Bird Rock owner Anthony Gist is on a mission to bring Jan Juc\u2019s iconic \u201cBirdie\u201d back to life.<\/p>\n
The Californian chef and restaurateur, who also owns Bell Street\u2019s Roku Den and Alisitos, has been the driver behind \u201cVinyl
\nSundays\u201d at Bird Rock as well as movie screenings on Wednesday evenings in a bid to create a \u201ccommunity hub\u201d that extends beyond an eatery.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about bringing Birdie back to life and bringing exciting stuff to the community. We just want people to get out and enjoy winter,\u201d says Anthony, better known as \u201cAnt\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe town\u2019s growing so fast. It\u2019s winter, but there\u2019s still people out. We\u2019re quite lucky in Torquay and Jan Juc that we have so much fun stuff to do \u2013 whether it\u2019s coming to Birdie or to Bells Beach Brewing. It\u2019s an awesome culture for not just being active, but socially active.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lover of all things food and beverage, when the opportunity to work with local winemaker Sierra Reed of Reed Wines arose, Ant says he couldn\u2019t resist. The pair recently collaborated alongside Bird Rock\u2019s head chef Matthew Tippett to create a wine matched four-course degustation dinner.<\/p>\n
After a wine tasting at the restaurant, Matthew headed for the kitchen and began cooking dishes that matched the flavours of Sierra\u2019s authentic wines.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatty\u2019s really taken the project on. We all had a tasting before he made the dishes. It\u2019s challenging to match food with
\nwine and we had to make a few changes to get it right. Matty\u2019s done an amazing job \u2013 kudos to him because it\u2019s hard to put
\nyourself out there,\u201d says Ant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really took control with the flavours.<\/p>\n
The fun thing was working with Sierra. I feel like I was a bit of a catalyst for them to come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Locked in for Monday June 24, the degustation dinner will begin with canapes and a cocktail followed by:
\n\u2022 Beetroot carpaccio, orange, fennel, goats cheese and pistachio matched with Rose Marie (Tempranillo Heathcote, Victoria 2018)
\n\u2022 Pan fried snapper, mushroom, potato, parsnip and tomato matched with Alexia (Grenache Barossa Valley, South Australia 2018)
\n\u2022 Grilled lamb, pea, carrot and kale matched with Knife Edge Shiraz (Grampians, Victoria 2017)
\n\u2022 Vanilla cheesecake and blueberries matched with Knife Edge Shiraz (Grampians, Victoria 2018)<\/p>\n
\u201cMeet your local winemaker with Sierra Reed\u201d begins at 6.30pm on Monday June 24 at Bird Rock (2 Princes Terrace, Jan Juc).<\/p>\n
The degustation dinner is $110 per head. Bookings essential via phoning 5261 6743.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bird Rock owner Anthony Gist is on a mission to bring Jan Juc\u2019s iconic \u201cBirdie\u201d back to life. The Californian chef and restaurateur, who also owns Bell Street\u2019s Roku Den and Alisitos, has been the driver behind \u201cVinyl Sundays\u201d at Bird Rock as well as movie screenings on Wednesday evenings in a bid to create […]<\/p>\n