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Rollin169, Kensington

Paul
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Rollin169, Kensington

MELBOURNE | Rollin169 is a hole in the wall Vietnamese cafe that was opened by owner Loc, last year in Kensington. It’s proven a hit amongst locals, and I recently popped in to grab some shots for What’s On Melbourne.

The menu is a simple one – a selection of bánh mì with non-traditional, but still Vietnamese fillings. Think crispy roast pork, beef mince wrapped in betel leaf, and a vegetarian take on roast pork, that substitutes in tofu. Beyond bánh mì, there’s also rice paper rolls, a rotating daily special or two, like pho and other noodle dishes.

There’s great coffee, both Western and Vietnamese-style, juices, and a small selection of pastries like Portuguese custard tarts. Rollin169 also has a minimal waste ethos. Milk for the coffee is dispensed via a zero-waste keg system, customers are encouraged to bring in their own coffee cups and take away containers, and all packaging is biodegradable.

Rollin169

169 Rankins Road
Kensington
Victoria 3031
Australia

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

Open
Tue – Sun: 8:30am to 3:00pm

川湘楼 Red Chilli House, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
川湘楼 Red Chilli House, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | 川湘楼 Red Chilli House is a Southern Chinese restaurant that’s opened in a three storey historic building in Chinatown, from Steve Xu, the owner of Queen Street favourite Red Cliff. I popped in to take a look for What’s On Melbourne.

Expanding on the menu at Red Cliff, Steve’s new restaurant features plenty of favourites from that restaurant, plus an assortment of new dishes. The menu is predominantly drawn from the culinary traditions of China’s Hunan, and Sichuan provinces, in particular Steve’s hometown of Chongqing.

Chongquing is known for its distinctive jiang hu cai style of cuisine, named for the fact that they deviate from traditional dishes. Jiang hu cai dishes are known for their liberal use of chilli and Sichuan peppercorns, and draw inspiration from China’s diverse regions, fusing Chinese and Western culinary techniques. Forgotten dishes are revived, and new dishes are created.

Seafood is a big focus at Red Chilli House, and this was reflected in the selection of dishes that I tried when I had a chat to Steve and told him that I was happy for him to bring out the dishes that best showcased what Red Chilli House is all about.

Braised yabbies, served with your choice of garlic or chilli sauce, over a bed of thin wheat noodles, is a must order dish. The chilli option is an exercise in balance and restraint, with bold flavours that pull your tastebuds in different directions without being overpowering. Also be sure to order the kongfu master sauerkraut fish (suan cai yu). Its an aromatic broth filled with green peppercorns, pickled mustard greens, and catfish. A wonderful expression of the classic hot and numbing aspect that Sichuanese food is known for.

Other dishes include things like DIY malatang (Sichuan-style hot pot), sliced beef brisket in golden sour soup, and chilli deep fried fish. For non-seafood options, I highly recommend the fried chicken cartilage with salted egg sauce, roasted Sichuan lamb ribs, and cold, numbing mountain jelly with beef tripe salad.

To drink, its Chinese beer, tea and soft drinks. You can also BYO wine with a corkage of $5 per person.

川湘楼 Red Chilli House

119 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9798 8888
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Sun – Wed: 11:30am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 10:30pm
Thu – Sat: 11:30am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 12:00am

Kampot Kitchen, Preston

Paul
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0
Kampot Kitchen, Preston

MELBOURNE | Kampot Kitchen was opened by Cambodian-born, Melbourne-raised singer-songwriter and music teacher Jimi Lundy in 2021. Named after the famed, aromatic kampot pepper of Cambodia, Kampot Kitchen is the culmination of an idea that Jimi had in 2019. Fuelled by a desire to open a venue where he could share his Cambodian culture, heritage and food.

Kampot Kitchen is a place where Cambodian expats can find a taste of home, and the wider Melbourne community can discover a cuisine they might not be familiar with. Everything is made from scratch where possible, on site, using traditional cooking techniques.

When I first visited in 2021, the menu was centred around num pang. Num pang is a baguette with thin, crisp crust and soft, airy texture. It’s typically filled with savoury ingredients, similar to the also French-influenced Vietnamese bánh mì, khao jee pâté or Laos.

There are 12 different num pang at Kampot Kitchen. Unlike the traditional kind you’ll find at most street vendors in Cambodia, Jimi’s versions use fillings and flavours drawn from classic Cambodian dishes and family recipes. It’s traditional food presented in a non-traditional, but still very much a Cambodian, way.

The classic features grilled beef or chicken with kampot lemongrass paste & lime zest. My favourite, the Ko Kho, is filled with Cambodian style hearty braised pulled beef caramelised in broth. For vegetarians, the caramelised sweet and sour tofu num pang is a great option.

Beyond num pang, there’s a variety of other things on the menu these days. Essentially the num pang fillings presented in different ways. There’s chicken and beef skewers served with papaya and carrot salad; and your choice of protein served on a bed of rice with slaw, egg, and kampot dipping sauce. There’s also things like tuk tuk fried chicken wings, and hearty ko kho, in its traditional soup form (perfect now that winter is here).

It’s hard to go past a cup of Cambodian iced coffee to drink. It’s similar to Vietnamese coffee, sweetened with a generous dollop of condensed milk. The version at Kampot Kitchen uses locally roasted Gravity espresso beans, rather than the usual Robusta filter beans for a stronger coffee flavours. There’s also “regular” espresso-based coffees, as well as juices, sodas, and cut-to-order fresh coconuts.

Kampot Kitchen

11 High Street
Preston
Victoria 3072
Australia

Telephone: 0401 744 729
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon, Wed – Fri: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm to 11:00pm

Bibi Ji, Carlton

Paul
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0
Bibi Ji, Carlton

MELBOURNE | Bibi Ji is the newest restaurant from chefs and restaurateurs Jessi Singh and Amar Singh (no relation). They’re the duo behind an array of popular Indian restaurants like Melbourne’s Horn Please and Daughter In Law, and Sydney’s Don’t Tell Aunty. At Bibi Ji, which I was recently invited to visit, the duo are putting a new spin on a familiar formula.

The Lygon Street space that was home to Caffe Notturno for the past 45 has been completely transformed, with the classic Italian-Australian design giving way to a vibrant array of colour. A rainbow of draped fabrics flow across the ceiling, with walls that are tiled, mirrored, and covered in bright paintings. The bar is a mixture of bright tiles and marble, and vinyl booths and chequered tablecloths nod to the venue’s past. It’s busy, colourful, and fun.

Bibi Ji is the affectionate Punjabi term for “mum’s house”. The restaurant is dedicated to mothers and grandmothers, with a menu inspired by simple home cooking, and street food snacks from across the Indian subcontinent. It’s a menu with flavours that will be familiar to those who have dined at one of Jessi and Amar’s restaurants, but that’s distinct in its own right. The focus is what people eat in their homes, across the Indian subcontinent, but you’ll also find a few reimagined dishes and favourites.

The menu is broadly split into snacks and curries. For snacks, its things like Amritsari fish fry, aloo poori with halwa, and papdi chaat. On the curry side, there’s things like railway chicken curry, typically served on trains in India, aromatic lamb bhuna, ghosht, and a flavoursome on-the-bone, goat curry. There’s a decent selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options on the menu, and yes, there’s butter chicken. The version here is less sweet, with a smokier element than you usually encounter in Melbourne.

A great option to try a variety of things is the banana leaf thali. A large banana leaf arrives at the table, lined with assorted chutney and papadums. Each one represents a different region of India, a theme that’s continued through the progression. Following the chutney it’s three street food snacks, then hoppers and rice, followed by four curries with rice and accompaniments. To finish it’s dessert. It’s pretty good value at $49 per person.

To drink, its Indian inspired cocktails like mango lassi with cardamom-infused rum, and pina coladas. Wine and beer is mostly Victorian (skip the Kingfisher and go for the locally brewed house pale ale), and there’s a decent selection of whisky.

Bibi Ji

179 Lygon Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9088 2094
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Wed – Thu: 10:00pm to 11:00pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00am to 4:00pm

El Columpio, Fitzroy

Paul
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0
El Columpio, Fitzroy

MELBOURNE | The diversity of Melbourne’s food scene is driven by its vast immigrant population. One cuisine that’s always been under-represented in the city is Mexican, which isn’t surprising when you consider that (per the 2021 ABS Census), there were only 1,861 Melburnians recorded as being born in Mexico.

One of these individuals is chef Ricardo Garcia Flores. Moving through the ranks from a dishwasher at Paco’s Tacos, to a kitchenhand at Movida Aqui, Ricardo grew frustrated by the lack of “real” Mexican food in Melbourne, and decided to do something about it. He opened El Columpino a few months ago on Johnston Street in Fitzroy, with the aim of bringing a taste of Mexico to Australia, with zero compromises or modifications to local tastes.

It’s a small, simple space, with Mexican music in the background and an assortment of Mexican decorations and trinkets. The menu is small, and it’s easy to try everything on there if there’s more than one of you. In the morning, you’ll find tamales and chilaquiles on the menu. From midday, it’s chilaquiles, a few different tacos, pozole, and flan Napolitano. Specials include things like tacos de barbacoa estilo Hidalgo on the weekend, and corn slices topped with lime, chilli, salt, and Takis fuego.

Recipes are family recipes, and, in the case of the taco fillings, recipes from a friend who runs taquerias in Mexico City. Tortillas and masa are sourced from Mexico, and over 20 different kinds of chillies are used in the kitchen to ensure that each dish has the exact right flavour profile.

Pozole is the signature dish on the menu, and what everyone who has visited can’t stop talking about. It lives up to expectations and El Columpino is the only place in Melbourne where you can find it. It’s a chicken, pork, and corn soup garnished with lettuce, red radish, white onion, lime, oregano, and optional hot sauce. It’s served with two tostadas and sour cream, and is comforting like a warm hug. El Columpino is worth the visit for the pozole alone.

Tacos are all excellent, in particular be sure to try the Mixiote Estilo Hidalgo. It’s a complex blend of pork cooked with maguey leaves, guajillo chilli, and spices, garnished with pineapple, red onion, fresh habanero, and green tomatillo sauce. Also save room for dessert, the thick, crème caramel-like flan with a caramelised, slightly burnt top, is a delight.

Bottles of tequila hint towards the future drinks menu once El Columpino’s liquor license comes through, but for now it’s a rotating selection of aguas frescas, and sodas like Mexican Coke, Sidral, and Boing.

El Columpino

52 Johnston Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065
Australia

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

Open
Tue – Thu: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Fri: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Sat – Sun: 10:00am to 9:00pm

Aung Lo, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Aung Lo, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | There’s a new Thai barbeque and hot pot spot in the city, and in true Melbourne style, you need to walk down a laneway, off another laneway, without signage, to find it. The restaurant is called Aung Lo, and it’s from Surachai Kunchairattana (the brains behind Thai restaurants Pick Prik, Heng, and Lang Baan), and Kittipod Tongchan.

Walking into the space, you might be confused as to why a Thai restaurant features so many nods to Japan and Korea. Surachai points to the fact that in Thailand, it’s common for restaurants like this to incorporate influences from other regional hot pot and barbeque styles. In many ways, not being 100% Thai makes Aung Lo more reflective of what you’ll find in Thailand today.

You can choose from hot pot on its own, or mookata, essentially a combined Korean barbecue and a Japanese or Chinese hot pot, with a charcoal base. One look around and it’s clear that mookata is most punter’s choice, as was mine when I visited.

To barbecue, there’s a selection of premium cuts of beef and pork, and a few other things. Things like A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, sliced oxtongue, and pork belly. The sets, which get you a selection of favourites with your choice of marinade, are a great option.

Beyond the barbecue, there’s a decent selection of side dishes. Fried chicken, fried calamari, spicy salmon sashimi salad, garlic rice, and perhaps my favourite side of the lot, grilled mackerel.

If you’re thirsty, there’s Asian lagers and a few local craft beers, an assortment of soju, and non-alcoholic options like Thai milk tea and sodas.

Aung Lo was quite busy when it opened a few months, but things appear to have settled down since then. It’s still a busy, lively spot, but the wait for a table when I visited, around 7pm on a Saturday night, was only 10 minutes.

Aung Lo

Flanigan Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: 0403 309 888
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 5:30pm to 10:30pm

Flying British Airways Premium Economy Class From London Singapore

Paul
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0
Flying British Airways Premium Economy Class From London Singapore

TRAVEL | British Airways (“BA”) operates two flights a day between London and Singapore. Both the Airbus (“A380”) and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (“Dreamliner”) are currently used on the route, and travellers can choose between Economy Basic, Economy Standard, Premium Economy and Business class. I flew Premium Economy (branded as World Traveller Plus) on the A380. The average flight time on this route is 13 hours and 30 minutes.

Check In

Check in very straight forward. You can check in online, or using BA’s app. You can enter in all relevant passport and visa information before your flight, and receive an online boarding pass. If you’re using the app, there’s up-to-date notifications about gate changes, flight delays, and the like, and you can use the boarding pass on the app at the gate.

If you have luggage to check in, there are several bag drop off counters at Heathrow Terminal 5 with a few BA staff walking around the area to assist if needed. There’s also the option of traditional staffed check in counters if you wish.

Loyalty

BA’s loyalty program is Executive Club, which is free to join. BA are also part of the OneWorld alliance, which offers the option of points transfers and certain reciprocal privileges.

With Heathrow being BA’s home airport, there are several lounges available to choose from, depending on your status/flight class. I do not have OneWorld status, so did not make use of any lounges this time around.

Luggage

Checked luggage is included with Premium Economy BA tickets.

You can check-in two bags up to 23kg (50lb). For carry on, you’re allowed one carry on bag no larger than 25cm x 45cm x 56cm (10in x 18in x 22in), and a smaller bag no larger than 15cm x 30cm x 40cm (6in x 12in x 16in). Each carry on bag cannot weigh more than 23kg (50lb).

Service

Service is friendly and efficient. It’s a diverse crew, happy to have a little chat with a cheery British demeanour. Water is offered at various times throughout the flight.

Cabin

The BA Premium Economy cabin on the A380 that flies from London to Singapore features 55 seats, in a 2-3-2 layout on the upper deck. There are enough flight attendants around so getting the attention of someone should you need assistance isn’t an issue. Colour wise it’s dark blue and white, a muted, sophisticated take on BA’s brand colours. Everything is clean and in good condition.

Seat

The fabric seat has dimensions of about 96.5cm x 47.0cm (38in x 18.5in), substantially more than a regular economy class seat. With the tray down, there’s enough space to get a bit of work in on a laptop.

There’s a lot of legroom, a proper footrest, and an adjustable cushioned headrest which is handy when you want to get some sleep. The recline on the seat is generous. As someone who finds it very hard to sleep on planes, the seat recline far enough back that I was actually able to get myself comfortable and sleep nicely for several hours. And, when the person in front of you is reclining, it’s not really much of a bother.

There are sizeable armrests, and an armrest tray between seats. On the back of the seat there’s a two-section mesh pouch for storage. Additional storage can be found beneath the window in the form of a sizeable storage compartment.

Each seat comes with a 110v power outlet, capable of taking a few different kinds of international plugs. There’s also a USB port for charging devices, but do be aware that it’s a slower, USB-A type port. There’s also three older type AV sockets, which I can’t imagine being of much use in 2024.

Entertainment

Each economy seat features BA’s seatback entertainment system on a 27cm screen. On it you’ll find real-time flight information, and a selection new release and classic movies, TV shows, music, and games. You also get access to Paramount+. Noise cancelling headphone are provided, and you can connect your own headphones.

To read, it’s BA’s ‘High Life Magazine’ magazine, which is available in digital format only. It’s a good read, with several interesting travel related articles, destination guides and the like.

Food

In Premium Economy, you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine after take-off followed by a starter, main and dessert. Due to the timing of the flight, dinner is served at the start of the flight.

The menu makes use of seasonal, British produce, and can be found on a menu card that’s located in the seat pocket. The starter was a spring green vegetable salad with edamame, sugar snap peas, and honey mustard dressing. For mains, it was a choice between a Wiltshire ham hock and Oakwood smoked cheddar pie with kale, lemon, and chive sauce; kung pao chicken with vegetable fried rice and fried garlic bok choy; and aubergine parmigiana with mozzarella, basil, and slow roasted tomato sauce.

I opted for the kung pao chicken, which was quite tasty. Definitely a cut above the typical economy class fare with the higher quality of produce and more nuanced flavours apparent. For dessert, it was a passionfruit panna cotta, along with cheese and crackers.

To drink, it’s a decent selection of beer, wine, and spirits, a few cocktails, and the usual selection of soft drinks and juices. I went for a Spanish merlot and a tasty 4.5% ABV IPA brewed by BrewDog especially for BA.

If you get hungry or thirsty any time during the flight, you can request snacks, hot, cold and alcoholic drinks to your seat. Before the plane lands in Singapore, breakfast is served. In this case, it’s a choice between a ‘full British’ breakfast, or a cheddar omelette.

I chose the former, which comes with scrambled eggs, Cumberland pork sausage, back bacon, button mushrooms and grilled tomato. It hits the spot. There’s also a selection of pastries, along with tea, coffee, and juice.

Amenities

A soft cloth blanket is provided for all passengers, along with an amenity kit. The amenity kit includes lip balm, an eye mask, a pen, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, with earplugs also available on request.

Wi-Fi is available for the duration of your flight. Access to basic services like messaging and text-based e-mails will set you back between £2.99 – £4.99, while full access for streaming and more, costs between £4.99 – £21.99.

Verdict

I’m a big fan of Premium Economy cabins when done right. If the timing and length of the flight is such that I might want to sleep on the plane, Premium Economy can fit the sweet spot of getting me all of the things that I want that I can’t get in Economy, without the cost of flying Business.

At full price, you’re looking at about double an Economy Class ticket, and half of what a Business Class ticket will cost you. At today’s prices (July 2024) that’s £1,156 for a one way ticket on this route.

Why I think flying BA Premium Economy on this route is worth the extra cost is because BA is one of those airlines that gets the cabin class right. Unlike the “slightly upgraded economy” that several airlines offer in this cabin, the BA version is a real step up, and akin in many ways to the Business Class of 20 years ago. The seat is noticeably larger, there’s loads of leg room, a good amount of recline, and better food. All of the things that I think matter when flying long-haul.

The Bear, Camberwell

Paul
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0
The Bear, Camberwell

LONDON | Camberwell isn’t a part of London that most visitors make their way to. It’s in a awkward spot, sandwiched between Brixton and Peckham, seeming always on the verge of taking off but never quite getting there. The lack of a tube station, and a reputation that doesn’t really reflect the area that Camberwell is today, doesn’t help. To those in the know, however, Camberwell is full of gems worth seeking out. One of these, is The Bear.

Closed and boarded up for six years, the former pub was rebirthed as a new pub, The Bear, late last year. It’s by chefs Joe Sharratt and Teddy Roberts, who made their name at Joe’s previous venue, Brixton’s Naughty Piglets. From the outside, The Bear looks like a Typical London pub. Inside is a space that’s part traditional pub, part wine bar, part minimalist artist hangout. It’s casual, a bit eclectic, and fitting when you realise what Joe and Teddy are trying to achieve.

There’s a DJ spinning vinyl, and punters enjoying classic pints, local craft brews, low-fi wines, and top notch spirits. The Bear is a great local’s pub, but that’s not the reason you’re making the trek out to Camberwell. Walk past the DJ booth, and you’ll find a narrow side space, housing an open kitchen, with stools for 12 diners perched along a chef’s counter.

The chef’s table opened in February this year, and sees Joe, Teddy, and the team build upon what they were doing at Naughty Piglets. It’s essentially modern British cuisine, drawing inspiration from the melting pot of cultures that make London the city that it is. Top quality ingredients are sourced from local, independent suppliers, with a focus on things cooked over fire.

The compact menu is continually evolving, and it’s the kind of menu where you’ll want to try everything. English asparagus with curry leaf mayonnaise is a delight, as is the Devon crab, served atop a mound of delicate pickled cabbage, topped with peanuts, nori, and yuzu dressing. Smoked eel arrives at the table on a bed of pickled Yorkshire rhubarb and ginger, contrasting and combining wonderfully.

The duck Kyiv, a dish that’s been evolving as The Bear finds its groove, has become a bit of a signature dish, and for good reason. Minced duck encases a filling of wild garlic butter, which is crumbed and fried. Served with buttery mashed potato and jus. It’s worth visiting The Bear to eat this alone.

Since I visited, the duck Kyiv has been tweaked further, now featuring duck liver butter, and pickled cherries. Being back in Melbourne, I can’t easily pop back in to try the latest iteration, but if you’re in London, or visiting soon, The Bear should be on your radar.

The Bear

296A Camberwell New Road
London SE5 0RP
United Kingdom

Telephone: 020 3015 5168
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Tue – Thu: 4:00pm to 12:00am
Fri: 4:00pm to 1:00am
Sat: 12:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 12:00pm to 10:00pm

The Devonshire, Soho

Paul
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0
The Devonshire, Soho

LONDON | One of the many things that I miss about living in London, is its pubs. Don’t get me wrong, I adore a good Aussie pub, but there’s that something special about a proper British pub which does it for me. I have a few favourites that I try to get back to whenever I’m back in London, and after my most recent visit, I’ve added The Devonshire to that list.

The Devonshire dates back to 1793, but most recently was home to a branch of Jamie’s Italian. It reopened as a pub in November 2023, and has fast become one of the most popular “new” pubs in London, helping to spark a renaissance in Soho’s pub scene.

This should come as no surprise, given the trio behind its restoration. The Devonshire is operated by restaurateur Charlie Carroll (founder of Flat Iron), chef Ashley Palmer-Watts (ex-Fat Duck head chef) and publican Oisín Rogers (ex-GM of The Guinea Grill). Together, they’ve created something rather special. There’s the pub section with dark wood panelling and red leather banquettes on the ground floor, cosy dining spaces above, and a rooftop terrace that’s opened just in time for the summer.

Bookings for the dining section are amongst the most sought after in town, however the rooftop and pub section are both walk-ins only, with the full menu being available on the rooftop and a killer snack menu in the pub.

On the menu, you’ll find proper pub food that aims to be “the best version” of what it is. Produce is sourced from the best that the UK has to offer, and all preparation is done on site. There’s an on-site bakery, along with a butchery and meat ageing room run by George Donnelly (ex-Victor Churchill). The menu is written by hand, tweaked based on what’s good that day.

Protein, mostly cooked over a wood-fired grill, is things like dry-aged Scottish steaks, creel-caught langoustines from Oban, and hand-dived scallops from Devon. Flat iron steak with duck fat chips for lunch is a great option. It’s part of the excellent value £29 set lunch, which also gets you house bread and butter, a prawn and langoustine cocktail, and the already cult classic sticky date pudding. The sweet and tangy confit tomato tart, piled high with radicchio, is a worthwhile addition, too.

For bar snacks, its things like a Iberico bacon sandwich made using pigs from Brett Graham’s (The Ledbury) farm, a sausage roll, and one of the best scotch eggs I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying. To drink, its a quality selection of cask ale, draught beer, wine, and spirits. The Guinness, which is outstanding, was recently voted the best Guinness in London.

The Devonshire is well deserving of its plaudits. It’s a proper pub, egalitarian and welcoming despite the hype and regular visits from famous types, with well priced pints and quality dishes that champion the best of the British Isles. I can’t wait to go back.

The Devonshire

17 Denman Street
London W1D 7HW
United Kingdom

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

Open
Mon – Sat: 11:00am to 11:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm to 10:00pm

Ergon Agora, Thessaloniki

Paul
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0
Ergon Agora, Thessaloniki

THESSALONIKI | When brothers Thomas and George Douzis founded Ergon Foods in 2008, little did they know that it would grow into what it is today. The third generation of a Thessaloniki family involved in championing local produce, the brothers’ founded expanded on the idea.

Ergon was founded as a purveyor of artisan Greek products sourced from small, independent producers, presented in a fresh, modern way. Today, Ergon have delis, restaurants, markets and “foodie hotels” throughout Greece, along with outposts in Cyprus, London, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Each location has its own feel, and one of the best is the Ergon Agora concept store in the heart of Thessaloniki. It’s a large, indoor market space that hosts a restaurant and cafe, greengrocer, butcher, fishmonger, and bakery. Walking through the market, I was impressed by the quality of produce and range of products. I would have loved to have had a few days in a kitchen to cook with some of it.

In line with Ergon’s philosophy, their restaurant is one of the best spots in town to enjoy contemporary Greek cuisine made using the best quality produce available. Squid ink taramosalata is served with fluffy, warm, wood-fired pita, while a medley of grilled seasonal vegetables is topped with a sweet carob dressing and herbs. Zucchini fritters with feta, fresh herbs, and tzatziki are another great starter.

For larger dishes, it’s things like orzo is mixed with seafood, fresh tomatoes, and herbs; smoked sardine gyro in ladopita with spicy herbed tomato sauce; and a catch of the day section. The latter lets you choose from around 12 different fish that you can have grilled, steamed, or fried.

To drink, there’s a small but diverse selection of wines from some of Greece’s top winemakers, long with house ouzo, tsipouro, and beers. Word on the street is that the brunch game here is strong, too.

Ergon Agora

P. Mela 42
Thessaloniki 546 22
Greece

Telephone: 2310 288 008
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 9:00am to 1:00am

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