MELBOURNE, Australia. January 20th, 2022. On January 27th, 2022, the team behind renowned Melbourne culinary destinations Terror Twilight and Tinker will open the doors to their third hospitality venture — Hi Fi, a neighbourhood deli with a difference.
Focusing on high-quality chef-designed sandwiches, expertly roasted coffee and mouth-watering shakes, founders Kieran Spiteri and Ben Argentino have created a new offering in homage to their combined adoration of good food, all things music and vinyl.
On the conceptualisation of Hi Fi, Spiteri explains: “The idea behind Hi Fi was inspired by a super successful collaboration we did with Meat Maiden. To set the scene, on this day the music was on point, the vibe in the venue was so energetic, and to top it all off, we sold out of sandwiches within hours. It was also on this day that we created a hot sauce called HiFi hot sauce. I said to our executive chef Dale Kemp after the event that we should open a sandwich joint called Hi Fi, and so the bones of the venture were born”.
Open seven days a week and located in Collingwood, just a short stroll from Terror Twilight, Hi Fi, while smaller in scale, comprises the signature aesthetic, service and soul that has ensured the founders’ existing hospitality ventures remarkable success.
Separating Hi Fi from other projects within Spiteri and Argentino’s stable of hospitality venues is its takeaway only service. The founders sought to provide customers with a high quality, fast and effective food offering that removes the idea of the takeaway offering as an afterthought and instead makes it the star of the show.
The menu is simple yet considered, with a curated selection of bagels, sandwiches, sides, coffee, and shakes created by the founders in collaboration with executive chef Dale Kemp. Here, the highest quality ingredients have been utilised to ensure the menu is refined yet delicious, with appearances from Cobb Lane, Five and Dime Bagels, and Dench Bakers to name a few, alongside Hi Fi’s own contract roasted coffee.
Menu headliners include the The Grilled Cheese & Dip, Mushroom and Taleggio Toastie, Panko Crumbed Fish on a Steamed Potato Bun, the Curly Fries and indulgent Shake selection with flavours including Salted Caramel and Ginger Malt. Speaking on the wider food offering, Argentino explains: “We didn’t want just to open another deli but focus on quality made sandwiches both fresh and toasted along with some guilty pleasures like Curly fries & Shakes, also creating our own signature sauces along the way.”
Spiteri continues: “We’ve spent the last six months working on what we think is a super balanced and tasty menu that we believe the greater Collingwood community will greatly appreciate.”
Accompanying customers through their ordering experience will be an ever-rotating eclectic mix of vinyl,
championing the atmospheric element that music, specifically records, brings to all of Spiteri and Argentino’s hospitality venues. In Argentino’s own words:
“Music is a big part of our hospitality group’s tapestry. We’re all about good tunes; in fact, the name Hi Fi directly references old vinyl. As well as being lifelong music lovers and having many musician friends, we feel that placing a large emphasis on music adds a unique dynamic to our venues. Our intention was always to make Hi Fi a real muso hang out”.
As well as the food, beverage and music offering, expect to see friendly and familiar faces, with much-loved staff from Terror Twilight and Tinkerset to make regular appearances behind the deli counter.
Hi Fi is located at 316 Smith Street, Collingwood, and will open its doors on January 27th at 9.00 am. Hi Fi will be giving away free coffee all day on opening day to celebrate the launch. To get a first look at what to expect,
