Good Beer Week 2013 starts in just 11 days and the papal precinct can’t wait to get stuck in.

The 2012 papal event was beer versus wine as the Bishop took on the Pope. This year, it’s the turn of the Mornington Peninsula’s original brewery, Red Hill, where owners Karen & David Golding go head to head in a Woman vs Man battle of the best beers matched with a five course menu created by Chef Matt Wilkinson. This epic battle is on 22 May 2013 from 7pm till victory at Pope Joan – you can book here.

Karen will join forces with the Beer Diva, Kirrily Waldhorn, to compete with David and Matt to find the best beer match for each course, featuring the best of the Red Hill lineup and a selection drawn from all over the world.

OK how good is this menu?

Canapés
- garlic snail croquette
- anchovy toasts

Entrees
- Phony balony, pickled green tomatoes, almond milk bread
- smoked plate, eel, beetroot relish, labne
- pine mushrooms, pancetta, pinenuts & spinch cream

Mains
- slow roasted pork rack
- crab apple, black pudding & pearl onions
- chestnut, brussels sprouts & smoked maple
- skordalia, cauliflower & white anchovies

Dessert
- Warm sweetened oats, salted caramel ice cream, white chocolate, rhubarb

Cheese
- Whipped blue cheese on toast, Melbourne Roof Top honey

Blessed!

It’s ANZAC day next Thursday. Bless our veterans, our diggers n all.  On ANZAC eve (Wednesday 24 April) come n enjoy the attendance of the wonderful Beatbox Kitchen for some serious burger action. Then on ANZAC day I’ll be hosting a sausage sizzle, plenty for everyone.

In what is possibly a conciliatory gesture to  Pope Joan after the Vatican’s failure to give her the red papal shoes to wear for another term, the first directive of the new Pope Francis (a bloke from Argentina whose real name is Jorge) on his very first day in office is that our East Brunswick papal precinct have a day of rest on this coming Good Friday (29 March 2013). Now we don’t take any direction from him, and have reported the black or white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney to the EPA for investigation,  but we have decided that we do need a day of r&r.  So you’ll find our own secular trinity – Pope Joan, me the Bishop as well as the Pope’s produce store – closed for all of Good Friday. Business as usual on Saturday (30 March 2013) and Easter Sunday (31 March 2013) …… with a taco twist.

Concerned that flock members may’ve tired of roast dinners, relatives and Easter egg hunts on Easter Sunday, we’ve arranged for our friends at the Taco Truck to be outside the Bishop from 4.30pm on Easter Sunday to spice up our collective lives and to make things happen. Taco and cold beer. Heaven.

We’re a bit excited to be hosting a couple of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2013 events at Pope Joan and the Bishop of Ostia – lucky for us, both are sold out – only unfortunate part is that the Bishop’s doors are closed on Wednesdays 6 and 13 March 2013. You’ll just have to come on Thursday.

Next Wednesday 6 March 2013 papal dines with goddess when wine writer Max Allen joins Matt in presenting the miracles of Victorian farmers and winemakers who produce outstanding fruit, vegetables, meat and grains supplied by pioneering biodynamic Demeter farmers, as well as wines and ciders from Demeter-certified vineyards and orchards across Victoria.

Then, on Wednesday 13 March 2013 Matt joins flock members & friends Hilary McNevin (freelance writer and author of Guide to Fish) and Sarah Robins (author of Seasonal Regional, recently published by the Sustainable Table) for a wet and wild evening of sustainable seafood fare and matched wines in celebration of the producers profiled in Seasonal Regional. We’ll focus on ways to support a sustainable fishing industry in Victoria and address the global issues we are currently facing re sustainability in the ocean.

Back to normal on Wednesdays (my favourite day of the week) after that. Blessed.

The Pope & the Bishop will cook up a romantic storm on St Valentines Day 2013 – served at tables for 2 with love, generosity, smiles & a gorgeous meal

It goes like this:

3 courses $65 food only

The Bishop will be on hand for the drinks you love (including a special love-in cocktail to get things warmed up)

Entrees to share

Mains shared

Dessert 1

Dessert 2

Love ‘n Happiness

9388 8858 or contact@popejoan.com.au

Some very nice news today – TimeOut Melbourne published their 50 top Melbourne bars and yes I’m included. In classy company too. Here t’is.

Oh, and this Saturday 12 January 2013 the Bishop is closed for a little private soiree so if you’d like to try our new cracking snail croquettes with some seriously cold beautiful beer we’d love to see you today or on Friday or on Sunday.

Very pleased to say that goodfood.com.au has named the Bishop one of Melbourne’s very best beer gardens -

“In this largish, protected space, camouflage netting creates dappled light near the wooden decking while umbrellas and astroturf (right up the walls) create a festive vibe. Down the back are blooming garden beds of vegies and herbs, some of which, such as pineapple sage or lemon verbena, turn up in the cocktails.

79 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick. Phone: (03) 9388 8858. bishopofostia.com.au“

We’re back refreshed & revived after an end of year break. Loving 2013 already. How’s the heat?

So, you should be fully recovered from Christmas, maybe a little hazy still from New Years Eve but it’s time to think about the biggest day on the calendar. Australia Day! Triple J’s hottest 100 is on Saturday, we have an extra day off on Monday to go to the beach (the Pope is also open that day) but what to do Sunday?  Head to the Bishop & enjoy a delicious BBQ & a DJ from 4pm till its all eaten up.

Where: Bishop of Ostia & Pope Joan  77-79 Nicholson Street Brunswick East
When: Sunday 27th January, 4:00pm-9:00pm
Cost: $35 includes food and an Australian negroni granita on arrival. Other drinks purchase at the bar.
Bookings: 03 93888858 or contact@popejoan.com.au
$35 for a plate abundant with beautiful food & an Australian Negroni granita
Food includes
Spit roasted lamb and pig
Sausages from our mates Pacdon Park
Warialda beltie beef kebabs
Mr Wilkinson’s salads made with Angelica Organics beautiful produce & of course our sauces and bread

The papal crew are having a little rest at the end of the year. The Bishop’s doors will close from last drinks at the end of Saturday 22 December 2012. He’ll frock up again on Friday 4 January 2013 at 4pm.

Pope Joan will give her apron a rest from the end of Sunday 23 December 2012 till Friday 4 January 2013 at 7.30am. Our new produce store will open by the end of January 2013. Yippee!

On Wednesday 19 December 2012 Pope Joan will proudly host her “Two Beautiful Ladies” dinner. The first beautiful lady is our chef Vanessa Mateus (formerly of Embrasse and 312). The second is a respected and loved Melbourne cook. Rosa Mitchell, well known for her generous, robust Sicilian style food, made with the best Aussie ingredients, will join Vanessa in presenting a most beautiful meal.

$110 per person with matched wines.
Aperitif on arrival. Antipasto. Pasta. Main course. Dessert.

Booking rules:
Email ONLY to events@popejoan.com.au
Payments up front (booking confirmed once full payment received).
Tell us what you can’t eat and what you won’t eat.
Smile on arrival – 7pm for 7.30pm.