Overview
Greenhouse by Joost, a pop-up restaurant based on sustainable principles, is now open for business in the Rocks. What seemed at first like a pile of misplaced shipping containers and pot plants, the project has now come together to form a unique venue serving up locally grown produce prepared on site.
The brainchild of designer and recycler extraordinaire Joost Bakker, Greenhouse draws on sustainable concepts in every possible area. The structure itself is made of straw bales in a steel frame, with the roof and walls used as growing space. Inside, repurposed and recycled materials are everywhere, from the floor surface to furniture and staff uniforms. The menu features locally sourced, seasonal produce, and in the kitchen staples are created from scratch to reduce processing and transport, with grain milled, bread baked and butter churned on site. All waste (even the cutlery) becomes compost or worm food, and is ploughed back in to the rooftop garden.
Greenhouse shows that sustainable can be enjoyable too. With Matt Stone (Best New Talent 2010, Gourmet Traveller) in charge of the kitchen, the menu of seasonal produce is served up in delicious dishes, and the rustic-meets-industrial dining space and rooftop bar can hold their own against more conventional venues. The location, sitting right at the end of the Overseas Passenger Terminal with views of the Bridge and the Opera House doesn’t hurt either. Whether you classify it as an eco-gimmick, or an early sign of things to come, it's well worth a visit.
After successful stints in Melbourne and Perth, Greenhouse is operating in Sydney until the end of March, before it takes its green dining message to the rest of the world. After a slight false start, Greenhouse should now be open from breakfast right through to dinner and evening drinks, but be sure to check the website before visiting in case it’s closed for a private function.