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Jeh O Chula, Pathum Wan

Paul
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Jeh O Chula, Pathum Wan

BANGKOK | If you’re looking for a tasty bowl of tom yum in Bangkok, Jeh O Chula is a place that you’ll want to visit. Their signature Mama O-ho Tom Yum is considered one of the best versions in town.

The restaurant opened in 1967, selling khao tom (Thai rice soup) and ped palo (stewed duck). The tom yum that’s they’re famous for didn’t actually hit the menu until the mid 2010s. The soup started its life as a staff meal, perfected over time by the current owners, the grandchildren of the original founder.

There’s several sizes of tom yum available, with a few topping variations. The full toppings version comes with MAMA instant noodles, prawns, squid, pork meatballs, eggs, and crispy pork. It’s all inside a light, creamy broth enriched with spices like lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice, red chilli, and coriander leaves.

The soup is a wonderful balance of sweet, savoury, sour, spicy, and umami and is so satisfying. Along with tom yum, Jeh O Chula offers an assortment of snacks and other dishes, with a focus on fresh seafood. The spicy fermented raw crab is a must, with a beautiful creamy texture. It’s got all the delicious bits, including the head meat. Do be aware that this crab dish is very spicy.

Jeh O Chula is a busy spot, popular with locals until the early hours of the morning. Grab a number, and ask how long the expected wait is. If it’s over an hour, which is likely, you can head to a nearby bar for a drink. Just be sure not to lose your spot in the queue.

Jeh O Chula

113 Soi Charat Mueang Rong Muang
Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

Telephone: 064 118 5888
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 4:30pm to 12:00am

Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream, Phra Nakhon

Paul
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0
Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream, Phra Nakhon

BANGKOK | Down an unassuming side street in the heart of Bangkok’s historic centre, you’ll find hidden gem, Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream. Natthaphon make all of their ice-cream on site from scratch, using fresh, young coconut milk.

Run by the third generation of the family that started the business, Natthapon have been making ice-cream from the same location for over 60 years. On the menu, you’ll find a handful of core range flavours like Thai milk tea, coconut, and coffee. There’s also a rotating selection of seasonal flavours, made using fresh fruits. The mango flavour is a must try, as is durian.

You can enjoy your ice-cream on its own, or with your choice of a variety of toppings. Additions include things like shredded coconut, aloe vera jelly, and coconut sticky rice.

Natthapon’s ice-cream is sold by the scoop, with tubs for home also available.

Natthaphon Coconut Ice Cream

94 Phraeng Phuthon Road
San Chao Pho Sua, Phra Nakhon
Bangkok 10200
Thailand

Telephone: 089 826 5752
E-mail: n/a
Website: n/a

Open
Mon – Sat: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Melbourne Street Art Guide

Paul
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0
Melbourne Street Art Guide

MELBOURNE | Melbourne is known as the street art capital of Australia, and for good reason, with countless murals across town. There’s excellent street art to be found in abundance in the CBD, and many inner city suburbs filled with interesting murals.

The street art scene in Melbourne is diverse, with pieces being created by talented local and international artists. The art draws upon a variety of themes from the social and political, to the historical and fun. Down laneways, on main streets, in full view on large buildings and hidden in unassuming spots, there’s always something interesting to see.

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

Brunswick

A great place to find Melbourne street art is in Brunswick, the constantly evolving inner-city suburb whose street art reflects its diversity. The art ranges from pop culture to memes, political commentary, cultural and environmental topics, and more.

Check out my Brunswick Street Art Guide here.

Carlton

Carlton is known for its brilliant dining scene, but it’s also home to some great street art. I always integrate a bit of a street art walk into my visits to the neighbourhood. Lygon Street itself doesn’t have a lot of street art, but keep an eye out on the side streets as you walk down.

My Carlton Street Art Guide can be found here.

Collingwood

On the main streets, and commercial, industrial, and residential side streets of Collingwood, there’s an ever changing assortment of murals to discover. It’s one of Melbourne’s best suburbs for street art, with that mix of old and new buildings, and abundance of old warehouses and factories creating the perfect canvas for art.

Take a look at my Collingwood Street Art Guide here.

Fitzroy

Officially Melbourne’s oldest suburb, the historically working class, industrial Fitzroy has transformed into one of Melbourne’s trendiest bohemian neighbourhoods over the past decade. It’s a mixed use, industrial, retail, and entertainment neighbourhood that’s full of great street art.

You can find my Fitzroy Street Art Guide here.

Footscray

The historically working class, immigrant suburb of Footscray has a proud, diverse history, and its street art reflects this. There are distinct residential, retail, and commercial areas, all with their own vibe and art.

Visit my Footscray Street Art Guide here.

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne’s CBD is home to a wealth of brilliant murals. From small scale artworks to massive multi-storey pieces, it’s one of the most exciting places in the world for fans of street art. It’s a vibrant scene that’s always changing. Some pieces hang around for years, while popular spots like Hosier Lane are in a constant state of rejuvenation.

To find the best places for street art in Melbourne’s CBD, visit my Melbourne CBD Street Art Guide.

Northcote / Thornbury / Preston

There’s not as high a concentration of street art in these three suburbs as some of the other areas on this list, however they’re worth checking out. High Street is the main street which runs through Northcote, Thornbury, and Preston. It’s a continuous, vibrant street full of independent shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, and more. Along its entire length, you’ll find an assortment of murals.

Prahran / South Yarra / Windsor

These three suburbs are a great place to find street art south of the Yarra River. It’s mostly concentrated around Chapel Street, and the side streets that run off it. Windsor has the highest concentration of street art in this part of town, owing to its more industrial nature. As you head up Chapel Street, through Prahran and into South Yarra, things become fancier and the amount of street art declines. There are, however, still gems to be found.

St Kilda / Balaclava

St Kilda is known for it’s beach and bohemian vibe. With that, comes street art which is influenced by the neighbourhood. In particular, check out Acland Street and the side streets around Inkerman and Chapel Streets. If you head up towards Balaclava, there’s also some great murals around Balaclava Train Station.

Identified artists featured in the image gallery include:

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

Sydney Street Art Guide

Paul
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0
Sydney Street Art Guide

SYDNEY | Sydney is a great city to visit if you love street art. Melbourne might be better known for its street art, but there’s no shortage of quality in Sydney, in particular the suburbs of Newtown and Marrickville.

Whenever I’m in Sydney, I love walking around, discovering new pieces, and older pieces that I might have missed the last time that I was in town.

Sydney has a diverse street art scene, with pieces being created by talented local and international artists. The art draws upon a variety of themes from the social and political, to the historical and fun. Down laneways, on main streets, in full view on large buildings and hidden in unassuming spots, there’s always something interesting to see.

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

Alexandria

This industrial suburb has undergone significant changes over the past decade. Factories and warehouses are giving way to apartments, bars, restaurants, and cafes. The suburb is a real mixed use area, and there’s more and more street art popping up.

Bondi

Bondi isn’t really known for its street art, however if you’re visiting the beach, it’s worth checking out the Bondi Sea Wall. It’s a huge, ever-changing mural that’s been capturing the essence of Bondi’s surf and sea lifestyle since the 1960s. Many artists have painted pieces on this wall over the decades.

Also keep your eyes peeled as you walk along Bondi Road, the main thoroughfare between Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach. There’s a few pieces nestled amongst the unique architecture of some of the road’s buildings.

Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst features a lot of great murals. Of note is the “We Are Here” project, which saw the City of Sydney commission multiple artists in 2013 to paint a 15 metre high by 75 metre long mural along the façade of Foley Street. The mural reflects the area’s long and rich history.

Marrickville

Marrickville has a long and diverse history. It’s a heavily industrial area, that’s been called home to several waves of immigration to Sydney over the years. The result is a culturally diverse population, and varied architecture owing to the industrial/residential mix. The industrial areas, in particular, provide great canvasses for street art. On the main streets, the back of warehouses, and everywhere in between, there’s street art all over Marrickville.

Take a look at my Marrickville Street Art Guide here.

Newtown

Newtown is considered by many to be the spiritual home of street art in Sydney. One of the earliest and most famous murals in the neighbourhood is the ‘I Have A Dream’ mural. It was created in in 1991 by Juilee Pryor and Andrew Aiken, with Martin Luther King Jr’s famous words acting as a rallying call to fight for Indigenous Australian rights.

Today, it’s virtually impossible to not spot street art in Newtown. It lines many of the suburb’s main streets, side streets, and back alleys. The artwork deals with a variety of topics, from the political to the commercial, and the controversial to the fun.

You can find my Newtown Street Art Guide here.

Paddington

Paddington is known for its high end boutique shops rather than street art, but it’s worth a visit. In the backstreets behind Oxford Street, between Mary Place and West Street, you’ll find several pieces that reflect the spirit and history of the neighbourhood.

Redfern

Redfern is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Aboriginal civil rights movement in Australia. The area has long been a centre of indigenous Australian culture and community. The street art here reflects this heritage, with many political pieces, and community and cultural works of art.

St Peters

The area between St Peters train station and Marrickville has boomed in recent years, and that includes street art. In 2010, factory owner Tugi Balog had enough of the tagging occurring on the laneway backing on to his factory. He worked with local artists to transform Mary Lane into an open-air art gallery, where artists can paint what they like.

Today it’s not just Mary Lane, but many other surrounding streets in St Peters, which are home to street art.

Surry Hills

Easily accessible for visitors to Sydney staying in the CBD, adjoining suburb Surry Hills is a great place to find street art. It lines many of the suburb’s main streets, side streets, and back alleys. The artwork deals with a variety of topics, fun, serious, and topical.

Check out my Surry Hills Street Art Guide here.

Sydney CBD

There’s not as much street art in Sydney’s CBD as one might think. While the city’s inner city suburbs offer more for lovers of street art, there’s still a decent number of murals to be found in the CBD. Laneways, in particular, are a good place to look.

Be sure to check out huge mural of aboriginal elder Jenny Munro, painted by Adnate on the side of the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour.

Identified artists featured in the image gallery include:

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

Brunswick Street Art Guide, Melbourne

Paul
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0
Brunswick Street Art Guide, Melbourne

MELBOURNE | Melbourne is one of the world’s best cities to visit for lovers of street art. A great place to find it is in Brunswick, the constantly evolving inner-city suburb whose street art reflects its diversity. The art ranges from pop culture to memes, political commentary, cultural and environmental topics, and more.

I love to wander around Brunswick with my camera, looking for new pieces of street art, and seeing how many of my favourites still exist or have evolved over time. Artworks in this neighbourhood are created by local artists, and international visitors. Often, the two collaborate for some truly special pieces.

In this Brunswick street art guide, I’ll tell you about some of my favourite spots in Brunswick to find some of the area’s best street art. They’re listed alphabetically, and range from the popular and well known, to the more obscure. I’ve also included the neighbouring suburb of Brunswick East. Remember to use this as a guide, and explore yourself. There’s always new stuff popping up all over the neighbourhood so keep your eyes peeled.

Once you’re done exploring Brunswick’s street art, you can keep walking south, exploring the street art in Carlton, before reaching Melbourne’s CBD, which is also full of fantastic street art.

Ann Street

Located just off Lygon Street, Ann Street is where you go if you want to find the brilliant Sunshine Lane. Be sure to spend some time on Ann Street itself, as it’s full of great murals.

Barkly Square

The laneway running of Weston Street, that connects the back of shopping centre Barkly Square and the rear of the shops lining this section of Sydney Road has always been home to some great street art. When the shopping centre was redeveloped a few years ago, several pieces were commissioned for the centre itself.

Also be sure to check out the Lushsux mural of Arnold Schwarzenegger on the side of Doherty’s Gym across the road.

Florence Street

Connecting Sydney Road and the Upfield Shared Path, you’ll find Florence Street. It’s an interesting part of town, where new developments stand shoulder to shoulder with old warehouses and factories. There’s a lot of meme and pop-culture street art here, not just on Florence Street, but on the little laneways and paths that run off it.

Lygon Street

Many tourists stop when the reach the end of the Carlton part of Lygon Street. It’s a shame, because if you keep heading north to the Brunswick East section, you’ll be treated to some of the best food and drink that Melbourne has to offer. As well as food and drink, there’s a lot of street art around here. On Lygon Street itself, and the many side and backstreets nearby.

Saxon Street

Off Sydney Road you’ll find Michael Street, which will connect you to a gem of a back street, Saxon Street. Start with a drink and feed at the excellent Theodore’s, at the southern end of the street. There’s a bunch of street art in this little spot which you can explore, before walking north up Saxon Street.

When you’re done, pop into Blak Dot Gallery, a contemporary First Nations artist-run space to showcase contemporary artworks from world Indigenous cultures. Note that Blak Dot Gallery is currently closed for renovations. It’s slated to reopen, bigger and even better, in May 2024.

Sunshine Lane

Sunshine Lane was established in 2009 by street art lover Dean Sunshine. He’s the owner of long-standing family business Rathdowne Fabrics, which have several warehouses that back onto the laneway.

It’s unique in that it harkens back to an era before street art became commoditised and commercial. Local and international artists all feature in this open-air gallery. There’s always something new to see here, but there’s also pieces which have been around for decades.

It’s a safe haven for artists, and it’s free for anyone to paint here. All forms of street art and graffiti are welcome, and a variety of topics are covered. Sunshine Lane operates upon an ethos of mutual respect for the other artists whose works feature.

Sydney Road

As the main throughfare running through Brunswick, it should come as no surprise that Sydney Road is a great place to use as an ‘anchor’ for your street art journey through the area. Sydney Road itself isn’t home to a lot of street art – it’s the side streets and back streets where you’ll find a lot of it. Having said that, a lot of the pieces on many of the side streets can be spotted from Sydney Road.

Upfield Shared Path

The Upfield Shared Path is a pedestrian and cycle path that runs alongside the Upfield train line, parallel to Sydney Road. It’s a very urban, industrial path, with a lot of street art to be found on the buildings, factories, and warehouses that back onto the path.

Identified artists featured in the image gallery include:

Happy discoveries on your walk through Brunswick using my Brunswick street art guide. What are your favourites places for street art in Brunswick? Have you found any other pieces outside of these street art hotspots that you love?

Downtown Honolulu’s Historic Architecture

Paul
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Downtown Honolulu’s Historic Architecture

HONOLULU | Downtown Honolulu is the historic, economic, and governmental centre of Honolulu. It’s split into four areas, each with their distinct vibe. These are, the Capitol District, the Central Business District, Chinatown, and the Waterfront. In this post, I’ll be focusing on the beautiful historic buildings found in the Capitol District.

Honolulu’s Capitol District is well worth visiting when you’re in town. It’s fascinating to walk through, and feels a world away from the hectic, high rise, tourist atmosphere of Waikiki. A self-guided walking tour of the Capitol District is easily done. Here’s a list of must-see buildings.

King Kamehameha I Statue

King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810 after years of conflict. Four commissioned states of the King can be found across the United States, the most recognisable being that at the front of Aliʻiōlani Hale.

Sculpted by American sculptor Thomas R Gould in Florence, and dedicated in 1883, this 5.5 metre tall bronze statue depicts Kamehameha in his royal garb, including a helmet of rare feathers and a gilded cloak. His right hand is extended in a welcoming gesture of aloha, while the spear in his left-hand symbolises Hawaii’s willingness and ability to defend itself from hostile nations.

Kawaiahaʻo Church

Popularly known as Hawaii’s Westminster Abbey, Kawaiahaʻo Church is a historic Congregational church, that was once the national church of the Hawaiian Kingdom and chapel of the royal family.

The church was constructed between 1836 and 1842, using around 14,000 450kg slabs of coral rock quarried from an offshore reef on the southern coast of Oʻahu.

Aliʻiōlani Hale (home to the Hawaii State Supreme Court)

Currently used as the Hawaii State Supreme Court, Aliʻiōlani Hale is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii. The building was designed by Australian architect Thomas Rowe in an Italian Renaissance Revival as the royal palace for King Kamehameha V, but never used as such.

Aliiaimoku Building

The Aliiaimoku Building was designed by Law & Wilson and erected for the state’s Department of Transportation in 1959. It’s still the department’s home today. The building’s trellised brise soleil and vertical sun screen fins combine for a unique look that’s both of its time, and timeless.

Hawaiʻi State Capitol

One of Honolulu’s best examples of Modernist architecture is the Hawaii State Captiol. It was designed in 1960 by architects Belt, Lemmon & Lo, in collaboration with John Carl Warnecke & Associates. Construction was completed in 1969, utilising mostly reinforced concrete, and incorporating the Hawaiian islands’ historical, cultural, and natural significance, into elements of the design.

Washington Place (The Governor’s Mansion)

This Greek Revival palace, built in 1846 is the official residence of the Governor of Hawaii. It’s best known as the home of Queen Lili’uokalan, who was arrested at the house in 1893 when the monarchy of the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in a coup. This coup set the stage for the annexation of Hawaii to the United States.

Honolulu Hale (Honolulu’s City Hall)

Honolulu Hale is Honolulu’s City Hall. The building was completed in 1928, with input from many of the city’s top architects of the time – C.W. Dickey, Hart Wood, Robert Miller, and Rothwell Kangeter & Lester.

It was built in an Italianate Spanish Colonial Revival style, with an interior courtyard, staircase, and open ceiling modeled after the Bargello in Florence. Two three-story wings were added in 1951.

Eku Noodle, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Eku Noodle, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Eku Noodle is a small noodle spot hidden inside 208 Bourke Street arcade, specialising in noodles and dumplings, made fresh on site each day. I recently visited for What’s On Melbourne.

There are a lot of different noodle dishes to try, falling into one of three categories – soup, pan-fried, and dry. The most popular option is the “Chef’s Special: Eku Noodle”. This gets you six small bowls of Eku’s most popular noodles. It includes things like kung pao chicken noodles, noodle soup with blackfish, and noodle soup with vegetables.

As well as noodles, there’s also things like pan-fried scallion pancakes; spring rolls stuffed with shredded pork, mushroom, and Chinese cabbage; and xiaolongbao. Dishes at Eku are mildly spicy, with a house chilli oil and hot sauce available to adjust to your preference.

For a sweet and interesting treat, be sure to try the deep fried milk. It’s a Cantonese specialty of milk that has been thickened with flour, corn starch and eggs, and then covered with breadcrumbs and deep fried.

Eku Noodle

206 Bourke Street, Shop 6
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Wed – Mon: 11:00am to 9:00pm

Dale La Pau, Camberwell

Paul
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0
Dale La Pau, Camberwell

MELBOURNE | Dale La Pau is a small Camberwell cafe and restaurant run by Dale Putra, who moved to Australia to study in 2019, before pivoting to food delivery when the pandemic hit. Dale’s specialty? Rendang, which forms the basis of the menu.

The rendang here isn’t like the curry-like, Malaysian style that many in Melbourne are accustomed to. It’s a dry, dark, rich creation, made from scratch on site. Traditional processes are used, with a combination of spice, herbs, chili and coconut cream, cooked slowly for around six hours.

There’s nine kinds of rendang on the menu, served with rice and condiments. Meat and vegan options are offered. Things like gajeboh (fatty beef), kailo (creamy) beef, chicken, and jackfruit. The flavours are intense, aromatic, and very comforting.

Beyond rendang, you’ll also find several other dishes informed by Dale’s Minang heritage. Paru balado (fried beef lung), with red chilli sambal is a must try. Don’t let the beef lung bit dissuade you – it’s simply a crispy, airy cracker that you’d never know were lungs. Also try the fulai ikan – two pieces of fried catfish, braised in a yellow curry, served with snake beans and basil.

A great way to try a few things if you’re dining solo is to pop in for lunch. The nasi ramas gets you a combination of rice, eggplant, anchovies, green and red sambal, mixed vegetable curry, and your choice of a smaller serve of any two of a number of the mains.

For breakfast, it’s a selection of traditional Indonesian breakfast dishes, plus Melbourne breakfast favourites with an Indonesian twist. Nasi uduk is similar to nasi lemak, and gets you a whole lot of good stuff on a big plate. The bubur ayam (chicken congee) is a another winner. For one of the fusion breakfasts, try the ‘Rendang Shakshuka’. It gets you the familiar spiced baked eggs in a tomato based sauce, with shredded beef rendang and crispy fried roti in place of the more common bread options.

Before you leave, be sure to grab one of the frozen take-away packets of rendang for the freezer at home. It’s a great option when you’re at home and looking for a quick, delicious meal for dinner.

Dale La Pau

255 Camberwell Road
Camberwell
Victoria 3124
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8528 0821
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Wed – Mon: 11:00am to 9:00pm

March, Collingwood

Paul
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0
March, Collingwood

MELBOURNE | March is a Collingwood wine bar by owner/chef Peter Gunn, positioned as a more casual option to his fine dining restaurant, Ides, next door. Housed in the space formerly home to the sadly closed Bar SK, March is unrecognisable when you walk inside. Gone is the bright, eclectic, house party bar x video games inspired party, replaced by a subdued, calm space. Dark, natural tones and a long, deep marble bar, perfect for eating and drinking, now dominate.

It’s a venue that is following the trend of dining in a post-COVID world. Interesting, technique-driven food, but pared back. More snacky, less structured, and more casual. Like many of the recent wine bars that have opened across Melbourne this year, March’s offering is flexible. You can pop in for a drink and a snack, or order a few drinks and almost the entire menu (which Lauren and I did) and turn it into a full meal.

March might be more casual than Ides, but the shared DNA is clear when the food comes out. The menu rotates regularly, with a few favourites always available. Beef tartare with kimchi dressing and spiced crackers is a must order, the quality of the meat shining through. The unmistakable flavour of curry powder on the crackers combines to make it a moreish delight.

Also try the creamy and dense duck liver parfait tart topped with plum jelly; the no where near as basic as it sounds cos lettuce heart with sweet vinegar and chilli sugar; and the tempura enkoi mushrooms. The latter, Lauren and I both a agreed, is a top-10 Melbourne snack, with contrasting textures and a big umami hit.

For dessert, the signature Ides “Black Box”, a charcoal dusted, white chocolate cube filled with an assortment of seasonal flavours and textures, is available. It’s as great as ever, but don’t forget to ask if there’s anything sweet off-menu. When I visited, it was an outstanding mango sorbet with chocolate lattice, cacao nibs and chocolate dust.

For drinks, sommelier Hayley McCarthy has put together a tight list of interesting wines and cocktails. There’s a lot of tasty stuff available by the glass, with a Corivin on had to allow you to try drops that would usually be bottle only. If the Little Reddy x Ides collaboration Chardonnay is available when you visit, I highly recommend it. It’s a big, bold Chardonnay done right, the kind that you don’t see too often these days.

Be sure to keep an eye out for special menus available at different times of the week. Currently, there’s a keenly priced $50 bento set available on Thursdays, and an equally delicious looking $60 steak set on Wednesdays.

March

90 Smith Street
Collingwood
Victoria 3066
Australia

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

Open
Wed – Sat: 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Sun: 4:00pm to 11:00pm

Lilac Wine, Cremorne

Paul
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0
Lilac Wine, Cremorne

MELBOURNE | Lilac Wine is a wine bar in Cremorne, recently opened by Nathan Toleman (Mulberry Group – Hazel, Dessous, Liminal). Nathan named the bar after a Jeff Buckley song from 1994, which brings back fond memories for him. It’s housed in an old brick workshop in the neighbourhood’s backstreets, with a simple fitout. Exposed brick, large paned glass windows, and some rugs, greenery, and wooden finishes to cosy up the place.

There’s a long bar with ample seating for walk ins and an impromptu wine and snack, along with tables and seats which you can book if you’ve thought ahead. There’s a few plush couches at the front, and a small courtyard out back. The space has a great feel, with a view looking up to the rail tracks and passing trains behind the restaurant adding to the trendy, inner city feel.

Lilac is a venue that’s very ‘now’. A wine bar where the food is as much of a star as the drinks list, where you can have a full meal if you like. A focus on fresh, seasonal produce, foraged and native ingredients, cooked over fire, and minimal intervention wines.

Michelin star-trained head chef Kyle Nicol’s menu takes cues from classic French bistro dishes, with a distinctly Australian influence. There’s a minimal waste philosophy, with offal and offcuts used in ways that are obvious, and less so. Beef hearts are smoked, sliced thinly and served with grilled greens, are a highlight. Order the “savoury mince on toast”, toasted brioche topped with a mince made from beef-and chicken-heart offcuts, topped with koji garam, and fresh horseradish, and you won’t even realise you’re eating offal.

Look to the kitchen pass, and you’ll see jars filled with all sorts of wonderful things. Fish heads in one jar, ferment into a vinegar which is used, amongst other things, in the savoury mince on toast.

Other dishes include things like cheese and charcuterie plates, all made in house; a black garlic, miso and honey glazed, chicken liver mousse filled éclair; and fish of the day, served whole with citrus butter and chives. It’s all very tasty.

To drink, sommelier Richard Buck (ex Aru) has put together a diverse, interesting list of around 150 wines featuring selections from small Australian and international producers. I enjoyed a funky orange from Chile, followed by a lovely Chablis. Sake lover and venue manager Charlotte Martin (ex Shobosho) has selected an interesting selection of interesting Japanese sake to pair with the food, and there’s also beer and a short list of house cocktails.

Keep an eye out for the special Sunday sessions that Lilac holds, where the open up magnums of interesting wines that you can try by the glass, along with experimental and work-in-progress special dishes that you won’t find on the regular menu.

Lilac Wine

31 Stephenson Street
Cremorne
Victoria 3121
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9973 2061
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Sun, Tue – Thu: 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Fri – Sat: 5:30pm to 11:30pm

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