This restaurant will write a menu to suit your whims. But how does that work in practice?
Previous SlideNext Slide
What do you feel like for dinner? Three years after opening, this elegant city restaurant has reshaped its nighttime offering to meet your whims. Tell your waiter your deepest dining fantasies and they'll prepare a $99 set-price meal to suit. Maybe you're feeling extra-carnivorous. Perhaps you want to be surprised. Or, possibly, you feel as I did: 'Lots of vegetables, maybe seafood, I love pickles.'
Freyja is in the Olderfleet Building, an 1890 beauty in the Venetian Gothic style with striking, pointed arches. As you enter, the open kitchen with woodfire is to the left and the dining room is to the right with tones in dark green, leather and exposed brick, and artwork that my notes describe as 'scary'. Please drink enough water that you need to visit the toilet in the new build at rear: the soaring atrium is heart-stopping.
'The food feels relaxed and generous. It's more 'My god, that's good' than 'Ooh, how clever!''
Chef Jae Bang is Korean, but when Freyja opened, he'd just spent three years leading Re-Naa in Norway, which earned its second Michelin star on his watch, and the Melbourne venue leaned into Norse mythology and cuisine. The goddess Freyja is associated with beauty, love and magic; the food was precise, using preserving techniques to layer flavour.
Bang also brought influences from his stints in junior roles at game-changing Spanish restaurants El Bulli and Arzak, plus time in New York under fine-dining master Daniel Boulud. From the beginning, you could tell he was accomplished and thoughtful.
Over time, Nordic notions have eased and the food feels relaxed and generous. It's more 'My god, that's good' than 'Ooh, how clever!'
Oysters are dotted with a green oil that turns out to be lovage kombucha. Kohlrabi is pickled and served with goat curd, fermented blackcurrant and kelp powder. Beef tartare uses green strawberries for tart acid (instead of, say, cornichons). The Ramarro farm salad name-checks a producer in the Dandenong Ranges: Freyja takes what's growing and turns it into a micro-seasonal expression.
Skate – a flat fish that comes away in long strands – is in a light broth with unripe blueberries that have been salted as though they were capers. They're cool, clean, juicy and one of many examples of marginal produce elevated through creativity and preservation.
Cauliflower cheese is my favourite comfort meal. Freyja's version is the one I'd eat if a genie gave me a wish: it's a crazy-fun jumble of miso, butter, hazelnut and toasty roasted veg.
Dessert is a joyful plaiting of the seasons: macadamia ice-cream, fig leaf oil, plum syrup, white chocolate and puffed grains are a melange of sour, sweet, creamy and caramelised.
Freyja is owned by Florence Guild, a collective that includes WorkClub, a mostly Sydney-based, high-end, co-working company with speaker events and activities, including calligraphy and dream mapping. The company runs a few cafes and a bar, but Freyja is its only restaurant.
The service here is keen and polished: our waiter chooses a great wine and does a lovely job of steering us through the choose-your-own-adventure concept which, let's be honest, is a stretch. After all, isn't a menu already a way to tell the kitchen what you feel like eating?
The bespoke promise doesn't exactly play out, either. Nearby tables have many of the same dishes and they're also available at lunch, which is still a la carte.
Having said that, everything is so delicious I don't care how it gets in front of me. Freyja was good from the get-go, but there was a slightly strained feeling. Now it has grown into one of the city's leading restaurants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
21 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Check this: Jet passenger tries to outsmart airline's luggage rule by doing the unthinkable with her suitcase: ‘She's so real for that'
They told her to check the bag — she checked them instead. A fierce flyer is going viral for muscling her suitcase into a carry-on sizer at a European airport — leaving airline staff stunned when the bag actually fit. The now-legendary shove came courtesy of TikTok user Arina (@summermken_official), who posted a video of herself forcefully wedging her luggage into a metal bag checker at the Vueling counter during a recent flight from Paris to London. 'Never give up, at least not on the sake of €200,' she wrote in the caption — and the internet agreed. The clip has racked up more than 10 million views since it was posted on July 22. 'They asked me to place my bag in the checker to confirm it met size requirements,' Arina told Newsweek. 'It seemed that they were just suspicious of the size of my bag since it didn't seem like carry-on luggage.' The Spanish low-cost carrier, like many budget airlines, has earned a reputation for eagle-eyed enforcement of size rules — and for slapping on sky-high baggage fees. Vueling charges up to €88 (about $96) at the airport if your bag doesn't fit their requirements. 'I was 100% sure that it would fit […] plus I measured it before buying and it fit the standards of the company,' she told the outlet. What followed was a now-iconic suitcase showdown: Arina is seen in the clip straining to push her bag into the checker — and then yanking it out with just as much effort. The Vueling employee? Gobsmacked. 'She seemed quite surprised that the suitcase actually fit,' Arina said. 'She said, with genuine shock, that I must be very strong… she clearly didn't expect it to fit at all.' TikTokers applauded her persistence — and side-eyed the airline. 'Her face, that's 'I told you' face,' wrote one viewer in the comments section. 'She's so real for that,' another chimed in. 'Bro that's small carry-on too, I hate airlines,' added an additional user. As previously reported by The Post, one Ryanair passenger broke down in tears this week at Sofia Airport after being denied boarding when her bag wouldn't fit the airline's size limits. Despite shoving it into the sizer, she refused to pay extra, pleaded with border police, and ultimately collapsed to her knees sobbing as staff looked on. Overall, when it comes to budget flights, it's bend or break — and these women did both. Originally published as Check this: Jet passenger tries to outsmart airline's luggage rule by doing the unthinkable with her suitcase: 'She's so real for that'
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
9 unmissable new luxury experiences in Asia that are worth the splurge
These hot new stays and services prove Asia does luxe best. Fairmont Udaipur supplied By Carrie Hutchinson The Aussie dollar's not stretching far in Europe or the US - but in Asia? It still buys you serious luxury. Think top-tier service, bold design and stays that are anything but ordinary. From jungle spas to design-led villas and palace hotels, these are the newest places to spoil yourself sensibly. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area 1. Fine dining meets star power Chef Andre Chiang in the Kitchen. Picture supplied Michelin-starred chefs are bringing their celebrity to Singapore. Like Madonna, he goes by one name only, and now chef Fei (real name: Fei Lianghui) offers a contemporary take on Cantonese and Teochew cuisines at the Mandarin Oriental's Cherry Garden. His aromatic lobster creation, with basil and pickled mustard greens, is an homage to Chaoshan, where he grew up. Take the pressure out of ordering by choosing a set menu, starting at about $165 a person. Across town, Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang is setting up a culinary home at Raffles, where he's been the artist in residence while writing his book, Fragments of Time . His outpost, in the hotel's most elegant dining space, opens later this year. 2. The world's biggest infinity bath Spa Junglia. Picture supplied Soak away stress on Japan's tropical Okinawa island. This week saw the scheduled opening of Spa Junglia, and the Guinness Book of Records has already certified its public infinity bath, at nearly 83 square metres, as the biggest on Earth. The views of dense mountain-side forest are hard to beat, but there's also an onsen, sauna, cold plunge and cave bath. It's part of a huge entertainment destination, so send the kids off to Dinosaur Safari - the landscape bears more than a passing resemblance to Jurassic Park - while you kick back. 3. A Maldivian retreat for mind, body and sea SOUL Festival, Maldives. How do you make a Maldivian break better? Add an immersive wellness program. Soneva Fushi hosts the annual SOUL Festival (October 9-13), with a line-up of thought leaders and practitioners including biohacker Tim Gray, sound therapist Roses Gabor and longevity expert Nils Behrens. Start your day with an energising morning ritual, take part in workshops, book healing therapies at the spa and eat healthy cuisine. Of course, there's also time to explore shore and sea. From $5130 a night for two people, all-inclusive; 4. A new palace hotel with next-level grandeur Fairmont Udaipur bedroom. When you've finished dodging traffic in Delhi, head to the City of Lakes and the newly opened Fairmont Udaipur Palace. Fit for modern-day royalty, this lavish 327-room hotel set atop the Aravalli Hills is spread across a seven-hectare estate. Guests enter through a jaw-dropping fortress gateway before being welcomed beneath a sparkling chandelier. The rooms are dotted with handiwork by village craftspeople, while the restaurants serve the cuisines of India, Asia and the Mediterranean. From $443 a night; 5. Colonial charm in the Sri Lankan highlands Uga Halloowella. Picture supplied In the highlands of Sri Lanka, Channa Daswatte, protege of revered architect Geoffrey Bawa, has transformed the former residence of a World War I RAF fighter pilot. Uga Halloowella's six suites overlooking a tea plantation have an eclectic colonial vibe, but it's the attention to detail - a butler attending to all your tea-drinking needs, exquisite cuisine inspired by its location, and thoughtful excursions - that makes this boutique hotel a gentle retreat into times past. From about $1200 a night; Ne. Picture supplied Japan has become one of Australia's favourite travel destinations, but if you're keen to avoid crowds, head outside Tokyo and Kyoto. Set on farmland outside Shibata City, two hours by fast train from Tokyo, is Ne, offering an exclusive, all-inclusive, cuisine-focused rental for a party of up to four adults. Designed by architect Kenta Fukunishi, Ne is built using wood, earth from the property and locally fired Yasuda tiles. The commitment to sustainability and local culture at the eye-catching property runs deep. Chef Makoto Fuse, who studied the culinary arts in Paris, sources ingredients from the local area - he dries mountain herbs, makes spices from crushed branches and ferments vegetables for broth - and returns anything unused to the earth. Opens in August; from $2075 a night for two; 7. Temples, tuk-tuks and the Ganges in style See India on a Globus cruise. Picture supplied Ready to dip your toe into the world of river cruising? Globus's new 13-day Heritage of India & the Ganges River tour and cruise (from $8668 a person, twin-share) blends land and water activities. See the Taj Mahal at sunset, ride a rickshaw through Chandni Chowk bazaar and visit the spectacular Amber Fort before setting sail down the Ganges from Kolkata. 8. Adults-only glamping in Phuket Twinpalms Tented Camp in Phuket. Picture supplied Bustling Phuket now has a chic adults-only glamping retreat. Twinpalms Tented Camp has 29 spacious safari-style canvas abodes, some with their own plunge pools, set back from Bang Tao Beach on Phuket's west coast. Rather than full moon parties and Muay Thai fights, this is a retreat for those ready to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the finer things in life, like island hopping on a superyacht. From $270 a night; 9. A boundary-blurring new dining experience 9 unmissable new luxury experiences in Asia that are worth the splurge British chef Joshua Paris has worked across the world - including at the Sydney Opera House restaurant Bennelong - and now his skills are on show at Aster by Joshua Paris. Set in Shanghai's upcoming Jing'an neighbourhood, the restaurant has a menu Paris describes as borderless, which means he blends techniques and influences from Europe, Australia and China. Be sure to order his rendition of the classic drunken pigeon, which comes with marinated foie gras. Seating just 46, the space features a purple aster flower installation floating above the bar. Speaking of which, end the night here with a cocktail and bite from the snack menu, available from 10pm.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
Tom Cruise's rumoured new girlfriend Ana de Armas takes aim at his ex Nicole Kidman by liking post mocking Aussie film star's appearance
Tom Cruise's rumoured new girlfriend has taken aim at his ex-wife Nicole Kidman by liking a post mocking the Australian film star. Cuban-American actress Ana de Armas, 37, and 63-year-old Cruise are thought to be in a relationship after they were recently spotted together numerous times at different romantic locations across the globe. De Armas took to Instagram to heart Celeb Mess' post of Kidman, which showed her face up close with the caption: "When you keep it real". The photo was reposted on Reddit, where fans of Kidman, 58, took to the comments to lash out at the War Dogs actress for shading their idol. "Lol let's see what she looks like at almost 60," one person said of her. Another person said it fascinates them when "people in their 20s and 30s are rude about people aging." "Like, where do you think you're headed? And do you know what the alternative to aging is?" they said. A third person hit out at de Armas for dating a "senior Tom Cruise", adding, "but sure Ana, you're the winner here lmao." "Having a one-sided internet beef with your boyfriend's wife from 20 years ago, this openly is just absurd lol," another person said. One more Nicole fan championed the Aussie's decades-long acting career, which has endured throughout her youth and more recently. "Looks fade, talent doesn't. Nicole's had a 40-year career. Let's see where Ana's is in 10," the Reddit user said. "Nicole Kidman has more talent, beauty, and grace than she ever will have." The furore comes after de Armas and Cruise touched down in London together on Friday after being spotted enjoying a leisurely escape aboard a yacht docked off the Spanish island of Menorca in June. Both stars cut a casual figure as they disembarked a helicopter, with Cruise wearing a T-shirt and jeans while his rumoured beau donned leggings and a sweatshirt with her dogs Elvis and Sasha in tow. The two appear to have been getting cosy, spending the days leading up to Valentine's Day and the actress's birthday in April together. Cruise and de Armas ignited romance rumours in February, when they were spotted strolling together in London. The actress subsequently said it occurred as the two were engaged in business talks with filmmakers Christopher McQuarrie and Doug Liman. And they are set to star in Liman's upcoming film Deeper, which sees Cruise star as a disgraced astronaut on a perilous deep-sea mission. Nevertheless, they are yet to confirm anything more than a friendship. In June, Ana said she was "really happy and proud" to have Cruise championing her film, Ballerina, after he paid her a compliment. The Chruch of Scientology believer said the John Wick spin-off "kicked ass." 'There's an actress that has dramatic chops, someone who's comedic, very, very talented," he said in May, adding: "Just a great actress."
