Broadsheet Access: Readers’ Dinner at Caness

Caness is opening in a converted Paddington grocer this April, and Broadsheet Access members can be among the first to sample its punchy small plates that dance between the Middle East and the Med. A bright, bold prawn saganaki is tipped to star, poached in feta and tomato sauce. Plus, you’ll try a beef tartare with harissa aioli and a hearty minced lamb “sloppy Yosef”.

It’s co-owned by two chefs, Erez Nahum (who heads up Surry Hills restaurant Shaffa) and Juan Colmenares. “We believe that great food doesn’t need to be complicated,” says Nahum. “It’s about stripping things back to the essentials and letting the ingredients speak for themselves.”

Caness translates to “come in” in Hebrew, reflecting the pair’s intention to create an unfussy, comfortable space. The facade is bordered by the grocer’s original glossy blue tiles, with freshened up double-front windows and footpath seating. Inside, an open kitchen and bar area runs along two walls, with a range of spots to sit.

Arrive at 6.30pm and be handed a zingy Gazpacho cocktail (mixing vodka, tomato, cucumber and citrus) or a glass of bubbles. Then, settle in for a casual feast with fellow Access members. You can opt to receive matched wines with each course.

Join Access today to secure your seat at Caness. Bookings now open.

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