Good things come in threes they say, which rings true for The Dolphin’s wildly successful Delfino Aperitivo commencing its third season next weekend.

It will be hard for the Surry Hills favourite to top a 2018 run which included appearances from Japanese cuisine superstar Nancy Singleton Hachisu, Bali’s The Slow, and LA’s E.P. & L.P. But never one to shy away from a challenge, The Dolphin’s executive chef Monty Koludrovic promises that big things (and big names) are in store for fans of the event series. The sessions will again follow the same mantra of previous years, held on Sunday eve each week, Delfino Aperitivo kicks off  from 5pm till 7pm, within which time a revolving door of heralded foodies from all over will dole out creative plates and drinks from
$5-7.

“We are as excited as ever heading into our third year of The Dolphin Wine Room Aperitivo parties,” says Koludrovic. “We kick off with a rapid fire aperitivo selection of the world’s best people. Global vibes like never before are showing up this year back to back. Worldy drinks, local dranks, next level falafels, farmhouse French fare, Vietnamese pancakes, cross-border wine rooms uniting like Voltron and bespoke European canning.”

What he is referring to is a line-up of collaborations that involve P&V Merchants, Carlton Wine Room, and Continental Deli Newtown among others. But Koludrovic seems most eager about the involvement of much-loved Melbourne pizza fanatics Leonardo’s Pizza Palace. “We’re excited to then take on a reverse-ativo taking us to Melbourne town to hook in with the legends from Leonardo’s! 2019 going to be on fire in terms of these super creative team ups!” he continues.

Head sommelier James Hird has promised that the drinks offerings for 2019 will be just as impressive as the edible offerings. “This year we are turning up the volume on wine and drinks. Expect magnums of rare Jura bottlings, sbagliati and some Mike Bennie P & V madness. We really want to celebrate wine, aperitvi and drinks this year amongst the visiting chefs,” he says. Which is obviously a lot more enjoyable when a glass will only set you back a fiver. “Getting change from $10 is a great opportunity for folks to explore wines and drinks without the ouch.”

The Aperitivo 2019 line-up will begin Sunday March 3 when Andrew Guard X Morgan McGlone storm The Dolphin with their Les Camion Tordus – Tales of a frozen wine tour. The remainder of the line-up reads as follows:

March 10
P&V Wine and Liquor Merchants (Tai, Mike and Lou)
Blackout Sunday – Athletes of Newtown are coming

March 17
Roger and Sue, Jura by magnum
Living Wines, Tasmania

March 24
Tania Ho and Ben Sinfield, Bahn Xeo Bar

March 31
Burgos Falafel House
Luke (the canon) Burgess, Tasmania

April 7
Wine Room Squared
Carlton Wine Room x Dolphin Wine Room
John Paul Towney bringing the action

April 21
Canned Heat
Continental Deli & Bistro, Newtown and CBD
Michael Nicolian and Jesse Warketin

May
Reverse Aperitivo
Dolphin Wine Room x Leonardo’s Pizza Palace, Melbourne

The Dolphin Hotel Wine Room
412 Crown Street, Surry Hills
dolphinhotel.com.au/aperitivo-hour/