Ed Charles dishes up the latest on Melbourne’s food, wine and bars
FIFTEEN CHANGES
Less than a year in and the director of the local franchise of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation charity, Lauren Oliver (right), has quit.
She is replaced by short-back-and-sides Peter Brown, who has a background at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital and more recently the People and Parks Foundation.
He’ll be ramping up fundraising, and looking to culturally diversify the next intake and broaden the kids’ education.
Oliver, who later this month joins the charity Berry St, says Fifteen was the hardest year of her life.
Back at the restaurant, assistant manager Alicia McLeay replaces GM Carl Forrest. Out of the first intake of 20 deprived young adults, the kitchen proved too hot for seven.
I can report the quality of food has improved since last year.
RESTAURANT RULES
The thing putting me off booking at Fifteen is the booking policy where $50 is charged per person for cancellations within 24 hours.
This fee pales next to the $150 charged to no-shows at Vue de Monde. The Rockpool Bar and Grill at Crown Casino is a little more reasonable, charging $50 a person for no-shows on parties of eight people and more. At Ezard, the charge is $100 a head for parties of six or more, but only for bookings that cancel after 4pm on the same day.
MISS-ADVENTURE
Spotted: the whole cast of Miss Saigon at Bimbo Deluxe (376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy). Yes, they were enjoying themselves a little too much.
BEST FEED
CHOCOLATERIA SAN CHURRO Fitzroy
I like Chocolateria San Churro (277b Brunswick St) because I can indulge in Spanish doughnuts (churros, $6.90) and chocolate dipping sauce without having to plough through boring old tapas. I drank a thick and rich Aztec hot chocolate spiked with chilli, though the most popular hot drink seemed to be the white chocolate. See page 4.
Read Ed Charles at www.tomatom.com