Estelle's Scott Pickett scouts southside bistro locations

Scott Pickett is on a roll. Having recast his Northcote dining room as a bistro, sunk a small fortune building his dream kitchen next door at Estelle by Scott Pickett, and had a stint on the small screen as a judge on Nine's The Hotplate, he's putting a few more irons in the fire.

Coming up in four weeks is the opening of his upstairs test kitchen and a private dining room for 12. On the drawing board is a weekend pop-up at Yarra Glen winery Acacia Ridge during December and January. Think large cuts of meats cooked on a fire pit, wood-grilled seafood and interesting salads starring Yarra Valley produce.

And still a twinkle in his eye is EBS (Estelle Bistro Southside), planned for 2017. Richmond? Further south? Pickett is keeping an open mind but the focus will be on meat cooked over fire.

He's gearing up by hiring British chef Alex Drobysz​ (ex Gordon Ramsay's Maze, London, and Cafe Boulud​, New York), who kicked goals at Bar Nacional​.