Head to Fed Square and pay a visit to the highly-anticipated, culinary love letter to Victoria later this month. Overlooking the Yarra River, the 250-seat restaurant will celebrate our great state, championing the produce, the people and the different regions. This venue is designed to be more than a restaurant or a bar. Beyond the open kitchen and dining room, there will be a sensory and interactive Ingredients Table, an outdoor terrace for all weathers, and a Victorian Wine Library. Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters will officially open on Thursday July 28.
Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters
This restaurant is a partnership between Fed Square and the Farmer’s Daughters team, with Executive Chef Alejandro Saravia at the helm. Farmer’s Daughters, a three-storey farm-to-table venue, opened in Melbourne last year, and was inspired by the beauty and produce of Gippsland.
Now, at Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters, they’re taking it a step further by celebrating the entire state. Saravia, Head Chef David Boyle, and the rest of the team will work together on an evolving menu that will take you on a seasonal journey around the state, from the paddocks of the Western Plains to the vineyards of the High Country.
The restaurant will also showcase particular areas in a rotating ‘region in residence’ program. This will highlight unsung ingredients, guest chefs, winemakers and bespoke cocktails. This will inspire visitors to get off the grid, and explore Victoria even further. The first region to take up residence will be Ballarat and the surrounding areas. This collaboration will take place in spring this year, with more details to be announced in the future.
“Melbourne is blossoming again, and we feel very connected to this process as we aim to bring all of our regions closer together, through like-minded collaboration,” said Saravia. “As a proud Victorian, I feel very privileged to showcase the people, places and producers that make up this incredible state and through this venture, we hope to create an inspirational getaway to regional discovery that demonstrates why Victoria is the culinary and arts capital of Australia.”
Find this dining experience at Fed Square’s Yarra Building
Inside the venue, you’ll find a theatrical open kitchen. Watch fresh produce cook over woodfire and charcoal, and feel as though you’re at a campfire. Feast on share-style dishes, like whole rock lobster from Apollo Bay, hand-harvested sea urchin from Mallacoota’s coast, and pasture-raised Summerfield lamb from the Pyrenees.
Within the restaurant space, you’ll find a custom-made Ingredients Table. Hand-carved from a single piece of reclaimed Eucalyptus Obliqua timber, this table will display ingredients in their raw form.
Head Sommelier Matt Jensen will complement the food with a beverage program that focuses exclusively on Victorian wines, beers and spirits. This will carry on into the Wine Library, a 20-seat space that holds over 3000 bottles of wine. It features a selection from renowned winemakers, as well as handpicked museum wines from Bass Phillip and Eastern Peake. The Library will be an educational space, where you can learn about Victoria’s 21 wine regions and more about the producers and vintages. The Library will also host masterclasses from winemakers, and lend itself to exclusive private dining.
Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters will offer a range of private dining and event options, so that you can celebrate special occasions, from intimate dinners to weddings. There’s also a dedicated Event Dining Space that features an adjoining Chef’s Table, catering to interactive experiences.
Out on the terrace, you’ll look over the Yarra, and enjoy a drink from its dedicated bar. The terrace seats 80 people, and is suitable for all weathers.
Celebrating art
As well as showcasing Victorian produce, this venue will also celebrate art from around the state. Expect a rotating program throughout the year of curated works. Inside the 20-seat gallery dining room, you’ll discover 2D and 3D works from regional artists.
There, you will find a digitally modelled map of Victoria on the wall. This 2-metre piece will come to life with a mapped projection that will tell stories of the land, rivers and ingredients of the state.
Meanwhile, in the main dining room, a Projection Curtain will showcase a selection of videos. Throughout the venue, there will also be useable art, such as ceramics and glass.
Bookings for the restaurant are now open.