ESPRESSO
The Age
Tuesday September 29, 2009
Stop the swine crimeNEIL Perry wants you to buy free-range pork. He's one of several high-profile chefs to lend their names to a campaign against the intensive pig farming industry started by Jaylene Musgrave, former PA to Jimmy Barnes and founder of Vegan Warriors. In sentiments wholeheartedly endorsed by Espresso, Perry says: "As a humanitarian, chef and avid diner, I find intensive farming of all animals to satisfy a 'feed the masses at any cost' mentality abhorrent." Simon Bryant, executive chef at Adelaide's Hilton and presenter of The Cook and the Chef, has also come on board, as has Heather Mills, otherwise known as the former Mrs McCartney.Dish by democracyLIBERTINE'S been pretty busy with their $25 cassoulet nights every Wednesday throughout winter but chef-owner Nick Creswick has developed an entirely understandable aversion to white beans. So in the spirit of democracy, Creswick and partner Zoe Ladyman are asking their customers to send in ideas for a replacement dish. Submissions will be accepted over the next week and the chosen dish launched on the menu on October 7. The person with the winning dish will get a table for four on a Wednesday night, including alcohol (and should several people pitch the same idea, they will go into a draw). Send your suggestions toinfo@libertinedining.com.au by the end of business on Tuesday, October 6.LA startersMORE news from the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival: two further stars of the Americas for the Langham Melbourne MasterClass will be Josiah Citrin from Melisse and Nancy Silverton (left) from Osteria Mozza. Both based in Los Angeles, Citrin presents an LA take on French cuisine, while Silverton is a pastry chef who joined forces with Mario Batali to revolutionise pizza in Hollywood. See melbournefoodandwine.com.au.Big stake in beefHENRY Honner from Ivanhoe's Barrio can safely argue that he has more of an interest in meat than plenty of other chefs. His family, who share an ownership interest in the Mediterranean-focused restaurant, recently took out an impressive haul of awards for their poll Herefords at the Royal Adelaide Show. Based in the tiny hamlet of Brentwood €” with a population of just 50 €” on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, the Honners' Minlacowie Poll Hereford Stud won senior champion bull, reserve junior champion bull, grand champion female, senior champion female and most successful exhibitor. "There's a big push towards Angus at the moment but I'm definitely a poll Hereford guy," Honner says.Rialto romanceWORD about town is that some high-profile chefs are being courted to take up residence in the Rialto. Remo Nicolini's +39 Pizzeria and Degustation might not exactly be in the fine-dining league but it certainly makes a good coffee, which makes it welcome news that next month sees the opening of Espressino. Housed on the Rialto's ground level, in the former bluestone home of Schwab's on the corner of Collins and King, Espressino will sell pizza al taglio (by the slice), as well as its own coffee blends. "It's different to +39, concentrating more on coffee," says Nicolini, who's also planning on expanding to Brisbane early next year.Raising the barWE MIGHT have been dudded out of recent national and international restaurant awards but at least we can drown our sorrows in style. The Golden Monkey led a swag of Melbourne bars bringing home silverware following the 2009 Australian Bar Awards, held in Sydney last week. The glam Asian-themed venue was named bar of the year, while Match Bar & Grill muscled out other local contenders Spice Market, the Emerald Peacock and Berlin to get the gong for best new bar. Seamstress and Sweatshop won cocktail bar of the year, while other winners included Der Raum (cocktail list of the year), the Blue Diamond's Tim Wastell (bar manager of the year) and Vernon Chalker (bar operator of the year).Spring-a-ding-ding!SPRING has sprung and in response, there seems to be a buzz of creativity in the air as chefs wheel out new menus and concepts. Collins Quarter has introduced a Saturday lunch option, Cutler & Co a "family-style" Sunday lunch and the Deanery a tasting menu for the downstairs area that includes an "out there" option showcasing Robin Wickens' more playful dishes, including a favourite fromInterlude, his take on bacon and eggs.Outpost with the mostIT MUST be all the coffee he drinks: the seemingly indefatigable Salvatore Malatesta, owner of St Ali, has recently launched Outpost, a part cafe/part retail outlet offering up to 15 single origin bean varieties. The idea is for customers to select their bean and their preferred brewing method. You will find it at 9 Yarra Street, South Yarra.
© 2009 The Age
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