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Smith + Daughters Social Club, Collingwood

Paul
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Smith + Daughters Social Club, Collingwood

MELBOURNE | Shannon Martinez’s game-changing vegan restaurant, Smith + Daughters, has gone through multiple incarnations since opening a decade ago. It’s been mostly about the set menu and chef’s table since moving to the current location, an old brick fire station, in 2021, but now Shannon’s changing things up. I was recently invited in to check out Smith + Daughters Social club, the restaurant’s newest incarnation.

With the arrival of new head chef Sean Mears, the set menu has been retired. In its place, is a more casual atmosphere with an a la carte menu focused around the food that the team love to eat. That is, nostalgia-inspired snacks, things cooked over fire, and fun drinks.

The ‘social club’ part of the name is a nod to the Melbourne Spanish social clubs that Shannon visited growing up. Think of it as a throw back to the original Smith + Daughters, turned up to 11 with all of the things learned over the past decade. It’s the kind of unstuffy place where you can book in for a full meal, or perch yourself on a stool at the open kitchen bar, for a snack and a drink.

There’s a lot to like on the new menu. I enjoyed everything that I ate when I visited, with highlights being the currywurst inspired corn dog with golden curry ketchup, and pickled mustard seeds; fillet o’ fish with kohlrabi and pickled zucchini, and sauerkraut dim sim with vincotto soy.

The pizzetta with kidney bean and red fermented rice nduja, drizzled with orange honey, is another must order. So to, the mapo tofu inspired tofu gnocchi with crispy beef and chilli oil, and one of Shannon’s favourites, the deceptively simple braised rappa with chickpea, and white polenta.

On the drinks menu, it’s a sharp selection of house and classic cocktails; a wine list that leans funky, local, and Spanish; and craft beers. Try the house take on the mai tai, which pairs wonderfully with the sticky date pudding-like ginger pudding with marmalade and cream.

Smith + Daughters

107 Cambridge Street
Collingwood
Victoria 3066
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9123 1712
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Tue – Wed: 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Thu – Sat: 5:30pm to 11:00pm

Hareruya Pantry, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Hareruya Pantry, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Walk down Lincoln Square South in Carlton, and you’ll often notice a line outside Hareruya Pantry. The hole in the wall Japanese lunch and snack spot has been continually popular since opening in 2022, and now there’s a second location to get your fix. It’s located in CBD laneway Somerset Place, and I recently popped in to grab some photos for What’s on Melbourne.

Hareruya Pantry is owned by Kantaro Okada, who’s behind behind several of this city’s Japanese gems including Le Bajo, 279, Leonie Upstairs, and Sebastian Kakigori. Needless to say, Kantaro knows his stuff, and his commitment to quality and attention to detail continues at his new spot. Like its sibling, Hareruya CBD is a minimalist, small venue. Enter through the white noren curtains and you’ll be greeted with a counter, a few small tables and low seats.

On the menu, you’ll find all of your favourite Hareruya goodies. There’s assorted premium bento boxes and hiyashi chuka (cold noodle salads), nikuman (steamed pork buns), shokupan sandwiches, and pastries like matcha cookies and miso brownies. It’s all made fresh each day in the Carlton kitchen, using the best quality local and Japanese ingredients.

Lattes, available in coffee, match, houjicha, and chocolate, with your choice of milk are top notch. You can also find milk-brewed teas, freshly squeezed orange juice, and my favourite, a refreshing yuzu tea jelly soda.

Hareruya’s signature gelato makes an appearance of course. Classic flavours like strawberry, matcha, and black sesame, along with rotating seasonal flavours like Christmas spiced crumble, and soy Kuromitsu raisin. You can get your scoop in a cup, wrapped in mochi skin as a daifuku, or sandwiched between rice wafer crisp as a monaka.

Keep an eye out for the special collaboration gelato flavours. Last month saw Hareruya collaborate with Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo’s fashion label Comme Des Garçons for two flavours. Past collaborators include the Australian Open, Tokyo Lamington, and more.

Hareruya Pantry (CBD)

27 Somerset Place
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 10:30am to 10:30pm

Gluttony: The Play, Returns For A Second Season

Paul
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0
Gluttony: The Play, Returns For A Second Season

MELBOURNE | One of my highlights of The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2024 was Gluttony: The Play. In what’s great news for anyone who missed out earlier this year, or is keen to see the critically acclaimed play again, it’s set to return for a second season at the Hotel Windsor in October.

Set in the fictional restaurant, ‘Gourmandise’, Gluttony is a play about a group of old friends who get together for the first time in a long time, and work through their friendship, love, longing, and betrayal.

Written by playwright, Nick Parr and chef, Rob Kabboord (Ex Quay, Merricote), Gluttony is an immersive food-wine-and-theatre experience that seats diners among and around the performance. There’s no audience participation, and it’s quite a unique experience being in amongst the action, whether it’s at the main dining table that the actors are on, or on the periphery.

‘Around the Main’ are seats at or around the main table, and include champagne on arrival and a three-course meal by Rob with matched wines. ‘In the Round’ tickets sit you further away from the action (but still very close), with champagne on arrival and a selection of Rob’s snacks with a glass of wine for $195/person.

You can book tickets here.

When: 9 October 2024 – 3 November 2024
Where: The Hotel Windsor. 111 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Cost: $195.00 (In The Round), $395.00 (Around The Main)

The Valiant, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
The Valiant, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | The Valiant is a hidden CBD cocktail bar that opened in June, completely renovated and reimagined after running for the past year and a bit as a private event space. I was recently invited in to take a look.

It’s located above a convenience store, up a set of stairs that you enter through a car park on Queen Street. Just look for the large mural by local artist Danielle Webber, and you’ve found the right place. Step inside, and you’re greeted by a stylish, dark, L-shaped space that wraps around the long, marble bar. There’s plenty of couches and plush furnishings, and floor to ceiling windows that completely open when the weather’s good. Over 400 shiny disco balls on the ceiling complete the vibe.

The Valiant is owned by Simon Kouba, the brains behind ‘Flour Child’ in St Kilda and Richmond. He joined by bar manager Elliot Dew, who brings experience working in venues in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Christchurch; and fellow Frenchman Florian Megnaud, who’s worked in bars in Melbourne, Lyon, and Monaco.

The cocktail menu features a selection of house creations inspired by the space, and the team’s travels. I’m a big fan of “By the Fireplace”, a smoky, warming concoction of bourbon, apple, cinnamon, amaro, and lime. For something bubbly, try “The Gatsby”. It’s a light mix of elderflower, lemon myrtle, verjuice, and sparkling wine. There’s the classics, of course, along with house ‘cocktail shots’, and a tidy wine and beer list.

The food menu features French-inspired snacks, some of which are quite substantial. The saucisse en croute is a moreish wagyu beef sausage roll with cheeseburger sauce, while the anchois de la mer sees marinated anchovies topped with cucmber citrus salsa, lemon herb pangrattato, and herb oil. There’s a few different focaccia sandwiches, and things like oysters and caviar.

Be sure to keep a tab on The Valiant’s daily specials, like their Thursday and Friday happy hour, date night specials, and weekend bottomless brunch.

The Valiant

412 Little Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9967 1245
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Tue – Thu: 4:00pm to 11:30pm
Fri: 3:00pm to 1:00am
Sat: 12:00pm to 1:00am

Kappo Tora, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Kappo Tora, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Kappo Tora is a small Japanese restaurant that recently opened in Healey’s Lane. It’s owned by the team behind popular Korean restaurant Seven Star Pocha, and Japanese restaurant Nana Izakaya, also on Healey’s Lane. I popped in recently for What’s on Melbourne.

The menu at Kappo Tora is quite extensive, with a particular focus on teishoku. The former is based on the ichiju-issai set meals traditionally served at Zen temples. That is, a main, served with sides of soup, rice, and pickles.

At Kappo Tora, the signature teishoku features a selection of katsu as the main. Your choice of pork tenderloin or loin (or a combination), chicken breast, cheese, or prawn. The pork is served medium-rare, with a sauce that’s less Worcestershire-like than typical tonkatsu sauce. With light fried panko coating, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for something a bit different than most versions you find in Melbourne.

Other things on the menu include donburi, udon, nigiri, and sashimi. There’s also sukiyaki if you’re in the mood for hot pot. The seafood is of excellent quality, prepared to order by Kappo Tora’s sushi chef, at the central raw bar, which you can sit at. If you want to try something that sounds a bit crazy but actually really works, check out the parmesan-laden bolognese origiri. I was sceptical at first, but consider me a convert.

To drink, there’s hot and cold sake, soju, Japanese beer, and highballs. There’s also a selection of tea by Lupicia, mocktails, and sodas if you’re looking for something non-alcoholic.

Kappo Tora

3 Healeys Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: 0433 770 642
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 12:00pm to 4:00pm; 5:00pm to 12:00am

Belgrade Street Art Guide

Paul
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0
Belgrade Street Art Guide

BELGRADE | The street art scene of Belgrade is a vibrant one. The city, which has experienced much turbulence in it long history (it’s been razed 44 times), contains a diverse collection of architecture, which represents various stages of its past. These buildings, old and new, provide a unique backdrop for the city’s artists to create

Street art in Belgrade deals with a multitude of topics. There are large scale commissioned pieces that deal with grand themes, small scale murals that capture the spirit of the people in the neighbourhoods in which they are found, and bold, political murals.

In this Belgrade street art guide, I’ll tell you about some of my favourite neighbourhoods to visit for Belgrade’s best street art.

Belgrade Waterfront

Located in a long-neglected part of the city, close to the centre and in a prime location on the Sava River, you’ll find Belgrade Waterfront. It’s a huge redevelopment project that began in 2014, estimated to cost a total of USD$3.5billion once completed.

Still under construction, the area is home to residential and retail, multiple public spaces and buildings, schools, and more. There are already lots of commissioned artworks in the neighbourhood, with the number sure to increase as development continues. You can contrast these commissioned pieces with murals in the undeveloped part of the area.

Dorcol

Dorcol is the heart of Belgrade’s old town. It’s one of the city’s most interesting neighbourhoods and is most likely where you’ll be staying when you visit. It’s a real mixed use neighbourhood, home to high end spots, classy spots, trendy spots, and a multitude of things to do.

There’s no shortage of street art in Dorcol. In particular, you’ll find plenty of murals that have been painted in homage to various individuals who have passed away. There are also several small and large scale murals created as part of the city’s ‘Mixing of Styles’ project. The project saw local and international artists team up to create murals in their own styles, revolving around the same theme.

In particular, check out the part of the neighbourhood that’s unofficially known as ‘Upper Dorcol’. Forming the northern part of the area that’s historically been underdeveloped, it extends all the way to the Danube. Here you’ll find loads of street art in amongst wine bars, breweries, art galleries and performance spaces. Be sure to visit Silosi, in the industrial part of the neighbourhood. It features massive murals painted on multiple former silos, along with a waterfront bar, and year-round music, art, music and cultural activities.

Dorcolmala

One of my favourite neighbourhoods in Belgrade to relax and enjoy a drink in is Dorcolmala. It’s got a great vibe about it, with lots of interesting indie bars, shops, and the like. As you wander through its winding streets, alleyways, and hidden spaces, you’ll find so much art work. It’s where you’ll find some of Belgrade’s best street art.

My advice is to start in the carpark located on Cetinjska 15. The back of the buildings that back onto the carpark are filled with great bars, eateries, and shops to explore. There are lots of murals here, and in the backstreets and alleyways that twist off it.

Novi Belgrade

Novi Belgrade is off the usual beaten tourist path, and a neighbourhood that I highly recommend visiting. It’s a large area, home to some of a seemingly endless number of brutalist structures. You can find out more about Novi Belgrade and its brutalist architecture on this post I wrote.

For street art in Novi Belgrade, focus on the areas where students, young creatives and entrepreneurs are found. For example, the neighbourhood of Studentski Grad, which is home to the Campus of the University of Belgrade.

Savamala

Located close to Belgrade Waterfront, Savamala is one of Belgrade’s most densely populated areas. Start on the Brankov Bridge, which will give you a good overview of the neighbourhood and you’ll spot many large-scale murals from afar. Once you have your bearings, head on in and explore.

Skadarlija

One of Belgrade’s oldest and most popular areas that tourists visit is Skadarlija. It has a historic, bohemian vibe, with cobblestone streets and beautiful old buildings. While not street art in the sense that most of you reading this are considering, many of the buildings have their facades painted with giant murals. Some of the murals date back to the 1970s, and depict scenes that relate to the area and the businesses inside.

Identified artists featured in the image gallery include:

Happy discoveries on your street art walk through Belgrade. What are your favourites places for street art in Belgrade? Are there any street art neighbourhoods beyond these hotspots that you love?

Cafe Tesorina, Parkville

Paul
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0
Cafe Tesorina, Parkville

MELBOURNE | In the back streets of Parkville, housed in a small, heritage listed building that began life as a grocery store in 1884, you’ll find Cafe Tesorina. It’s a cosy and welcoming local’s spot, focused on getting the important things right. I popped in a few weeks ago to grab some photos for What’s on Melbourne.

Cafe Tesorina is owned and operated by Alex Wright. Alex used to be the venue manager at Naughton’s Hotel around the corner and was a regular at the cafe in its former guise, Parkville Store. When the former owners decided to call it a day, they asked Alex if she’d be interested in taking the spot over. The starts aligned, and Alex took over the reigns, along with the owners of Naughton’s.

Apart from a name change from Cafe Piccolina earlier this year, things at Cafe Tesorina are much the same as they’ve been since Alex took over. A morning rush of regulars, greeted by name, popping in for their usual coffee order, with individuals grabbing a quick bite to start the day, and small groups of locals catching up over brekkie.

The compact, rotating menu is centred around seasonal, local produce, with a minimal-waste ethos. There’s the Melbourne classics, and a broadly Mediterranean focus, with nods to Alex’s Italian heritage. Things like ricotta hotcakes with raspberry and lemon curd; sauteed mushrooms, white bean puree, seasonal greens, and salsa verde on Rustica sourdough; and my favourite, poached eggs with labneh, crispy chilli oil, pickle, and fresh herbs on Rustica sourdough.

There’s a display of rolls, sandwiches, toasties, soups, salads, and pastries at the counter. All dietaries are able to be catered to, and there’s even home-baked dog treats for your furry friend.

Coffee at Cafe Tesorina is exceptional. There’s a wide selection of beans from Rumble Coffee Roasters, with most filter and espresso brew options offered. There’s a full selection of alternative milks to choose from, plus things like hot chocolate, freshly squeezed juices, and smoothies. Bags of coffee beans, plus produce used in the kitchen like eggs and milk, purchased for home.

Cafe Tesorina

52 Morrah Street
Parkville
Victoria 3052
Australia

Telephone: 0494 162 914
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 8:00am to 3:00pm

Lang Baan, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Lang Baan, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Surachai Kunchairattana has been a busy man. In the space of a few years he’s opened Thai restaurants Pick Prik, Heng, Aung Lo, and Lang Baan in Melbourne’s CBD. I recently popped in to Lang Baan, located on what’s rapidly become a diverse hot spot for lovers of regional Asian food, for What’s on Melbourne.

Lang Baan sets itself apart from the other venues by offering a broader selection of dishes from across Thailand, served with a bit more flair. The space is bright and colourful, with large floor to ceiling windows letting in lots of natural light. Assorted Thai knick knacks line a large shelving unit which separates the kitchen from the main dining space.

It’s favourites like pad see ew, crispy fried pork belly, assorted skewers, tom yum soup, and a giant pad kaprao that’s prime for sharing with a group. There’s a decent selection of curries, with the red duck curry being of particular note.

Since opening in March, Lang Baan’s become particularly known for their express lunch menu. When you walk in, you’ll notice a long multi-pot bain-marie. It’s filled with a diverse selection of options, and is keenly priced. A great option for a quick, affordable lunch. The cooked to order a la carte menu is still available at lunch too.

The desserts and sweet drinks at Lang Baan are also of note. There’s all of the classics, plus things like Thai milk tea bingsu with DIY toppings; and slushies. The latter comes in flavours like brulee, grass jelly, and bread toast milk tea; and lod chong (cendol) coconut.

Lang Baan

1 Rose Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: 0466 144 888
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 10:00pm

Nubilum Distilling, Kensington

Paul
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0
Nubilum Distilling, Kensington

MELBOURNE | Rakija is a Balkan spirit (fruit brandy to be precise) that I’m very familiar with given my Greek Macedonian heritage. For many years, the only versions I was familiar with were the strong backyard dedo versions of varying quality. If you grew up with it, you get it, and its nostalgic, but it certainly ain’t winning any awards.

As I’ve broadened my horizons, most recently in Serbia, I’ve discovered a new world of rakija. Versions of the spirit distilled by trained distillers, with proper equipment and quality control. As is the case with many things, good versions of rakija are quite excellent.

Rakija isn’t particularly well known in Australia by those who don’t have Balkan heritage, so imagine my surprise when I learnt about a new distillery in Melbourne that was brewing the stuff. It’s name is Nubilum Distilling, and I visited the other day for What’s on Melbourne.

Nubilum (Latin for ‘fog’) was born in 2020 when friends Kat, Rupert, and Will decided that they wanted to introduce Melburnians to spirits that reflected the community that they loved. During lockdown, they were introduced to traditional spirits by their elderly neighbours, who hailed from places like Ukraine, Colombia, Iran, and Italy. They saw that these traditional spirits were fading from memory in the community, so did something about it.

For distiller Will, there’s a further personal connection to rakija in particular. He moved to Melbourne from country Queensland when he was 15, and spent his formative years in St Albans. The mates he made when he moved to Melbourne were mostly of Balkan heritage, and he fell in love with the cultures, and rakija. He formed an interest in distilling while at uni, and the rest is history.

Behind the bar you’ll usually find one of the owners serving customers, happy to have a chat and guide you through what they do. There’s straight spirits, cocktails, and a few beers, wines, and non-alcoholic options from the area on offer. Everything distilled here is small batch and seasonally driven, using locally sourced fruit and ingredients where possible. Will loves experimenting, and there’s always something new and interesting to try.

The current batch of the lemon spirit, is made using lemons from neighbouring gardens. It’s similar to limoncello, but a much less sweet spirit, rather than liquor. It’s based on a recipe that Will was given by a nonna in Italy a while back, when he spent a few months travelling through villages around Europe, meeting locals and learning about their traditional spirits and recipes.

As for the rakija, the two flagships are the pear and plum (slivovitz). Both are made using excess fruit from local farms that would have otherwise gone to waste, and are excellent. The pear, in particular, is a great substitute in cocktails that would normally use tequila. I highly recommend trying the pear rakija margarita. Other spirits include things like a blueberry skin infused rakija, and one of the tastiest Aussie dark rums around.

If you book in advance, you can do a tasting masterclass run by Will. If you’re hungry, you can order in food.

Nubilum Distilling

22 Thompson Street
Kensington
Victoria 3031
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9113 6033
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Wed – Thu: 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Fri: 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Sat: 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Sun: 1:00pm to 7:00pm

Plern, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Plern, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | There’s never been a better time to be a fan of Thai food in Melbourne. There are so many new Thai restaurants opening in the CBD alone, and it’s hard to keep track of them all. One of the newest, Plern, opened last month. I popped in to get some snaps for What’s on Melbourne the other day.

Plern, which translates into English as ‘joyful’, can be found on Hardware Street in the space previously occupied by café, White Mojo. They offer an assortment of dishes from across Thailand, with a particular focus on Central Thai cuisine.

Fans of White Mojo will be happy to know that Plern still offers brilliant coffee, and a selection of Cobb Lane pastries. The breakfast menu, however, aims to bring something different to Melbourne, with a number of Thai breakfast dishes to choose from.

The signature breakfast congee is a must try if you’re looking for a morning feed. There are a few options on offer, with the triple egg congee being the one to go for. It’s filled/topped with century egg, salted egg, onsen egg, pork liver, intestines, ginger, spring onion, Chinese doughnuts, crispy rice noodles, pickled cabbage, and crispy anchovies. Outstanding.

For lunch and dinner, it’s an extensive menu of snacks, rice and noodle dishes, and other things. If you’re a fan of pork, the snack platter is a must try. You get a platter of sour pork sausage, pork intestines, crispy pork, deep-fried pork, pork crackling, eggs, and assorted house dipping sauces. Classics like boat noodles (go for the combination beef and offal version), and pad krapao also hit the spot.

Don’t leave without trying the ruam-mit ice-cream. A bowl of creamy coconut ice-cream is served with coconut sticky rice and four Thai-style toppings. To drink it’s a selection of Thai drinks, plus a small selection of boozy options.

Plern

115 Hardware Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9969 2681
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 8:00am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 10:00pm

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