Royal Stacks tours Melbourne suburbs to survive lockdown, keep staff employed

A burger made with potato cake, fried dim sim and onion rings has been named the state’s best, beating these other wild creations for the title.

Collingwood burger joint Easeys has taken the crown of Victoria’s Best Burger in the Litt Burger of Origin Competition.

The Motz Madness creation jams fried onions, a potato cake and dim sim between two buns.

Easeys took to social media to share its excitement over the win.

“We have had such an astounding amount of support this week since winning the LITT Burger of Origin competition,”

“It’s been awesome having so many happy and excited faces come into all of the venues and ordering delivery packs — genuinely uplifting.”

Easey’s beat South Yarra’s Hello Sam, Rosebud’s ItsaBurger and Brunswick West’s Rude Boy Burger to the post.

The national winner hasn’t been crowned, with chief judge and pro-eater Cal Stubbs yet to sample all state finalists due to border restrictions.

Stubbs, Australia’s top competitive eater (and the world’s 9th), short-listed Easey’s wild creation.

A quality protein, fresh salads and a sturdy bun are what Stubbs looks for in a good burger.

HIT THE ROAD

The past two years haven’t stacked up well for this Melbourne burger chain.

Royal Stacks’ once-thriving CBD store, which fed footy crowds and workers, has suffered a 70 per cent drop in takings and is surviving off takeaway orders.

Owner Dani Zeini’s Chadstone shop has closed for every lockdown, and when it could open, a ban on food court seating meant only takeaway trade was viable.

Royal Stacks owner Dani Zeini is taking his burger chain on-tour across Melbourne. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Each lockdown has been a mental and physical blow for Zeini and his team, which he’s built up across three stores in Brunswick, Chadstone and the city over almost six years

“It takes the wind out of your sails. The energy and enthusiasm dissipates after every lockdown,” Zeini said.

“In the CBD it’s been really tough. So many of us relied on the crowds from the footy, theatre, Comedy Festival and office workers to get by.”

During lockdown, Royal Stacks is “pivoting” to bring monthly pop-ups and its US-style burgers to the suburbs.

So far it has collaborated with Templestowe’s Miss Kneady Eatery and Avondale Heights’ State Line cafe and soon, Good Times Milk Bar in Bentleigh.

Royal Stacks’ Collins St store has been struggling during the pandemic. Picture: Rebecca Michael

The pop-ups have helped Zeini keep his 30-strong team employed.

But there’s some positive news on the horizon.

Royal Stacks hopes to open its Moorabbin store when restrictions lift, and Zeini is not ruling out more suburban stores soon.

Royal Stacks pop-ups are held monthly during Victoria’s lockdown.

WINE COUNTRY’S NEXT TOP CHEF

Landing a top chef gig in wine country has always been a dream for Ryan Frost.

From October, the 27-year-old will take over as executive chef at Yarra Valley winery Rochford Wines, overseeing both on-site restaurants Isabella’s and Il Vigneto.

“It was something I wanted but I didn’t think it’d happen so soon,” Frost said.

Leading two winery restaurants through a pandemic was always going to be a test for Frost.

But that hasn’t stopped his drive to mix things up in the kitchen.

Rochford Wines executive chef Ryan Frost.

“People will have changed a lot during lockdown and we need to put our focus on comfort and food that wants to get people out of the house,” he said.

Frost has been busy curating Rochford’s at-home packs, which have garnered a strong appetite from locals and city-siders alike, after being delivered across most of metropolitan Melbourne.

“Rochford has always gone big, we hold big events like A Day on the Green, we didn’t want to put a limit on how far we deliver,” Frost said.

Frost will replace former executive chef Raki Andriana on October 1.

Saluministi’s Father’s Day packs.

SALAMI PARTY

CBD restaurateur Peter Mastro isn’t letting the pandemic foil his plans again.

The Saluministi co-owner and his business partner, Frank Bressi, had their ultimate Italian Sunday lunch event cancelled just days before Melbourne’s first lockdown.

Saluministi has kept both its Flinders Lane and Docklands stores open for takeaway, sold retail products in grocers and avoided the obvious hospo “pivot” of selling at-home meal kits – until now.

Saluministi’s Peter Mastro and Frank Bressi on Flinders Lane.

Saluministi and Postmistress Eatery have launched a Father’s Day Feast pack for four, including antipasto, pizzas, dessert, wine and Saluministi merchandise for $200.

Delivery within 20km of Melbourne; order before 5pm on Thursday, September 2.

Easey’s winning burger.

Matt Preston’s new cookbook World of Flavour.

WHAT’S COOKING

TV host and delicious. columnist Matt Preston is releasing two new books.

World of Flavour is a 100-recipe cookbook, on sale from November 2, which explores the origins of iconic global dishes, while Preston’s memoir Big Mouth is slated for release in 2022, both published by Penguin Random House Australia.