Dessous | Joel Baylon & Dan Sawansak

Ex-Shobosho chef Joel Baylon is about to return to Melbourne from Adelaide, and his first move is to team up with his friend Dan Sawansak of intimate basement wine bar Dessous for a night of Asian-leaning dishes delivered with original spin.

One of the pocket rockets of Adelaide’s dining scene, Shobosho is known for its fire-fuelled cooking and food influenced by Japan and Korea and beyond. After cooking at Northern Light Yakitori Bar in Melbourne, Joel Baylon was the perfect fit for head chef.

At Dessous, chef Dan Sawansak remixes wine bar staples like sandwiches, fritters, toasts and pasta by incorporating influences from China, Japan and more. Joel and Dan have long been admirers of each other’s food and struck up a friendship while they were both living in North Melbourne, one that has endured with Joel’s move to Adelaide.

To welcome Joel home as he gets ready to open One Trick Pony in Fitzroy North, Dan will be sharing the kitchen at Dessous with his old friend as they play around with XO sauce, kimchi, fermented chilli and rice dishes, alongside bearnaise, anchovy, cured fish and more.

Catch them as they serve up some of their favourite snacks as well as collaborating on a dish together, showcasing some of their favourite Asian cuisines and ingredients in a whole new way.