Middle East's Finest

Overview

Shane Delia's Collingwood venue Maha Bar might be small, but over the next month it's set to play host to some of Australia's biggest up-and-coming names of Middle Eastern cooking. Running weekly from Tuesday, May 18, until June 8, the Middle East's Finest series will see four rising stars each take over the kitchen for a once-off dinner event, plating up their own exclusive menu of signature dishes and new creations.

Queensland-based Ben Williamson (Agnes, Bianca) kicks things off this week, paying homage to his Middle Eastern travels with plates like Turkish crumpets and grilled quail with harissa. Sydney's Paul Farag (Nour, Fish Butchery) follows on May 25 with an Egyptian-inspired seven-course spread centred around a minimal-waste approach, while June 1 sees Adam Wolfers (Gerard's Bistro) embracing his own Jewish heritage plating up dishes like short rib shawarma and a reimagined Golden Gaytime with carrot molasses. Victoria's own Tom Sarafian (Little Andorra, Bar Saracen) wraps things up on June 8 with a feast of inventive creations including a spanner crab and prawn hummus.

Each dinner comes in at $85 per person, with the option to add a beverage pairing for an extra $55.

Adam Wolfers.

Images: Diego Ramirez