Eat What He Eats! Chef Curtis Stone's Perfect Night Out in Melbourne
Chef Curtis Stone (Corbis Entertainment)
Ah, Thursday night — the only truly social night of the week. It’s the night when babysitters are booked, friends convene, and drinks are imbibed. There are no family obligations to fulfill, no amateurish weekend crowds to elbow through — and the possibilities are endless. The night starts after work and ends whenever you want. In any city. All over the world.
This week, we present the perfect Thursday night in Melbourne, Australia.
In the U.S., chef Curtis Stone is the handsome host of Top Chef Masters on Bravo. But his heart is never far from his hometown of Melbourne, and the Aussie knows where to find great eats and drinks there. Here’s how the star spends his Thursday evenings down under in Melbourne.
5:30 p.m.
City Wine Shop (Facebook)
Stone suggests starting the night catching up with mates at City Wine Shop, a European-style wine bar. The early evening hours are primetime for pulling up a seat outside and watching the after-work hustle and bustle go by. As the night progresses, soak up the infectious energy of happy couples and chatty groups of friends hurrying off to the Princess Theatre, located doors away from the wine shop. “I’ve never had a bad bottle of wine here, and though their croque-monsieur and chicken schnitzel dishes are killer, I opt for a small plate of the oysters of the day, because it’s off to dinner after this,” says Stone.
7 p.m.
Mouthwatering offerings at Cumulus Inc. (Facebook, inset photo: Chef Andrew McConnell)
Andrew McConnell, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated chefs, has a handful of restaurants across the city, including Cumulus Inc. The spot offers a welcoming, casual, and relaxed vibe, but the chefs, sommeliers, and guests are serious about food and drink. “The menu is designed to share, so I recommend rounding up three friends and enjoying the experience together,” says Stone, who suggests ordering the fried cauliflower with spiced salt. “Get it. You won’t regret it,” he promises.
10 p.m.
(Gin Palace)
Time to hit a bar for a couple of cocktails! Within walking distance from Cumulus Inc. is an old classic bar called Gin Palace,which boasts a plethora of gins of varying prices and tastes. “I opt for the gin Bramble when I’m here,” Curtis says, referring to the muddled mix of gin, crème de cassis, agave nectar, fresh lemon, blueberries, cucumber, mint leaves, and ice. Cheers to that!
11:30 p.m.
A mixologist removes whiskey from a barrel at Eau De Vie. (Facebook)
For a change of cocktail and scenery, the next stop is the award-winning bar Eau De Vie. “Leave your order in the capable hands of the bartenders, and you can’t go wrong,” says Stone. With top-notch, fresh ingredients, something seasonal, fresh, and fruity is his drink of choice at this intimate, dimly lit speakeasy.
1 a.m.
The barbecue suckling pig at Supper Inn (GoodFood/Eddie Jim)
To satisfy the late-night munchies, the fifth and final destination is Supper Inn, a bustling and lively Chinese restaurant nestled within Melbourne’s Chinatown. It’s open seven days a week until 2:30 a.m. “This is a favorite haunt amongst the hospitality crew who like to wind down with a quick feed and a beer after service,” says Stone.
Check out what to do on Thursday Nights in more cities around the world:
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