Short Bites: Dan Stock with Melbourne’s latest food news
Karen Martini unveils a new Melbourne restaurant and a Richmond bar stakes a claim for best rooftop. Dan Stock brings you the latest food news.
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Federation Square is set to be the home of Karen Martini’s first CBD restaurant when Hero opens early in the new year.
Located in the heart of the precinct, Hero will be an “all day eating house” from breakfast through late night negronis.
Martini’s new company Hospitality M — a venue management group made up of husband Michael Sapountsis and Michael Gebran (Sydney’s The Grounds of Alexandra) — is also the hospitality partner of the all-new Australian Centre of Moving Image (ACMI).
Along with Hero, Martini will be designing the food to be served in the cinemas, unique events space, and “old school cinema kiosk”.
With a focus on Victorian produce, Martini says Hero will serve “uncomplicated food championing our amazing produce. No smoke and mirrors. Really simple flavours, delicious stuff”.
“Our produce is stunning, we need to be showcasing it around the country, but (also) in Victoria itself. That’s what I hope to do,” she says.
“I haven’t done breakfast before, and we haven’t had a CBD restaurant before, so that’s pretty exciting. I’m really grateful to be part of such an iconic space (at Federation Square).”
Acclaimed restaurant designer Chris Connell is responsible for the look of the 150-seat restaurant that draws inspiration from Jacques Tati’s 1967 film PlayTime, with monochromatic greys livened with “an incredible blue and lots and lots of stainless steel”.
Like operators across the city, Martini says finding enough staff to operate seven days a week breakfast through dinner “is really concerning”.
Promising a “hands on approach” to the new restaurant, Martini will soon be in the kitchen “pickling, preserving and fermenting behind the scenes” in preparation for opening the doors in late January/early Feb.
“It’s been such a challenge this year. I hope that people are excited about getting out again and the enthusiasm returns for dining in our fantastic city and everywhere in Victoria,” she says.
IS THIS ROOFTOP THE BEST VIEW OF CITY?
More than $3 million and 18 months later, and after a complete overhaul Richmond’s Public House will reopen this week promising four levels of fun and some of the best views of the city.
“What initially began as a four month upgrade at Public House, has ended up an 18 month complete site renovation. After revealing some old bluestone and original brickwork, we decided to strip it right back to the bones,” publican Jon de Fraga says.
Channelling the French Riviera across more than 620m2 for up to 450 people (in time), the jewel in the Greig Carter-designed space is undoubtedly the two-tiered rooftop deck and garden with its views across Richmond to the city and MCG one way and the Dandenongs the other.
Craft beers on tap and classic cocktails complement a menu of “global cuisine” – chargrilled calamari comes on a Moroccan salad; five-spiced duck wrapped in filo is served with a chilli plum glaze, while African-spiced skewers and a Japanese vegetable curry put their stamp on our tastebuds instead of our passports.
Toasties and baos take care of snacking while sipping in style, while a DJ will get the party started now we’re back up and dancing.
“We’re looking forward to showcasing to Melburnians and our loyal Richmond community, the unique and unrivalled view from Public House’s new rooftop, inspired by our travels,” de Fraga says.
Public House at 433 Church St, Richmond, will open on Thursday, Dec 10 and then Tues-Sun from noon.
HIGH SOCIETY IN 80 COLLINS DEVELOPMENT
The long-awaited, much anticipated project that teams restaurant impresario Chris Lucas with acclaimed chef Martin Benn and restaurant manager partner Vicki Wild is one big step closer to becoming a reality. Come March, the trio will open Society at the landmark 80 Collins development in the CBD.
The soaring ceilinged main Society dining room will be joined by the interconnected-yet-unique Lillian Terrace, offering both open-air and indoor spaces to wine and dine. A luxurious lounge bar separates the two and will also have its own menu.
“This year we have been challenged like never before but we have proven our resilience and in 2021 we will celebrate our achievements,” Lucas says. “Society is a restaurant for Melbourne and Australia, it will signal a rebirth of our great city and I hope it will be a restaurant that places us comfortably on a global stage, welcoming everyone as we reopen to the world.”
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