Small Bites: Kara Irving with Melbourne’s latest food news
A tradie with a passion for wine has opened Werribee’s first hidden wine bar. Here’s more food news with Kara Irving.
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Secret’s out. A Werribee tradie has opened the suburb’s first hidden wine bar.
Local sparky Chris Scuadmore and his wife Mutena raised a glass to Corked Werribee’s launch on Saturday night.
Scudamore hopes his fancy bar gives locals in the city’s outer west a place to enjoy a glass of wine outside of the suburb’s pubs and clubs.
“We wanted to open a sophisticated, mature venue for adults,” he said.
“If you wanted to go out for cheese and wine, you’d have to go to Yarraville or Seddon or even Geelong — there’s nothing like that out here.”
Adding to Corked’s allure is its secret entrance, accessed via wine rack inside a Watton Street apartment complex foyer.
Once you crack the code, or push the correct bottle, you’ll get access to the cosy 90-seater which has vintage lounges and a fireplace overlooking the Werribee River.
Scudamore said the working class suburb was becoming more gentrified.
“People said to me nobody would pay $12 for a glass of wine out here, but I think a wine bar would kill it in Werribee,” he said.
“That city vibe has hit Point Cook and now it’s going down the highway and slowly creeping into Werribee.”
The largely Aussie-leaning wine list also includes some Italian and French drops, as well as 25 by the glass.
Food is by Jon Ford, who is at the helm of adjoining restaurant Teddy Picker.
Corked Werribee is at 9/116 Watton St and open Wed-Thu: 3pm to 9pm, Fri-Sat: 1pm- 10pm and Sundays: 12pm-9.30pm. Bookings: www.corkedwb.com
BOOZE FREE MEZCAL SHAKES UP SCENE
A Port Fairy businesswoman whose crystal-infused sparkling water caught the eye of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop lifestyle brand is now behind Australia’s first non-alcoholic mezcal.
Samantha Manning’s Monday Distillery is gaining momentum as one of the country’s top selling non-alcoholic spirits alongside UK brands Seedlip and Lyres.
A mezcal will be release in July, to join her already successful range which includes a paloma tequila, dram whisky, dark and stormy rum and the original gin and tonic flavours.
Now the entire range will be sold nationally in Dan Murphy’s stores from August — a move which seemed foreign for Manning 12 months ago.
“We launched our signature G+T rosemary sea salt last July in Dan Murphy’s,” Manning said.
“The movement is trending and people are choosing to cut back on alcohol. It’s not so much about sobriety or pregnancy for me, it’s about creating a grab-and-go option for people.”
All of Monday Distillery’s non-alc spirits are made in a similar way to their booze-laden counterparts, distilled with the same botanicals and infused with oak or spice to taste like the real deal, but with the alcohol removed.
The mezcal will taste like peach and mandarin.
Monday Distillery came to fruition in lockdown last year, after Manning’s years of studying and working in the alcohol alternative drinks market.
Her first success was Osun Sparkling, a ready-to-drink sparkling water, which appeared on Paltrow’s Goop summit and Instagram.
Monday Distillery is available online and in all Dan Murphy’s stores nationally from August. mondaydistillery.com
FESTIVAL OF FOOD
New Melbourne arts and culture festival RISING will showcase food’s biggest names, with David Moyle of Longsong fame helming the star attraction — The Lighthouse.
The 130-seater luminescent glasshouse is perched on the amphitheatre of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and will serve a three-course menu among The Wilds; an art, sound and light installation.
The Wilds is home to two other kitchens with nightly rotating chefs, including vegan queen Shannon Martinez and her Lona Misa partner Ian Curley, Atlas’ Charlie Carrington, Hector’s Deli’s Dom Wilton and 1800 Lasagne’s Joey Kellock.
Meanwhile, Eating 80 Collins has been revealed as the precursor to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival’s Winter Edition.
Explore the CBD’s new food and drinks precinct at either the Light Up The Night or Lunch Illuminated events, on June 2 and 5 respectively.
The Lighthouse at The Wilds runs from Wednesday 26 May and Sunday 6 June at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Tickets $90 per person. www.rising.melbourne
RALLY FOR INDIA
Restauranter Jessi Singh will donate all takings across his four Melbourne venues — Daughter in Law, Mrs Singh, Mr Brownie and Horn Please — on Wednesday May 19 to help India’s disastrous second coronavirus wave.
Proceeds will be given to Royal Women’s and St Vincent’s doctors to help ship medical supplies to the subcontinent.
All of Singh’s venues will host their version of a family-style, tasting menu which includes a drink on arrival, snacks, curries and dessert, with vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian and gluten-free options available. Tables can be booked from 5pm.
Bookings for dinner start from 5pm, via each restaurant’s website. www.daughterinlaw.com.au
CHARITABLE CAUSE
University student turned food charity founder Alex Dekker has a new goal.
After feeding thousands of people in-need during the coronavirus pandemic, the 20-year-old now wants to take Alex Makes Meals nationally.
The Melbourne-born charity launched in March 2020 when Dekker started making meals for his doctor sister and other health care workers at Monash Medical Centre.
After a successful GoFundMe campaign, Dekker’s charity now makes healthy meals for other organisations including The Salvation Army and Ronald McDonald House.
Butter chicken, roasted cauliflower with rice and spinach and chilli jacket potatoes are among the dishes made with Farmers Pick produce.
“Ultimately we have to grow, we need to start looking at the bigger picture,” Dekker said.
Become an Alex Makes Meals Founders Club member, starting at $20 per month, which creates 40 meals for those in need. www.alexmakesmeals.com
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