André Simon ‘Seven’ Black Tie Dinner

Named in honour of our founder André Simon, this year’s headline dinner celebrates the 80th Anniversary of our Society. Fittingly, we’ll be enjoying the splendour of one of Melbourne’s grandest dining rooms in a building that started out life as The German Club in the 1880’s. It played host to The Naval & Military Club for much of the last century and is perhaps best known to many of us as the home of Mietta’s, during a period that defined much of what we still associate with the best of Melbourne dining.

These days the lavish interior is home to Comme and Executive Chef Danny Southern, whose experience reads like a roll call of the good and the great in Melbourne, including The Latin, Est Est Est, Ondine, Circa, L’Oustal and Bistro Guillaume. Danny’s cooking offers a refined & modern take on French bistro cooking and reminds me of the joys of quality ingredients, simply prepared, and given a luxurious twist with classically made, lip smacking sauces!

All of which, of course, is a perfect foil to the other major highlight of this wonderful black tie occasion - the opportunity to enjoy an evening of wines selected only from IWFS “Seven” rated vintages. Organisers Neville Smethurst and myself are having a fine time pondering the difficult question of which wines to offer you on this special occasion and we do hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the 80th Anniversary of our Society, with great food and some truly special wine, in one of Melbourne’s “big occasion” dining rooms.

Please view the invitation and menu here.