Messina Eats x Hoy Pinoy

Overview

While Messina's main jam is crafting supremely scoffable varieties of gelato, the brand's love of food extends far beyond the freezer — as it has proven through a series of pop-ups dubbed Messina Eats. Before the pandemic, the cult gelateria would team up with a savoury-focused culinary hero every couple of months, then throw a big ol' food party in the carpark at its Rosebery headquarters to celebrate the collaboration.

After a year that's been lacking in many things, Messina Eats is finally making a comeback on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. For those two days, Messina is again teaming up with Melbourne Filipino barbecue masters Hoy Pinoy to create a meaty menu as mouthwatering as the gelato it will be served alongside.

Hoy Pinoy's skewers are always a big hit at the Night Noodle Markets, so the team will be grilling some of those (both chicken and pork belly), along with Filipino spring rolls, vegan fries topped with charcoal grilled adobo eggplant, cups of grilled corn kernels with coconut and chilli, and steamed fried rice with green papaya pickle. On Friday, you'll be able to tuck into rolled lechón belly charcoal roast (pork belly rolled with adobo marinade, then roasted over charcoal and served with rice), too, while on Saturday your tastebuds can be tempted by the full lechón (lemongrass and pandan-filled whole pig roasted over charcoal).

For dessert, Messina will be whipping up milo milo — which riffs on shaved milk ice dish halo halo, and combines layers of malt flan, choc-malt crumble, Jersey milk gelato, choc-malt ice and choc malt powder. To drink, there'll be a combination of sweetened coconut milk and pandan jellies, plus lemongrass iced tea.

The whole thing will go down over Friday and Saturday in the carpark at Messina's Rosebery HQ. It'll be open from noon for lunch and dinner until sold out.