Lee Ko Fook? Or Momofooku Ho? However you slice it, Melbourneâs in for a treat.Â
Just when you thought Melbourne was going to collapse under the weight of culinary talent jetting in for the double whammy of the Worldâs 50 Best Restaurants and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival at the beginning of April, along comes news that not one but two chef alumni of Momofuku in New York are getting together to cook dinner while theyâre in town.
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Sean Gray, chef at Momofuku Ko, the flagship fine-diner in the East Village, is teaming up with Momofuku SeiĆbo chef Paul Carmichael and host chef Victor Liong at Lee Ho Fook for a night of fun and fireworks. Better still, theyâre joined by front-of-house star Su Wong Ruiz, the manager of Ko who keen-eyed Momo-watchers will remember fondly from her stint on the floor in Sydney when SeiĆbo first opened.

Momofuku x Lee Ho Fook illustration.
âWorking with Sean and Su has been a long time coming. Now that itâs finally happening, my excitement is only growing and Iâm just trying to stay as calm and focused as I can,â says Carmichael. âSu and I worked together, and I canât wait to get the band back together.â
Gray, meanwhile, is keen to see what Momofuku translates to south of the equator. âIâve always had a lot of respect for Paulâs cuisine. He has a unique style and a very clear focus on what good food is,â he says. âIâm excited to see what flavours and techniques heâs developed in the time heâs spent in Australia.âÂ
It might be a week of hot-ticket items, but this oneâs practically smoking, folks â get in quick.
Catch Momofukuâs Sean Gray and Paul Carmichael cooking with Victor Liong at Lee Ho Fook on Monday 3 April. Six courses, $148 (plus drinks). For bookings, contact Lee Ho Fook on (03) 9077 6261 or [email protected].Â