She started her namesake brand, E Nolan, in 2018 with the aim to create a considered wardrobe for all women and LGBTQIA+ folk.
From buttered-bread gelato to $10 pints at one of Carlton North’s hidden gems, here’s how she does does Melbourne.
My local is the Marquis of Lorne. The potato cakes are like crack. It’s less than 200 metres from my work and home, making it the perfect knockoff or lazy evening dinner spot.
I know I’m in Melbourne when I have decision fatigue about what to eat. We are never strapped for choices here; there is something for every hangry mood.
In the mornings you’ll find me drinking a coffee in my kitchen from my Breville machine with beans from Everyday Coffee and the life-changing Alternative Dairy Co Barista oat milk. It’s rare for me to leave the house in the morning before my workday so making sure I have good quality coffee on hand is a must. It’s also a much cheaper alternative to having a coffee out; it all adds up. On the weekend I’ll walk to Hector’s Deli and grab a sanga and a doughnut. I like to watch the Hector’s Deli stations; it’s almost romantic how the chefs move around each other. An efficient dance.
My defining food moment in Melbourne was my birthday cake from Anneliese Brancatisano, aka Peaches La Crème. I’d like to live in her brain.
When I want to show the city off to friends from out of town, I like to… The first place I take my friends or recommend to clients is always Cam’s Kiosk. Abbotsford Convent is beautiful and the food is amazing.
My favourite place to stock up on supplies is Cibi Grocer, Morning Market and Meatsmith for Chappy’s Chips. But Aldi is honestly my go to.
The best new thing I’ve found is Fluffy Torpedo Ice Cream. I could stand there for hours trying all the flavours, from buttered baguette to Nutella and parmesan.
When I want to go all out on a special meal, I go to Albert’s Wine Bar on Morey Street in Armadale, my new favourite haunt. This place and my parents’ labrador are the only things now that will get me over the river. I adore La Pinta: sleepy street and brilliant food.
When I want to drink something Victorian, my first choice is Victorian Bitter. Ice cold, straight from the can.
There’s no better value in Melbourne than Chotto Motto and the dumplings at Tora. Also $10 Sunday pints at the Brandon Hotel.
If I could change one thing about eating and drinking here it would be… I would like to see people sitting in the park eating fish and chips more. I’m recalling my dad coming home on a Friday night with fish and chips wrapped up in newspaper.
But the one thing I hope never changes in Melbourne is the courage that locals have to put their food out into the world. There are a lot of very cool Instagram accounts (Cam’s Bread, Golden Groves, Throat Supper Club, Club Sup, Some Things I Like to Cook, You Forgot the Blueberries, Pasta Mama, Peaches La Creme, Jessica Nguyen) without a brick-and-mortar store. There is a return to focus, post-Covid, on the home cook, and the celebration of this. It’s not about perfect fine-dining food, but ugly imperfection that tastes just as good if not better. Good food to me is when it’s thrown together and shared.
E Nolan, enolan.com.au, @enolanmelbourne