FREEPLEASE

TAKE ME HOME

GRAMMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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Gram magazine is owned by Rothesay Media Pty Ltd and published by Jess Hourigan. The opinions expressed in this publication, including the opinions expressed by the authors of the individual online reviews and articles, and other pieces, are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher. The publisher has adopted an Editorial Policy which governs and dictates the manner in which online content from third parties is reproduced in GRAM. All photography in GRAM is copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the prior consent of the publisher. Speed of access to online content is dependent on the individual service offered by your internet service or mobile telephone provider. The publisher takes no responsibility for failure to access any online content.

ON THE COVER: BEETROOT

Whether you roast it whole, blend into a classic soup or drink as juice like the Olympians do - beetroot is low in fat, full of vitamins and

minerals and packed with powerful antioxidants - a health-food titan. Like many modern vegetables, beetroot was first cultivated by

the Romans. By the 19th century it held great commercial value when it was discovered that beets could be converted into sugar. Today,

the leading commercial producers include the USA, Russia, France, Poland and Germany.

CAB AUDITED

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jess Hourigan

DEPUTY EDITOR

Lauren Bruce

DEPUTY EDITOR

Megan Osborne

EATING OUT

NORTH AND EIGHTMadelaine Marsolino

BISTRO MORGANMegan Osborne

KITTY BURNSLisa Holmen

REGULARSFEATURE COOKING

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FABRIZIA’S RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH PEAS, BROAD BEANS AND MINTGnocchi di ricotta di Fabrizia con piselli, fave e menta

GNOCCHI WITH FERMENTED BLACK GARLICGnocchi con aglio neroPaola Bacchia

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CONTRIBUTORS

NEWLY OPENED

AROUND THE TRAPS

THINGS WE LOVE

REVIEWS

OUT AND ABOUT

THE DIARY

GRAM w

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CONTENTS

SUGAR MOUNTAIN

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES

OF THE MEANING OF “MUSIC

FESTIVAL”

Lauren Bruce and Pia Hambour

COVER DESIGN

ELEVATOR CREATIVE hello@elevatorcreative.com.au www.elevatorcreative.com.au

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: advertising@grammagazine.com.au

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: editor@grammagazine.com.au

DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: distribution@grammagazine.com.au

GENERAL ENQUIRIES: info@grammagazine.com.au

www.grammagazine.com.au | www.thegramstore.com.au

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CONTRIBUTORS

DEAN SCHMIDEGA professional photographer and copywriter with an interest in fashion and design, Dean is known as one of Melbourne’s coffee addicts and foodies, regularly seeking out new and interesting cafes and bars. He shares these and the things he prepares at home across social media. His posts celebrate the produce, the people he meets and places he goes to, telling a story with the aim of enticing the reader and bringing people together.

FACEBOOK: imagesdsINSTAGRAM: dsimagesTWITTER: imagesDSE: deany76@gmail.com

LAUREN BRUCELauren started her writing career as a communications adviser before she realised she couldn’t ignore her passion for food and the arts any longer. She gave up the world of state politics to concentrate on freelance writing and styling. She has since contributed to Spook, Paper Sea and Junkee and is a regular contributor to GRAM Magazine.

laurendarcybruce.wordpress.comINSTAGRAM: brucemoosemedia

ON THE BANDWAGON

Trev has earnt a reputation in the Australian craft

beer industry as a passionate advocate for local

breweries and educating the masses about the

beer they are drinking. He is the founder and

Chair of Bendigo Beer which runs many events

including the widely acclaimed Bendigo On The

Hop festival.

TWITTER: Onthe_bandwagon

INSTAGRAM: Onthe_bandwagon

LISA HOLMENAfter spending most of my early years in Adelaide, I moved to Melbourne in my early 20s and a few years later moved to the big smoke in London. I started my blog, lisaeatsworld.com, to share my two big passions in life – food and travel.My aim is to “eat the world” one inch at a time and explore as many different cuisines and cultures as possible. My current country count is 35 and hope to reach 50 by the end of 2015.

lisaeatsworld.comTWITTER: lisa_eatsworldINSTAGRAM: lisaeatworldFACEBOOK: lisaeatstheworld

MEGAN OSBORNEMegan Osborne is a freelance writer, but more importantly, a foodie. How can you not be living in a city like Melbourne? Every day holds an opportunity to find a new gem, and in between uploading photos of her cat on Instagram and generally making a mess in the kitchen, she’s on the lookout for the next tummy-satisfying diamond. Or goldmine—she’s not fussy.

meganosborne.com.auTWITTER: foodiewritings INSTAGRAM: foodiewritings

CHASING A PLATETwo people in Melbourne who love food set about a journey to find the best brunch in town. Scouting out new brunch places weekly for you to try is our quest. Don’t worry – coffee quality is just as important to us as the food.

chasingaplate.comTWITTER: chasingaplateINSTAGRAM: chasingaplateFACEBOOK: chasingaplatePINTEREST: chasingaplate

PAOLA BACCHIAPaola Bacchia is an Italian-Australian blogger and her award winning blog Italy on my Mind tells the story of family memories and their connection to food. She shares simple, seasonal recipes on her blog and runs a cooking school from her home in Fitzroy.

italyonmymind.com.auINSTAGRAM: italyonmymind

MADELAINE MARSOLINO Madelaine Marsolino is a food writer, based in Melbourne. Madelaine is the founder of a food blog called Taking a Bite, takingabite.net, dedicated to sharing her passion of food with those who have an appreciate for food and high quality dining experiences.

takingabite.netINSTAGRAM: takingabite

LA DONNA DEL VINOLa Donna del Vino is the pseudonym of this young lady from Melbourne who worked in wineries throughout Australia and Italy. After years of gallivanting she returned to Melbourne to market wine and share her love of all things vinous. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening, drinking good vino and is a self-confessed Neb Head (someone really into Nebbiolo).

ladonnadelvino.comTWITTER: ladonnadelvinoFACEBOOK: la-donna-del-vino

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NOW OPEN

JANE DOEOPENED: January 2016With signature cocktails on tap, inviting ambience, and passionate owners with more than a decade of experience, Jane Doe on Chapel won’t remain anonymous in Melbourne’s bar scene for long.

From the moment you enter this recently opened bar at the Prahran end of Chapel, you’re made to feel at home - it’s like an extension of your lounge room, but with the welcome addition of creative and enticing cocktails.

No details have been spared to deck out the venue – crystal cut decanter lights hang above the bar, vintage-style frames border the bottle shelves and the bar front is covered in bronze pressed tin. Comfy retro velvet couches provide the perfect place to sit and enjoy the lounge and electro swing beats, or if people watching along Chapel is more your thing, head through the bi-fold doors opening into the sunshine.

Wherever you choose to sit, rest assured the staff will make you feel like you’re in your home away from home.

TENPINOPENED: December 2015Tenpin has got the residents of Port Melbourne salivating. Set to open in mid-December, the vibrant new restaurant and bar will offer contemporary South East Asian dishes, appropriately served up alongside picturesque ocean views on Beach Street.

Hospitality gurus Nick Savage, Lyndal Barnes and Matt Thurley have again teamed up with Executive Chef Ashley Richey (Mr Lawrence, Chin Chin, Mecca Bah) to convert a rundown twostorey space (previously R Bar) into the dynamic new dining venue. Christened Tenpin after Barnes stumbled cross the old signage for Mentone’s Tenpin Bowling Club, seats 200 patrons for lunch and dinner in a fun and lively space that takes its design.

The hot and sour beef salad with Sichuan chilli oil, herbs, roasted rice and lime is sure to be a popular main on a hot summer’s night, while the Thai green curry of blue-eye with apple, eggplant, baby corn and snake beans will be a crowd favourite.

The Tenpin team has created a casual and fun atmosphere where the drinks list is just as exciting as the menu.

67 BEACH STREET, PORT MELBOURNEtenpinkitchen.com.au

Instagram.com/tenpinkitchen

Facebook.com/tenpinkitchen

219 CHAPEL STREET, PRAHRANjanedoebar.com.au

facebook.com/janedoebar

MOTORHOME MAJESTICOPENED: February 10, 2016Motorhome Majestic has set up camp in Ascot Vale this month, treating residents to a permanent home-away-from-home when in need of quality burgers, beer, wine or delicious cocktail on tap. Created by Josh Lefers (the mastermind Pawn & Co.) as the sibling to the CBD’s Grand Trailer Park Taverna and Werribee’s Truck Stop Deluxe, Motorhome Majestic is yet another crazy, fun dining adventure that’s ready to take customers on the ride of their life, complete with Jayco caravans.

The menu is taking a slight twist from that of previous venues, with Motorhome Majestic serving up juicy pork ribs and chicken wings in addition to the signature burger menu. The venue has a big focus on drinks, including the “bulldog” (a Corona cocktail), espresso martinis and margaritas on tap, in addition to beer and wine – which are also available as part of the takeaway option.

238 UNION ROAD, ASCOT VALEmotohomemajestic.com.au | twitter.com/motorhomemajestic

instagram.com/motorhomemajestic

FRENCH SALOON BAR AND BISTROOPENED: January 2016Having just opened above Kirks Wine Bar, French Saloon is the next in line of Ian Curley expanding food and drink empire.

Curley, together with Con Christopoulos and Josh Brisbane (both of The European, Siglo, City Wine Shop) has converted the space above Melbourne favourite, Kirks, into a sophisticated yet relaxed, modern French bistro. Similar to Kirks, the wine, as you would expect, is fabulous, and with Todd Moses (ex-Supernormal) as executive chef, the food is modern yet classic.

LEVEL 1, 380–384 LITTLE BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNEfrenchsaloon.com

twitter.com/frenchsaloon

ROYAL STACKSOPENED: February 2016Royal Stacks is Melbourne’s latest burger restaurant taking inspiration from fine casual dining in the US. Continuing from his pedigree of helping open venues such as Dandenong Pavilion, Grand Trailer Park Taverna, Easey’s and Truck Stop Deluxe, Dani Zeini sees this is an Aussie spin on classic American fast food using GMO free pasture fed beef, minced daily with no added nasties.

In terms of the dessert offering, Mark Mariotti from 7 Apples has created the frozen custard selection with combos such as New York Cheesecake and Kinder Surprise. Royal Stacks officially opened to the public on the 18th of January and operates Monday to Saturday from 11.30am to 10.00pm menu. The venue has a big focus on drinks, including the “bulldog” (a Corona cocktail), espresso martinis and margaritas on tap, in addition to beer and wine – which are also available as part of the takeaway option.

470 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNEroyalstacks.au | facebook.com/Royal-Stacks

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AROUND THE TRAPS

LUNAR MARKETS WELCOMED TO MELBOURNE

The Harbour Esplanade, Docklands will come alive with the first annual The Age Lunar Markets: an 11-night Asian dining extravaganza for Melbournites and visiting food-lovers from 4 – 14 February.

Following the success of the Lunar Markets in Sydney as well as the ever-increasing crowds flocking to November’s Night Noodle Markets, the very first Melbourne Lunar Markets are expected to draw impressive crowds to sample some of the best Asian cuisines in Australia.

With live entertainment, food and drink offerings from some of Melbourne’s most popular vendors and endless photo opportunities for die-hard Instagrammers, including a 14 metre long light-up Phoenix, plus lantern installations and beautiful seating areas, market-goers will find themselves in a culinary wonderland.

Last November’s Night Noodle Markets 2015 gave Melbourne its first taste of the Black Star Pastry and N2 Extreme Gelato collaboration which made waves in Sydney and crowds are expected to flock to the Markets to try their latest experiment: Hipster Fortune Cookies.

The immensely popular Everybody Loves Ramen will be serving up Japanese fusion dishes such as their noodle-battered chicken burger. Joining them on the stallholder line-up will be street food extraordinaires Hoy Pinoy, who are known nationwide for their Filipino skewers. Last year, Melbournites chomped down on a whopping 38,000 skewers at the 2015 Night Noodle Markets.

The free-to-attend markets offer something for everyone, with other stallholders such as

O’Bun, Grilled Calamari, Sambul Kampung, Kiyamachi Tei, Dan’s Dim Sum Kitchen, Korean

Twist Potato, Kabayan Filipino and Bangkok Street Food.

The full list of stalls and exciting street-food style dishes can be found online at

melbourne.lunarmarkets.com.au

Opening times are:

Monday to Wednesday: 5pm-9pm | Thursday to Friday 5pm-10pm | Saturday 4pm-10pm

Sunday 4pm-9pm

PRAHRAN MARKET TO WELCOME CHEF PAUL WILSON

Top culinary chef Paul Wilson will soon call Prahran Market home with the launch of his flagship restaurant set to open on Commercial Road mid 2016.

The highly anticipated restaurant and bar (yet to be named) will celebrate only the best in quality local produce, inspired by seasonal Market ingredients.

With an all-day menu, the new restaurant will promote the art of ‘real cooking’ with a refreshed luxe farm to table concept boasting modern Australian cuisine. Housing close to 150 seats and featuring two outdoor areas, Wilson’s flagship restaurant will form the largest eatery at Prahran Market, inclusive of two open kitchens, a wood rotisserie and a raw bar.

Paul is best known for his time establishing iconic restaurants such as the Botanical Hotel in South Yarra (restaurant of the year and two chef’s hats); Prince of Wales Hotel Circa The Prince, and creative director of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar (two chef’s hats) in Bondi.

This will be the first eatery at the Market trading outside of normal business hours, combining an all day menu with dinner and after work drinks.

prahranmarket.com.au

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WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY MADELAINE MARSOLINO

NORTH AND EIGHT

Previously the local fruit shop, North and Eight in Essendon has brought a

new palate of flavours and dining experience to the area. The North and Eight

owners wanted to keep it local, and to design a light and airy space, giving

the Essendon community a place to meet and enjoy each others company in

a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere.

Owners Kylee and Adrian Dixen are Essendon locals serving locals. Offering

everything from superfood salads and freshly squeezed juices for gym goers

to menu features such as the Northella Houseshake with a Nutella doughnut

on top, for those who are after a bit of a treat. Kylee says that Essendon

locals are finally able to experience seasonal menus and specialty coffee,

appropriate to the suburb’s rise in Melbourne’s food scene. Experienced cafe

owners are drawn to Essendon to give diners what they want, fresh dishes

with impeccable flavours.

North and Eight represents the importance of building a relationship with

diners and local suppliers and respecting the produce from the moment it

enters the cafe to the time it is served on the plate. Kylee says that local

seasonal offering makes the food flavours come together. North and Eight

pride themselves in serving elements such as Istra small goods and Murray

Valley pork. The dishes at North and Eight are not complex, they are kept

simple, allowing the flavours to speak for themselves. The exceptional

combination of waffles with Korean Fried Chicken add extra interest to the

menu, and is must try.

Kylee and Adrian Dixen’s aim is to know that their diners have had amazing

tasting food and coffee to get them through the day, and allow them to

feel relaxed enough that they would feel at home while dining. The North

and Eight team is an important part of the running of the cafe. Kylee states

that the most of the staff are locals and care for the customers greatly.

A wonderful team allows even more of a positive experience for diners.

North and Eight dishes are substantial and packed full of flavour, the

atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are attentive and passionate about the

meals they are serving. North and Eight has definitely brought a sense of

contemporary dining to the area, giving Buckley Street a lively new dining

hotspot.

NORTH AND EIGHT285-287 Buckley Street, Essendon

PH: (03) 9331 3858

facebook.com/northandeight223 - 231 Brunswick Rd Brunswick VIC 3056

T: 03 9387 4455 F: 03 9387 4140cedarsales@cedarhospitality.com

cedarhospitality.com

Basement141 Flinders LaneMelbourne 3000+61 3 9650 3155

20 Duckboard PlaceMelbourne 3000+61 3 9650 3155

Adam D’ SylvaChef/Owner

EATING OUT ESSENDON

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WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY MEGAN OSBORNE

BISTRO MORGAN

At 15, Morgan Hipworth is a name a lot of Melburnians are starting to get

wind (or fresh baking wafts) of. Haven’t heard it? Think again. You may

be more familiar with the title Bistro Morgan, which Hipworth uses for

his booming home-made doughnut business that’s taking Melbourne by

sugary storm.

Bistro Morgan doughnuts are stocked at some top cafes around

Melbourne, but there’s also a huge waiting list while Hipworth juggles

his school commitments with a hectic baking schedule. With a three day,

twice-proving, rolling and decorating process, Hipworth has his work cut

out for him. ‘And I still get my homework done’, he jokes.

He first hit the scene a year ago, after a casual conversation with the

manager of Ripponlea cafe, Hawk & Hunter, who convinced the then 14

year old home cook to bring in some of his cakes and pastries. It was a

simple request ‘Can you do doughnuts?’, with which Hipworth responded,

‘I can try’, that catapulted his career into the deep fryer.

It may cross your mind that surely a 15 year old can’t possibly make

doughnuts to a standard high enough to impress the Melbourne hospitality

industry. Well then, you clearly haven’t tried one of these sexy sugar bombs.

At 13, Hipworth was already keen to roll up his sleeves, and hopped into his

local bakery to earn work experience on a regular basis. With more baking

knowledge than some amateur chefs twice his age, he puts his success

down to a twice mixed and proving period, and high quality ingredients.

Hipworth says, ‘It’s all about good eggs, good butter, not skimping on the

ingredients. Instead of giving them half a Kit Kat I’ll give them a full one. It’s

about making it look better and making it taste better.’ Adding on that what

really makes his doughnuts stand out is, ‘They’re fresh and handmade, not

premixed.’ Which Hipworth tells us is why the Donutella craze produced a

vast amount of doughnuts that all tasted the same—premix.

While the dough remains consistent, what makes the Bistro Morgan

doughnuts so exciting are the weekly changing flavours, often accompanied

with the signature custard or salted caramel filled syringe.

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ingenuous attitude adds to his charm, as when asked where he saw the

business going, and how he wanted a cafe to be placed in the industry,

the response was honestly frank. ‘I want it to be one of the best ones. But I

don’t just want one, I want multiple,’ He says, taking inspiration from some

of Melbourne’s successful restauranteurs.

If his current level of success is anything to go by, this dream seems more

like a not-far-off reality to the teen whose first VCE subject will be business

management. Further expansion enquiries such as sending Bistro Morgan

interstate were met with reluctance, but not refusal. ‘There’s too much

demand in Melbourne at the moment. Ask me in five years and it will be

a different answer.’ Coming from a family that self-owns and manages

businesses, it’s clear that Hipworth possesses a business savvy mind, and

his advice to others? ‘Focus on yourself, and do what you do best.’ Did I

mention he’s only 15?

BISTRO MORGAN

Find Bistro Morgan doughnuts at Hawk & Hunter, Colin Chapel, Glovers

Station, Kitty Burns, Two Birds One Stone, Reunion and Co.

Stockist enquiries: morgan@bistromorgan.com.au or 0434 111 246

‘We never double up on flavours’, says Hipworth, although admitting that

salted caramel is particularly popular with cafes and consumers. Hipworth’s

personal favourite is his take on a Golden Gaytime; a sugary doughnut

filled with salted caramel, dipped in chocolate and topped with nuts and

honeycomb. Sorry, excuse the drool.

Bistro Morgan is celebrating a year this February since it’s inception, and

Hipworth admits he’s made improvements along the way, from technique

to confidence and consistency. When you’re rolling over 100 lumps of

dough out at a time, Hipworth tells us it’s all about time management. ‘If

it over proves it’s like a flat pancake, if it’s under proved it’s too small.’ He

says. He now well and truly has the experience and knowledge needed

to undertake large batches of doughy goodness, recently hitting the

Melbourne Flour Market as a huge success. Bistro Morgan’s offerings sold

out by 11am and transacted over 1000 doughnuts. If that’s not impressive

enough, it was backed up that week by his school charity event, where

Bistro Morgan catered 300 delicious doughnuts to support the Asylum

Seeker Resource Centre Christmas fundraiser.

Although he’s found a niche he’s great at, Hipworth is still testing out some

new ideas. A vegan friendly doughnut mix is in the works, alongside long

term dreams of opening up not just one, but numerous cafes. Hipworth’s

CAFE TREEO

THE MILLHOUSE

“We at the Millhouse are always looked after by the Chef’s

Hat Team. Thanks to the hard work of Chef’s Hat, we

feel confident in delivering excellent service across all

facets of our business. Both our front of house and back

of house teams are ensured that every option is available

when organising big functions right down to our daily

operations.”

AUGUSTIN ORTEGA - CHEF

“We’ve been using Chef’s Hat for all our

hospitality supplies for years. Their customer

service is outstanding and they often go to great

lengths to accommodate our requests. We love

their range of products and the team keep us

informed of new items coming on the market

they think will benefit our business. Chef’s Hat

website is easy to use for online ordering and

next day delivery is always a good thing!”

CRAIG MCSHANE HEAD CHEF & PART OWNER

“It’s my seasonal market, the tireless & talented

team ensure every visit to this retail icon is inspiring”

PAUL WILSON - CHEF, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

CRAIG MCSHANE HEAD CHEF & PART OWNER

PAUL WILSON CHEF/FOUNDER

BOILERMAKER HOUSEGREG SANDERSON DIRECTOR

CAROLINE CLEMENTS - PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

DUNCAN & LEESA ELLIOT OWNERS

GEORGIA SAMUEL OWNERLAUREN HOGAN OPS MANAGER

BOILERMAKER HOUSE

“I have been working with Chef’s Hat with my first venue

for some time now and originally moved across to them for

the very competitive prices they offer. The fantastic service

and high amount of face to face time ensured I had them on

board from the ground level with our second venue here in

Melbourne. The start-up of a new hospitality business is very

high pressure and stressful and dealing with Chef’s Hat was

just one element of our opening that was made super easy

and a pleasure. Very happy to have Chef’s Hat serving Eau-

de-Vie Melbourne and our new venue Boilermaker House.”

GREG SANDERSON - DIRECTOR

“An all-day diner serving

breakfast through to dinner

and drinks into the night,

the Broadsheet restaraunt

showcases Melbourne’s

world-leading chefs,

restaurateurs, bartenders

and baristas – a selection of

what makes dining in this

city so great. Broadsheet

worked with Chef’s Hat for

their kitchen equipment -

another example of a great

local partnership.”

CAROLINE CLEMENTS - PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR

“We’re located in regional

NSW which makes it

hard for us to source

quality products. The

Chef’s Hat website

allows us to shop the

latest products on the

market with ease. Within

two days we have the

products on our doorstep,

despite us being over

1400km away.” DUNCAN & LEESA ELLIOT - OWNERS

INNOCENT BYSTANDER“We use Chef’s Hat as our main supplier for everything

from glassware through to pastry cutters. They are an

amazing source of nearly every item you could need to

run your hospitality business. They are extremely helpful

on the phone and have a fantastic team of staff that are

always on hand to help us with whatever we need. I

regularly use their website which is always up to date and

is a fantastic point of reference to see visually what you

would like to order. We would highly recommend any new

or old business to seek these guys out!”

CARRON GORDON - HOSPITALITY ADMINISTRATOR

BROADSHEET

MORRIS JONES PROPER & SON

VINEYARD

“We needed a company we could trust to supply our

restaurant with quality assured products and service, so

naturally, we turned to Chef’s Hat. Their knowledge and

service is second to none and they are always happy to help us

out in store and on the phone. We can always expect a prompt

delivery which is one of the many reasons we have continued

to use them as one of our top suppliers for a number of years.”

“Chef’s Hat provides us with a level of service and

a quality product second to none. We know our

business is in good hands with Chef’s Hat”.

JESSES MCTAVISH, NATHAN TOLEMAN, DIAMOND

ROZAKEAS, TIM JAMES, BEN CLARK, SAM KING

“Been ‘nipping’ into Chef’s Hat for over 15 years now and

like any good establishment consistency is the winner.....

product, price & service always as it should be.”

EUGENE LAVERY – CHEF & OWNER

“We have both used Chef’s Hat for years working around Melbourne. When we decided to open our

own venue they were a fantastic help. We love the online ordering and heading to the showroom is so

easy from the CBD. Chef’s Hat has everything covered from the equipment to disposables.

We really appreciate the one stop shop.” ANDREAS PAPADAKIS + LUKE SKIDMORE – OWNERS

“Chef’s Hat has been our supplier for over 15 years, providing all of our bar and kitchen needs on demand and at the best price. From the emergency toilet paper order to the best quality commercial ovens, Chef’s Hat are the most reliable supplier we have worked with. We can confidently trust them with new product knowledge and are certain that we are getting the best offer available.”

TIPO 00

JESSES MCTAVISH, NATHAN TOLEMAN, DIAMOND ROZAKEAS, TIM JAMES, BEN CLARK, SAM KING

MATTHEW BUTCHER - HEAD CHEF

TOP PADDOCK

MEDITERRANEO

“Having been Chef’s Hat’s customer since day one, I am constantly impressed with the way

this business has grown and how it has effectively helped improve my own business. When I

opened 13 years ago, I only know Chef’s Hat as a retail place where I can buy utensils, crockery

and cutlery at whole sale price. Impressive? Yes. Is that all? No. Though the business has

expanded at least ten folds, I am still served by a dedicate team who provide professional

and personal services to hospitality industry and consumers alike. The showroom displays

thousands of products from well-known brands to high end exclusive designer brands. Not

being disappointed even once in the past 13 years, now that is something!”

MICHAEL POPOVIC – OWNER & CHEF

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GRAM FEATURE

THINGS WE LOVE

The Neff Market Kitchen is a boutique cooking school nestled into the Cecil

Street side of the South Melbourne Market. The intimate classes offer a rare

opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Melbourne’s best chefs

and learn how to create the dishes they are famous for.

Coming up at the school Lee Ho Fook’s Victor Leong will be his sharing his

modern riff on Chinese cuisine, Alejandro Saravia will be showing us why

Peruvian is set to take the mantle from Mexico as Melbourne’s favourite Latin

American cuisine, and Philippe Mouchel will demonstrate why classic French

bistro cooking will never go out of style.

For a full list of classes visit:

SOUTHMELBOURNEMARKET.COM.AU/COOKINGSCHOOL

THE NEFF MARKET KITCHEN

The Kakadu Plum is Australia’s own ‘bush tucker’ superfood,

100% natural and wild harvested by the Australian

Aboriginal People. The Kakadu Plum is known to have the

highest natural source of vitamin C, up to 100 times the

vitamin c to oranges. Full of incredible antioxidants it can

be enjoyed in smoothies, breakfast bowls and protein balls.

You are only limited by your creativity.

By choosing Kakadu Plum Co. you support Aboriginal

Indigenous communities in the Kimberly Region of Western

Australia to help them grow and sustain something they

have been doing for centuries.

Available online and in stores across Australia.

Enquiries: tahlia@kakaduplumco.com

Instagram: @kakaduplumco

KAKADUPLUMCO.COM

KAKADU PLUM POWDER AUSTRALIA’S NATIVE SUPERFOOD

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THE GRAM STOREEVERYTHING FOR HOME COOKING

WWW.THEGRAMSTORE.COM.AU

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SUGAR MOUNTAINPushing the boundaries of the meaning of “Music Festival”

WORDS LAUREN BRUCE PHOTOGRAPHY LAUREN BRUCE AND PIA HAMBOUR

It’s been a difficult few years for music festivals around Australia –

Soundwave and Big Day Out have seen their last days, along with others

that just couldn’t make ends meet due to expensive booking costs

and poor ticket sales. More and more, music festivals have to provide

something that goes above and beyond, and this extends to the food

offering; UDL cans and soggy hot chips are a thing of the past.

Mushroom Records’ Sugar Mountain Festival, held across Melbourne’s

Victorian College of the Arts, certainly delivered in this respect,

providing top quality Americana food, Asian fusion, first class kebabs,

sophisticated vegan/vegetarian food, craft beer and whiskey cocktails.

Sugar Mountain’s culture-savvy attendees hungrily devoured these

between performances across three stages from musicians including

Alpine, Courtney Barnett and Dirty Three.

The festival’s Food and Beverage Curator, Arron Ollington says that the

goal was to strengthen the focus on the food and beverage component

of the festival so that the offerings were as strong as the music and art

aspects of Sugar Mountain.

“We wanted to elevate all tiers so that it was an even playing field for

all three components – arts, music, food and beverage,” Ollington says.

“That’s why we wanted to work with vendors who you don’t often see at

these events, and also catch some of the newer restaurants, like Biggie

Smalls for example, which only just opened recently.”

Ollington says it was important to reflect all of Melbourne’s food

offerings in the lineup.

“You’ve got to look after your audience, and the Sugar Mountain audience

is pretty varied. We didn’t just want Northside and city restaurants being

represented, so it was key to include some Southside operators too.

“We had to offer a really good spectrum of menu items, crossing all

sorts of styles. Obviously you’ve got to have a burger option. You have

to have a vegan/vegetarian option, and that’s where Transformer came

in.

FEATURE STORY SUGAR MOUNTAIN

20

The Asian food always does well, so Hanoi Hannah, those guys were always

going to go well with rice paper rolls and banh mi. And of course we had

to have a barbecue option, with Meatmother.”

This broad lineup was coupled with the festival’s highly anticipated

Sensory Restaurant – a collaboration between tapas bar Bomba, design

outfit Tin & Ed and electronic musicians Cut Copy to create an all-round

sensory experience for diners. Such was the hype that Sensory was sold

out prior to festival day.

Ollington says that given the prevalence of food culture in Melbourne,

events need to step up to the plate when it comes to their food offering.

“I think it’s the expectation these days,” Ollington says. “You have to offer

that quality, and especially with a festival like Sugar Mountain where there’s

so much emphasis put on the look and feel of the entire festival with the

arts component, the music component and the food. You need to bring

them all up to the same level [of importance] and I think that’s what a lot

of festivals, especially in Melbourne, are really bringing to the fore.

“Because you know this city is crazy about its food. And I think that we’ll

see more and more progress made in that area with greater food and

beverage options at all festivals.”

A few foodie highlights of Sugar Mountain 2016:

ST LEONARD’S HOUSE OF LOVE provided one of the best burgers I’ve

ever eaten in Melbourne and beyond. Their double cheeseburger with

juicy beef brisket and short rib patty, melty cheese and “Leonard’s Sauce”

which rivalled Maccas’ elusive Big Mac sauce, was a triumph.

SHAKE SHACK, eat your heart out – the boys that have brought us

delicious ribs and whiskey at Sweetwater Inn have hit the nail on the head

yet again with this latest venture.

BILLY VAN CREAMY were keeping it simple but delicious with their classic

artisan gelato. We chose the salty peanut butter and chocolate flavours,

and weren’t disappointed – creamy, salty, chocolatey, silky goodness.

THE JAMIESON BAR was Sugar Mountain festival’s first-ever cocktail

bar and a sweet refuge from the main stages, where DJs and merry

21

festival-goers could take a load off. Our favourite was the Cork Colada - a

refreshing mix of coconut-washed Jamieson, pineapple juice, citrus, bitters

and pandan tea syrup.

From the people that brought us Ferdydurke and the B East, BELLEVILLE’S

mantra is “we do chicken” - and that they did on this warm festival day. We

had the Japanese fusion-ish Karaage popcorn chicken with Tonkatsu aioli,

however we were more taken by Belleville’s soft shell crab banh mi slider

– a delicious combination of deep fried soft shell crab, brioche, slaw, loads

of coriander and Sriracha Kewpie mayo.

Our predictably Melburnian craft beer cravings were sated by SAMPLE

BREW’S On Tap Brew Bar – a carefully created bar in collaboration with

Folk Architects which served Sample’s moreish pale ale alongside their

golden ale and brand new batch lager.

Last but not least, SENSORY RESTAURANT - the most ambitious and

highly anticipated of all in the food component of Sugar Mountain Festival,

was created to be a feast for the senses from start to finish. Beginning with

a rice paper, jamon, manchego cheese and tomato atop a glass of sweet

vermouth, and ending with a raspberry/chocolate pop rock dessert cigar,

the courses and matching drinks were served in an Alice In Wonderland-

like environment, in time to music and specially-designed and ever-

changing lighting, at a fast-paced 45 minutes.

“After last year’s event, we were looking into ways to elevate the food

component even further, and that’s when the idea of a seated restaurant

that was an interactive experience came up,” Ollington says.

“It was pretty amazing, that kind of Sensory experience at a festival –

you come into it from this daylight environment into this crazy, surreal

restaurant. The music was built like a journey and then all of the food

components and food reveals were all timed to match it to create this

short, sharp interaction of 40 or so minutes. The pace was solid.

“And that was the idea – to make the experience like a short music set,

working with the same timing as a music set would be, and having that

added to the lineup like was a set option you could slot into your day.”

22

23

WORDS LISA HOLMEN PHOTOGRAPHY LISA HOLMEN AND ARI HATZIS

KITTY BURNS

Who is Kitty Burns?

She’s one of the hottest cafes in Melbourne right now, nestled in the

Acacia Place complex in Abbotsford away from the hustle and bustle of

Victoria Street. Perched high on the banks of the Yarra River, Kitty Burns is

a hidden sanctuary amongst the gum trees and wildlife, where you’ll feel a

world away from the noise and traffic of the city.

The design has been brilliantly executed by Biasol: Design Studio, with

a distinct Scandinavian feel and sleek minimalist style. Blonde timber

frames are paired with pretty pastel blue and green accents in this lofty

cafe. Plenty of greenery and pot plants warm up the interior, which blends

in seamlessly with its natural surrounds without overpowering it. Sun

streams in through floor to ceiling glass giving the café a bright and airy

feel. There’s plenty of seating outdoors to soak up some Vitamin D on a

summer’s day or to keep your pooch company over breakfast.

Designed by classically trained chef Aaron Duffy, the all day menu is

playful and inventive, with a great blend of contemporary and traditional

classics. The ‘Meet Mr Burns’ is a meat lover’s dream and a twist on the

traditional big breakfast, loaded with a dry cured bacon slab, spiced bon

bons, bacon jam, Clonakilty black pudding, eggs, mushroom, spinach and

gentleman’s relish. His take on the usual smashed avocado is made with

spiced Togarashi avocado paired with citrus and umami salt.

Sweet tooths will love the Skipping Girl Tiramisu, which is cleverly served in

a terracotta pot, or the oh so decadent French toast with coffee ganache.

Fancy a mac ‘n’ cheese croquette on the side? Why not! But I will try not

to spoil all of the surprises…

As far as the drinks menu goes, it’s definitely not one for the indecisive,

with a mind boggling array of super food infused smoothies, freshly made

juices and naturopath crafted elixirs. Fighting off a cold? Try their ‘Immune

Booster’, a supercharged concoction of apple peel, cinnamon, elderberry,

rosehip, clove and hibiscus tea. And let’s not forget superbly brewed coffee

and Mörk hot chocolate. The only real problem is trying to choose.

A dish which has got food Instagrammers in a tizzy is the picture perfect

Eton Mess, which is definitely the neatest Eton mess I have ever seen.

A sumptuous layer of creamy coconut yoghurt is topped with fresh and

dehydrated strawberries, nuggets of spiced meringue, wild orange and

goji berries. Activated buckwheat clusters provide a nice textural contrast

to the creamy yoghurt, rich in protein and essential amino acids.

Chia puddings are taking Melbourne by storm at the moment, and this

dish at Kitty Burns has definitely stepped above the plate. Infused with

coconut and a hint of vanilla, the pudding base is super creamy with a

lovely texture. Fleshy chunks of mango are teamed with fresh berries,

aerated coconut and caramelized buckninis to add a touch of sweetness.

The only problem is the serving size, if you’re quite hungry.

Another healthy option on the menu is the blueberry and lemon bircher

muesli. Soaked in organic yoghurt, the muesli is packed with nuts and

grains and finished with berries and edible flowers.

If you’re in a hurry, there’s also a coffee cart outside where you can pick

up a well crafted brew and one of their take away treats. There’s a great

range of raw cakes, pastries and doughnuts at the cabinet. For cyclists, the

Capital City Trail is just steps away, so Kitty Burns makes the perfect pit

stop for a coffee drive by.

With all good things come crowds, so make sure you get here early to

avoid long waits. We’ll see you there!

KITTY BURNS

24 Acacia Place, Abbotsford

(03) 9427 0164

kittyburns.com.au

facebook.com/Kitty-Burns

instagram.com/kitty.burns

twitter.com/kittyburnsmelb

24 Acacia Place, Abbotsford. (03) 9427 0164

EATING OUT ABBOTSFORD

24

25

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY CHASING A PLATE

SOEI (ร้านเส่ย)

If I could only eat at one restaurant in Bangkok it would be Soei. It’s situated

alongside Samsen railway station and the passing roll of the trains and the

curious stares from its passengers make for an atmospheric setting. We

only ate at Soei for lunch as we’d heard that there can be a bit of a wait at

dinner time seeing as there is just one chef. And man, can he cook. But first

things first. Before you sit, wander over to the 7Eleven or Family Mart on

the other side of the train tracks and pick up some beers. The restaurant

will provide you with a bottle opener and buckets of ice, or if you are

following the locals lead and drinking whisky, they’ll provide cold bottles

of soda water too.

If you can’t read or speak Thai (like us) you’ll be limited to the English menu,

which comes with a handy photo album of the dishes available. The Thai

menu runs to about ten pages so you’re in for a treat if you’re dining with

Thai speakers. But even so, the English menu is laden with spectacularly

delicious dishes. The kaem pla too tod or fried mackerel cheeks are the

ideal beer snack. You used to have to call ahead and book a plate of these,

but they’re now a regular item on the menu. They’re crunchy and flavoured

with salt and fried garlic. Dip the fried morsels in the accompanying chilli

sauce and you’re away.

Fresh and robust are the words most fitting to describe the food at Soei.

Each dish contains huge depth of flavour and whilst a lot are very spicy,

you can distinctly taste the levels of sweetness, sourness and saltiness.

Mountains of fresh herbs add a lighter note to some of the more intense

dishes. We eat goong chae nam pla, one of my favourites. The raw prawns,

marinated in lime juice are creamy, and the combination of lime, chilli, raw

garlic and wasabi makes for a pungent, intense mouthful.

The pla koong pao features grilled butterflied jumbo river prawns which

are dressed with lemongrass, tomatoes, chilli, garlic, shallots, Thai basil and

lime. The prawns are meaty, the yellow oil from the heads leaking out of

the shells and mingling with the fresh flavours of the salad. It’s delicious.

We sample stir-fried pea shoots which are crisp and palate cleansing, spicy

pork pad kra pao which is roughly minced and heady with the fragrance

of holy basil and kaffir lime, and yum kai dao - Thai fried egg salad. Gooey,

oozy yolks and crispy fried edges topped with herbs, garlic and a soy and

lime dressing. The pad kra pao is the best we’ve ever eaten in Bangkok.

And then we eat the chu chee pla too, a curry of deep fried mackerel.

Banish away any thoughts of “I’m not a mackerel person, it’s too oily”,

because this is the king of all curries. The two, whole mackerel wallow in

a shallow pool of rich, creamy sauce which we fight over. The firm flesh

of the fish marries well with the sauce and the bones are so soft you can

chomp right through them. It’s been four weeks since I ate this curry and I

have thought about it every day since. It is that good.

If you have room, finish with an ow tung - a Soei classic of ice, basil seeds,

coffee and palm sugar. It’s sweet, creamy and helps beat the heat, for a few

minutes anyway.

Visit when you have a few hours to spare and linger over the smack-you-

about-the-head flavours. This is one restaurant in Bangkok you do not

want to miss.

SOEI RESTAURANT (ร้านเส่ย)

Kamphaeng Phet 5, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Kamphaeng Phet 5, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

EATING OUT INTERNATIONAL BANGKOK

DEEP TRAVELS THROUGH JAPAN’S FOOD CULTURE

by MATT GOULDING

“To the shokunin of Japan, pursuers of perfection, for showing us the true meaning of devotion”

Book out now

26

Paola Bacchia, from Italy On My Mind, runs small cooking classes for between four and six people in her gorgeous renovated warehouse apartment in North Fitzoy, Melbourne. It feels more like a gathering of friends with a shared love of making Italian food rather than a formal class.

All classes are hands-on and you’ll be sharing the food you prepare with a glass of matched Italian or Italian style wine (or Italian mineral water if you prefer).

2016 Class DatesSaturday April 9, 2016

Crostoli and frittole – The way my mother taught me.Saturday April 30, 2016

Let’s make gnocchiSaturday May 21, 2016

Pasta making 101Saturday June 18, 2016

Pastry masterclass- Apple strudel

italyonmymind.com.au/cook-with-me/cooking-classes-in-melbourneFOR BOOKINGS AND MORE INFO:

27

[nok-ee, noh-kee; Italian nyawk-kee] noun, (used with a singular or plural verb) Italian Cookery.

A dish of little dumplings made from potatoes, semolina, flour, or a combination of these ingredients.Word Origin - 1891, from Italian gnocchi, plural of gnocco, from nocchio “a knot in wood,” perhaps

from a Germanic source akin to knuckle. So called for their shape.Type: Dumpling

Course: Entrée or mainPlace of origin: Italy

Main ingredients: Potatoes (or semolina or wheat flour or breadcrumbs); sometimes eggs, cheeseVariations: cavatielli, gnudi, malfatti, malloreddus, strangulaprievete

GNOCCHI

I find podding beans and peas to be utterly relaxing.

I listen to jazz on the radio and sip herbal tea (or wine…

depending on the time of day) whilst I pod away, with a

few green gems finding their way into my mouth every

so often.

They are deliciously fresh, especially the tiny peas that

seem to go “pop” when you eat them. I posted a photo

of the peas on Instagram last week and received great

comments with suggestions for dishes (eg. pea and

parmesan risotto, orecchiette pasta with peas). I was

contemplating making risi e bisi but when I opened the

fridge and spied a half-finished kilo tub of fresh ricotta,

I knew that it had to be ricotta gnocchi. So I pulled

Fabrizia Lanza’s book “Coming home to Sicily” off the

bookshelf - it has my go-to recipe for ricotta gnocchi.

What I love about the recipe (actually with all of her

recipes) is that it is simple and speaks of the land. Fabrizia

suggests to use fresh sheep’s milk ricotta and gets it

from a local sheep farmer (…if only!). I use regular cow’s

milk ricotta, the firm variety in its own draining basket.

If you have never made ricotta gnocchi before, you will

love how much quicker they are to make compared to

potato gnocchi. I also find them less filling, so are ideal

for a spring lunch.

Once the ricotta gnocchi are made, the sauce is fresh

and requires little cooking. I lightly blanch the peas and

beans, and then drop them into a pan together with some

melted butter and the cooked gnocchi, tossing them

until are were well coated. It makes a lovely light dish

and when accompanied by a glass of Sicilian Malvasia.

In case you have not heard of Fabrizia Lanza, she and

her incredible cooking school are legendary. Here are a

couple of links from people who have visited the school

and written about it including David Leibovitz and Bea’

(La Tartine Gourmand). It therefore comes as no surprise

that I am incredibly excited to be running a five-day

workshop at Case Vecchie with Fabrizia in September

2016.

See over for recipe.

JESSE GERNER

OWNER & CHEF

ALBY TOMASSI

OWNER

ALICIA MCLEAY

GENERAL MANAGER

TEAGE EZARD

CHEF & OWNER

PIERRICK BOYER

EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF

DUNCAN & LEESA ELLIOT

OWNERS

FRANK BRESSIT & PETER

MASTRO OWNERS

AUGUSTIN ORTEGA

CHEF

BERNARD CHU

COFOUNDER & PASTRY CHEF

DARAGH KHAN, KENT BELL,

MIKE PATRICK, MYLES MUNRO

OWNERS

NEIL HAMBLEN

OWNER & GEN MANAGER

MATT LANE

OWNER

28

Serves 4 people

450g firm ricotta

1 large egg

3 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

fine semolina for dusting

100g butter, unsalted

couple of handfuls each of podded peas

and podded broad beans

handful baby mint leaves

a small lemon, zest only

parmesan cheese, grated

salt and pepper to taste

FABRIZIA’S RICOTTA GNOCCHI WITH PEAS, BROAD BEANS AND MINT

Gnocchi di ricotta di Fabrizia con piselli, fave e menta

To make the gnocchi, put the ricotta and egg in

a bowl and mash with a fork until the ricotta is

creamy. Add the flour and parmesan cheese and

stir. The mixture will be quite soft. Drop a small

handful of mixture onto a working surface that

has been well dusted with fine semolina. Work

the dough into a long sausage shape and cut off

2-3cm portions. Roll individual gnocchi in semolina

and set aside. Repeat with the remaining ricotta

and set aside.

To double-pod the broad beans, drop them in

boiling water for couple of minutes. Drain, then

pop them out of their second shell. Wash them well

(as they can be a bit sticky) and set aside, Blanch

the peas for about a minute in boiling salted water

(and refresh in iced water).

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil.

Drop in about half of the gnocchi so as not to over-

crowd the pan (or use two saucepans). They will

rise to the surface and cook in about two minutes.

Lift them out with a slotted spoon, draining them

well.

Whilst the gnocchi are cooking, heat the butter in

a large frypan. Drop the cooked gnocchi into the

melted butter, tossing them so they are well coated.

Add the peas and broad beans, tossing them with

the gnocchi and allowing them to heat through.

Serve on warmed plates, scattering freshly ground

pepper and salt to taste, lemon zest and plenty of

parmesan cheese.

Serve immediately.

29

Serves 4 people

600g Blue Moon, King Edward or Desiree

potatoes, washed

black fermented garlic, 4 cloves, peeled

1 extra small egg, lightly beaten

150g flour

good pinch salt

freshly cracked black pepper

75-100g unsalted butter, chopped into

cubes

Parmigiano cheese, grated, to serve

freshly ground black pepper

GNOCCHI WITH FERMENTED BLACK GARLIC

Gnocchi con aglio nero

Place the potatoes in a large pot of water, cover and

bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a steady simmer

and cook about 30 minutes or until the potatoes

are fork tender. Quickly peel them and put them

through a potato ricer (or hand mash them finely),

adding the garlic cloves as you go. Use your hands

to distrubute the black cloves – it is fine to leave

some larger pieces of garlic as well.

Whilst the potatoes are still warm, lightly flour a

work surface, make a well in the centre and add

the egg (or half a large egg if you don’t have small

ones). Incorporate this into the surrounding potato

and then scatter on half of the flour and a good

pinch of salt. Bring everything together, kneading a

bit if needed and adding a bit more flour, but only

enough to make a cohesive dough. Don’t work the

gnocchi dough too much and form a log.

Use a bit more of the remaining flour to scatter on a

clean work surface. Cut off a portion of dough and

make it into a rope. Cut the rope into pieces that are

about 3cm long, scatter a bit more flour and using

your thumb, roll the portions onto the back of a fork.

(Gnocchi that are rolled this way will catch more

sauce although this step is not essential).

Lay the prepared gnocchi to one side, scattering

on a bit more flour and cover with a clean teatowel

(to prevent them from drying out). Repeat until all

gnocchi are made.

Place the butter in a large frypan on medium heat

and cook until it starts turning brown.

Boil a pot of salted water. Cook no more than a third

of the gnocchi at a time, adding them to the boiling

water and cooking for a few minutes until they rise

to the surface. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon,

making sure excess water drains off and drop them

in the pan with the brown butter. Toss and serve

on warmed plates. Scatter on plenty of Parmesan

cheese and freshly ground black pepper.

30

A new year begins and sadly in its first month we lose

an icon of music in David Bowie. A man of many faces,

who wasn’t scared to be an individual. In 1969 he released

a song called Space Oddity about a fictional astronaut

called Major Tom who drifts into space after severing

communication with earth. Nearly half a century later, in

2015, a unique venue opened in Smith Street Collingwood

called MJR TOM, which like its namesake, is a pod floating

between fantasy and reality, crafted from plywood

and corrugated iron. And like Mr Bowie himself, owners

Nick Tiktikakis and Harry Tsiaples have defied the rules,

creating a multifunctional space that appears to be a cafe,

is also a restaurant, sometimes a bar, but always warm,

cozy and very inviting.

With history obviously playing a major role in the formation

of the business, the guys decided to buck the trend of

locally roasted specialty coffee and offer a reliable Italian

brew, settling on Romcaffè after a long association with

the brand. Upon entering MJR Tom the first thing you see is

the stunning Victoria Arduino VA388 Black Eagle machine

they use to pump out the Miscela Espresso Italiano as their

house blend. This coffee is silky and buttery yet punchy

enough to withstand the addition of milk and equally

delicious taken black, where you’ll pick up the underlying

brightness. There’s no commentary here about where the

beans are from and the cups aren’t presented on boards

with tasting notes, because Romcaffè has been roasted

in Italy since 1925. Coffee is seen as an experience and a

ritual, nothing more. It needs to taste good, smell good

and give you a boost at any time of the day. The company

is still run by the grandson of the founder, so quality and

a sense of tradition is present in every cup. If you like your

coffee to be served with a story, then you’ll love it at MJR

Tom.

Romcaffè’s blend is floating around currently at these

establishments -

MJR Tom - 108 Smith St Collingwood

The European - 161 Spring St CBD

Trattoria Emilia - 360 Little Collins St CBD

The Journal - 253 Flinders Lane CBD

Café Paradiso - 213-215 Camberwell Rd Hawthorn East

L’Hotel Gitan - 32 Commerical Rd Prahran

romcaffe.com.au

warwick@romcaffe.com.au

03 9416 6550

REVIEWS

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY DEAN SCHMIDEG

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE BANDWAGON

BLACKMAN BREWERY - REGINALD INDIAN PALE ALE

ROMCAFFÈ - MISCELA ESPRESSO ITALIANO BLEND

It’s January and it’s 36 degrees. After a quick swim I’m

sitting in a brewery smack bang in the middle of Torquay.

Life is good and the beer is better.

Torquay has always been a favourite holiday spot of mine.

I’ve determined the town is synonymous with three things;

surf, a relaxing vibe and passionate locals. Until 2013, it was

also known in beer circles for its lack of the good stuff,

which meant I was always in a frenzy to stock up a large

enough Esky to last a couple of weeks.

Thankfully, over the past two years, the courageous, yet

tentative acceptance by some local venues like Front

Beach and Bottle of Milk to stock flavoursome beer meant

more room in the boot of the car. Well-timed as it turned

out, as local boy Renn Blackman and his wife Jess were well

down the path of establishing Blackman’s Brewery on busy

Bell Street, finally opening in August 2014. All of a sudden,

Torquay had a little craft beer scene happening!

Fast forward to January 2016, and Renn says the locals’ and

tourists’ taste buds have developed in leaps and bounds, as

evidenced by their Berry Berlinner Weisse (a cloudy, sour

white beer made with local berries) selling out in under

three weeks.

So, sitting here in the brewery with Renn, I’m drinking my

favourite of the Blackman’s range, a Reginald India Pale Ale

named after Renn’s grandad.

First thing’s first – it’s delicious and surprisingly moreish

for a big IPA. As Renn explains, that’s exactly what he was

trying to do. “My main driving factor is drinkability. You

need to be able to enjoy three or four pints in one sitting.

Otherwise, what’s the point! I make beers that suit the way

I like to drink beers, which I guess is every brewer’s dream.”

Leaning towards an English IPA in terms of its prominent

malt base, “Reggie”, definitely has the American hop

influence of citrus, peach and pine aromas leading to a

very well balanced beer that you can enjoy over a long

afternoon session. It’s good. Really good. I would even go

out on a limb to say that this is one of the best IPA’s I’ve

tasted by an Australian brewer.

Can’t make it to Torquay any time soon? Never fear, a new

canning line is expected to arrive any day now, so look out

for the Blackman’s range in cans starting with yes, you

guessed it – Reginald IPA!

ABV: 6%

STYLE: India Pale Ale

SERVING TEMP: 4-6 degrees

ORIGIN: Torquay, Victoria

FOOD PAIRING: Spicy fish tacos from the

brewery kitchen

PRICE (RRP): $10.50 a pint, $6 a pot from

the brewery

BUY IT HERE: blackmansbrewery.com.au

31

UNION ELECTRIC BAR

In collaboration with Bombay SapphireLook closely at this label. Amongst the delicate sketches of

snakes, animal skulls, snails, funghi and leaf matter, there lies the

unmistakable form of the Michelin Man... Why on earth is the

Michelin Man present on a wine made in the Heathcote region, you

ask? Adam Foster, is your answer.

Adam Foster was a chef in a former life. Coming from a background

of high-end food, there is no question as to how his path crossed

with the Michelin Man. Today, Foster has carved a formidable path

in the wine world under his labels Foster E Rocco and Syrahmi and

is all about creating his own garden of earthly delights. He moved

with fiancé Pip a couple of years ago to the central Victorian town

of Tooboorac to start the country dream and aims to set up his own

vineyard on the property amongst the stunning granite landscape.

This Riesling is not yet from estate-grown fruit, but hails from

a 19-year old vineyard belonging to his nearby friends of the

Shelmerdine family. The warmer climate of Heathcote has created

a full fleshed and rounded style of Riesling, with all the curves of

the Michelin Man form. You will be tantalised by flavours of musk

and candied banana cuddled by a mellow and gentle acidity and

a dry finish. Foster would probably have a fancy meal in mind to

accompany this with, but we found it a delightful accompaniment

to fresh bruschetta on a warm summers day.

Stockists: Banks Fine Wine in Macedon or ask at your local

independent wine store

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY LA DONNA DEL VINO

GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS Riesling 2015 Heathcote, Victoria RRP: $22

RICE NOODLE FISH: Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food CultureBy Matt Goulding RRP: $45

With Australian tourists flocking to Japan in

numbers greater than ever before, Rice, Noodle,

Fish couldn’t have arrived in a better moment.

Part travel guide, part cultural celebration, this is

the perfect book for anyone obsessed with food

(and aren’t we all!).

Celebrated traveller and writer, Matt Goulding,

navigates the intersection between food, history

and culture. Organised into seven key regions,

Rice, Noodle, Fish explores Japan’s most intriguing

culinary disciplines in an informative, intelligent,

jovial manner. From the kaiseki of Kyoto and sushi

masters of Tokyo, to the street food of Osaka and

the ramen of Fukuoka, Rice, Noodle, Fish countless

facts you never knew and would never have

guessed.

It’s a wonderfully detailed, artful book that will

have you appreciating your Japanese adventure

that much more.

Published by Hardie Grant Books

Avaliable in all good bookstores

WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO BAR/D UP

Usually when there is a bolt of lightning, you are

guaranteed mass destruction. However, when this

bolt hit Heffernan Lane, a new watering hole called

Union Electric Bar, magically appeared. Light bulbs

and pineapples abound in this indoor/outdoor

space, which boasts one of the most delicious

cocktail menus in town, celebrating freshly pressed

juices blended with spirits, to produce some truly

tempting cocktails. There are also pitchers to share

and a nice little range of rum, Japanese whisky and

craft beers too.

Located off Chinatown, you can order tasty yum cha tidbits off the menu which will arrive piping

hot from New Kum Den next door, including dumplings, spring rolls and chicken ribs, perfect to

soak up the copious amounts of alcohol you’ll consume while here. It’s worth noting that this bar

is a favourite amongst the hospitality crowd and you’ll find some of Melbourne’s finest bartenders

popping in here for drinks at all hours to catch up with manager Huw.

In an 1890’s building which once housed the Union Electric Lighting Company, this place exudes

a warmth which has lit up a Melbourne lane way and shows no sign of fading away into the night

anytime soon.

Head to bardup.com.au to check out the video.

INSTAGRAM - @bardupmelb

FACEBOOK - facebook.com/bardupmelb

Union Electric

13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne.

0450 186 466 | unionelectric.com.au

OUT AND ABOUT

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND JACOB’S CREEK INAUGURAL GRAND SLAM TENNIS PARTY

South Wharf’s General Assembly and Jacob’s Creek teamed up this month to host one of the Australia Open’s most coveted events, the inaugural Grand Slam Tennis Party.

Guests sampled delicious food by head chef Dareen Mercaldi sampled drinks and cocktails,

including some of Jacob’s Creeks’s finest drops and were treated to racquet stringing demonstrations by world-class Lou Smarrelli from Prelli Tennis.

thegeneralassembly.com.au

SOUTH MELBOURNE NIGHT MARKET

The South Melbourne Market has once again lit up the streets this summer with the South Melbourne Night Market playing host to a wonderful array of food stalls, food trucks, live music, crafters and makers. If you’ve

not had a chance to check it out yet, we strongly recommend you make plans to get down there before it all wraps up for another year on March 10.

southmelbournenightmarket.com.au

Photography: Lucas Dawson

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THE DIARY

March 20, 2016THE PENINSULA PICNICA FOOD, WINE & MUSIC GATHERINGMornington Peninsula, Victoria

The Peninsula Picnic is the most extensive food, wine and music gathering on the Mornington Peninsula. A truly special day showcasing the very best local chefs and restaurants, vignerons and vineyards, growers and producers, orchardists and gourmet storeowners. Experience the secrets of Mornington Peninsula all in one beautiful location.

Some ofthe region’s finest local restaurants will be on show including, Montalto, Terminus at The Flinders Hotel, The Long Table, Dee’s Kitchen, Max’s at Red Hill Estate and DOC Mornington to serve picnickers delicious treats from fresh, local and seasonal produce as well as Melbourne’s finest in Pope Joan and Ian Curley.

New additions to the food line up include The Green Olive, Cook and Norman Trattoria, Merricks General Wine Storeand Paringa Estate. Three of this year’s featured restaurants were awarded ‘hats’ in 2015 The Age Good Food Guide Awards including Paringa Estate, Montalto and Terminus at the Flinders Hotel.

Tickets are now on sale: peninsulapicnic.com.au

Friday Nights in February 5pm - 9pmNORTH SOUTH FEAST WESTImmigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street Melbourne

Every Friday night in February from 5 – 9pm, the museum’s courtyard will be transformed into a sensational evening of summer delights. Visitors to these free events will enjoy the last of those warm summer evenings with pop-up bars, authentic food from around the globe, live music and DJs.

What sets Courtyard Cantina apart from food truck pop-ups and other food events is Immigration Museum’s engagement with diverse communities. Multicultural collaborations are truly at the heart of everything we do, and our North South Feast events are a way of breaking down barriers through the celebration of cultural diversity’ said Immigration Museum’s Program Manager,Eleni Kaponis.

Courtyard Cantina brings together some of Melbourne’s favourite food vendors including Mankouche and Senior BBQ, Burn City Smokers and Feast of Merit.

Courtyard Cantina is the first of a series of North South Feast West events at Immigration Museum; now in its second year. These unique events form part of a growing range of adult programs at the Immigration Museum designed to deliver authentic cultural experiences that celebrate the diversity of the greater Melbourne community.

facebook.com/NorthSouthFeastWest

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17, 18, 19 March 2016MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COFFEE EXPO 2016 (MICE)Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale

The Melbourne International Coffee Expo is back for 2016, with an incredible range of new features to engage every segment of the supply chain. Now in its fifth year, MICE has become the largest coffee-dedicated event in the region, and one of the biggest in the world.

Café owners, roasters, baristas, equipment manufacturers, distributors and service providers are among the more than 10,000 visitors who flock to this event every year.

The team have a lot planned for MICE 2016:ASCA Australia Barista Championship – the country’s best baristas will battle-it-out for the chance to compete in the world comps.

Roasters Alley – expect to see Australia’s best roasters serving their coffees.

Australian International Coffee Awards – the AICA celebrates coffee roasting excellence from Australia and around the world

ASCA Roasting Championship – this new competition will test roasters by giving them the same coffee to roast to various profiles.

World class coffee training and education – we’ll be hosting various coffee classes for professionals and home enthusiasts throughout the event.

GrowSpace – the place to met and connect with green bean traders and growers.

PLUS! The Gram Store will be POPPING UP at Stand 4 with some amazing special offers, samples and giveaways!

1 Day Trade Pass: $30.001 Day Public Pass: $30.003 Day Trade Pass: $65.00 Coffee and Cake (entry in MICE and Cake Expo): $30.00

internationalcoffeeexpo.com

March 4, 2016EAT YOUR WORDS - FOOD AS A MEMORYdu Fermier, 42 High Street, Trentham, Victoria

Join Kate Hill alongside Annie Smithers, Cate Kennedy and Jane Wilson for a writers workshop.

Not only will Kate be sharing her knowledge, but du Fermier are humbled to also welcome novelist Cate Kennedy and Jane Wilson, Annie’s former editor at ‘Epicure’ and now at Hardie Grant Publishers.

The day promises to be full of fascinating banter and insights into four very talented women. The workshop will take place on Friday morning followed by a light summer lunch. It will be held at du Fermier.

More on Kate HillKate is an American living in Gascony, she’s lived there for a very long time now, first on a barge and now in a farmhouse. She has an amazing cooking school and is a talented writer and a veritable expert on cassoulet, amongst other things.

Please call or email to book your place. $185 (includes morning tea, lunch and the workshop.)

March 5, 2016HOW TO DRINK (INSIDER’S GUIDE)The Dispensary Enoteca, Chancery Lane, Bendigo

An afternoon of drink demystification debauchery. Revered Melbourne bar author and drinks guru Michael Harden and renowned regional boozehound Tim Baxter take you on an epic drinking journey of enlightenment.

Wine is a brilliant drink – but it’s one of many. Melbourne’s laneway bar and drinks expert, The Age Epicure writer and Australian Gourmet Traveller columnist Michael Harden, joins renowned Central Victorian drinks expert and boozehound Tim Baxter, for an afternoon of education, imbibing, frivolity and demystification of drink culture. Decadent food will be served as we light-heartedly teach you all the insider secrets about how to make drinks properly. We will show you tricks to add cachet and pizzazz to your dinner parties and help you understand the culture surrounding cocktails, spirits, beer and aperitifs. Mr. Tom Waits will provide the soundtrack.

Cost: $145 Bookings: T(03) 5444 5885This event is part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015. For a full list of events taking place for the festival go to: .melbournefoodandwine.com.au/festival

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BENDIGO TOURISM51-67 Pall Mall, BendigoPhone: 03 5434 6060bendigotourism.com

CEDAR HOSPITALITY223 - 231 Brunswick RoadBrunswickPhone: 03 9387 4455cedarhospitality.com

CHEF’S HAT131 Cecil StSouth MelbournePhone: 03 9682 1441chefshat.com.au

HARDIE GRANT BOOKSGround FloorBuilding 1658 Church St, RichmondPhone: 03 8520 6444hardiegrant.com.au/books

SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKETCorner of Coventry and Cecil Streets, South MelbournePHONE: 03 9209 6295southmelbournemarket.com.au

SPIRAL FOODSUnit 12, 51 Moreland Road CoburgPHONE: 8616 7800spiralfoods.com.au

SQUARE sales-au@squareup.comsquareup.com/au

YARRA VALLEY DAIRY70-80 McMeikans Rd, Yer-ingyvd.com.au

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY

THIS MONTH IN THE GRAM STORE

30% OFF ALL KEEP CUPS ALL FEBRUARYLove your KeepCup? Well head over to www.thegramstore.com.au this February and save 30% off all KeepCup orders! Stock up now with our extensive range, including small and large sizes, a range of colours, glass or plastic, and the exclusive cork range!Use coupon code: KEEPCUP30 at checkout.

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For information about advertising GRAM Magazine contact: advertising@grammagazine.com.au

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BENDIGO BLUES TRAM & UNDERGROUND BANQUETFriday 4 March & Sunday 6 MarchBegin with a beverage at Rocks, before ambling down to the Bendigo Blues Tram to experience one of Victoria’s � nest contemporary blues artists amidst the historic streetscapes. Return to Rocksfor a three course banquet dinner – six shared savoury dishes and dessert selection to die for.

REGIONAL WORLD’S LONGEST LUNCH – BENDIGOFriday 4 March • Rosalind ParkTake a seat at our long table in the idyllic surrounds of Rosalind Park. Savour six regionally sourced courses presented by Wine Bank on View, superbly matched to the best wines from the Bendigo wine region.

COURTYARD COOK FESTSunday 6 March • Rocks on RosalindHead down a private laneway and discover a hidden celebration of outdoor feasting, music and fun. Watch the chefs from Rocks cook a variety of dishes before you on the massive outdoor grill and the Rocks Super-Wok.

PADDOCK TO PARK CARNIVORE’LSunday 13 March • Bendigo Botanic GardensIn the autumn sunshine we’ll smoke, roast and sizzle the meats and produce of our region. Meet chefs, farmers and producers, taste local wines, craft beer and cider, and relax with family friendly entertainment. Choose from local breads, chutneys, cheeses, jams and condiments to accompany your lunch; build the ultimate carnivore’s feast from the central hub or simply graze your way around the stall holders. Vegetarians are also catered for, along with those with a sweet tooth.

RESTAURANT EXPRESSFor 2 weeks in March • Public INN and The WoodhouseEnjoy a two-course express lunch menu and matching beverage designed especially for the Festival at a participating restaurant. $40 per person.

MORE AUTUMN EVENTS

BENDIGO ART GALLERY AND TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX PRESENT MARILYN MONROE 5 March - 10 July 2016

BENDIGO MOONLIGHT MARKET12 March

BENDIGO CRAFT BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL19 March

PICK, STOMP, WINE AND DINE19 March

For more information, tickets and short break accommodation packages, freecall the Bendigo Visitor Centre on 1800 813 153 or visit:

www.bendigotourism.com@explorebendigo

#explorebendigo

CELEBRATING THE MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes © 1953 and 2016 Fox

Above image: Ewen BellAbove image: Ewen Bell

DISCOVER FOOD GOLD IN BENDIGO

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