SKETCH ME AN EVENT TO REMEMBER, PLEASE……

Picture this: located right at the end of a recently rejuvenated and revamped pier in Melbourne’s uber-cool Docklands area, a private dining room where money is no object, and the party host has ultimate say.

That is the vision of Atlantic Group (V) www.atlanticgroupv.com.au whose several establishments have virtually taken over Central Pier. Last week I was part of a select group invited to Sketch, the latest addition, for the premier event – an eight-course degustation menu prepared by EIGHT of Melbourne’s top chefs, most with restaurants of their own, most with the highly coveted ‘two hats’ awarded by The Age Good Food Guide team of reviewers.

Although the room is intimate in terms of function spaces (35 of us sat around a hollow square filled with video screens which gave us visual entree to the choreography of the teams of chefs as they prepared each course) it would be ideal, I’d say, for a very special party, or wedding, and of course could seat many more at more traditional tables.

For groups needing larger spaces, just along the pier, there’s Atlantic (where I was also lucky enough to dine as part of a very large group a few weeks earlier) also owned by the same company. On that occasion, the final touch – after a three course absolutely knockout meal – was being offered coffee at the conclusion. None of that brewed and jug-poured coffee either, but perfectly made espresso, with a choice of all the variants.

Classy!

But back to Sketch. Here the offer is that clients can select and design their own menu, and even choose the chef they want to prepare it. This could mean one of the luminaries who worked on our meal, or some other chef they admire. Of course, we were assured, wines will be selected with equal finesse, to choice – even sourcing them from abroad if necessary. Flowers too might be accessed from other countries if not available in Australia for the occasion. It seems to me a little like having your own ‘function concierge’. Indeed., there are no standard packages, we were told, just personally created events ‘to ensure an unforgettable experience’.

Our ‘unforgettable experience began with yellowfin sashimi from Teague Ezard (Ezard), then a retro-lovely truffled duck liver parfait with toasted brioche from Ian Curley (European) to a Moorish crab salad from Botanical’s Paul Wilson. Next, hickory smoked salmon from Michael Lambie (Taxi Dining Room) followed by a rare taste-treat: wok-fried pearl meat which had been airfreighted from Broome in north-west WA and dealt with superbly by Geoff Lindsay who is, appropriately, a chef-owner of Pearl.

But we were not finished yet. Already on the video screens we could see peppered scallop ravioli being prepared by Guy Grossi, of Grossi Florentino, and it arrived soon, flanked by foie gras and celeriac cream. I did say money was no object, didn’t I?

How many of the eight courses are we up to? By now most of us had forgotten, and as the ranks of glasses for the specially matched wines were being sorted and removed by the very attentive staff, the names of each individual wine, too many to list here, unavoidably became a little jumbled in our heads as well.

Finally, quail sausage roll with cavalo nero from Andrew Blake (now of Blakes Feast Catering) completed the savoury part of proceedings perfectly, and then it was just a delicious sweet progression through Shannon Bennett’s (Vue de Monde) decadent pistachio soufflé and coffees, before we emerged, blinking, so well-fed (and feeling immensely privileged to have had such an experience) into afternoon sunlight over the Yarra. 

Sketch, Shed 14, Central Pier, Docklands, Melbourne, 03 8623 9650, www.atlanticgroupv.com.au