Royal Melbourne Show 2015‎ [19 - 29 September 2015]

The 2015 Royal Melbourne Show, Victoria's largest and most iconic annual community event, is running from Saturday, 19 to Tuesday, 29 September at Melbourne Showgrounds.

Conducted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the Royal Melbourne Show celebrates and showcases excellence in agriculture, attracting close to 500,000 people over 11 spectacular days.

Open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm, the Royal Melbourne Show offers a huge variety of unique memorable agricultural experiences that are entertaining, interactive, educational and fun for young and old alike.

With over 350 showbags on offer at this years Royal Melbourne Show, there's something for everyone.

With an expanded and enhanced animal precinct, only at the Royal Melbourne Show can visitors get up close to thousands of animals, including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, cats and dogs.

Food-lovers will enjoy tantalising tastes and mouth-watering aromas at the Royal Melbourne Show with the event featuring award-winning food and drink from top producers, rotating pop-up restaurants and intimate masterclasses and cooking demonstrations from Australia’s finest chefs and industry experts.

Some of Melbourne's most celebrated restaurants will be popping up at the Royal Melbourne Show and their menus are sure to get your mouth watering.

For the first time ever, Adriano Zumbo brings his exquisite sweet treats to the Royal Melbourne Show, appearing in the popular Dessert Bar for the first seven days, from Saturday 19 to Friday 25 September.

Visitors to the Winning Tastes Pavilion will be spoilt for choice with South Melbourne’s newest dessert boutique, Bibelot, also featuring in the Dessert Bar with its European-inspired cakes, chocolates and pastries on the remaining four days of the Show, from Saturday 26 to Tuesday 29 September.

Burger-lovers will enjoy Daniel Wilson’s Huxtaburger with a taste of Huxtable, popping up in the Winning Tastes Pavilion on Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 September, offering their famed Wagyu burgers and Huxtable tasting plate.

Foodies looking for more exotic flavours will delight in Rumi’s delectable Middle-Eastern inspired menu from Saturday 19 to Tuesday 22 September. We absolutely adored the dish of Pulled Lamb Iskender - bursting with flavour and wonderfully tender, the lamb was adorned with luscious yogurt, fresh tomato sauce. Fluffy flat bread acted as a wonderful canvas for the dish, soaking the delicious flavours.

Your taste buds will go into overdrive with the finest award-winning produce from the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards and Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, including gourmet cheese and cured meat plates, glasses of award-winning wine, cups of award-winning coffee, gourmet ice cream and pies, available for purchase in the Fine Food Deli.

For the first time at the Royal Melbourne Show, enjoy a little ‘cocktail hour’ with a tasty tipple, from 12noon to 6pm at the Speakeasy Cocktail Bar. 

Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar also makes an appearance at the show, offering delicious pizzas, minus the guilt. Their Royal Melbourne Show menu offers a selection from Crust's menu including some classic combinations as well as some more adventurous gourmet options. 

Boasting hours of free world-class entertainment and performances, the thrill and excitement of carnival rides, spectacular stunts, glittering nightly fireworks and much more, there's an amazing variety of things to do at this year's Royal Melbourne Show.

Tickets to the 2015 Royal Melbourne Show are on sale from Monday, 3 August and there are a number of great value ticket options.

For all things to do at the Show and ticket packages, visit the new and improved Royal Melbourne Show website, www.royalshow.com.au and follow the Royal Melbourne Show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What: Royal Melbourne Show

Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale 

Dates: 19 - 29 September 2015

Gastrology bloggers attended the event courtesy of Royal Melbourne Show.

Melbourne's Chocoholic Tours

Receive 10% off your first tour! Just quote BLOG2015 when booking!
Gastrology bloggers went on the Bittersweet Chocolate Delights tour courtesy of Chocoholic Tours.

Chocoholic Tours and its team of Chocolate Experts have been exploring the laneways and arcades of the Melbourne CBD for the past 20 years, discovering the best places to indulge that chocolate craving in the city’s many laneways and boutique arcades.

The boutique Chocoholic Tours run daily tours, seven days a week, stopping at up to six chocolate cafes for tastings and samples of their sweet wares.  

On these tailored and themed quirky intimate tours around Melbourne’s hidden laneways and arcades- chocoholics can meet the makers behind the chocolate havens of Melbourne, take advantage of Chocoholic Tours’ special offers and discover flavours and styles of chocolate they never even knew existed – and of course indulge in tasting Melbourne’s best chocolate product on offer.

Gastrology recently went along on the Bittersweet Chocolate Delights tour which caters for those who crave the bittersweet cacao bean bite…

First stop: Cacao Lab

Cacao Lab is passionate about making fine crafted chocolates, macarons, éclairs and pastries.

Led by acclaimed pastry chefs Laurent Meric and Tim Clark the café boasts an exquisite and extravagant sweet creations are hand crafted in our Melbourne kitchen by skilfully balancing flavours and textures into fine works of art.

We enjoyed the chocolates we sampled and in particular the decadent dark chocolate chilli hot chocolate.

Second stop: Alison Nelson's Chocolate Bar NYC

Alison Nelson's first Australian store offers cacao goodness in a modern vintage setting with a touch of NYC style. Chocolate truffles, signature cakes, brownies and bonbons are complemented by a theatrical view of chocolate making in the bar area. 

We enjoyed sampling their red velvet brownie which is a lighter fluffier take on the traditional.

Third stop: Koko Black

Koko Black is one of our favourite chocolate haunts in Melbourne. We were pleased to visit the store where it all started in Royal Arcade. 

Since their first Koko Black salon opened in December 2003 it has turned into a local Melbourne enterprise proudly employing over 350 people.

Fourth stop: Haighs Chocolate

Haighs store is an inviting place where you’ll find that chocolate tasting, gift wrapping and personalised attention is all part of the service.

We enjoyed a selection of their milk pastilles, dark chocolate pastilles and artisan chocolate. 

Fifth stop: Gânache Chocolate Lounge

Our final stop was Gânache Chocolate Lounge. Located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, on fashionable Collins Street, Ganache displays mouth-watering selections (all delivered daily), together with coffees, hot chocolates and light lunches.

We enjoyed their delicious hazelnut fan slice over a cup of coffee. The slice comprised of hazelnut sponge with whole roasted hazelnuts, covered in a layer of hazelnut praline and Paillete feuilletine, then a layer of soft milk chocolate mousse. Glazed with a milk chocolate glaze and decorated with milk chocolate curls and freshly roasted hazelnuts, it was a sight to behold.

What: A range of themed chocolate tour experiences. There is something for every type of chocoholic: if you like both milk and dark chocolate, try The Melbourne’s Chocolate Wonderland Tour, which takes in six different Chocolate cafes, including Haigh’s Chocolate; the Chocolate Lovers Tour is strictly milk chocolate; while the Bittersweet Chocolate Delights tour caters for those who crave the bittersweet cacao bean bite. 

Costs: $49.00 per person

Inclusions: Every person on a Chocoholic Tour is given a bottle of water, an “I’m A Chocoholic” badge, a map of the tour and a tasting bag for the chocolate goodies picked up along the way.  Each tour ends off with a decadent afternoon tea (more chocolate, if you can handle it) plus a coffee.

To check out the range of Chocoholic Tours available, visit their website: www.chocoholictours.com.au

Flavours of Asia @ Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes [28 February 2015]

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club.

Melbourne Racing Club has proudly partnered with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival to bring a colourful Asian street food market to their popular Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes Day on Saturday February 28, 2015.

Coinciding with Chinese New Year celebrations, the Flavours of Asia Market Festival will be one of the first events on the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival calendar. Offering a range of delicacies from across the continent, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment, the newly created market space will serve as the ultimate relaxation zone for racing enthusiasts and foodies alike.

With a tantalising menu featuring the best cuisine that Melbourne’s Asian food scene has to offer, curators for the day include Hammer & Tong, Hoy Pinoy, Wonderbao, Overdosa, Lankan Tucker, Uncle, Gogi and Eat the Chicken.

Gastrology recently enjoyed a sneaky peek of what will be on offer from Hammer & Tong, Hoy Pinoy and Wonderbao.

We began with a range of grilled skewers by Hoy Pinoy. We enjoyed both the Inihaw Na Manok (BBQ Chicken) and the Inihaw Na Baboy (BBQ pork belly). On the whole, the skewers were sufficiently seasoned and flavoursome and boasted the perfect amount of outer charring, having benefited from just the right amount of time on the grill .

Wonderbao, a Melbourne street kitchen featuring authentic Chinese steamed buns and Taiwanese Gua Baos served beautifully made baos. Our favourite bao was the Pork belly Gua Bao. Featuring the tried and true flavour combination of cucumber, carrots and hoisin sauce, it contained a generous piece of good quality, tender pork belly. The wonderbao offerings really hit the mark!

Hammer & Tong's famous Soft shell crab burger was delicious. The soft shell crab burger's lightly toasted buttery brioche buns were the perfect canvas for the beautifully crispy and juicy soft shell crab. The deep fried crustacean pieces were coated in a semi-thick crisp batter that encapsulated firm, sweet flesh. With a touch of fresh coriander and a myriad of spices, it was simply superb. 

Our preview dinner concluded on a sweet high with a stunning little ice cream gua bao by Wonderbao. The brioche-like golden fried baos were filled with luscious sesame seed ice cream and topped with crunchy nuts - YUM.

With Melbourne’s weather at its best in late February, the Flavours of Asia Market Festival will kick off the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in style – quality food in atmospheric alfresco areas and great views of premium sporting and musical entertainment.

What: Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes Day – Flavours of Asia Market Festival

When: Saturday 28 February 2015, 12pm – 6pm

Where: Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station Street, Caulfield

Cost: Adult $20

For more information about Flavours of Asia visit www.mrc.racing.com

La Cucina di Sandra

Gastrology bloggers attended the class courtesy of La Cucina di Sandra.

Gastrology recently visited La Cucina Di Sandra in Richmond for a delightful Italian cooking class and meal at Italian chef Sandra’s stunning warehouse home and kitchen facility.

Sandra was born in Italy in Pescara, Abruzzo and developed a passion for Italian food from an early age. Along with a successful corporate career, over the last 20 years Sandra has indulged her passion for regional Italian cooking, spending hours in her Zia's kitchen in Italy, collecting hundreds of recipes from Italian friends and family. 

Since opening La Cucina Di Sandra in August 2014 turning a lifelong dream into a reality, the cooking school has been extremely popular with Melburnians from groups of friends to corporates. 

With rave reviews on social media this is a unique and rewarding Melbourne foodie experience. 

The theme for the night was pasta and began with a delicious Pennette al sugo di salsiccia di Toto. We loved the simplicity of the dish which was highlighted by the quality produce (a theme that runs through all of Sandra’s recipes). 

A seafood entrée of Bianco e nero di Carbonara di Mare (Black and white seafood carbonara) was next. It was a luxurious seafood pasta which featured squid ink for a beautiful depth of flavour and magnificent colour.  

Our main course was a hearty Rigatoni al ragu bianco, con mandorle e cream (Rigatoni with white meat ragu, almonds and cream).  We adored the addition of almonds for texture and the harmony of the flavours. The use of white meat coupled with the natural creaminess of the almonds were further enhanced by the thickened cream and extra virgin olive oil.

The evening ended on a decadent high with a deconstructed cannoli (Cannolo Siciliano un po scomposto). Absolutely scrumptious, the interplay of sweet, sour and texture was exceptional. It was an absolutely beautiful dessert that was equally appealing to the eye. 

We were pleased to receive (as do all attendees) a full set of recipes and extensive tips on how to successfully cook the same delicious dishes at home. 

The class is inspiring and will certainly aid all those looking to explore more of la Cucina Italiana.

Location: 56-62 Lyndhurst St  Richmond

Phone: 0419 503 805

Link: http://www.lacucinadisandra.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacucinadisandraau

Cost: $90 per person and includes starters, 3 course meal and a full set of recipes and extensive tips 

Cuisine: Italian

An evening of world class whisky with The Humble Tumbler @ Black Pearl

Gastrology bloggers attended the event courtesy of The Humble Tumbler.

This week, Gastrology joined Clare Burder and Fred Siggins from The Humble Tumbler - adventures in food and drink at Fitzroy's iconic bar, Black Pearl.

These guys are gearing up for another year of ground breaking whisky education events, and we were pleased to be shown what those sessions are all about. 

It was an evening of world class whisky, incredible cheese, fascinating stories and great conversation at The Attic, Black Pearl's award winning upstairs cocktail bar. We were introduced to the world of whisky, including the Australian & Japanese producers making their mark; getting acquainted with delicious whisky cocktails and given a taste of the awesome program of whisky events that Clare and Fred were planning for 2015. 

The Humble Tumbler whisky courses are the first of its kind in Melbourne: A comprehensive and social approach to whisky, covering tasting, production, history, food pairing and most importantly, how to choose and enjoy the whisky you like. 

Their content is 100% original and brand independent - researched, written & hosted by whisky educator & senior Black Pearl bartender Fred Siggins. The Humble Tumbler has created the whisky program for the new generation of whisky drinkers - free from stereotypes and mythology, but full of the mystery and wonder of this magnificent spirit. 

Their three week whisky course runs on three consecutive Wednesdays at Black Pearl and costs $300 per head. All bookings through the website. Find out more here.

Event: Strictly Ballroom [January - May 2015]

Gastrology bloggers attended the event courtesy of Nuffnang.

Baz Luhrmann’s much-loved hit show STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL opened in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre in January 2015.

The production is staged by the original creative team behind the classic 1992 film, including director and co-writer Baz Luhrmann, set and costume designer Catherine Martin, choreographer John “Cha Cha” O’Connell and co-writer Craig Pearce.

Playing the pivotal roles of ‘Scott Hastings’ and ‘Fran’ is Thomas Lacey and Phoebe Panaretos who lead an outstanding Australian cast of 43 including Bob Baines as Les Kendall, Drew Forsythe as Doug Hastings, Natalie Gamsu as Abuela, Robert Grubb as Barry Fife, Fernando Mira as Rico, Heather Mitchell as Shirley Hastings and Mark Owen-Taylor as JJ Silvers.

STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL features break-into-song numbers created from original classics from the film, Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps, and Time After Time as well as some wonderful new songs by artists such as Eddie Perfect and Sia. 

Get your hands on the Tickets for STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL here.

Upcoming event: Fromage A Trois [Sunday, 15 March 2015]

Fromage A Trois returns to the beautiful grounds of Werribee Park Mansion on 15 March 2015 with a bigger and better line up than ever seen before.

The day will be filled with many picturesque scenes and foods, and allow a perfect setting for indulging with family and friends. 

Some of Melbourne’s most iconic food haunts and trucks including Trailer Made, White Guy Cooks Thai and Brûlée Cart, as well as local breweries including Two Birds Brewing who will be serving up their delicious ales including bespoke-ales Bantam Ipa and Taco Beer. 

Renowned Cheesemonger Naomi Cristante will be taking to the main stage alongside other professional chefs, to take visitors on a culinary journey, demonstrating how to be versatile with cheese and incorporating it into your every day cooking.

What: Fromage A Trois, Melbourne’s renowned cheese and cider festival

When: Sunday, 15 March 2015 (11am to 5pm)

Where: Werribee Park, K Road, Werribee South

Tickets: Pre-purchased tickets $35 ($40 at the door) includes official tasting glass & event guide. Children 12 and under enter for free. 

Purchase tickets here.

Event: Thriller Live has arrived in Melbourne [28 Jan 2015 - 8 Feb 2015]

Gastrology bloggers attended Thriller Live at Arts Centre Melbourne courtesy of ACMN.

Now in its record breaking 6th year, THRILLER LIVE is a spectacular concert created to celebrate the career of the world’s greatest entertainer.

After opening in the Lyric Theatre in London on 2 January 2009 to rave reviews, Thriller Live has celebrated its fifth birthday in the West End, embarked on a world tour and a sell-out UK arena tour, played over 3000 shows globally to 2.5 million fans, visited over 26 countries and entered the West end record books by becoming the longest running show in the Lyric Theatres 125 year history.

THRILLER LIVE continues to moonwalk around the world, taking you on a visual, audio and electrifying journey through the magic of Michael’s 45 year musical history.

Experience over two hours of non-stop hits from pop to rock, soul to disco in a show that pays homage Jackson’s legendary live performances and innovative dance moves executed with flair, precision and passion in a show that you will never forget.

Expect your favourite songs delivered by an exceptionally talented cast and band, including: I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, Off The Wall, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Dirty Diana, Bad, Rock With You, They Don’t Care About Us, Dangerous, Heal The World, and Thriller plus many more!

Get your tickets here!

Events: Royal Croquet Club [16 January 2015 - 1 February 2015]

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of the Royal Croquet Club.

The Royal Croquet Club (RCC) is a pop up food, entertainment, sporting & lifestyle festival that runs from Friday, 16 January 2015 to Sunday, 1 February 2015.

RCC is happening on the Lower Level of Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, along the banks of the Yarra River. Ideally located in between Fed Square and Melbourne Park sport precinct.

Boasting a huge line up of Melbourne's best restaurants and food haunts such as D.O.C, Mr Claws, Meatmother, Miss Chu, St.Ali and Gelato Messina, Melburnians will get the opportunity to wine, dine and be entertained by Australia's finest live acts.

We absolutely adored Gelato Messina's frozen "soup" cans of premium ice cream. These are a definite must-have!

Impressive local and international performers include The Kite String Tangle and Norman Jay MBE will also be featured and there will be live tennis action streaming on the big screen (so you don't miss out on the action) and a dedicated croquet pitch, so bring your mallet and have a game! 

The Royal Croquet Club presents an Australia Day line-up that is second to none and is set to soon become a staple on the Melbourne events calendar.

Dates: 16 Jan 2015 - 1 Feb 2015
Address: Birrarung Marr, Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
Web: royalcroquetclub.com.au/melbourne/
Cost: Free entry

Great Australian Beer Festival Media Dinner @ Jasper Hotel

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of the Great Australian Beer Festival.

Gastrology recently attended the 2015 Great Australian Beer Festival media dinner where the Geelong-based 2015 Great Australian Beer Festival was brought to the Melbourne CBD for an evening of craft beer and cider at Jasper Hotel.

The evening profiled the multi-faceted craft beer festival – and allowed us the opportunity to meet some of Victoria’s best craft brewers, as well as sample a variety of the food available from the festival’s Tastes of the Region dining area – which puts an emphasis on showcasing local restaurants and Melbourne’s best food trucks.

We enjoyed a range of cider and beer tastings, as well as a three course meal and stand up tapas, from two different Geelong restaurants that are catering the festival, plus Jasper Hotel.

Black salt & szechuan pepper soft shell crab with paw paw & asian herb salad by Black Salt Restaurant

Matched with: Prickly Moses Forbidden fruit cider

Our dinner began with the simple, yet ever so enticing, soft shell crab. The deep fried crustacean pieces were coated in a semi-thick crisp batter that encapsulated firm, sweet flesh. The accompanying salad of crunchy bean sprouts an fresh greens blended harmoniously with the crab, resulting in a clean and bright dish with a perfect salt-sour balance. The Forbidden fruit cider was a lovely match as it echoed the freshness of the salad and it's dry finish on the palate cut through the tanginess of the salad.

Pale Ale Slow Braised Beef Short Ribs with Potato Fondant and Greens by Jasper Hotel

Matched with: Brewcult Supa Fly Rye IPA

The Beef Short Ribs were delicious. Superbly cooked, the meat was very succulent. Its delicate ‘melt in your mouth’texture was sensational. The flavours were subtle and earthy. We loved matching this course with the Brewcult Supa Fly Rye IPA which was very aromatic and boasted a rich malt kick which matched the luxurious pale ale jus lavished upon the ribs.

Banana. Crystal Malt, Chocolate Stout and Vanilla by Vue Grand Hotel

Matched with: Prickly Moses Otway Stout 

The dinner ended on a high with a decadent and absolutely stunning dessert. We found the  Prickly Moses Otway Stout the perfect match for this dessert as it cut through the richness of the chocolate and malt with its roasted, dry finish while complementing the sweet bananas and vanilla with its toffee and caramel notes. It was a commendable end to the evening.

The 2015 Great Australian Beer Festival is Victoria’s premier celebration of craft beer and cider with over 200 Australian brews available to taste throughout the day on Saturday February 21, 2015. The idea is to drink, eat, socialise and be merry with plenty of opportunity to kick back and taste incredible beers, enjoy live music and roaming entertainment, attend free beer seminars, take part in keg-rolling and other colourful competitions and discover surprising happenings around every turn.

Find out more about the 2015 Great Australian Beer Festival here.

Upcoming Event: Great Australian Beer Festival [Saturday, 21 February 2015]

The Great Australian Beer Festival (GABF) returns to the Geelong Racecourse on Saturday February 21, 2015 with a Tastes of the Region dining area – showcasing some of Geelong’s best restaurants and Melbourne’s on trend gourmet food trucks. 

Brewers and beer lovers make the annual pilgrimage to Geelong - only an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD - to Victoria’s premier celebration of craft beers and ciders in Australia’s biggest alfresco craft beer garden, as well as to enjoy some excellent grub. 

And what food items are best to eat alongside these fantastic beers and ciders? Black Salt – a modern Australian Restaurant in Geelong recommends a heavier style beer to go with their Pulled Pork Rolls, while a pale ale would be more appropriate for their oysters and calamari.

Other restaurants getting involved from in and around Geelong include Vue Grand Queenscliff, – which will be serving its famed hot dogs to the masses – Odyssey Tavern and Brewery, Sunnys Pizza and Mazamigo Mexican – a mash up of cultural food to match  the 200 plus Australian brews available on festival day. 

Food trucks include Greek Street Food, Simply Vegan, Ooodlelishious, Timboon Icecream, Squid Inc and Tasty Gozleme. 

Among the artisan utopia of boutique beers and ciders, the cultural mash up of flavours, the beer seminars and festival stalls, roaming performers will take delight in entertaining the masses. Three stages will be home to the sounds of worldly music, from the reggae and calypso tunes of Nicky Bomba & Friends, to a variety of indie from The Pierce Brothers plus jazz, funk, folk, blue grass and country.

Drink, eat, socialise and be merry with plenty of opportunity to kick back and enjoy a range of craft beer, cider and great food.

Families are also catered for with a designated Kid’s Zone as well as interactive activities and roaming entertainers. 

What: The most colourful beer festival you’re ever likely to attend 

When: 11am to 7pm Saturday, 21 February 2015

Where: Geelong Racecourse

Costs: Starts at $39.50 + bf. Direct shuttles run from South Geelong Station to get you safely to and from the event.

Cherry Delight - A Pop Up Cherry Shop in the CBD

Cherry lovers your time has come, because along with fashionistas and restaurant groupies, you too can enjoy the delights of a pop up shop… but only for a few more short weeks. 

Melbourne’s first-ever pop up cherry shop has opened in the heart of the CBD and it’s stocked with freshly picked cherries from Cherryhill Orchards in the Yarra Valley. 

Many people are surprised that cherries direct from the grower are the largest and sweetest they have ever seen or tasted.  In fact, Cherryhill grows only the finest varieties and their cherries are the fruit of choice for many of Melbourne’s top fruiterers.

Cherryhill’s pop-up shop is now stocked, with yummy, extra large cherries in packaging ranging from 500g punnets to 5kg boxes. There are also delicious cherry delights for your pantry, including cherry cordial, cherry jam and cherry sauce.

Fresh, local cherries are a sure sign summer here and they don’t get much fresher than those in Cherryhill’s pop up shop.  

Cherryhill’s pop up shop will remain open until the end of the season in mid-February (which means that delicious, fresh cherries will be available for the Chinese New Year as well as Christmas!)

Where: Paramount Centre Food Court, 108 Bourke Street, Melbourne 

When: Every day of the week from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

To find out more, go to www.cherryhill.com.au.

Grease returns to Melbourne by popular demand

Gastrology bloggers attended Grease at the Regent Theatre courtesy of ACMN.

After electrifying sold out seasons, Australia’s Number One Party Musical GREASE returned last night to Melbourne with the full professional cast.

Melbourne audiences will once again have the opportunity to experience the high-energy, smash hit musical that has taken the country by storm and includes such unforgettable songs as You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy, Greased Lightnin’ and many more.

Leading the all-star cast in the iconic roles of Danny and Sandy are much loved entertainer Rob Mills and rising star Gretel Scarlett. Bert Newton returns to his radio roots playing the role of slick veteran disc jockey Vince Fontaine, while Todd McKenney dusts off his dancing shoes to star as Teen Angel. Television and stage veteran Val Lehman returns to musical theatre to play Rydell High’s tough school principal Miss Lynch, while Lucy Maunder plays bad girl Rizzo, and Stephen Mahy is Kenickie. 

This high-energy, smash hit musical includes such unforgettable songs as You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy, Greased Lightnin’ and many more.

So dust off your leather jackets, pull on your poodle-skirts and take a trip to a simpler time as “bad boy” Danny and “the girl next door” Sandy fall in love all over again. www.greaseistheword.com.au 

Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne

Dates: From Thursday December 11 Performance 

Times: Tues 7.00pm, Wed –Sat 8.00pm, Matinees Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm

Price: From $64.90*

Bookings: ticketmaster.com.au or 1 300 111 011 

Save with Groups of 12 or more 1300 889 278 VIP, Premium Tickets & Packages visit SHOWBIZ.COM.AU or 1300 4 SHOWS TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 31 MARCH 

*An additional transaction fee and/or a credit/debit payment processing fee may apply

Launch of Superior Gold smoked salmon @ The Flower Temple

Gastrology bloggers attended the event courtesy of Superior Gold.

Gastrology recently attended an exclusive launch event for Superior Gold, a brand new ultra-premium smoked salmon Launched just in time for the entertaining season, Superior Gold is setting a new benchmark for smoked salmon.

The official launch was an evening of sensory delight and was hosted by The Champagne Dame. We also experienced the art of superior salmon smoking with Superior Gold’s own talented Smoke Master, Nathan Smith.

The Flower Temple was the perfect back drop. We loved the beautiful space which was devoted to nature's beauty. Beautiful flowers spill from urns and rockeries in an enchanted indoor garden.

Superior Gold is set to redefine the smoked salmon category as it’s known, using the finest curing ingredients and most sophisticated smoking techniques to deliver Australians the ultimate smoked salmon culinary experience.

Rich in flavour, succulent in texture and sublime in taste, the new Superior Gold range is perfect for gourmet entertaining occasions. From Smoked Salmon Slices, Hot Smoked Salmon, to Connoisseur Cuts for cooking and traditional Gravadlax; Superior Gold has a delicacy for any canapé, entertaining platter or meal.

Only the finest quality Australian Atlantic Salmon is hand-selected from the exceptionally cool and pristine waters of Tasmania. The superior Australian Atlantic Salmon is artisanally cured and smoked by the Superior Gold Smoke Master, Nathan Smith.

Our favourite product from the range was the Superior Gold Hot Smoked Peppercorn Salmon. Perfect on its own with Superior Gold’s Garlic Aioli or added to a fresh salad, risotto or pasta dish, the hand selected superior Australian Atlantic Salmon is traditionally cured in a combination of Australian sea salt and Bundaberg raw sugar to preserve the premium quality, Once cured the salmon is then hot smoked over sustainably sourced Beechwood to bring out the salmon’s natural flavour whilst preserving the succulent texture and adding a smoky undertone. The Superior Gold Smoke Master, Nathan Smith, has overseen the process to ensure only the highest quality and premium tasting product is produced.

Superior Gold sets a new benchmark when it comes to premium taste. A beautiful deep orange coloured hue, matched with a tender texture and taste so delightfully sweet, smokey and sophisticated, Superior Gold has successfully pushed the boundaries to create a new premium product range, catering to all sophisticated entertaining occasions. 

Left: Superior Gold Gravadlax, radish, cucumber, horseradish

Right: Superior Gold Connoisseur Cut (freekah salad)

All Superior Gold salmon is responsibly sourced and farmed, in partnership with the WWF, and certified to ensure our environment and oceans are healthy for the future. The Superior Gold Smoked salmon range is also a good source of Omega 3 for optimum health.

Superior Gold salmon is beautifully packaged in a black sleeve with a signature gold emblem making it easy to spot in the refrigerated smoked salmon section of supermarkets. Superior Gold salmon is available in Coles, Woolworths and IGA from October 2014. RRP ranges from $5.49 through to $11.99.

Good Food Month Signature Dish @ Tutto Bene

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Tutto Bene.

For the entire month of November as part of The Age Good Food Month, Southgate’s restaurants are serving up their favourite Signature Dish along with a matching glass of wine or beer (or cocktail) from $15 to $35.

As part of the The Age Good Food Month’s Signature Dish festivities at Southgate, Tutto Bene will be serving up their Granchio Risotto. 

A Tutto Bene signature risotto, the Granchio Risotto was a stunning dish which combined spanner crab perfectly with tomato and chilli. As expected, it was superbly executed.  The rice in the risotto was puffy and al-dente and, coupled with generous amounts of tender spanner crab and lashings of chilli, had a wonderful depth of flavour.  The risotto had hints of fresh seafood with a robust undercurrent.

The glass of Te Mata chardonnay, Hawkes Bay NZ was the perfect match. The wine was fresh and expressive with floral and peach notes which cut through the heat from the Granchio Risotto perfectly. 

A meal at Tutto Bene would of course be incomplete without some of their delicious gelato. 

We love Tutto Bene's gelato. The quality ingredients mean the results speak for themselves - texturely perfect gelato with beautiful flavours. The passion for artistic expression using quality ingredients can be tasted in each scoop.

As always, our meal at Tutto Bene was of excellent quality. “Tutto Bene” is an Italian phrase that translates literally to “everything’s good” - a highly appropriate name which evokes memories of the warm familial atmosphere, of the consistent excellence of its cuisine and, inevitably, of their revered risotto.

What: Good Food Month Signature Dish @ Tutto Bene

When: Throughout November

Location: Shop M28 Southgate Plaza, Southbank

Phone: 03 9696 3334

Cuisine: Italian

Link: http://www.tuttobene.com.au/

Check out the list of dishes and accompanying wines/cocktails from participating restaurants here.

A Sneak peek... Taste of Melbourne - 13 -16 November 2014 - Albert Park - Saké | Nieuw Amsterdam | Gazi

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Saké, Nieuw Amsterdam and Gazi.

Melbourne’s premier restaurant festival Taste of Melbourne arrives for 2014, once again gracing Pelican Lawn at Albert Park, November 13 – 16. The food and wine celebration sees Melbourne’s favourite restaurants return, as well as new movers and shakers on the dining scene. 

Gastrology bloggers were invited to fly #TasteAir with friendly pilot Adam Valentine who took us on a culinary flight around town, tasting some of the dishes that will be on offer this year at the festival. 

First Stop - Saké 

Saké Restaurant and Bar serves up contemporary Japanese cuisine in the revitalised Hammer Hall within the MCA on the Yarra river. 

With a unique menu that features contemporary sushi alongside traditional Japanese dishes, Executive Chef and sushi master Shaun Presland brings Japanese food and culture to life, where diners are treated to dynamic culinary experiences. 

Our visit started with a sushi making masterclass.

Our pilot

Miso cod lettuce cups & prawn dumplings

Saké’s Taste of Melbourne offering is an absolute winner. The miso cod lettuce cups were filled with a beautifully grilled miso-marinated tooth fish with crunchy katafi pastry. Bursting at the seams with umami, the cups were exquisite in taste. The accompanying prawn dumpling was another standout. Coated in a delicate rice noodle skin, the dumplings were moist, well-flavoured and melt-in-your-mouth tender. 

Second Stop - Nieuw Amsterdam

Located at 106-113 Hardware Street in Melbourne, Nieuw Amsterdam is owned and run by Michael Roszbach (former Cookie Manager) and Nick Stanton (former Head Chef, Woods of Windsor). The venue’s name is a throwback to Roszbach’s Dutch heritage, with New York originally named Nieuw Amsterdam when it was first settled by Europeans.

The unique venue is located in a 1880s iron foundry building (originally of hardware merchants) and is said to have named the Hardware Street precinct. Nieuw Amsterdam opened its doors to the public in late December 2013 and specialises in New American style food with a mix of quirky and classic cocktails. 

The menu builds on new interpretations of classic American dishes, such as the chicken waffles with pate, terrine, crispy chicken skin and orange caramel.

Pork trotter and ham hock nuggets burnt onion jam

Chicken waffles pate, terrine, crispy chicken skin, orange caramel

Smokey beef brisket. Kim Chi, BBQ Sauce

We absolutely adored Nieuw Amsterdam’s Taste of Melbourne beef brisket dish. Particularly noteworthy for its fragrant and complex beefy flavours which were enhanced by the tart kim chi and one hell of a bbq sauce. The meat was both soft and delicate.

Berry split White chocolate mousse, Cream cheese sorbet

Their Taste of Melbourne dessert offering was clean, refreshing and fun. We loved the decadent white chocolate that came through on the middle palate and the deliciously refreshing lashings of berries and the decadent yet light cream cheese sorbet. 

Dessert served wtih Salted caramel negroni

Final destination - Gazi

Our delicious dinner concluded on a high note at Gazi. An entirely different side of Greek cuisine, Gazi offers earthy, Athenian ‘Street’ food partnered with exciting and experimental cocktails and spirits.

Left: Cheese - Honey, balsamic Saganaki, lemon

Tiganites patates - Chips, oregano, garlic oil, feta

We shared a few starters. These well formulated dishes of bold and vibrant flavour combinations showcased the culinary potential of Greek cuisine.

Crab Souvlakakia 

Soft shell, mint, coriander, honey, mayo

Gazi’s Taste of Melbourne dish was stunning. The soft shell crab mini souvlaki boasts the legendary George Calombaris pita bread which was the perfect canvas for the beautifully crispy and juicy soft shell crab. The deep fried crustacean pieces were coated in a semi-thick crisp batter that encapsulated firm, sweet flesh. With a touch of fried garlic and a myriad of spices, it was simply superb. It was a dish that was both well thought out and executed.

Now in its 7th year, Taste of Melbourne is firmly established as an annual ‘must attend event’ that celebrates the city’s ever evolving food, wine and dining scene...

www.tasteofmelbourne.com.au

What: Taste of Melbourne 2014

When: Thursday November 13 - Sunday November 16, 2014

Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert Park Lake

Price: Tickets start from $25.00.

Dilmah announces results of the VIC state finals of the Dilmah Australia Real High Tea Challenge 2014

Gastrology bloggers attended the event as guests of Dilmah.

Gastrology bloggers attended a cocktail evening where the results of the Victorian state finals of Dilmah’s Real High Tea Challenge were announced.

The Dilmah Real High Tea Challenge, the ‘Masterchef’ of the hospitality industry, will see Australia’s leading culinary professionals battle it out in the field of tea gastronomy to create the ultimate 21st century Real High Tea.

 

We joined the founder of Dilmah Tea, Merrill J Fernando, and his family while exploring the role of tea as an ingredient and celebrated the success of Australia’s food industry professionals over tea-infused cocktails, mocktails and  canapés.

This event took place at The Angliss Restaurant, Melbourne. The service was excellent and the canapés were delightful. We loved the pretty presentations and the interesting flavours. 

Congratulations to the 2014 Dilmah Real High Tea participants in Melbourne! And the winners of the challenge are….

*drum rolls*

Geoff and Sean from Qantas Lounges by Pullman - a well deserved victory!

Images courtesy of Bree Hutchins Photography.

"Food is Medicine" by Eat Fit Food @ The Grain Store

Gastrology attended the event courtesy of Eat Fit Food.

Eat Fit Food recently launched The Health Kit winter event this July where the topic was 'Food Is Medicine".

Gastrology was privileged to attend the Melbourne seminar where we heard from inspiring thought leaders within the health industry.

Whilst we all have daily access to natural medical resources, many of us don’t completely utilise them. At the evening, we learned how to use food as medicine and prevent winter bugs rather than cure them.

We particularly loved and enjoyed hearing from Dr Claire Campbell, a Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon who took us through how many diseases are preventable through a healthy diet and lifestyle. 

She explained that the concept that food as medicine is not a fad or an alternative state of mind, and that it was simply basic science. If your body is fed with what it needs, it will endeavour to heal itself to bring it back to homeostasis. 

The other two presenters were Restaurateur and Chef Mike McEnearney who shared his latest passion, his Physic Garden and Nutritionist and Naturopath Cassie Mendoza-Jones who spoke about nourishing the body and soul through nutrition.

After the presentation, guests indulged in wholesome foods and left with plenty of inspiration as well as a take home a collection of unique and tasty goodies to share with family and friends.

Under the guidance of Chef Ingo Meissner, The Grain Store offers a memorable dining experience that focuses on fresh and local produce. It was the perfect backdrop for discussing food and its health properties while enjoying the fresh, healthy and delicious food prepared.

Images courtesy of Lani Holmberg.