The Australia Times

Southgate restaurants are turning up the heat with a host of exciting events, masterclasses and Father’s Day celebrations.

Winter has well and truly arrived in Melbourne, but never fear – Southgate Melbourne’s riverside restaurants and bars are coming to the rescue with wine festivals, special events, warming seasonal menus, opera nights, and whisky masterclasses.

At the top of the event list is the new Southbank Progressive Dinners – The Winter Trail, hosted by three Southgate restaurants. Southgate is perhaps the ultimate destination for this style of dinner in winter – whether it’s wind, rain or hail outside you’ll be staying warm as you enjoy three courses across three different restaurants, all under one roof!

The progressive dinners are hosted by Red Emperor, La Camera Southgate and Hophaus with Waterslide Bar billed as the official pre and post dinner drinks venue. Progressive Dinners are available Sunday to Thursday evenings from 12 August to 6 September. In one night, let your tastebuds travel from Germany to Italy to China, without the need for a passport. Each acclaimed restaurant features breathtaking views overlooking the Yarra River and city skyline.

On Sunday 12 August, Pure South Dining are hosting Wine Tasmania’s annual VIN Diemen festival, bringing 100 wines from over 20 Tasmanian vinters together with their rare produce on the banks of the Yarra River. Pure South Dining’s remote artisan food suppliers will come together with wines from each region, offering a truly intimate experience of the ‘pure south’s’ startling fresh produce.

Family-favourite La Camera Southgate is set to impress with their second wonderful winter performance event. On the 27 August the celebrated Opera Night returns – join sopranos Samantha Fawcett U’Ren, Laura Slavin, and Suzanne Shakespeare as they perform some of your favourite arias, combining culture and cuisine in one electrifying evening.

Warm your bones with a whisky and learn something new along the way with one of Southgate’s stellar whisky masterclasses. Waterslide Bar are hosting intimate masterclass dedicated to some of the rarest and finest whisky in the world (booked at your convenience, with a minimum of two and maximum of fifteen in your group), while famed Irish pub P.J.O’Brien’s has a whiskey masterclass in the calendar. On 15 August the Peated Malts of Distinction masterclass will unearth some of Scotland and Ireland’s delicious peated single malts.

On 7 September, Pure South Dining is hosting an exceptional evening dedicated to ethically sourced and sustainable produce. Meet the Makers of Pure South will highlight delicious produce from Tasmania’s most sought after ethical farmers: Nichols Poultry and Mount Gnomon Farm, with celebrated head farmers from both businesses hosting the event. To top it all off, each course will be expertly matched with award-winning wines from Josef Chromy Wines, with the winemaker also in attendance.

In September, when the chill (hopefully) begins to ease, our restaurants will turn on the charm, with an assortment of fun and delicious Father’s Day specials and events. Whatever your Dad likes, there’s something here for him – from a photo booth and prizes for the Best ‘Dad Joke’ at La Camera, to free drinks for Dad at Hophaus, P.J.O’brien’s, Blue Train and Bear Brass and a special Father’s Day Chef Selection at Tutto Bene. Meanwhile the ever-delectable Damon Bradley is celebrating ‘man’s best friend’, donating $3 from every pancake sold on the day to the Lost Dog’s Home.

Effervescent Sundays continue to steal the show at Southgate, with long lunches and sparkling accompaniments consistently on the menu. ‘Free Flowing Champagne Sunday Lunches’ at Pure South Dining continue, while Tutto Bene’s Sparkling Sundays pairs delicious two or three-course Italian feasts, with bottomless premium Italian sparkling.

Southgate is home to fifteen diverse restaurants, bars and eateries with cuisines ranging from German to Tasmanian to modern European. A range of boutique retailers including vintage fashion, books and stationery can also be found within the precinct.

**Information and Images Courtesy of Southgate Restaurants/Supplied by Fuller PR – Keryn O’Donnell

FULL SCHEDULE OF FANTASTIC EVENTS AT SOUTHGATE RESTAURANTS – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

Melbourne’s Southgate Restaurants Warming up with a Season of Foodie Feasts & Events

With Summer around the corner there’s a feast of foodie events with new seasonal produce, riverside alfresco dining, a festive dessert workshop and end of year celebrations at Southgate Melbourne

Summer means longer days and warmer nights with a refreshing cocktail and seasonal share plate in hand, taking in scenic city views along the banks of the Yarra River. To make it all the more enticing, Southgate Melbourne’s slew of riverside restaurants and bars has a range of events and specials from November-January.

Alfresco dining is back in a big way with the newly refurbished and expanded riverside diner BearBrass primed to welcome the warmer months. With 350 breakfasts turning over every hour each weekend, the venue is preparing for their busiest time of year. The new look venue features an open bar where you can watch the chefs preparing your food while the bartender mixes your favourite cocktail. BearBrass venue manager Michael Singleton says “Our new bright burnt orange colour scheme has brought a vibrant, fresh feel to the venue.”

Dessert bar Damon Bradley is set to host their first summer pastry workshop for sweet treat lovers on Saturday 2 December. Masterchefs-in-the-making will have the chance to work alongside the Damon Bradley pastry chefs and learn to plate up like a pro just in time for Christmas. You’ll also get to sample some of their new season desserts bursting with summery flavours, like the Devonshire crepe filled with the award-winning Damon Bradley lemon curd topped with fresh berries.

Melbourne’s multi award winning Italian restaurant and gelateria Tutto Bene, took out yet another award this year, winning Best Italian Restaurant in Victoria at the 2017 Restaurant & Catering Savour Awards. Head Chef Nathan Scarfo looks for vibrancy in the colour of his produce and counts asparagus, snap peas and zucchini flowers to be among his favourites for the warmer months.

“Our new dishes all have a focus on using the whole ingredient. We are focusing on traditional Italian cooking – simple, no wastage, with every ingredient having multiple uses,” says Nathan. One of his summer menu highlights is the Fiori di Zucchini: fried zucchini flowers, roast pumpkin, peppitos and mustard fruits, best enjoyed on the Tutto Bene Terrazza with a crisp glass of Chardonnay.

Following its recent expansion over two levels and the launch of the more casual PS Bar + Kitchen, the new Pure South Dining continues to make the most out of the best produce of the season with Executive Chef David Hall highlighting pears, asparagus, broad beans and broad bean leaves as his ingredients of choice.

“We keep our dishes simple and allow the amazing spring and summer produce to be the hero. Our house cured line-caught Kingfish with dashi, meyer lemon, wakame and quail egg is proving to be very popular and a great simple dish heading into the warmer months,” says David.

Family favourite La Camera Southgate has one of the best Aperitivo Hour deals in Southbank, accompanied by sweeping balcony views over the Yarra River. Sip on a complimentary Italian cocktail (choose from Negroni, Sbagliato, Aperol Spritz and more) with any antipasti plate.

ENA Greek Street Food puts an authentic Greek spin on the most important meal of the day with the launch of their new breakfast menu. Think Spanakopita, Tyropita (layered buttery filo with cheesy egg) and Strapatsada (Greek style scrambled eggs with tomato and fetta) and for the sweet tooths, Bougatsa (semolina custard filled pastry).

One of Southgate’s favourite watering holes, Waterslide Bar, has reinvented the spritz with their signature “Tinder Date” cocktail, the perfect accompaniment for flirtations on their leafy riverside balcony. The refreshing drink combines delectable French Loire Valley Cremant Sparkling with fresh berries and yuzu.

Southgate’s stable of riverside restaurants will come alive throughout the festive season with Christmas lunches hosted by iconic Irish pub P.J.O’Brien’s and German Bier Bar Grill Hophaus. The silly season continues with an array of New Year’s Eve celebrations including Waterslide Bar, ENA Greek Street Food, BearBrass, P.J.O’Brien’s and Hophaus, each boasting some of the best firework-viewing vantage points.

Southgate is home to fifteen diverse restaurants, bars and eateries, with cuisines ranging from German to Tasmanian to modern European. A range of boutique retailers including vintage fashion, books and stationery can also be found within the precinct.

www.southgatemelbourne.com.au

**Information & Images Courtesy of Southgate Restaurants/Fuller PR