Melbourne’s favourite Italian chef plants the flag in the west, looking to the gutsy flavours of the Italian capital for inspiration.
Come April, the spectrum of Italian dining in Perth will gain a new shade – Roman alla Guy Grossi ¬- when the Grossi Florentino chef opens Garum, a 120-seat osteria, his first restaurant outside Melbourne. The flagship diner of the brand-new Westin Perth, Garum will work to a tight brief of Roman dishes both ancient and modern. For those playing at home, that means favourites such as carbonara or saltimbocca with gnocchi alla Romana, plus the likes of suckling lamb, braised oxtail and Onano lentils with mozzarella and salt-baked beetroot.
“It’s about celebrating ancient Roman techniques and values,” Grossi says
To that end, lesser-known products and preparations will have their moment, whether that’s moretum, a garlicky cheese and herb spread served with bread, quinto quarto (the catch-all Roman term for offal) or garum, the fermented fish sauce for which the restaurant is named. The wine list will home in on the Lazio region, but will also feature a selection of other Italian and locally produced drops.
The Westin Perth is the latest five-star hotel to plant a flag in the Western Australian capital and will open as part of the larger Hibernian Place development that’s set to enliven the east end of the CBD, with Mary Street Bakery, Huxtaburger and Bodhi J Wellness Spa also among the tenants.
Garum, housed within the newly restored Hibernian Hall, opens on 27 April and will include outdoor seating, a private room and a bar with its own food menu.
Garum, Hibernian Place, 480 Hay St, Perth, WA, (08) 6559 1888; Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 6.30am-11pm.
