Food for thought: Victorian foodies share their tips on the best places to eat, drink
One Melbourne foodie shares his ultimate guilty pleasure of eating at La Porchetta and ordering this nostalgic treat, Dan Stock learns in this month’s Food for Thought.
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You’ll find them in kitchens and behind the bars of our favourite restaurants.
In Food for Thought, Herald Sun food editor Dan Stock asks chefs, bartenders and all-round foodies across Victoria for tips on where to eat and drink this week — as well as their ultimate guilty food pleasures and dream dinner guests.
CHRIS CRAWFORD
Crown GM Beverage
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE LIVING OR DEAD WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
My wife Melanie Chester, German winemaker Ernie Loosen, John McEnroe, Tina Fey and Dr Dre — I think he’d be more than qualified to select the music for the dinner party!
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
I’d start off the meal with a traditional Har Gow dumpling, followed by mapo tofu and dan dan noodles, I’m obsessed with Sichuan flavours.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD / DRINK DISCOVERY?
Produce from the Melbourne Farmers market. We love Remi’s patch, who do great organic veggies.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
I would love to travel to Crown Sydney to try a’Mare — the latest venture by Alessandro Pavoni.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
It would have to be The Grill in New York City. It serves the best club sandwich on the planet.
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING.
My morning would start with a coffee at Chapel cafe in Port. I’d then head to Yum Cha at Secret Garden, followed by drinks and snacks along the river at Petanque. The final stop for the night would be dinner at Tipo 00.
WHAT’S YOUR TIPPLE OF CHOICE RIGHT NOW?
After a year of lockdown, I really missed a trusty draught beer. I have been enjoying the impressive selection of Aussie beers from Prince Alfred Hotel — my local watering hole in Port Melbourne.
FAVOURITE BAR?
With an open fireplace and an old-fashioned vibe, Prohibition era-style cocktails to traditional classics, Romeo Lane is a Crossley Street gem.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE/DIRTY SECRET FOOD/DRINK WISE?
Don’t judge me on this one, but I can never say no to a good espresso martini.
FYI: Premium beverage store and online experience Cellar & Co is on Level B1 Crown Towers and is open daily, noon – 8pm. crowncellarandco.com.au
AMIR MANOLY
MasterChef Australia contestant
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
John Legend, Eddie Murphy, LeBron James, Massimo Bottura and my wife Alicia Manoly. The perfect mix of great music, laughs and of course food.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
OK so this has to be my guilty pleasure, hot chips with chicken salt.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST FOOD MEMORY?
Rolling dolmades with my mum and grandma.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP?
My passion for cooking started from watching my parents in the kitchen. Both mum and dad cooked and I was always close by watching, learning and of course eating.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD / DRINK DISCOVERY?
The pigs head and green mustard sanga from Congress in Collingwood is to die for.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
I would love to eat at Peter Gunn’s restaurant IDES in Collingwood.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
Maha in Melbourne. Shane Delia’s take on Middle Eastern cuisine is authentic, vibrant and absolutely delectable. I suggest trying this at some point in your life.
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING?
My perfect culinary adventure would have to start with a coffee and croissant from Lune, followed by drinks and snacks along the Yarra River at Arbory and to finish it all of a visit to Tipo 00 for some fresh pasta. I’m feeling the extra calories already.
WHAT’S YOUR TIPPLE OF CHOICE RIGHT NOW?
I’ve recently been obsessed with a chilled glass of sparkling shiraz. Pepperjack does a great and affordable bottle.
FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
Right now, my favourite local restaurant would have to be Etta in Brunswick East. They also have an array of great wines and cocktails to choose from.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE/DIRTY SECRET FOOD/DRINK WISE – GO ON SHARE WITH US!
Both mine and my wife’s guilty pleasure would have to be a double scoop of Gelato Messina. We even had them at our wedding.
MasterChef Australia airs Sun – Thurs at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play On Demand.
GUILLAUME BRAHIMI
Bistro Guillaume, executive chef
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
Francois Mitterrand was one of the great French presidents, I’d love to sit down with him over a glass of wine. Bernard Loiseau, a legendary Michelin Star French chef who changed the way we dined in the ’80s with his cooking. NFL star Tom Brady, German-French actor Romy Shneider and Matthieu Ricard — a Buddhist monk known as ‘the happiest man on Earth’. Who wouldn’t want to dine with him.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
Definitely my grandmother’s roast chicken. Her roast potatoes were perfect, cooked with buttery garlic and finished off with an impeccably dressed green salad. The tang of the greens, the saltiness of the potatoes and the sweetness of the tender chicken was just heavenly.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP?
My family lived like most French families. At breakfast time we would talk about what we were going to eat at lunch. At lunch we’d talk about what we were going to eat at dinner. And at dinner we’d talk about supper.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD / DRINK DISCOVERY?
I’m loving Mexican food! Of late I have a penchant for ceviche and tacos.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
I cannot wait to dine at Yoshii’s Omakase at Nobu within Crown Sydney. This is as close as you can get to the best restaurants in Tokyo.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
L’Ambroisie, a restaurant in the middle of Paris, famous for its sea bass with caviar sauce and artichokes. It’s absolutely heavenly.
WORST CUSTOMER ENCOUNTER?
Those customers who don’t show up for their bookings.
WHAT’S YOUR TIPPLE OF CHOICE RIGHT NOW?
I’m absolutely loving negronis at the moment. The best one I’ve had in a long while was made by Italian restaurateur Alessandro Pavoni at Crown Sydney’s a’Mare.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?
I love getting home and indulging in a piece of parmigiano reggiano and some pickles.
FYI: Bistro Guillaume offers prix fixe lunches (two courses, $49/ three courses, $59) with a complimentary house wine, beer or soft drink on Fridays between noon and 2.30pm. crownmelbourne.com.au
CONOR CURRAN
MasterChef Australia contestant
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE – LIVING OR DEAD – WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY (AND BRIEFLY WHY)?
Drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash, actor Indya Moore, chef Yotam Ottolenghi, actor Andrew Scott (for obvious reasons) and iconic ally Melissa Leong.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
Taramasalata from Marks and Spencer London, Dodoni feta, fresh black olive bread and a six pack of Melbourne Bitters.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST FOOD MEMORY?
Picking parsley from my yiayia’s backyard in Clifton Hill.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP?
I was quite a large child so food played an integral part. I don’t think I stopped eating.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEAL?
My yiayia called it ‘boukitses’ and essentially it’s feta, black olives and bread that you eat together with your hands.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD / DRINK DISCOVERY?
I have just discovered the power of fig leaves. Incredible flavour in desserts and great to wrap fish in and cook on the BBQ.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
Go back to Moroccan Soup Bar. I haven’t been since before COVID hit. Unpretentious and delicious.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
Templo in Tasmania should be on every Victorian’s list. Their approach to food, wine and dining is what all restaurants should strive for.
WORST CUSTOMER ENCOUNTER?
While hosting on a busy Saturday night at Tokyo Tina, a person took umbrage with the wait time and stuck themselves in the doorway and screamed some very choice words at me for several minutes. I’m being polite to how bad it actually was.
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING (INCLUDING VENUES)?
This is my perfect Sunday, breakfast at Napier Quarter before wandering over to Marquis of Lorne for a gamay by the fire. Next, to Marvel Stadium to watch my beloved North Melbourne Roos attempt a win and to sip some half strength beer. To finish, jump on a train to Freddys across the river, to let the team console me with pizza and pasta after the Roos
lose.
WHAT’S YOUR TIPPLE OF CHOICE RIGHT NOW?
Currently sipping Amrit pinot noir and always enjoying 10 Minutes By Tractor’s pinot noir, both from Mornington.
FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT? FAVOURITE BAR?
Loving Scott Lord’s take on Vietnamese at New Quarter in Richmond and love an after dinner negroni along the bar at Poodle in Fitzroy.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE/DIRTY SECRET FOOD/DRINK WISE?
Geralds Bar for wines (not a secret) before popping over next door to the La Porchetta in Carlton to get all of your nostalgia. Must include a vodka raspberry lemonade with your order.
FYI: MasterChef Australia airs Sunday – Thursday at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play On Demand.
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