The Art of Good Food
Three of the state's most acclaimed chefs, Stefano De Pieri (Stefanos), Shannon Bennett (Vue de Monde) and Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino, Mirka @ Tolarno) are each undertaking their own collaborative projects with a major art gallery in Victoria.
In Mildura, Stefano De Pieri and recently opened exhibition / studio space The Arts Vault have collaborated to bring a new program ‘The Long Lunch', to Stefano's Gallery 25, at 25 Deakin Avenue (which also shares the space with Stefano's Cellar Door and Bar). Members of the public who book in for the lunch get the chance to enjoy a delicious three course meal prepared by De Pieri and chance to meet with current artist in residence at Arts Vault in a relaxed social environment. Information about the forthcoming Long Lunch dates is available at
Also in arts-meets-food news, Heide Museum of Modern Art announced last month that Vue de monde's Shannon Bennett, will operate the museum's new café, Café Vue at Heide and the functions and events offering at the museum, to be called Vue de monde Events at Heide. Café Vue at Heide, which signifies Bennett's first on-ongoing collaboration with a museum, will offer a menu that comprises of dishes suited to a casual lunch with friends through to those ideal for sumptuous picnics in Heide's iconic Sculpture Garden.
One of Melbourne's more established arts-food collaborations is ACCA @ Mirka, a partnership between respected Melbourne restaurateur Guy Grossi and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA). When Grossi opened his new restaurant Mirka at Tolarno Hotel in 2007, he was aware of the unique role the building played in Melbourne art history, Grossi approached ACCA director Juliana Engberg asking whether she and her team her would create a series of contemporary exhibitions to take place in the gallery room, abridging the new restaurant. The ACCA at Mirka program runs four exhibitions a year featuring emerging Australian artists.
The building that now houses Grossi's Mirka at Tolarno Hotel used to be owned by Georges Mora, restaurateur, gallery owner and curator and his wife Mirka, one of Melbourne's most famous artists.
For further information:
The Long Lunch at The Arts Vault: www.theartvault.com.au
Café Vue at Heide Museum: www.heide.com.au
ACCA at Mirka at Tolarno Hotel: www.accaonline.org.au/Mirka or www.mirkatolarnohotel.com