A NEW Plate Up Ballarat initiative is bringing the talents, recipes, flavours and creativity of restauranteurs together on one table.<\/p>\n
Co-Lab Kitchen is a three-course lockdown dinner experience, cooked up by the chefs of three Ballarat hospitality businesses at a time.<\/p>\n
Plate Up Ballarat director Kate Davis said Mr Jones, The Shared Table, Roy Hammond, Restaurant Lola, Mitchell Harris and Peter Ford Catering are all part of the \u201ctruly special occasion\u201d that locals can enjoy in their own home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work with the chefs, they nominate whether they would like to do entr\u00e9e, main or dessert, and then they work together to create a menu,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe chefs provide simple and easy heat, eat and assembly instructions, and diners can either pick the Co-Lab Kitchen dinner package up from Lola, or it can be delivered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWines have also been curated by Regional Wine Sales Victoria to match the meals, and we\u2019ve created a playlist we recommend people listen to as they assemble the food, tuning out the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
In bringing together some of the region\u2019s biggest names in cuisine, Peter Ford said the \u201csense of camaraderie\u201d has been \u201cmarvellous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all in the same boat, are good competitors, and there\u2019s a lot of love between us all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest benefit is that people who want to support hospo can support three restaurants in one booking. It literally shares the love, both with us putting out great food, and our loyal followers enjoying a variety of tastes and food styles.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s loved it so far, and the Instagram feedback with people sharing photos of their dinners has been quite a hoot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Davis said the project is an opportunity for Ballarat chefs to share their talents and \u201ccreate some positivity within the industry\u201d while events cannot go ahead due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Plate Up Ballarat was launched to \u201cshine a spotlight on venues.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a desire from the chefs and restaurant owners to do something like this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe six involved jumped on board straight away, and because it\u2019s takeaway, it\u2019s something they could all manage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also a chance for restauranteurs to talk to each other, and they\u2019ve enjoyed having conversations and sharing stories when we\u2019ve all been on calls together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-Lab Kitchen Ballarat launched last weekend, and will have its second run this Thursday, 9 and Friday, 10 September. Thursday night\u2019s entr\u00e9e is by Roy Hammond, main is by Mr Jones, and dessert is by The Shared Table.<\/p>\n
On Friday night, Mitchell Harris is on entr\u00e9e, while main and dessert are by Restaurant Lola and Peter Ford Catering respectively.<\/p>\n