Looking for a summer series right smack bang in the CBD? La Madonna at Next Hotel is for you, bebe.
Chefs Danny Natoli and Adrian Li have brought the concept of the Sunday family lunch to La Madonna and, after what seemed like bloody years of lockdowns and missing family, their La Famiglia is absolutely perfect for a CBD catch-up.
They kick off with house-baked focaccia and crostini, marinated olives and La Madonna pickles with a generous platter of salami, mortadella and bresaola, Stracciatella and Lakes Entrance sardines and preserved lemons.
Smash this all down and then move on to Li’s take on the classic porchetta, with walnut pesto, grapes, roast fennel and the crunchiest of crackling (the secret is in patiently dry ageing the pork, Li reckons). Shared green beans, yuzu kosho and almonds with dressed cos and parmesan buttress the main. Tiramisu for dessert, of course. And it is wondrous.
The La Famiglia summer series takes place every Sunday and is $65pp for the set menu, but throw on an extra $30pp for free-flowing carafes of wine to really imbibe the spirit in this beautiful refined space and, because after our collective 2020 and 2021, like L’Oreal, we’re bloody worth it.
La Madonna at Next Hotel
103 Little Collins Street
From 12pm every Sunday
Book: www.lamadonnamelbourne.com