Dreaming of a getaway to regional Victoria, but don't have any annual leave up your sleeve? Fret not, because Farmer's Daughters is shining a spotlight on Gippsland at the swish multi-level precinct that is 80 Collins Street.
Executive chef and owner Alejandro Saravia is also the official food and beverage ambassador for Gippsland, and has spent four years bringing his vision of a deli, restaurant and bar to life.
The colour palette is inspired by gumtrees, from olive green through to terracotta, and each level of the three-storey venue represents a different location: the ground floor is dedicated to Melbourne, the second floor represents Gippsland and the top floor is a rooftop oasis.
The restaurant's menu is reflective of the seasonal availability, and often dependant on ingredients that are available from local producers at the time to avoid waste. Farmers arrive at its inner-city doorstep every day with fresh produce for head chef David Boyle (Lake House, Pastuso). Plus, all off-cuts are used in the deli or refashioned into pastes and broths.
Downstairs you’ll find the deli and providore serving Farmer’s Daughters house coffee. The deli fridge stocks cheeses by Butterfly Factory and Prom Country Cheese along with cured meats like Bass Strait beef cheek pastrami. There are bottles of pickled pine mushrooms and locally sourced craft beers including Gippsland brewer Sailor’s Grave and the Stringer’s Creek Pilsner.
Sink into brown leather banquettes and order warm Irish soda bread with honey molasses and St David Dairy’s cheesy cultured butter on top to your cloudy grey marble tables.
Upstairs, the restaurant is filled with the warm, inviting aroma of red gum logs and mountain pepper branches burning in a campfire grill in the open kitchen, which is where fillets of fish get their perfect char. The vibe up here is upscale country with lots of light timber, a wrap-around bar, and framed images of native botanicals.
On the third and final floor is the rooftop, which has recently undergone a refresh to become a swanky dining space and wine bar. Here the spotlight is focused on the best vinos from the Gippsland region, while the meny offers seasonal share plates. Formerly for walk-ins only, the rooftop space is now accepting bookings.
"To keep pace and evolve with Melbourne's dynamic hospitality industry and enhance our offering, we've reimagined our rooftop as a vibrant and cosy wine bar," says Saravia. "This new space is a homage to our Gippsland roots, harmoniously blending rustic charm with a touch of Melbourne’s urban sophistication."