One year after opening their doors, The Aylesbury Restaurant & Rooftop owners Jesse and Vanessa Gerner have prepared an enticing new menu, reaffirming their commitment to seasonal, heritage and organic produce. Adopting sustainability as an everyday principle, the Gerners use produce from their backyard garden in Northcote, inherited from an Italian family that laid down the roots, shortly after migration in the 1930s.
The season signifying growth and change permeates throughout the new spring menu and coincides with the arrival of new head chef Seth James. Sharing the Gerner’s passion for locally produced ingredients, James views his suppliers as paramount; spending hours at a time reviewing their production methods, ensuring all ingredients fit the restaurant’s green ethos.
The spring menu at The Aylesbury continues to play on hearty, unique flavours with subtle Spanish influences. Highlights from the new spring menu include entrées – cold smoked kingfish with blood orange and nasturtium; joselito jamon. Sharing plates – carrot, smoky eggplant labneh; beef tartare, anchovy, egg yolk; lamb ribs, zataar. Mains – pork neck, boudin noir, celeriac apple; roast duck, brussel sprouts, bacon, stuffing; lamb shoulder, barley, hot smoked tongue, soubise.
In addition there is a feasting menu available where chefs select eleven dishes spanning over four courses.
The Aylesbury Restaurant & Rooftop is a haven set in the heart of the bustling Melbourne CBD, where the Gerner’s love of natural foods is reflected in the warm, earthen décor and open plan bar. The level five Rooftop Bar is an airy, scenic space fixed amongst the high rises of the CBD; the ideal location for sipping distinctive cocktails as the warmer weather sets in.
Upcoming Special Events
Taste of Melbourne
The Aylesbury Restaurant & Rooftop is an official restaurant in this year’s Taste of Melbourne restaurant festival at Albert Park. Lovers of fine food will not want to miss out on the exclusive dishes being served 15-18 November 2012. Jesse Gerner and Seth James will be on site serving: Meredith Goats Cheese stuffed zucchini flowers, Rooftop Honey; Dorper lamb ribs, pea and mint; prawn burger, crustacean aioli; rum soaked pear, fresh berries, cider top.
Rooftop Sundays
The Aylesbury Rooftop Bar launched a series of Summer Sunday Parties in October. The Love Hotel District will be spinning chilled tunes on the level five Rooftop Bar while patrons can sip on unique summer cocktails. Rooftop Sundays will run the first Sunday of every month until the end of summer in 2013.
The Aylesbury Restaurant is open:
Dinner: Monday – Saturday 6:00pm-late
Lunch: Monday – Friday 12:00-3:00pm
The Aylesbury Rooftop is open:
Monday – Sunday 3:00pm-late
(Open Fridays from 12:00pm)
The Aylesbury Restaurant & Rooftop Bar is located at 103 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Phone: 03 9077 0451
