Pneuma, a new culinary concept from two top-notch chefs, is opening in the city next month
What do you get when two of Brisbane’s best chefs take over a storied inner-city restaurant space and reshape it according to their combined vision? We’ll find out on Wednesday November 1, when top-flight talents Dan Arnold and Matt Blackwell open Pneuma on George Street. Here’s what we know …
Real recognises real. That’s the quickest and easiest way to summarise how Matt Blackwell and Dan Arnold’s new partnership came to be. Naturally, their mutual appreciation was fostered through food. They’d dined at each other’s restaurants plenty – at GOMA Restaurant, where Matt was head chef for approximately half a decade, and at Restaurant Dan Arnold, Dan’s eponymous Fortitude Valley institution.
They also shared an appreciation for Tool, the progressive metal band from which the two have plucked naming inspiration for their joint venture, Pneuma. “When we started hanging out we realised that we both love Tool,” reveals Matt. “The meaning of that word has got connotations in what we’re doing – it’s an old Greek term for the creative breath, the creative spirit of a person or persons. The fact that it’s a Tool song as well is a good bonus.”
Pneuma is set to open on Wednesday November 1 in the space previously home to French-inspired restaurant Greenglass. It’s a rare space, as far as vacant inner-city sites are concerned – a brightly lit abode hidden at the top of an inconspicuous flight of stairs off George Street, equal distance between Queen Street Mall and the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The opportunity to take on the space manifested by chance. “Cameron [Votan, co-owner of Greenglass and Happy Boy] just asked me if I wanted to come have a look,” admits Dan. “The opportunity fell into my lap, in a way.” Dan contacted Matt, who had recently returned from a holiday post his GOMA Restaurant departure, and the duo decided to throw in together on a concept that with showcase their tastes and talents.
Like most of Tool’s best songs, Pneuma will evolve and morph over time. It’s starting as a pop-up, with the duo eager to survey the scene and respond to the demands of the inner-city crowd. “It’ll be evolving constantly,” explains Matt. “I think the idea to pop-up is to kind of test the waters for the first two months and see what goes. And then moving forward in January and February, it’s going to evolve into something else – or if it works it’ll stay the same.”
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Much is yet to be revealed about Pneuma’s offering, which will initially be targeted predominantly towards a daytime crowd. “Straight away it’s going to be lunch heavy – I think the space and location fits that,” says Matt. “It’s not going to be regimented fine dining. It’s just going to be going to be good food. A kind of fine-dining food but just put across in a more relaxed and casual way. A bit more free and easy.”
The duo won’t be adhering to any guidelines, as far as cuisine is concerned – they’re keeping things fluid and interesting. That said, the duo confirms that guests will be able to choose from an a la carte menu of dishes that range from small to large, a two-to-three course ensemble, or an extended tasting menu. “If it tastes good, serve it,” says Dan, who adds that they’re eager to give the Greenglass clientele plenty of reasons to come back. “We want to offer them something new – something that’s evolved and will continue evolving. Something that’s using the skills of Matt, who is one of the best chefs in town and has been for a few years now.”
On the drinks front, Dan will leverage his established connections through Restaurant Dan Arnold and La Cache à Vín to amass a reference list sitting somewhere between 100 and 150 wines from smaller producers. The Pneuma team will be switching over tables and chairs for an initial aesthetic refresher, though any structural changes will take place in the new year.
Couched in a sense of unpredictability, Pneuma presents as an exciting addition to The City’s resurgent dining scene. After all, it’s not often that two highly touted chefs link up to jam on a new wavelength. “It’s going to be fun and good because of who is behind it,” says Matt. “It’s not going to be a replica of one of our other places – it’ll be something new, different and exciting for Brisbane.”
Bookings for Pneuma are live – head to the Stumble Guide for reservation links and other key details.
