This Week in Food: 10th birthday celebrations at Hellenic, feasting for spring + pop up shops with a twist
HAPPY HELLENE – It’s a very happy tenth birthday to Hellenic Republic’s flagship Brunswick restaurant, and to celebrate, George Calombaris and exec chef Travis McAuley have designed a special 10th birthday banquet menu which is available at all of their venues throughout November. You can taste ten of their most iconic dishes from the delicious last decade, for $75 per person – or match drinks for an extra $30 each. More info – https://hellenicrepublic.com.
FEASTING FOR SPRING – Need an excuse to get out into the fresh air and indulge? How about Springfest at Levantine Hill Estate? It’s a celebration of the new growing season, over a three-course shared lunch with matched wines on long share tables, and it’s happening on November 18. You’ll get exclusive access to their winery team, who will take guests through the 2018 vintage including a Rose blending activity. There’ll even be time to relax on the lawn with cheese and wine after lunch. More info: https://www.levantinehill.com.au/news-events/
TOO GOOD, TWO-FOLD – We also recently got to Port Melbourne’s Starward Whisky distillery, and wondered why on earth I hadn’t visited before. It’s fantastic, and here’s your excuse to get in for a look. This local distiller has just launched a brand new whisky made using Australian wheat and malted barley, matured in Australian wine barrels – Two-Fold. To celebrate the launch, they’re pairing with Cumulus Up. to create ‘Two-Fold Thursdays’, pairing of Australian whisky and food for the month of November – get in and enjoy a Starward Two-Fold Orchard Spritz cocktail with Duck waffle, fois gras & Starward Two-Fold whisky jelly for $20.
POP UP SHOP UP – If you really want to get ALL your Christmas shopping done in the one place, Myer Melbourne’s Giftorium really is the place to be this year. Four Pillars has built a fabulous pop-up shop and bar, featuring the entire range of unique Four Pillars Gins available to buy AND taste. Plus, each Thursday night there’ll be Four Pillars ambassadors doing gin tasting experiences, and weekends will feature some fun masterclasses. https://www.fourpillarsgin.
Plus – The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery has popped up there too, stuff a special Christmas Bon Bon or bauble choc-ful of their scrumptious couvertere chocolate balls, or try Santa’s Brownie Bar.
SLOW TAKEOVER – Ross and I checked out Etta in Brunswick for A Moveable Feast TV last week and we were blown away. So might be worth knowing that renowned Israeli/Kiwi chef Yael Shochat from Auckland’s Ima is taking over their kitchen for Sunday lunch on November 11. She’ll be serving up an Israeli slow-cooked feast priced at $65 a head – think dishes like hummus with sour spicy sauce, stuffed vegetables and makluba with Israeli salad (an upside-down rice with lamb or chicken dish). More details and bookings – ettadining.com.au
