There's been a lot of talk about Mission Australia's Charcoal Lane restaurant recently in the Melbourne press, with the Fitzroy social enterprise making the pages of The Age and Melbourne City newspaper.This month the restaurant was the setting for the 'Lunch with…' column, with Peter Freier, the Archbishop of Melbourne, enjoying its native-flavoured dishes.
The Age's Danny Zwartz wrote that "The choice of Charcoal Lane is typical of his attention to detail and unerring political eye. It is a pleasant restaurant serving good food but he is also supporting disadvantaged young people - not least through the publicity he will bring - as well as deflecting possible criticism about the archbishop being seen doing something as frivolous as lunch."
He also noted that the restaurant, which trains young Aboriginal people and other local youth in hospitality, was a natural choice for the Archbishop, who had worked with Indigenous communities on Thursday Island an in Kowanyama and Yarrabar.
Dishes featured included saltbush lamb, pan-seared salmon, Sydney rock oysters with cider dressing and finger limes, yam fritters with bush tomato chutney, and flourless mandarin meringue cake and cheese were among the native-flavoured dishes that were highlighted.
Last month the restaurant also received a glowing review in the Melbourne City Newspaper.
Kimberly Yu wrote that "Fantastic food and the spirit of a fair go come together at Fitzroy's Charcoal Lane.
"The restaurant's innovative use of native meat and bush spices combines seamlessly with more familiar offerings, producing mouth-watering dishes like native peppered kangaroo fillet with a shallot and bush tomato tart, topped with a rosella flower jus," she added.
Head Chef Craig Hicks has been on a mission to bring "fresh tastes to the menu, incorporating his experience in some of the best kitchens in Asia, Europe and Australia into the new menu.
"I'm passionate about incorporating Australian Indigenous ingredients such as lilli pillies and quandongs with Asian flavours, which I don't think anyone else has achieved," he said, adding that kangaroo was the biggest drawcard.
Craig said he was looking forward to showing students the array of possibilities for a career in hospitality. Under his guidance, the trainees now make bread twice a day and also learning to make cheeses.
The restaurant - a partnership between Mission Australia, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and William Angliss Institute - provides 30 traineeships and 12 apprenticeships a year.
Charcoal Lane staff and trainees are preparing to host another Taste of Reconciliation event on the 25 May. The event is the second annual corporate dinner and will feature keynote speakers such as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jeanette Powell, and Chief Operating Officer and CEO Institutional Clients Group, Citi Australia and New Zealand, Stephen Roberts. Visit www.tasteofreconciliation.org for more information.
Charcoal Lane is at 136 Gertrude St, Fitzroy. Open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. Call (03) 9418 3400, email eat@charcoallane.com.au, or visit www.charcoallane.com.au
Further reading:
No comments:
Post a Comment