Meu Jardim’s new head chef showcases Modern European dining with a twist
With an interior that brings to mind the laboratory of a James Bond-style super villain, or perhaps the interior of an iceberg, Meu Jardim is hard to miss whilst ambling down Kent Street. In a masterstroke of unfortunate timing, the restaurant originally opened one week before the Covid shutdown in March 2020 but has now been relaunched with a new menu and a new Head Chef, Murat Ekinci.
Ekinci comes from good stock, with twelve years’ experience and having previously run the kitchens of Cruise Dining and Vicinity Dining – both two hatted restaurants. He has transformed Meu Jardim’s menu into one focusing on high quality produce with strong flavours inspired by his Turkish heritage. “Customers will be able to immerse themselves into the theatrical setting and experience a modern European menu, inspired by traditional flavours and culture” he said.
The food lives up to this ambition with a menu that has obvious European influences. Starters include the traditional Greek dish Saganaki which sees Halloumi-style cheese fried with oil, honey and thyme served in a miniature frying pan. Other options include melt-in-your-mouth wagyu bresaola and delicately chargrilled octopus served on a spiced Romesco sauce.
For groups or indeed the gluttonous, Meu Jardim have an interesting selection of made-to-share mains including 1.2kg Premium Beef Short Ribs, a 1.5kg Lamb Shoulder and a 16 Rib Rack Lamb Crown. If you’ve still got room after all that, then the White Chocolate Crème Brulee is a fine way to finish the experience.
With a waterfall upstairs and a fire pit in the downstairs bar, Meu Jardim have gone for the extravagant and theatrical, but it’s the food – particularly the joyous Saganaki – that will keep us coming back. If you need any more encouragement, the bar is targeting the after-work crowd with mid-week deals on Veuve Clicquot and selected items from the menu.