Maha Bar & Grill

Shane Delia is everywhere for me at the moment.  He’s all over every media form there is. You see his happy face on TV cooking and morning shows.  He’s savvy in social media and there’s plenty of stories and reviews about him in the print media. It’s easy to see why once you have been to the Middle Eastern magic at his semi underground restaurant that is Maha Bar and Grill in Bond Street, Melbourne.

Innovative, creative, passionate, cheeky are all words used to describe Shane Delia and at just 32 years of age he has certainly ticked some boxes in the culinary world.  Winning Chef’s Hats, rave reviews, multiple awards, writing cookbooks and opening a second restaurant ‘St Katherine’s’ in Kew.

Last month I went to my first ‘Problogger’ Event – a food and wine blogging dinner and I briefly met Shane Delia. He was polite, cheery, approachable and genuine about his love for food and the hospitality industry.  Most true hospitality people are all of those things, but what I really liked about Shane was this glow he radiates when he speaks of his food and the menu we were eating from on the night.  The other thing I admired was that none of this amazing success that he is experiencing, and has experienced at a young age, has gone to his head.

Maha is simply exquisite. Everything about it shines.  From the moment you step inside you feel welcome by the staff and the Arabian ambiance.  There were around 100 people at the dinner I attended and we were all seated and treated like kings and queens for the evening.  The menu was shared plates and a perfect way to experience the Mediterranean mystic of Maha’s kitchen delights.

Sahen zghir – first course

Black cardamom broth, braised beef and shimiji mushrooms

Local olives in fel fel

Roasted apricot kernels, Aleppo pepper and laban

Shaved salad of broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and tahini mayonnaise

Wine match – 2011 de bortoli ‘la boheme’ act three, point gris and friends, yarra valley vic

Sahen kbeer - second course

Pan friend trumpeter, freekah, crunchy quinoa with chargrilled spring onions and paprika vinaigrette

Corn fed chicken tagine, broken egg, corn bread, saffron, Iranian figs, sujuk soil

12 hour roasted mt. leura lamb shoulder, pistachio and green olive tabouleh

Mouabalet, sides

Lentils and spinach, burghul pilaf

Fattoush, Lebanese bread salad

Wine match – 2011 de bortoli ‘vinoque’ roundstone vineyard, gamay noir, yarra valley vic

Helwayet – sweets

Sticky date pudding, peanut ice cream truffle, roasted peanut nougatine with salted caramel sauce

Coconut milk and water jelly, coconut foam, spiced strawberry and sumac pearls, strawberry powder

Turkish delight filled doughnuts, rosewater honey, candied almonds

Wine match – 2008 de bortoli ‘noble one’ botrytis semillon, bilbul nsw

I can’t tell you what my favourite dish was or which flavors were the best because it was all amazing.  The food was clean, delicious and flawless.  The wines complimented each course impeccably.  Staff were slick and the service was thoughtful throughout the evening. 

I insist you go to Maha the next time you want to dine out in the city of Melbourne.  You won’t be disappointed.

Maha Bar and Grill

21 Bond Street, Melbourne.

Phone – 03 9629 5900

http://mahabg.com.au/

*Due to my Maha experience being a pre-planned set menu event I will not score it as I normally would in a restaurant review.