Food for thought: Victorian foodies share their tips on the best places to eat, drink
They’re in the kitchens of our favourite restaurants or shaking up cocktails in our hidden bars — Victoria’s top foodies talk favourite meals and dream dinner guests with Dan Stock.
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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
TRINA SMITH
PERNOD RICARD
GROUP WHITE AND SPARKLING WINEMAKER
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
Deborra-lee Furness: her work with adoptions is inspiring, plus she is married to Hugh Jackman. Prince, as I have always loved his music, Adam Hills because Spicks and Specks is one of my favourite shows. Barack Obama and Zoe Foster-Blake, ultimate girl crush and boss.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP?
I grew up on a farm, so the majority of the meat came from us and generally we ate all of the animal, head to tail. My favourite dish was steamed pudding with apricot jam and cream, which I still love.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD/DRINK DISCOVERY?
Confit duck salad and sparkling wine (Jacob, of course).
This food match was discovered just before Christmas and I have had it numerous times since.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
When I make it back to Melbourne, hopefully after vintage, I really want to head to Tipo 00.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
Les Crayères, Reims, Champagne. An unforgettable, truly French experience.
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING?
A sparkling breakfast at Oar at West Lakes Shore in Adelaide, then a quick trip into McLaren Vale to visit Pizza-teca for the Diablo. Finishing the day with a glass or two of riesling at the Star of Greece at Sellicks Beach — fantastic view and unbelievable seafood.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE/DIRTY SECRET?
Being from SA, it is definitely the bung fritz (devon) and tomato sauce toasted sandwich —
childhood memories right there!
FYI: Jacob sparkling is a new premium vintage sparkling wine from Pernod Ricard. jacob-sparkling.com
MATTHEW BUTCHER
YUGO/ DIVE BAR AT CROWNE PLAZA MELBOURNE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
Steph Curry (NBA) I have the biggest man crush on him and I’m obsessed with basketball. Steve Jobs — I love his “here’s to the crazy ones” quote — chef Grant Achatz from my fave restaurant Alinea. Taylor Swift and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) from Big Bang Theory.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL
My mums roast lamb with cauliflower and cheese, topped off with lemon meringue pie
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST FOOD MEMORY?
My nana’s noodles with black vinegar and black pepper.
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD / DRINK DISCOVERY?
Pink Pineapples. Thinking about trying to buy some land in Queensland to grow them — I want to do Pink Pineapple Pina Coladas.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
Chancery Lane by Scotty Pickett — I am a big fan.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
Prince St Pizza in New York.
WORST CUSTOMER ENCOUNTER?
I once cooked for a famous soccer player’s Posh wife and she only ordered a green leaf salad with no dressing and then complained that it was too dry.
FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT AND BAR?
My fave restaurant is wagyu Ya – Japanese BBQ. Best cuts of meat and you cook it yourself (hidden secret: go upstairs, it’s like you are in Japan). My fave bar is Romeo Lane – Joey Jones makes the best cocktails in Melbourne.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?
A McChicken burger.
FYI: Matthew Butcher is the Creative Director behind Yugo and Dive Bar at Crowne Plaza Melbourne. yugo.melbourne
ERIC KWEK
TRAWOOL ESTATE
HEAD CHEF
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY?
David Thompson, as he taught me an array of traditional Thai dishes; Paul Wilson, who was the first big-name chef I worked for in Melbourne; Adam D’Sylva who’s a real mentor, writer, hunter and cook; Steven Rinella; and my fiancee Kay-Lene Tan, my greatest critic and supporter at the same time.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
Beef tendon curry, braised Jackfruit blossom, crispy cow lung and sambal belacan.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEAL?
My family was Peranakan, and I grew up in Singapore, so EVERYTHING centred around food. Mum was always in the kitchen cooking, the first question she would ask when we got home from school was, “Have you eaten yet?”
WHAT’S YOUR LATEST FOOD/DRINK DISCOVERY?
Fresh olives! Not a new product by any measure, but I used to never eat them. I recently found an olive grower, Mt Bernard Olives, a small but award-winning producer and supply to very few restaurants. Top-notch, premium product.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
Joe Beef in Montreal.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
L’avant Comptoir in Paris. Best bar food you’ll ever taste in a lifetime. Blood Sausage Macaron, Foie Gras and an extensive wine-by-the glass menu — more than you can get at any winery!
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING (INCLUDING VENUES)?
The perfect day breakfast would start at Prahran Market, at Maker and Monger. Anthony, the owner, has a selection of great cheeses and does the best cheese toasties in town. Lunch would be spicy Nasi Padang at Selero Kito Padang, a hole-in-the-wall, hiding in plain sight restaurant at Tivoli Arcade in the CBD. Then dinner at France Soir — the quintessential Parisian experience in the heart of South Yarra.
FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT? FAVOURITE BAR?
Butchers Diner on Bourke Street. They are always open and Simon, the owner, has great specials from wild venison to offal.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?
Foie gras! Highly controversial but if I could spend a month eating foie gras all over France I would die happy.
FYI: Wild Water restaurant at The Trawool Estate serves lunch Fri-Sun and dinner Thurs-Sun, with 27 accommodation suites available at 8150 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Trawool. trawoolestate.com.au
SARAH BRIEGEL
CROWN SYDNEY
CULINARY DIRECTOR
WHICH FIVE PEOPLE WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY
Barack Obama, Anthony Bourdain, Rubens Barrichello, the very talented Brazilian Formula 1 driver, Audrey Hepburn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg — it would be an honour to talk to her.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU FOR YOUR DEATH ROW MEAL?
I’d like to go out with a bang. That includes oysters galore and an abundance of steak tartare.
WHAT ROLE DID FOOD PLAY IN YOUR FAMILY WHILE GROWING UP? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEAL?
Our family really liked crabbing and fishing, and then going back to cook our amazing catch together.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT NEXT?
The Wild Flower Bar and Dining in Killcare Heights, NSW. The views look so serene and I love how the menu is heavily influenced by the Mediterranean.
IS THERE ONE RESTAURANT EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT IN THEIR LIFETIME?
The French Laundry — unbelievable from the moment you drive into the town and everything about the restaurant and its surroundings is flawless. They use produce they grow themselves, and the Napa Valley house surroundings are impeccable. It’s culinary perfection!
DESCRIBE A PERFECT DAY’S EATING AND DRINKING?
Eating fish and chips on the beach with a bottle of champagne (my husband and I used to do this a lot before kids came along!)
WHAT’S YOUR TIPPLE OF CHOICE RIGHT NOW?
Aperol Spritz is my current tipple of choice. Either that or I love a good Pimms out in the sun.
FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
A noodle bar called Kowloon Noodle Bar located in Sydney’s Chinatown. Noodles are to die for and the price points are unmatched.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE/DIRTY SECRET FOOD/DRINK WISE — GO ON SHARE WITH US!
Either having ice cream or greasy takeaway on the couch always hit the spot.
FYI To mark International Women’s Day, Plating up for Success sees Briegel and other top female Crown chefs serve a four-course menu with matched wines, this Fri-Sun (Mar 12-14) at Crown Melbourne. Bookings: crownmelbourne.com.au
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