Belle's Hot Chicken to Open Natural Wine Joint, Bar Clarine

While wine and deep fried drumsticks might not seem like the most obvious of pairings, it’s certainly been a winning combination for Fitzroy fried chicken joint Belle's Hot Chicken. Since opening on Gertrude Street last year, Belle's has clocked up plenty of praise for its spicy, Southern-style fried chicken, but also has found itself becoming something of a hot spot for lovers of natural wine. Inspired by their surprise success in the fermented grape realm, Belle's have announced Bar Clarine, a spinoff natural wine bar set to open right next door.

Natural wine – for those of you out of the loop — is wine made with minimal chemical or mechanical intervention, allowing for a more natural appearance and taste. The wine list at Belle’s features a number of local natural wines from producers such as Bill Downie, Tom Shobbrook and Patrick Sullivan.

Bar Clarine is likewise expected to offer a broad variety of natural Australian wines, as well as a smaller selection from France, Italy and Spain. The food, on the other hand, will be a different beast entirely. Belle’s chef Morgan McGlone will concoct a French-inspired menu of light, seasonal market food, with plenty of cured meats, cheeses and terrines — and not a skerrick of hot chicken in sight.

The teeny Bar Clarine will share an internal entrance with Belle's, and is expected to be able to seat around 20-25 people. It's currently expected to open in the first week of April.

Via Good Food.