As torrential rain fell heavily on the streets of Melbourne, and people sought cover from the wild weather, the inviting warmth and vibrancy of The Press Club was a very welcome sight. In celebration of the DVD launch of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 I was invited to enjoy a Greek style menu prepared by owner George Calombaris.
I stepped into the beautifully designed space, which was rather reminiscent of the inside of a beehive with circular patterns adorning the roof swathed in gold. We sipped our glasses of champagne and mingled amongst ourselves whilst admiring the window view into the kitchen where we could see the chefs busy at work. Once seated our menus were revealed, featuring modern Greek dishes that would soon adorn our palettes. Tsoureki’s, Horiatiki’s, Kritharaki’s, and Rizogalo’s were the dishes of choice, transformed by George who created a more modern adaptation of these Greek classics. Before our first dish arrived George gave an impassioned speech about embracing his Greek heritage, and listed all the things he could relate to from the movie in comical anecdotes. Laughs ensued as bottles of ‘windex’ were bought around so guests could wash their hands before lunch. Luckily everyone in attendance had seen the movie, so there were no bewildered faces amongst the tables.
When our dishes began to arrive, I found them beautifully presented, and light so as to let every single flavour in each course prevail. It was lovely to see so much thought and preparation go into not only the presentation but also into the beautiful flavour combinations. My favourite dish of the afternoon was the Artichoke Horiatiki which was fresh and vibrant, with exciting flavour combinations in each mouthful. A delicious and light salad was the perfect way to begin a refreshing three course meal. George’s signature desert was served at the end which added a theatrical element to the meal. A miniature clothes horse was adorned with a variety of sweet treats. Shards of dark chocolate hung from pegs, and marshmallows were personally blowtorched by our handy waiter, a great way to finish a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
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