Shindig to launch at Lantana Café
Lantana founders Shelagh Ryan and Michael Homan will launch a menu for Shindig that is completely different to the café’s usual breakfast and lunch offering. Inspired by the time Ryan spent in Australia taking in the different type of cuisine of offer, the menu will include a surf and turf option every evening.
Ryan said: “I am thrilled to be opening Shindig at Lantana. I hope to create a little piece of buzzing Melbourne in the best way we know how – with a place to share delicious food, great wines and good company.”
Homan said: “An evening offering is something we have always had in the back of our minds. Our customers have often encouraged us to do a dinner service and we now feel the time is right. Last year we ran some really fun supper club evenings, usually on a slow cooked theme. The Charlotte Street area has always had a strong evening foodie reputation but much of this is toward the fine dining end, like Pied de Tiere, Fino and Roka. We’re aiming to bring a more casual, neighbourhood vibe."
Food and drink
The menu at Shindig will be short and change regularly, though it will consistently offer a surf and turf option. Other options on the menu will include BBQ beef short ribs with an Americana BBQ sticky glaze, slow cooked Cypriot lamb shoulder, red wine braised pig cheeks, grilled lobster with coriander butter, and BBQ prawns with chermoula. There will also be sides such as broccoli slaw, hush puppies (deep fried cornbread dough) with coriander mayo or watercress, pickled beetroot and fresh horseradish salad.
Desserts will include the Lantana banana bread, toasted with banana custard and salted chocolate crumb. There will also be homemade ice cream on offer with flavours like rum and raisin, rhubarb and ginger and salted caramel. The price range for main dishes will be from £13.50 to £16, while side dishes cost between £3 and £3.50 and desserts cost £5.50.
“Our brand is all about simple, delicious food using quality ingredients, but done with our twist, which means our take on things with our Australian fusion backgrounds,” explained Homan. “Obviously our dinner service has to be different from our well known brunch menu but we will remain true to our Australian roots with a theme around surf & turf. The menu will be short but will change regularly, always with one meat and one seafood dish to have with interesting sides.
Shindig will also offer a short wine list which will be compiled by Homan working with Vagabond Wines. It will include wines from all over the world, both classics and more unusual sorts of vintage. Bottles will begin at £22, with Prosecco from £25 and Champagne from £45 for a bottle.
“To us Shindig means a low key, casual party at a host’s place,” added Homan. “We will provide an informal, unpretentious and relaxed dining experience but serve serious food that will transport diners to a Melbourne café scene for a night.”
