Melbourne chef Dave Verheul, co-founder of influential wine bar Embla, and vermouth label Saison Aperitifs, will take over Bessie’s kitchen for one night on Monday 12 October. This takeover will mark the third event in The Goodies Hospitality’s Goodies & Friends series, following collaborations with Dan Hunter of Brae at Bessie’s, and Tipo 00 and Giorgio De Maria at Vin-Cenzo’s.
Verheul co-founded The Town Mouse in 2013 before opening Embla in Melbourne in 2015, building it into one of the city’s most respected wine bars, built around produce-driven small plates cooked over a wood-fired oven and grill. In 2020, he launched Saison Aperitifs, a vermouth and amari label that grew out of his experiments making drinks in the kitchen above Embla. What began as a side project has since grown into a standalone brand, distributed across Australia and international markets.
Bessie’s collaboration with Verheul will be a relaxed dinner with communal seating, with the Melbourne chef bringing a selection of dishes that reflect his distinctive approach to produce and flavour. Menu highlights include: raw tuna and chickpea tostada with kalamata olive and sobrasada; and a globe artichoke tart with ricotta, pine nuts and fermented buttermilk. A selection of special bottles will be available for the occasion, alongside the full Saison range with highlights including: Red, an Australian take on the classic Italian rosso; White Flowers, a floral bianco with white peach; and Spring Rhubarb, combining rhubarb with native botanicals.
“Dave’s work at Embla and Saison has been a big inspiration to us, and we’re excited to bring him into the Bessie’s kitchen,” says Nathan Sasi, chef and co-owner of The Goodies Hospitality. “It’s a chance for our guests to experience what he’s created down in Melbourne, while getting everyone around the table for a fun night of shared plates, good company and great pours.”
The collaboration is the third in the Goodies & Friends series, starting with Dan Hunter of Brae at Bessie’s and continued with Vin-Cenzo’s first birthday alongside Tipo 00 and Giorgio De Maria. Goodies & Friends brings one-off collaborations with guest chefs and acclaimed restaurants and bars to venues across The Goodies Hospitality portfolio. More events will be announced over the coming months, with the series continuing across Bar Copains, Bessie’s, Alma’s, Vin-Cenzo’s and La Buvette.
Tickets are now available for $120 per person, with drinks available on consumption via SevenRooms.
