South Australian brewer ‘Pirate Life’ has made its debut in Victoria, with its first Melbourne venue.
A Greek heritage chef, Maria Delengas, renowned for her tenure at Adelaide’s acclaimed Arkhé restaurant, will lead working with Nicolas Lopez, a Chilean-born chef.
According to the Age, Delengas says her Greek heritage combined with Lopez’s skill in South American barbecue have resulted in winning dishes such as lamb forequarter chops.
Another cross-cultural collab is pickled octopus with ajo blanco, a sauce based on the Spanish soup of stale bread, almonds and garlic, garnished with oregano as a nod to Delengas’ Greek roots.
The building’s industrial bones are celebrated in the original paintwork and walls, and enhanced by the large oven and hearth of the open kitchen.
Catering to the bustling office and market crowd, an express lunch menu ensures dishes reach tables within 15 minutes. Noteworthy is the spanakopita lasagne, a unique twist on the traditional Greek pie, layered between sheets of pasta.
This marks Pirate Life’s fourth venue, following its inception in Adelaide in 2014 and fast acquisition by Carlton & United Breweries.
Pirate Life won’t be brewing at South Melbourne, but will send beer from its South Australian headquarters to fill the 11 beer taps in South Melbourne, including a special Market Street Lager exclusive to the venue. These will join predominantly Australian wines (the most expensive glass is $20) and four classic cocktails, including a South Side.
Source: The age
