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Uncle

29/7/2014

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Rachele's birthday celebrations took place at Uncle in St Kilda on a Tuesday evening. She's a popular lady so there were many of us so we had a set banquet seated at a long table. Our one vegan diner was able to forgo the set menu and order a la carte and there were vegan options.

The banquet is a sharing affair; there are buns, wings, salad, a whole fish, rice so it's about getting the hands dirty and passing the dishes. I didn't find the dishes as good as the ones at other Asian influence eateries such as Chin Chin. The flavours just didn't come through as clearly. The crispy pigs ear banh mi lacked more filling, the flesh of the barramundi was just a bit too mushy. The chicken wings were great though as was family style feeding hour.

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Cutler and Co.

27/7/2014

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Barley Boy's birthday celebrations continued through to the following weekend. Birthdays last a week these days right? And I had decided to treat him to a boozy Sunday lunch at Cutler and Co.

Described as a casual and relaxed experience using beautiful seasonal produce with a shared menu this sounded right up our street.

I'm a fan of Andrew McConnell's food from the bistro deliciousness of Cumulus to the Asian notes at Supernormal and what was Golden Fields. I'm not such a big fan of the actual restaurant premises though with the exception of Supernormal. I find Cumulus get s a bit cramped and hectic. The tables are often too small for the array of dishes that constitute a sharing meal. And they're close together so it adds to the feel of being overcrowded. Back on point, the last time I went to Cutler and Co it was a Friday evening and I'm not sure if it was because it was the end of a working week or the dim lighting and grey tones of the dining room but it felt very dark and zapped any remaining energy I did have from me.

But on this Sunday afternoon, the light shone through the windows and the whole place was uplifting, bright and cheery.

First up mixed olives, Padron peppers chargrilled and salted and whipped cod roe served with some bread.

This was a nice selection of little nibbles. I liked the salty and charred flavours of the peppers that were warm and soft with a bitter finish. The salty cod roe was cool and soft with a good savoury lingering flavour.

Next we had a sashimi dish, some delicious prosciutto that wast soft, porky and salty. Heirloom carrots with a creamy creme fraiche and a plate of a terrine like meat with sweet pickled onion slices.

We loved these "slightly bigger dishes than the nibbles" but still in line with the grazing style of the menu.

Main course wise there was a choice of individual plate of chicken or fish on the menu but also roast lamb shoulder to share. We couldn't resist the lamb shoulder which came with a pile of cabbage salad. McConnell's roast lamb shoulder is always so good and this did not disappoint and there was so much of it for the two of us. Great Sunday roast!

Dessert came in the form of an apple dessert with hay ice cream and a chocolate and berry affair. Steve had the apple and enjoyed it. I was impressed by the chocolate and berry as it erred on the side of light and I could eat it all. Usually chocolate desserts are a bit too heavy and cloying for me.

Sunday lunch at Cutler and Co is a real treat. It's good food, understated but professional service ad incredibly pleasant.

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Taxi Kitchen

25/7/2014

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Impromptu but much needed Friday night respite with Stef. It had been a long day at work and we needed some good cheer. I called Taxi as work finished; around 6pm on the off chance they might be able to help out two hardworking ladies and was offered and sold a table at the bar that had a view of the Yarra and the Hamer Hall end of Southbank.

We arrived and took our seats and indeed it was a great view and we began to unwind. It felt fun and when the cocktails came we knew the weekend was here.

We decided to stick to girltalk so for minimal interruption, asked our waiter to take us on the Taxi journey via the six course tasting menu.

Our first course was a tasty rice cracker with a warm oyster that tasted like it had been slightly pickled. There was a real salt and vinegar flavour through it and it was delicious.

Other highlights out of the 6 courses was a great venison and beetroot dish. The beetroot made it look a bit bloody and rare but it was bloody delicious! As was the ice box lemon meringue , Alaska bombe style.

Other dishes were good to but those were the memorable ones. There's a sense of fun and party at Taxi so I'd recommend it to go with friends or for an occasion. My previous experience of Taxi was that it was a bit stiff with white table cloths and lacked personality. Now with it's new identity it's like it's had a renaissance and has been rejuvenated.

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Shizuku Ramen

22/7/2014

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So much choice on Victoria Street. It used to be all about the pho at I Love Pho and the duck at Pacific House but now there is much more.

Steve and I were invited to try out Shizuku Ramen which marries Japanese cuising and craft beer.

Small and welcoming decor is minimal but attractive with lanterns and dark wood. The menu is so vast and it's hard to choose what to eat but of course we manage! We start off with one of the gyoza options and go classic and traditional.

GYOZA CLASSIC - 6pcs pan fried pork mince & cabbage dumplings, spring onions, homemade tangy sesame vinaigrette

This was followed by sashimi.

TUNA TARTARE - sashimi grade ground tuna in SHIZUKU dressing, served with deep fried gyoza skin
SALMON CARPACCIO - salmon sashimi, fresh orange soy
SCALLOP SASHIMI - hokkaido scallop, yuzu ponzu, wasabi mayo

Whilst the sashimi is creative and generous in portion I prefer the more classic flavours.

SHREDDED CHICKEN - aka Bang Bang Chicken, cold dish of steamed free range chicken strips, sesame sauce,
chilled cucumber

SHOYU RAMEN - marinated cha shu pork belly, bamboo shoots, spring onions, home brewed soy sauce

TAN TAN MEN - free range pork mince, chilli oil, preserved vegetables, rich sesame sauce

The bowls of noodles were perfect for this rainy, grey Winter's day. Good deep flavoured broth and springy strings of noodles.

If pho doesn't appeal and you're on ictoria Street remember this option. Thanks for dinner Shinzuku Ramen. Really appreciate it.

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Industry Beans

20/7/2014

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This brunch seems like ages ago! And it was! A sunny Winter's morning I take the short walk from home and catch up with Stef and Kim.

I remember it being busy and sitting at a long communal table. There no fresh OJ but there are daily juices in cute glass bottles and I enjoyed a lemony one and Stef had a green one.

Food wise Stef has some crunch quinoa and black bean salad with an egg which is spiked with chilli and is apparently one of her favourites.

I remember requesting not to be judged for ordering duck bacon and pig bacon. Yes, on the same plate. Lucky for me my friends don't judge and Industry Beans don't judge.

Come on duck bacon and pig bacon - you try and choose between them. Now I've had it I can choose. Duck bacon is just wafer thin slices of rare duck so I say pig bacon for the win. Although the attempt to decide between them was a worthwhile exercise!

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Naked in the Sky

19/7/2014

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Barley Boy's birthday weekend and we decide to have a Saturday lunch at Naked in the Sky. It's a grey day but sitting at a table in the rooftop bar is pleasant and I keep the chills away with a delicious Irish coffee.

We share some prosciutto, pate, chorizo and steak tartare. I think there were also some croquettes thrown in for sustenance.

It's a very pleasant grazing lunch. The food is good enough but it's more about the surroundings. This place is a destination whatever the weather, whenever the season.

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Prix Fixe

19/7/2014

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Kudos to Prix Fixe for having a business model which no doubt must reduce the number of "no shows". I'm surprised the concept of buying tickets in advance for a meal isn't practiced more widely. I guess the down side for the restaurateur is they miss out on the "walk ins" and the patrons that don't like to plan ahead. However, cash up front from an advance purchase must be appealing.

As for the customer, or rather than speak on behalf of all customers I should say, as for me having already pre paid for food means by the time the day of the dinner comes round it feels like a cheap meal with only drinks to stump up for as the cost of the food is already a sunk cost. This means I'm more likely to pay for an additional cheese course and indulge in an aperitif! Another wise move Philippa Sibley!

The prepaid ticket also changes my expectations from a dinner out at a nice restaurant to a more theatrical affair. So the patriotic red, white and blue and that adorns the entrance way is a fitting start to for diner a deux.

And we indulge in French cuisine - classics reinvented. French onion soup becomes a gougere on onion reduction. Beef Bourguignon becomes Oeufs Bourguignon and thats poached eggs in red wine. And duck a l'orange is presented as a plate of art accompanied by buttery mash.

We share an additional course of truffle infused Brie that is good but could be elevated to dreamy with something sweet like some honey.

Dessert is a dense cake topped with gold plated cream that is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's powdered wig. "Let them eat cake" in its truest form!

Prix Fixe was a fun dining destination. The menu we experienced was witty and clever and oh so French!

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Richmond Seafood Tavern

12/7/2014

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Richmond Seafood Tavern - the enigma that it is and the fact it's not in Richmond but Fitzroy! Confusing. And the fact it looks like a local's pub and it is that but more. Also confusing.

But what is less confusing is that Steve and I had a wonderful seafood feast here as we celebrated his work promotion.

There's lots of choice at the Seafood Tavern and the little plates are all put together to form yummy platters of food to feast on. We started off with Bollinger (it's a celebrationm) and enjoyed that with some cold dishes. Delicious oysters, crab and avocado bruschetta and seared tuna with white anchovy fillet. All spankingly fresh and delicious.

We carried on with the small dishes with some delicious crumbed scallops,steamed scallops, smoked salmon roll, whitebait fritter and chilli prawns. The chilli prawns, battered and beatifully cooked were so good we ordered another serve!

Then we shared a whole flounder pan fried simply with lemon but the delicate flavour meant it didn't need anything else.

Groaning tummies meant no room for dessert and the 15 minute walk home was exactly what was needed.

We were well looked after, enjoyed some great food and had an truly enjoyable evening that was all about the food. It's not the flashiest of restaurants but who needs flashy when there's fresh seafood?

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El Alamo

12/7/2014

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El Alamo is a pop up shop / cafe brought to the Melbourne massiv by Argentinian Ignacio and Sicilian Andrea who are on a mission to bring the empanada to Melbourne.

They describe the empanada as:
"a pastry clad hot pocket, filled with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Hand-carved beef slow cooked in red wine, fresh herbs and vegetables in a béchamel sauce, chicken, chorizo, fish (the list is endless) - all wrapped and baked in freshly rolled pastry crisped to perfection."

Faced with logistical challenges such as a retail shop front with no kitchen and all that comes with being a start up business, those little empanadas are truly a product that is not only filled with love, nurture and pipe dreams but blood, sweat and tears. They have set up a project:

http://www.pozible.com/project/184063#description

to generate support to make this start up an ongoing possibility so if you believe in the empanada, do pledge your support to these two new entrants to the hospitality industry.

So are the empanadas worth a pledge. We entered the airy and bright pop up shop on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Give the restrictions in the shop, there's licence, coffee machine or anything really permanent so the empanadas really have to do the the talking.

And we had to wait a while as the orders piled in so there was an anticipated wait but the wait was worth it and these little pastries are delicious. We tried every flavour except the sweet and whilst the meat ones were delicious, funnily enough it was the veggie cheesy ones that were our favourites. Just wonderfully seasoned fillings and the chimichurri sauce with it's acidic tang and fragrant herbs enhanced those flavours. All hail the empanada!

What was great to see too, although it added to our wait time, was the queue of people coming in to pick up takeaway empanadas and speaking native Spanish so these have to be authentic! And now having read more about this mission and the restrictive nature of the current set up, well utmost respect to Andrea and Ignacio for managing and succeeding through it and for wanting to continue to take over Melbourne!

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Alpha Ouzeri

5/7/2014

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Another Saturday night, another local eatery and this time we headed to Alpha Ouzeri for a dose of Greek goodness. I booked a table the night before and when we arrived found we were alongside a massive party that took up pretty much the entire restaurant floor except for a few smaller tables. Needless to say the place was pretty busy. In spite of so many people we were served quickly and efficiently and upon looking around, all the other tables including the big party were too.

The menu is vast and there are specials to select from too so lots of choice. We know wanted some form of fried or grilled cheese and there are at least 3 or 4 options to go with! So we decide to try something a bit different and ordered the:

FETA PASTELLI
Sesame coated Greek feta cheese, pan fried and drizzled with honey

It came out steamingly hot remisicent of Chinese prawn toast but in appearance. The cheese is soft and tangy, and then there's the crunchy sesame seeds and some toasty tones followed by sweet honey. Nice enough but will probably try a different version next time.

We also have a starter from the specials board which are the Greek rissoles / meatballs with a tomato sauce. Traditional and rustic the meat balls are flavoursome and comforting.

Main course wise we go with:

SEAFOOD PLATTER FOR ONE
Selection of fresh seafood (fillet of fish, fried calamari, white bait, char grilled king prawns and charcoal octopus). Served with green salad, baked potato and skordalia

And also another special which is a lamb stew with risoni pasta which came ins a small earthenware pot.

Classically Greek, these two dishes were simple but effective and the seafood platter for one was very generous.

We decide to share the dessert platter partly because the meal has gone so quickly. It seemed the right thing to prolong the meal.

I enjoyed the Greek doughnuts. The baklava was kinda small and weedy looking but obviously pleasant enough for Steve to eat them both.

The custard cake was overset and an unpleasant texture for me so that was left behind. And in in just over one hour, we were out the door. Not quite the long date night I had in mind but not necessarily a bad thing.

Alpha Ouzeri is a traditional Greek taverna so as a local eatery it's not a bad option. I wouldn't necessarily travel far as I don't the food is that much of a draw. Our experience was fine but I didn't like being so close to the large party as they had a tendency to get up, switch seats, stand over us to chatter etc which didn't make it the most relaxing of times.

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Uncle

Cutler and Co.

Taxi Kitchen

Shizuku Ramen

Industry Beans

Naked in the Sky

Prix Fixe

Richmond Seafood Tavern

El Alamo

Alpha Ouzeri

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