Short Bites: Kara Irving with Melbourne’s latest food news

Pizza giant 400 Gradi will open its largest restaurant outside of the city at this Mornington Peninsula location— serving food unlike anything it’s done before.

The world’s best pizza is coming to the Mornington Peninsula.

Pizza, pasta and gelato behemoth 400 Gradi will open one of its largest restaurants outside of Melbourne in Mornington from July 13.

The 400-seater will span across two levels at the old Mi Mexiko site on Main St and include gelataria Zero Gradi and deli and grocer Gradi Mercato.

Owner Johnny Di Francesco had hopes of opening on the Peninsula one day, but never imagined he’d score a prime space in town.

The restaurateur was initially offered a shop behind Mi Mexico, but managed to not only secure the Main St shop front location,but the upstairs and next door venues as well.

“What was a small little venture, ended up becoming a 400-seater restaurant,” Di Francesco said.

400 Gradi founder Johnny Di Francesco is opening a new restaurant in Mornington on July 13. Picture: Tim Carrafa

400 Gradi favourites like its world famous margherita pizza will stay on the menu, but unlike other locations, the Mornington offering will be more seasonal and seafood-forward.

Fire-scored meats from the Josper will also be a focus, with plans to rollout the wood-fired ovens to other Gradi locations.

“We’ll have two kitchens — one upstairs and downstairs — and both with have Jospers. We’ve found the quality of the meat and fish to be unbelievable,” Di Francesco said.

“The woodfire element makes sense, we’ve always cooked our pizzas in woodfire ovens.”

“Maybe we’ll start cooking our pasta over coals? Never say never,” he said.

400 Gradi Mornington will open daily for lunch and dinner from July 13. Gradi Mercato will be open for coffee and groceries from 8am.

Yarra Yering has been short-listed as Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2022. Picture: Supplied

ST KILDA RD’S NEW GREEK RESTAURANT

“Feed the masses and dine like a king, feed the kings and dine like a pauper.”

Chef Alex Xinis lives by those words, and particularly so when he quietly opened his new Greek restaurant, Classico, on St Kilda Rd.

Xinis has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world and George Calombaris’ Made Group, and is behind lockdown delivery favourite Almost Like Yiayias.

So when an opportunity arose to cook simple, delicious Greek food in a vacant kitchen beneath the closed The Blackman Hotel on St Kilda Rd, he jumped at it.

“Why do we need to make food and dining experiences complicated?” Xinis said.

“I just wanted to cook food I like for other people.”

Classico, named after the existing Italian restaurant on-site, opened recently for lunches, and from August 3 will serve dinner.

Almost Like Yiayas head chef Alex Xinis has quietly opened a new Greek restaurant called Classico on St Kilda Rd at the Blackman Hotel. Picture: Rob Leeson.

The short, no-frills lunch offering includes Xinis’ handrolled dolmades, his pork, fennel and orange sausages and white taramasalata and tzatziki dips.

Oven-baked risoni and beef cheeks and lemon chicken are among the larger plates, while tiganopsomo — a simple, pan-fried, cinnamon-coated bread with ice-cream — makes a sweet finisher. Most meals will cost less than $20.

During the pandemic Xinis consulted and worked in kitchens across Melbourne, but after the chance meeting with Melbourne businessman and Classico owner George Christopoulos, he settled on a bricks-and-mortar location.

“I think there’s a gap in the market for traditional, well-prepared Greek food,” he said.

Xinis is hoping to bust out the barbecue for chargrilled octopus in the warmer months and feed the Grand Prix crowds at Albert Park.

Classico is open weekdays from 11.30am-5pm, dinner Monday to Saturday from August 3.

BEST IN SHOW

Four Yarra Valley wineries have been short-listed for winery of the year in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion.

Yarra Yering, Oakridge, Helen’s Hill Estate and Yeringberg, join Gisborne’s Bindi Wines, as the five Victorian wineries to make the inaugural shortlist in the esteemed wine competition.

The shortlist is a first for the Halliday team, as is the People’s Choice category.

Michael Dhillon, of Bindi Wines, has been nominated for new category Viticulturist of the Year and Winemaker of the Year. Scott Ireland, of Geelong’s Provenance Wines, will also vie for the winemaker title.

The People’s Choice will be named on August 7, with the rest of the winners announced at the official award ceremony at Stokehouse in St Kilda and streamed live on August 12.

Stay warm at Fireside Yarra Valley Festival. Picture: Supplied.

STOKING THE FLAMES

Celebrate the sounds, smells and tastes of winter at Fireside Yarra Valley festival. The 16-day event shows off the region’s best food and wine to be enjoyed near a crackling fire. Oakridge, Seville Estate, Six Acres Wines, Innocent Bystander, TarrawarraEstate are among the participating wineries. Tickets are limited.

Check out Healesville Sanctuary’s Wine and Wildlife event on July 24-25. Fireside Yarra Valley runs from July 17 to August 1.

RAISING THE BAR

The team behind Armadale fine diner Amaru is set to open its new wine bar this week. Auterra (meaning from the earth) will be more relaxed than Amaru, serving grower champagne, local wines and lesser-known international varietals alongside smart snacks like kangaroo tartare with fermented garlic chives and anchovy. The new bar is just up the road from Amaru, with plenty of nooks across two levels and a fine courtyard to sip and sup.

Auterra to open at 1160 High St, Armadale, on July 8.