Fluttering among hundreds of scribbled, food-stained dockets, the legacy of Melbourne’s renowned hospitality scene is served up in a new exhibition to open at Immigration Museum on Thursday 16 October: Order Up – a city fed by many cultures.
These are the dockets, passed from hand to hand, that keep our kitchens moving, and the city fed, by a smorgasbord of cultures. Order Up will transport visitors into the heart of 33 iconic Melbourne restaurants and their kitchens including France-Soir, Abla’s, Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar, Supper Inn, The Horn, Chae, Taverna, Rumi, Pastuso and more.
Enhancing the immersion into the sea of dockets will be layered projected film and audio collages of interview excerpts, clinking cutlery, whooshing flames, laughter, languages, and the rich hum of the people.
Order Up is a collaboration between Melbourne-based artists Daniel Saade and Redmond Stevenson. Saade – a third-generation restaurateur and the grandson of Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Melbourne in 1950 – has been continuing his family’s hospitality legacy, operating the cafe Niche on Bridge for 13 years.
Stevenson draws on years of experience as a cinematographer, filming in kitchens and restaurants, immersing audiences in the energy and humanity of hospitality culture.
Saade and Stevenson’s creative practice is grounded in the belief that Melbourne’s hospitality industry plays a vital role in immigrant integration — a perspective shaped by their own experiences and Saade’s family’s journey and opportunities.
“Anyone can come here and find language through hospitality,” said Saade. “With Order Up we want visitors to find their familiar and embrace the unfamiliar, framing these humble slips of paper into something captivating. Every docket bares the human connections behind it – the late night/early morning friendships formed, the family recipes and traditions shared.”
The collaboration between Saade and Stevenson came naturally, after being friends for 30 years and bonded by their shared passion for good food, hospitality and Melbourne. Stevenson’s textured cinematography conveys the energy and character of Melbourne’s kitchens.
“Order Up is a tribute to the people who work around the clock to feed and nourish Melbourne – from those who came before to the newcomers. With stories of arrival, identity and belonging embedded in its walls, Immigration Museum is a perfect home for this exhibition, and we welcome it with open arms,” said Museums Victoria CEO & Director, Lynley Crosswell.
Victoria is better and stronger for the many cultures and communities that make up our state – Victorians come from more than 300 ancestries, speak 290 languages and follow almost 200 different faiths, providing our state with a rich and unique social tapestry. Order Up is a unique creative celebration of the food we love and the culinary talent behind it,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks.
Order Up – a city fed by many cultures
Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Exhibition: 16 October 2025 – 5 April 2026
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.museumsvictoria.com.au for details.
Images: The Order – photos by Redmond Stevenson