Brunswick’s Hot Listed Bar Spontana serves wild-fermented drinks and exceptional Thai food. The latter is the work of chef Pipat “Noomie” Yodmunee, who has lived in Melbourne for more than 20 years. His menu explores the punchy flavours characteristic of southern Thailand, where he grew up. We caught up with Yodmunee to find out where (and what) he’s been eating in Melbourne lately. Favourite bakery“Le Petit Gateau. I always buy the hazelnut mille-feuille for my friends’ birthdays.” Go-to breakfast spot“Udom House. It’s the best Thai
cafe in North Melbourne. Good vibes and nice coffee.” Date-night recommendation“Go check out Curtin House on Swanston Street. You can spend time there day and night. There’s PAM, Metropolis Bookshop, Cookie, Rooftop Bar and more.” Favourite ice-cream or gelato“Kariton Sorbetes’ ube halaya is the best. It reminds me of ice-cream I used to have when I was a child.” Special-occasion spot“We always go to Korean barbeque for special occasions. I have tried all the Korean barbeque in North Melbourne. I would say go to The
Galbi BBQ for good quality meat and friendly staff.” Best bahn mi“Nhu Lan Bakery in Footscray. I always order the meatball roll.” Best place to eat with a big group“I always bring my family and friends to Ling Nan. I have been going since I came to Melbourne 20 years ago, and the food has had the same taste.” Favourite dessert“Pun Pun Desserts. There are not a lot of Thai dessert spots in Melbourne, so this is where I go when I miss Thai sweets.
I like the tub tim krob: water chestnuts coated with tapioca flour served in sweet coconut milk.” Best place for a late-night feed“Nana Thai. They’re open late at night, which is really good for me after work. I love to order something really spicy, like the fermented fish papaya salad. I get it extra spicy – don’t try this if you don’t like spicy!” Best bread“Bread Club. They have the best baguettes and doughnuts.” Best coffee“Tone Coffee has just opened in North Melbourne and has
become my favourite. You need to order the signature Tiger Bomb.” Restaurant you wish could come back for a night“Blok M Express in the CBD. I used to go there every week when I was studying in the city, and I still miss the oxtail soup and ikan balado, which is deep fried whole fish with balado sambal on top.” Place you’ve visited most over the years“Tofu Shoten. It’s the best tofu in town, I could eat it every day. Don’t forget to try their
house-made sweet potato chips.” Most underrated restaurant“Salero Kito. It’s an Indonesian restaurant on Rose Lane in the CBD. It’s fast, cheap and tasty – what else can I say?” Bucket-list restaurant“Sorn in Bangkok. It’s fine-dining southern Thai cuisine. I was born in the southern part of Thailand; the food there is stronger in flavour and very spicy. Sorn is the place I’d most like to try when I go back.”
MISRYOUM, Bar Spontana, Pipat Noomie Yodmunee, Melbourne restaurants, Thai food, Udom House, Nana Thai, Curtin House, Kariton Sorbetes, Sorn
Bar Spontana sounds like my kind of place but wild-fermented drinks?? I’d probably regret it.
So is this the same bar where everyone was talking about that ube thing? Because ube everything is overrated sometimes but I still wanna try the ice cream.
I don’t get why they gotta say “southern Thai” like it’s a whole different universe. Also Curtin House on Swanston? That’s like a museum/bookshop mall vibe right? I’d rather just get Korean BBQ since he’s naming Galbi and all that.
This article made me hungry, but “Ling Nan” and “Nhu Lan Bakery” are confusing me lol like which one is the bahn mi place? I thought Footscray was far too, but apparently it’s the best meatball roll?? I’m gonna show up and order random stuff and blame the chef.