Cam Tay-Yap, former head chef of Amaru on High Street in Armadale, has left his post and is gearing up to go on a six-month research trip to Asia. But before the big adventure, he found time to start one of the city’s coolest pop-up series: Pebble. Best known for its temporary home in the carpark of bouldering gym La Roca, Pebble sees Tay-Yap combine his fine-dining training and Malaysian background to create dishes such as a pumpkin terrain with a laksa sauce and achar (pickles), and satay with tamarind jam and sambal ijo. Plus, he collaborates with chefs including former Vue de Monde pastry chef John Demetrios and fellow bouldering gym chef Nico Bassand (ex-Osteria Ilaria).

But there’s less than one month left to try Pebbles. Tay-Yap will collab with chef Mika Chae at Chae’s Hot-Listed restaurant Doju on Friday April 18 and Saturday April 19, and finish up Pebble at La Roca on Sunday May 4.

We caught up with Tay-Yap to find out where (and what) he’s eating in Melbourne before he jets off.

Stay in the know with our free newsletter. The latest restaurants, must-see exhibitions, style trends, travel spots and more – curated by those who know.

SIGN UP

What’s your favourite bakery?
We love going to Lumos Bakery in McKinnon. Carina [La Delfa]’s bread and pastry game is phenomenal. Her partner Dan [Rosenow] has great warmth and is great with guests. They have a great babka that is moist and not too sweet, fantastic pastries that satisfy my sweet tooth and a tuna melt that hits the spot.

Where do you go when you want Malaysian food?
Aside from asking my mum to cook, we went to Pappa Laksa in Burwood recently and had two curry laksas that were delicious, super flavoursome and just hit right in the heart. Yeo’s canned drinks, as well as the cendol drink, took us right back to being on holiday in Malaysia.

What’s the best place for a drink and snacks?
Maybe I’m biased, but Auterra has a great range of wines to choose from and heaps of snacks as well as options for larger plates. The abalone sandwich though … so good. And the duck liver crumpet always hits home.

If you’re recommending a date spot, where do you tell people to go?
Kirbie in South Melbourne is fun, lively, personable, cosy, romantic, warm and delicious. The food is tasty and unpretentious and with a dim candle-lit room, it’s got personality as well as character for romance and good times.

What’s your favourite ice-cream or gelato spot?
I love going to Kori Ice-Cream either in Hawthorn or the CBD. The ice-cream is full of flavour without being too sugary or too sweet. The team also has an ice-cream cart that debuted at our wedding! I love the black sesame ice-cream, the fuji apple, and the Hokkaido cheesecake.

What’s the best place to eat when you’re with a big group?
Doju. Mika makes some seriously tasty food and it has really found its stride. The produce-driven menu features Korean flavours and techniques and the cocktails are also equally creative and tasty. Plus, it has a large space that can take large groups, with a flexible menu that can be shared amongst everyone.

What Melbourne restaurant do you think is the most underrated?
Uminono on Greville Street is fantastic! The bowls are delicious and the craftmanship and precision behind every piece of sashimi is exceptional. I love watching this business grow, develop and get better and better with time. Get in while you can!

Where can you find your favourite dessert in Melbourne?
I am the biggest sucker for custard. The crème brûlée and crème caramel at France-Soir always get me good. I love the simple deliciousness. No messing around.

Who has the best coffee?
The guys at La Roca make a damn good coffee. I might be biased again, but that was part of what made me fall in love with the place. I’ve also found myself in Rudimentary pretty regularly recently as it is right next to D&K Live Seafood. After being around for 10 years, they still make a great coffee and have the best vibes.

What’s the best place to eat as a solo diner?
Sitting at the bar at Tipo is great! Fast-paced energetic service surrounds you. It’s a room that buzzes with life and it’s easy to have your attention drawn to the kitchen. It’s a beautiful dance to watch from the bar.

What’s the best place for a late-night feed?
With Seafood Street closing, recently, I’ve found myself at Ampere a few times. They have a pretty decent burger for a late bite and, if you’re so inclined, a naughty list of different pickleback shots. It still scares me how much I love the jalapeno pickle and tequila shot – very dangerous

What’s your bucket list restaurant?
I would love to get to Ikoyi one day. Aside from having a low-key chef crush on Jeremy Chan, the food looks and sounds delicious. The focus being flavour-forward – and having both West African inspiration and using local farms – looks incredible.