On Tuesday 15 September, Mediterranean restaurant Bessie’s will open its kitchen to Dan Hunter, chef and owner of three-hatted restaurant Brae in Victoria, for a one-night-only collaboration that launches The Goodies Hospitality’s new event series, Goodies & Friends.
Running throughout the year, Goodies & Friends collaborates with guest chefs and acclaimed restaurants and bars for one-off events across the group’s venues (Bar Copains, Bessies, Alma’s, Vin-Cenzo’s, and La Buvette), each built around a bespoke, never-to-be-repeated menu.
Known for his commitment to organic farming and ethical sourcing, Hunter’s approach to Australian cuisine is driven by seasonality, provenance and a deep respect for produce, which will be reflected through the menu for the night. Since opening Brae in the small regional town of Birregurra in 2013, he has built a restaurant where daily harvests and produce from local growers dictate a menu that follows the seasons rather than trends. Brae has held three hats since opening and has also appeared on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
The collaborative five-course menu will span small plates through to family-style mains and dessert. Menu highlights include: sea urchin and chickpea crisp with serrano honey; yellowfin tuna and eggplant braised with chocolate and white miso; duck liver cream with pistachio and pork blood biscuit; and beef short rib glazed with smoked eel, sliced kohlrabi and nasturtium. Drinks will be available to purchase on consumption. Tickets are $240 per person.
“Goodies & Friends is exactly what it sounds like – we’re throwing open our kitchens to chefs we love and having a great time doing it,” says Nathan Sasi, chef and co-owner of The Goodies Hospitality. “Dan’s a chef we’ve admired for years, and there’s no one we’d rather open the series with. Expect good food, flowing drinks, and chef Dan right in the mix with our guests. It’s going to be a fun one.”
Guest takeovers are already part of the group’s DNA, with previous collaborations including Jamie Oliver, James Henry of Le Doyenné, ‘the world’s best baker’ Richard Hart, and Andy ‘Andy Cooks’ Hearnden. Goodies & Friends now formalises that approach into an ongoing series, with many collaborations to come. The group has recently opened French wine bar La Buvette in Potts Point, joining a portfolio that includes Bessie’s, Alma’s, Bar Copains and Vin-Cenzo’s. Further collaborations will be announced across the venues throughout the year.
With seats limited to 70, tickets for the first Goodies & Friends event with Dan Hunter are available via SevenRooms.
