Dining Galleries – Decadence

Big names, big night. Welcome to Saturday evening in Town Square – an occasion where only the decadent will do. Indulge across a menu from chefs Jacqui Challinor, Jake Kellie and Ollie Wong-Hee. This is South Australia dressed to impress: prime cuts, radiant produce and sundry delights assembled for pure pleasure. Challinor is a specialist of the genre. Case in point: her tenure at Reine & La Rue, grand in both size and ambition, which sets the bar for French fare in Melbourne. She is among the brightest stars of Australian hospitality – a noted leader of kitchens and conversations about work-life balance amid the bustle. Kellie, meanwhile, is best known for arkhé, the fire-driven Adelaide venue that helped usher the city into a new era of innovative dining. His trajectory has been sharp, with a pivotal stint at Singapore’s Michelin-starred Burnt Ends also among highlights to date. Put simply: the man knows fine dining. Byron Bay has embraced Wong-Hee and the Parisian-inspired Bar Heather, where a trove of natural wine is complemented by his vino-friendly food. Experience at Hobart’s seminal Franklin, together with Sydney standouts including Mr. Wong, Sixpenny and Ester, helped earn him the Best New Talent nod at the latest Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards. Ready for a little opulence? It’s time to live it up.