Collingwood’s The Code pizza restaurant: Former D.O.C head chef opens new suburban restaurant
The former head chef of cult pizzeria D.O.C is behind this new suburban Italian restaurant.
Food
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Alessio Albano comes from good pedigree.
The Puglia-born chef has been in the Melbourne restaurant scene for decades, heading up DOC Carlton before working at Carlton Espresso and Rita’s in Abbotsford and later moving into consultancy.
Now Albano is back on the pots and pans, clocking up one year at Collingwood’s The Code Pizza Bar, which famously slings LaCucina Povera (the poor cuisine) in pizza and pasta form.
Despite being open for 12 months, Albano says he has only now been able to find his feet after the city’s tough lockdowns.
“At the moment our menu has been quite restricted, but everything is changing now, starting with the opening hours – it’s a long project,” he said.
The Code will soon open from 7am to 10pm, with the aim of changing the menu every three months for seasonality and to keep things interesting for locals.
“I was at a time in my career where I wanted to do something for myself and express myself without limits,” Albano said.
“Every three months we’ll bring something exciting to the community. That’s the goal we want to achieve.”
The Code will have a selection of small entrees, antipasto, such as prosciutto and bocconcini, pizza, lasagne and gnocchi, as well as tiramisu, pana cotta and Nutella bites.
The Code Pizza Bar, 37 Langridge St, Collingwood
Filipino eats
Authentic Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese eats are easier to come by than Filipino barbecue in Melbourne.
Ross Magnaye wants to change that with his new restaurant, Serai, which opens next month.
The Philippines-born chef has enjoyed cooking across Melbourne (Rice Paper Scissors, The Hardware Club) and in Bulgaria – but in a “now or never” moment, he’s opening his own venue with partners Shane Stafford (Rice Paper Scissors founder) and Ben Waters.
“I’ve always had the idea of opening a restaurant, but I didn’t want to make it just any Asian restaurant,” he said.
The food at Serai (Malaysian for lemongrass) draws influence from Magnaye’s heritage with Malaysian, Chinese and Spanish nuances.
There will be a cold snack bar and small crispy things, including raw scallops with crab fat sauce, pandesal (Filipino bread) and achara (pickled papaya), with larger plates cooked over fire such as lamb ribs slathered in a sticky adobo sauce and lechon (suckling pig) with smoked pineapple palapa.
Most things will be cooked over flame, served alongside fun cocktails and natural wines.
“When you think Filipino food, there isn’t much out there. We want to create a wine bar with a sexy vibe, and hopefully we can encourage others to do the same,” he said.
“You can pair good Asian food with natural wines and at the end of the day, we want people to come along and eat delicious food and drink well.”
Serai will have an a la carte and set menu (eight to 10 courses for $88) and will open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Serai, 377 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Festival favourites
After a two-year hiatus, festivals are back in Victoria.
With the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in full swing, here are some others worth celebrating further afield.
The Grampians Grape Escape returns in April to show off the region’s best food and wine, hosting more than 100 exhibitors across three days.
Drink well from Henty Estate, Mount Langi Ghiran, Mount Avoca and Taltarni, watch cooking demos by TV chefs Geoff Jansz, Peter Everett and Peter Hilcke, and live music on the main stage.
Meanwhile, the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival celebrates the changing of the seasons through art, light shows, music, farmers’ markets and more until April 25.
Foodies can eat their way through the region following the Macedon Ranges Autumn Pie and Tart Trail.
There’s also a vegetable trail and a sourdough crumpet masterclass.
Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, until April 25.
Grampians Grape Escape, Friday April 29- Sunday May 1.
Pasta party
Learn how to make Sicilian pasties with Mister Bianco executive chef Joseph Vargetto at The Big Spaghetti at Queen Victoria Market.
Vargetto will share his family scaccia recipe during a 30-minute demo, hosted on the main stage by Herald Sun food and wine editor Kara Monssen.
Held over two days, the pasta party shows off 20 great Italian dishes from our favourite restaurants including Agostino, Al Dente, Lagotto, Marameo, Sydney’s Paski, Pastore, That’s Amore and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 00.
The free event is in the E Shed and Queen St at Queen Victoria Market. Food and drink at pop-up stalls 11am-8pm on Saturday, April 2, and 11am-5pm on Sunday, April 3.
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