#215 Jake Read | Neptune

Today I am talking to Jake Read at Neptune in Windsor. I’ve always had a soft spot for Neptune ], so what better excuse to head back over there than a new head chef. Last year, after 12 years working in the UK across Michelin and boutique hotel restaurants as well as running his own private dining business, Jake Read felt drawn to Melbourne. He had been following some Melbourne venues on social media, but says when he sat down and ate at the likes of Old Palm Liquor and Liberty Bar, he knew he was in the right place and couldn’t wait to get stuck in. After a stint at Scott Pickett’s Matilda, Jake has taken over the head chef reins at Neptune, where he has slightly steered the menu back towards its Mediterranean and smaller plate origins. Jake and I sat in the beautiful function room upstairs and after our lovely chat, we went downstairs and he treated me to some delicious snacks: a really rich and tasty scallop with salumi XO, a punchy umami filled eggplant toast with miso and cashew and then a dish he has been playing with and which I absolutely loved, a perfectly cooked potato cake with crème fraiche and the pop of salmon roe. My two favourite things are great conversations and delicious food, and all my boxes were ticked. Thanks to Jake and the team at Neptune for being so great. Now I’ve tried out a new little sound effect at the beginning as a segue to arriving and then going upstairs. Let me what you think about it.