Melbourne heats up with some wonderful new hot spots
Maha: Basement, Bond Street, Melbourne
George Calombaris, the man behind The Press Club, is set to expand his Melbourne empire with Maha, opening this month. The Middle Eastern bar and grill will give chef Shane Delia an opportunity to cook dishes influenced by his Maltese heritage.
Fuller Bar: 161 Spring Street, Melbourne. Ph: 9654 6300
Situated on the roof of Supper Club, this new open air bar is the hot spot to be this summer.Owner Con Chistopolous has spent $1.2 million for the renovation of this keenly anticipated rooftop and dining space. Named after Sir Benjamin Fuller, a theatrical entrepreneur from the late 19th and early 20th centuries who owned the Princess Theatre for a short time, Fuller Bar has a bird's eye view of Parliament House, Parliament Gardens and the Princess Theatre.
Trunk Bar & Restaurant: 275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. Ph: 9633 7994
Trunk has just opened in this outstanding city location and shows all the signs of finding a place amongst the city's most popular after work venues. A much needed addition to the northern end of the city, Trunk's home was once a synagogue and more recently Silitto's Italian restaurant. The highlight over summer will be the elegant front herb garden area, but come winter or cool weather the slick internal New York styling will beckon.
Bamakko: 358 Victoria Street, North Melbourne. Ph: 03 90160226
The new retail concept store Bamako is a shining example of sustainable living at
its finest. Located in the heart of North Melbourne, Bamakko displays local, ethical and sustainable fashion and designs sourced mostly from within the Melbourne area.
Featuring salvaged, recycled and sustainable shop fit-out materials, Bamakko aims to bring the design and manufacture processes into the retail space, with sewing machines and parts of the work-studio incorporated into displays within the store.
The Pond: Queen Street & Franklin Street roundabout, Melbourne
www.findthepond.com.au
The transformation of a derelict courtyard and laneway has resulted in one of this summer's hottest watering holes. The Pond has been created using an eclectic variety of recycled materials including garden pots and certified plantation pine furniture, resulting in a coolly inviting garden oasis and rooftop deck. The Pond will 'dry up' at the end of summer, so get in quick!
Mama Ganoush: 56 Chapel Street, Windsor. Ph: 03 9521 4141
A welcomed addition to the Windsor end of Prahran, Mama Ganoush is a stylish and savy new venture from renowned chef Geoff Malouf and Michael Baroud from Arabesque in Elsternwick.
The restaurant's decor is as sophisticated and clever as its name, which is a play on baba ganoush, the traditional Middle Eastern dip made from garlicky eggplant puree. It's dark and mysterious inside, with lights on the walls and ceiling along with some Middle Eastern pottery on display.
The menu draws on Middle Eastern ideas and techniques and shakes them into modern life. Waiting for Momo to reopen in the Hyatt next August or September, Greg Malouf has been working on the menu with brother Geoff and the result is a truly delicious and memorable dining experience.
Dino's Deli: 34 Chapel Street, Windsor. Ph: 03 9521 3466
The owners of famed Melbourne bar/restaurant Hairy Canary have just opened a brand new venture at the Windsor end of Chapel Street.
Dino's Deli is a new cafe/wine bar/deli designed by St Kilda-based architect Grant Amon. Dino's has a Parisian/Barcelonan-style wine bar and foodstore at the front, with plenty of wallpaper and leather in the design mix. The wine store will be at the back of the venue whilst upstairs there are two private rooms with a kitchen for private dinners, guest chefs and tastings.
And in other foodie news…
Crown Melbourne welcomes international chefs
Acclaimed international chefs Jonathan Waxman from the USA, Fergus Henderson from the UK and Vimal Dhar from India will join local chefs Neil Perry, Guillaume Brahimi and Philippe Mouchel at Crown in Melbourne for the world premiere photographic exhibition titled My Last Supper, by acclaimed New York photographer Melanie Dunea in February 2008.
These acclaimed chefs - all featured in the photographic exhibition - will be based in Crown restaurants to showcase their cuisine as part of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival from 26 February - 3 March 2008.
For more information contact June Lim, Media Relations Manager, Crown Melbourne Limited on or email juneli@crownmelbourne.com.au
Fish and chips return to the Wharf at Port Albert
Fish and chips are back on the wharf where they belong with the sparkling new Port Albert Wharf Fish and Chips Shop which re-opened in January.
There is no mistaking that wonderful aroma that drifts from the new building with a fantastic selection of local fresh fish for visitors to try, filleted in the shops own purpose-built processing room.
Wellington Shire Council, in conjunction withippsland Ports have redeveloped the historic "Stockyard Point" precinct at Port Albert to provide the new fish and chippery, and visitor attractions, soon to be complemented by an exclusive seafood restaurant overlooking the historic harbour.
For further information, contact Frank Norden on 03 5142 3412 or email frank.norden@wellington.vic.gov.au