Looking for the perfect destination to brunch with your girlfriends, shop, go on a date or just explore? Well Gertrude Street, located in the inner northern suburb of Fitzroy is one of the most dynamic and hip foodscapes in Melbourne. Filled with bars, restaurants, galleries, and boutiques, this street does not lack any personality nor diversity. You will find homey and gourmet Italian restaurants, inviting Spanish bars and even Japanese diners serving vegan ramen just to name a few. This miscellany of food nodes means that this lively microcosm has a wide price bracket.
Coming from a mixed background with an Italian father and Kenyan mother, the fusion of these multifarious cuisines creates a lively and welcoming ambiance that relates to my identity and feelings of home. Each spot enriches the street with its own history and flavour, offering consumers the chance to discover new cultures whilst also broadening their horizons. Moreover, having lived in France for five years, I experienced a strong sense of nostalgia when the waiter at the French creperie Breizoz served me saying bon appétit, reminding me of the innumerable times my family and I went out for dinner in Paris to celebrate a special occasion.
I always assumed that restaurants served food solely specific to their particular cuisine, however after seeing vegemite crepes on Breizoiz’s menu, I now realise that many blend specialities from other cuisines to suit the palette of their customers and enhance their menu. This resembles Artusi’s efforts to introduce the north of Italy to the traditions of the south and vice versa (Helstosky).
So, what are you waiting for? Come check out Gertrude St!
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Helstosky, C. (2003). Recipe for the Nation: Reading Italian History through La scienza in cucina and La cucina futurista. Food and Foodways, 11(2-3), 113-140.
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