What: Seasonal and local 4 course meal, plus canapes, with matched wines
Chef: Matt Wilkinson
When: Thursday 1st December, 7pm
Where: Pope Joan, 77-79 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick (96 Tram).
How much: $115.00 a person (plus 30 cents booking fee) including wine.
Booking: Bookings (via TryBooking)
Over here at Fringe Food we’re very grateful to the chefs who have supported us as we grow these regular dinners into a fully fledged festival in March next year. In the new few months as we finalise our program, I’ll be posting extra information on our chef partners, and the venues where you can find them, along with some of our special produce suppliers.
Matt Wilkinson made a real name for himself during his four year stint at 2 hatted Circa – The Prince, where his love of sustainable and local food and skills in cooking it beautifully lead him to stand out from the crowd. Matt now runs a “little cafe” (hah!) in East Brunswick, Pope Joan, with Ben Foster. They have finally started renovating the building next door which will eventually become a bar known as the Bishop of Ostia.
Matt is so busy, it’s always a tremendous treat when we can drag him away for a Fringe Food Festival event. He cooked for us at our first Truffle dinner at St Ali in July, and I’ve been dying to get together with him again, and show off some stunning produce.
Beautiful local produce like this forced rhubarb
So I started with some produce close to Matt’s heart. As a Yorkshire lad, Matt has had to give up on cooking with the famous rhubarb of his home. There is an area in Yorkshire known as the “Rhubarb Triangle” (yep – just like the one in Bermuda) which is famous for producing “forced rhubarb”. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb is recognised as ”Protected Designation of Origin” by the European Commission, similar to Champagne, Stilton Cheese, Parma Ham and other significant foods that are controlled to one point of origin. Yorkshire grows 90% of the world’s forced rhubarb.
Well maybe its 89.999999% now as Matt and I have convinced Koo Wee Rup based Asparagus and Rhubarb growers, Jo and Trevor from Bridge Farm Organics, to grow some rhubarb in the dark, for our one-off special dinner.
So though you may feel like we are “forcing” ourselves to believe summer is on the way, we’re really all about feeding you forced rhubarb.
Matt will be dishing up 4 courses, 2 of which will feature forced rhubarb, with matched wines,
It’s likely that there will be a white asparagus dish as well.
It will also be quite special to eat dinner at Pope Joan as well, as they are usually open only for breakfast and lunch. I’m hoping for a balmy night so you can enjoy the kitchen garden out the back. It’s sure to be a stunning evening. Please join us.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Is this something us vegos can be joining in on? I love rhubarb and asparagus!
Exactly my sentiments Cindy!
Sorry folks – we can’t offer a vegetarian option on this dinner. Maybe next time.
I’ll be travelling I’m afraid, but as an exile from the rhubarb triangle I wish you well.
Love this concept! Enjoy! A wee bit jealous; I am not attending ;-)
We’ll get you to one of these events eventually Elizabeth! I’ll enjoy enough for us both shall I? Sj