As one of the presenter-experts on the Australian version of the Masterchef franchise, George Calombaris is well known to the nation’s foodies, but recently he’s undergone something of a re-invention. Having shed the chefly pounds, Calombaris is now all about the healthy eating — and even shelved plans for a sweet treats bakery on the back of his lifestyle change. The building next to his lovely Hellenic Republic restaurant in Melbourne’s Kew suburb was to be Sweet Hellenic, but is instead now home to the healthier daytime café Mastic — refined sugars and flours have been jettisoned in favour of “grab-and-go” meals, cold-pressed juices, in-house yoghurt and smoothies.
If we hadn’t sampled Calombaris’s food first hand at the wonderful restaurant Gazi, we’d be worried that this virtuous new direction would mean something of an unwelcome reduction in enjoyment, but you don’t get the Masterchef gig without knowing what you’re doing. The design is focused around ping pong tables that retain their functionality as sports equipment (paddles are available on the walls) while doubling as dining tables. They contribute to a colourful, fun ambience aided by some great graphics.
