Run, Rabbit, Run is the gem in Castlemaine’s foodie scene. Owned and run by My Kitchen Rules 2022 stars Peter and Alice Bottomley the café is going Latino with its weekend Mexican pop-up. Since launching the first weekend of February the pop-up has sold out making this the newest destination foodie hot spot for traditional family-style Mexican cuisine.
Why Mexican food?
Mexican food is intrinsically linked to family and tradition which perfectly aligns with Peter and Alice’s food ethos “food is family, food is love”. After noticing a hole in the market of the local community for a different food offering on weekend evenings Peter and Alice Bottomley decided to take the plunge and extend their operating hours to meet this demand.
Mexican food is inexpensive to make, but can be labour-intensive with sauces and salsas that take hours to make and are often cooked twice or thrice to enhance flavour and richness.
With a vision to bring Latin dishes to the people, Alice spent months researching cuisine, watching Mexican TV and travel programmes, reading recipes, and then relating this to her cooking inspiration. The result is a curated menu of (as much as possible in a small regional Victorian town) authentic Mexican food that will fill any heart with if not love then with heat.
Alice has veered from the Americanised ‘Tex Mex’ style options and instead opted for simple, traditional Mexican fare. The cuisine can be quite the assault on the senses (Peter has finally gotten used to a bit of heat thanks to MKR!) with its spicy, flavoursome, wholesome, belly-filling food. Whilst some of it isn’t particularly pretty, it is always scrumptious and almost always punches you straight in the face with personality (just like Peter and Alice!).
What can visitors expect from Run Rabbit Run?
Run Rabbit Run is known for offering a comfortable and kind environment during the day and will now continue that through the weekend evening trade. “There is nothing more glorious than watching friends and families come together over delicious food, strong cocktails and copious amounts of giggles! It’s why we do, what we do,” Alice Bottomley commented.
A bonus for punters is the wedding ensemble gallery upstairs with a collection Peter has been building for years. Gowns and finery dating back to the 1800s will make any fashionista envious. A trip to the eatery will not only fill your food heart but also tick the fashion box!
