We’ve seen a lot of great menu ideas based on Valentine's themes, but we have not yet seen an entire menu revolving around chilli, as a means of spicing things up! Until now...
Italian artisan chilli brand Bippi has partnered with Melbourne CBD restaurant Ronnie’s for a Red-Hot Week of Amore. The pair has conceived a limited-edition chilli menu in the name of love, with the specials running from Saturday, Feburary 10 until Saturday, February 17, but be warned - we’re talking chilli in ALL the dishes from entrees to drinks, mains and desserts, for the special Valentine's menu.
Bippi, an ‘Italian-style Chilli’ as the jar reads, is a sauce ‘approved by Nonna’ and made the Italian way. Founder, Ben Circosta grew up with his Nonna’s chilli always on the dining table. This inbuilt food memory of his childhood inspired him to continue the tradition here in Australia, using fresh Australian chilli.
Contrasting to this is Ronnie’s founder, Chef Matthew Butcher who spent his childhood in Mildura watching his father Ronnie, cooking up a storm in the family business. The vibrant all-day diner is inspired by the warmth and energy of family dinners and the buzz of big nights out in the city.
First up on the Valentine's menu of chilli love is Bippi’s ‘Inferno’, adding fire to cocktail hour, with the hotted-up aperitivo mixing tequila, dry cassis, raspberry and Bippi Italian chilli syrup.
Fried mac and cheese bites will follow, garnished with a swipe of mayo spiced with Bippi’s Italian Style Sriracha; an Australian-first sauce made with olive oil and garlic.
Ronnie’s ‘greens and cheese’ offering made with Bippi Chilli Olive Tapenade is the one to say ‘I do’ while the ‘chilli mussels’ in a tomato and white wine sauce will have you Googling which shellfish really is the aphrodisiac.
Finish your date with the grand finale - ‘Prosecco and Bippi poached pears’ with white chocolate mousse.
Bippi and Ronnie’s is a partnership built on Italian flavour and nostalgia. Guaranteed to spice things up, the Red-Hot Week of Amore is a celebration of love and relationships in all its forms.
