Restaurant Review: Attica

Location: 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea
Phone: 03 9530 0111
Link: http://www.attica.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Vegetarian
Overall Impression: 9/10 

On Tuesday nights, Attica serves new ideas and test dishes that challenge and please. The menu is different every week and seasonal. Priced at $95 a head for 5 courses, it is no surprise that there is a consistently long waiting list.
It was a privilege to trial some of the latest cooking ideas from the Attica kitchen. I dined here with a few colleagues so the photos are secret shots I have taken with my phone (I keep my food blogging antics a secret from my work life - I fear this may be career limiting as it may conjure images of me obsessing about food every hour of the day and not being able to concentrate properly at work although this may very well be the case?). Needless to say (although I will say it) the photos are of a less than desirable quality. 
The food on the other hand was quite simply, fantastic. Well-balanced flavours, creative and beautifully presented. I look forward to returning with J to test drive the weekend dining menu! 

Attica on Urbanspoon

Cafe Review: Manchester Press

Location: 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9600 4054
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Bagels
Overall Impression: 7.5/10

In true Melbourne style, Manchester Press is located in a small alley and hidden in such a way that you could never accidentally stumble upon it. If you’re dining here, it’s because you’re in the know.
Unfortunately there are a lot of people "in the know" as there is always at least a 15 minute wait for a table.
Lovers of bagels will rejoice at the Manchester Press menu which has a clear bagel-focus, featuring a wide variety of both savoury and sweet bagels.
The coffee served is of a good, but not great, standard.
Fruit and nut bagels with mixed berry mascarpone, strawberries and pistachio dust

The sweet bagel was excellent. The flavours were expertly balanced and the toppings generous. The creamy mascarpone had the perfect level of sweetness and complemented the acidity from the berries beautifully.

The fruit and nut bagel itself was lovely – luxuriously dense, crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside with a delectable hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Whilst we like most things about Manchester Press, the large rectangular "warehouse like" interior space has not been divided or broken up at all, which doesn't do any favours for the ambience. It simply isn't a cosy place to be. Cafes such as St Ali have managed to create much more pleasant interior spaces in similar venues. Apart from this relatively minor gripe, Manchester Press ticks all the boxes for a fashionable Melbourne cafe.

Manchester Press on Urbanspoon

Cafe Review: The Hardware Sociéte

Location: 118-120 Hardware Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9078 5992
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch, Spanish, French
Overall Impression: 5/10
Given the unashamedly French theme (deux is written unnecessarily on the menu instead of two...), it seems only fitting to give our opinion in French - nous n'aimons pas Hardware Sociéte.

Located at the end of Hardware Street (a continuation of Hardware Lane), this eatery is perhaps one of the most hyped places in Melbourne. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, if Hardware Sociéte is open, it is full.

The fittings and furnishings are modern and bright with white dominating, broken up by splashes of yellow and light wood. 

As the café stops service at 2pm, Hardware Sociéte has a strong breakfast focus with an egg centric menu.
Bacalao on Toast

The salted codfish was creamy, the bread was nice and the salad fresh and pleasant.
La Sandwich

The sandwich was a little on the greasy side and the chorizo was far from the best we have tasted. But overall the sandwich was relatively tasty.
Hardware Sociéte is clearly the current cool kid on the block. What is less clear is exactly why. Whilst there was nothing wrong with the food served, we found it entirely unexceptional and undeserving of the hype. It appears, quite simply, that the popularity of Hardware Sociéte is self-sustaining, as people flood in to see what all the fuss is about.
Having said this, does our opinion really matter? Will anything we say stop hoards of people from putting their names on the waiting list and queuing outside, desperately trying to secure a table? Non.


The Hardware Sociéte on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review: Misschu

Location: various (please see below)
Phone: 03 9077 1097
Link: misschu.com.au/
Cuisine: Vietnamese, Food Truck
Overall Impression: 6/10
Misschu tuckshops are a modern day Vietnamese hawker/ takeaway/caterer. The menu features traditional and fresh Vietnamese cuisine. 
Darlinghurst Tuckshop
 There are now 8 locations in Sydney and Melbourne.
Wagyu Beef Pho $14

While Misschu is probably most famous for being ‘the Queen of the rice paper rolls’, my favourite item on the Misschu menu is their Wagyu Beef Pho. The soup is incredibly flavoursome and much more refined than your usual beef pho. The noodles are delicate and the wagyu beef is very tender and juicy.

Misschu @ Opera Kitchen on UrbanspoonMisschu on Urbanspoon

Misschu on UrbanspoonMiss Chu on Urbanspoon

Cafe Review: Bendigo Street Milk Bar

Location: 37 Bendigo Street, Burnley
Phone: 03 9428 4196
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 8.5/10
Tucked away amongst the leafy, tree lined streets of Richmond, the deceptively named Bendigo Street Milk Bar is anything but a conventional neighbourhood milk bar.
Brimming with nostalgic charm, Bendigo Street Milk Bar is a welcoming café that exudes an air of calm and tranquillity.
The dining area is furnished tastefully in a "country cottage" style, with wooden furniture and scattered pot plants fostering a feeling of warmth and cosiness. This is further reinforced by the friendly and courteous service.
Near the entrance sits a large glass cabinet filled with a host of decadent sweets including brownies, coconut cake, blood orange syrup cake and the café’s most famous delight – homemade lemon slice (with lemons hand-delivered from a neighbour’s tree).
The permanent menu comprises many breakfast favourites, and the ever changing list of specials includes items like Chicken, artichoke and broad bean stew served with chargrilled polenta and Asparagus and broad bean spaghetti with shaved parmesan, lemon, mint and chilli.
Long Macchiato

The coffee is made from Australian-owned, quality-roasted coffee beans from Bean Alliance.
Braised Pork Shoulder Ragu with Parpadelle, Basil and Parmesan

The braised pork shoulder pappardelle was excellent. The pasta was perfectly cooked and al dente and was paired with a generous and hearty braised pork shoulder sauce. This was a simple dish that was perfectly executed - delicious.
Chilli, Coconut and Lemongrass Infused Chicken Salad Topped with Mango Salsa

The chicken salad was crisp and fresh, the chicken breast was tender and juicy and the mango salsa paired well.
Berry Smoothie

The desserts from the counter were of a similar high standard.
Orange Blossom and Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

The orange blossom and pistachio cake was a particular standout. The cake was moreish, moist, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured as a result of the ground pistachios.
Lemon Drizzle Cake

The lemon drizzle cake had a delightful tartness and was again, very moist.
Bendigo Street Milk Bar over delivers in every respect. The ambience is relaxed, the service courteous and the food is simple, very well priced and perfectly executed. Who would have thought a "milk bar" would turn out to be the perfect cafe?

Bendigo Street Milk Bar on Urbanspoon

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Bendigo Street Milk Bar.

Frozen yogurt battle: Yo Chi vs Cacao Green

Location: 292 Carlisle Street, Balaclava
Phone: 03 9527 7001
Link: www.yochi.com.au
Cuisine: Frozen yogurt
Overall Impression: 6/10 


Yo-Chi is yet another yogurt outlet that now graces the Melbourne foodie scene. Frozen yogurt has become increasingly popular and it is no surprise why - 98% fat-free with active cultures and probiotics, what’s not to love? 

Yo-Chi is all about self-service. All you do is: 
  1. Select the yogurt of your choice and help yourself to as much or as little as you like. 
  2. Head towards the counter where you can top your yogurt with fruit and a variety of other delicious toppings. 
  3. Your yogurt and toppings are weighed and you are charged by weight (it costs $2.80 per 100 grams, regardless of which yogurt or toppings you choose). 
You get to choose exactly what goes into your yogurt, which means you can choose your favourite things in the proportions you like – brilliant!

Cacao Green Glenferrie on Urbanspoon
But how does it compare to Cacao GreenPut simply, the yogurt at Cacao Green tastes better. We found it creamier (despite containing less fat) and texturally superior to the yogurt at Yo-Chi, which displayed a hint of graininess. The yogurt at Cacao Green also has greater complexity with a more pronounced sour "twang" that is the hallmark of all good frozen yogurt. 

While the yogurt at Yo-Chi slightly pales in comparison, the concept is novel. There are more than 22 toppings to choose from, including gorgeous treats like halva, crumble and chocolate-covered goji berries. There is also the choice of a non-dairy yogurt which is great for those who are lactose-intolerant. 

All in all, Cacao Green takes first place in this comparison if judged purely on the quality of the yogurt itself. But Yo-Chi's generous variety of toppings and self-serve concept makes it a more interesting proposition overall.

Yo-Chi Self Serve Frozen Yogurt  on Urbanspoon Cacao Green Bourke Street on Urbanspoon 

Restaurant Review: Dikstein's Corner Bar

Location: Corner Of Bank Pl And Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9642 0943
Cuisine: Coffee, Tapas, Wine Bar, Pizza
Overall Impression: 7/10

Fi, Ri, J and I decided to have drinks after work before the Christmas break. For reasons I cannot share with you, we needed a venue that would ensure minimum awkwardness. 

After much thought, J and I decided on Dikstein Corner Bar. 
Dikstein Corner Bar is a brilliant bar and eatery tucked away on the corner of Little Collins Street and Bank Place. The bar has a wonderfully cosy and casual vibe about it, which made it the perfect venue for our purposes. 
What this bar is perhaps most famous for is its gourmet pizzas. Down to $6 in the evenings, they have a nice mix of pizzas with adventurous toppings and conventional pizzas. 

Their pizzas are of a good standard and are always enjoyable to eat. 
Pulled pork, maple glazed pears pizza 

Our favourite pizza from the night was the pulled pork, maple glazed pears pizza . The combination of flavours was wonderful - the sweet slices of pear perfectly matched the deliciously savoury pulled pork. While I would have liked more pulled pork on my pizza, at that price point, it’s difficult to be too critical. 
Spicy meatballs, napoli and parmesan pizza 
Salami, artichoke and olives pizza
Baby squid, chilli capers, lemon and rocket pizza 

Great pizzas, nice and casual ambience and good service - this unassuming bar certainly exceeds expectations.

Dikstein's Corner Bar on UrbanspoonDiksteins Side Bar on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review: Henry and the Fox

Location: 525 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9614 3277
Link: http://www.henryandthefox.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast
Overall Impression: 7/10
Henry and the Fox is a modern European bistro with a relaxed ambience. Perfect for a lazy brunch, this eatery boasts a breakfast menu that is simple, to the point and well executed. 

smoked salmon with poached egg, hollandaise, watercress

Henry and the Fox certainly hits the spot for brekkie – you can expect your coffee to be of a good standard and your eggs to be perfectly poached.

Henry and the Fox on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review: Penang Road

Location: 177 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9690 0536 
Cuisine: Malaysian 
Overall Impression: 5/10
Newly opened Penang Road is quickly gaining loyal patronage.

The restaurant serves authentic Malaysian hawker food.
Curry Laksa
Tao Cheng
Sambal Kangkung
Fried Chicken served with chicken-flavoured rice
Deep fried soft shell crab
Char Kuey Teow
Assam Laksa

Penang Road is great for a casual outing with friends especially if you’re on a budget. A lot of their menu items come under the $10 mark and the portions are generous. The service is friendly and the food is of a reasonably good standard.

Penang Road on Urbanspoon

Christmas Recipes

Highpoint has just released a selection of Christmas recipes with ingredients that can be freshly sourced from their new Fresh Food Market...

Cranberry  and  Balsamic  Glazed  Ham  
Serves  12  
275  g  jar  cranberry  sauce
1/2  cup    (125  ml)  balsamic  vinegar
1/2  cup  (100  g)  firmly  packed  light  brown  sugar
1  tablespoon  Dijon  mustard
4  kg  half  leg  cooked  ham,  on  the  bone  
Whole  cloves,  to  decorate  

Preheat  the  oven  to  180°C.
Line  a  large  roasting  tray  with  baking    paper  and  set  a  rack  on  top.  
To  make  the  glaze,  heat  the  cran berry  sauce,  balsamic  vinegar,  brown  sugar  and  mustard  together   in   a  small  saucepan  over  low  heat,  stirring  occasionally,  until  the  sugar  dissolves.  Strain  through  a  fine   mesh  sieve,    discard  any  lumps  and  set  aside  to  cool.      

To  prepare  the  ham,  cut  through  the  skin  around  the  shank.  Slip  your  fingers  between  the  skin  and   the  fat  and  peel  off  the  skin.  Trim  the  fat,  leaving  an  even  layer  over  the  ham.

Score  the  fat   diagonally  at  approximately  3  cm  intervals   in  one  direction  and  then  the  opposite   direction,  to  create  a  diamond  pattern.  Press  cloves  into  the  fa t  in  the  centre  of  each  diamond,  to   decorate.  Place  the  ham  on  the  rack   of  the  prepared  tray.  Pour  the  glaze  over  the  ham  and  brush  to   coat.       

Cook  the  ham ,  glazing  every  15  minutes  with  the  pan  juices ,  for  1  1/4–1  1/2  hours,  until  caramelised   golden  brown .       
Remove  from  the  oven,  cover  loosely  with  foil  and  set  aside  to  rest  for  10  minutes.             Slice  to  serve.     Serve  hot  or  cold.     


Roast  Pork  with  Pistachio  Stuffing       
Serves  6-­‐8     
1.5  kg  boned  pork  leg     
sea  salt         
olive  oil,  for  drizzling     
Pistachio  stuffing     
30  g  butter   
1  tablespoon  olive  oil   
1  large  onion,  finely  chopped   
1  clove  garlic,  finely  chopped  
2  cups  (120  g)  fresh  breadcrumbs   
1  cup  (140  g)  pistachios,  coarsely chopped   
1  small  handful  flat  leaf  parsley,  coarsely  chopped   
finely  grated  zest  of  1  lemon  
 sea  salt  and  freshly  ground  black  pepper     

Score  the  pork  skin  at  2  cm  intervals.       
Set  the  pork,  skin  side  up  on  a  colander.  Scald  the  skin  with  boiling  water.  Pat  dry  with  paper  towel.   Generously  season  the  skin  with  salt,  rubbing  it  into  the  cuts.       Place  the  pork,  skin    side  up  on  a  tray  and  refrigerate  uncovered  for  2  hours ,  to  dry  out.       
Meanwhile  to    make  the  stuffing,  melt  the  butter  and  oil  together  in  a  small  frying  pan  over  low  heat,   add  the  onion  and  garlic  and  cook  until  softened.  Transfer  into  a   medium  bowl,  add  the  breadcrumbs,   pistachios,  parsley  and   lemon  zest  and  mix  well  to  combine.  Season  with  salt  and  pepper.     

Preheat  the  oven  to  220°C.     Lay  the  pork  skin  side  down  on  a  clean  kitchen  surface.  Cut  half  way  down  the  centre  of  the    meat  and   then  horizontally  half  way  across  on  either  side  of  the  centre  cut,  to  create  two  flaps.  Fold  the  flaps   out,  to  open  like  a  book.  Spread  half  of  the  stuffing    down  the  centre  of  the  pork  and  fold  the  flaps   back  over  to  enclose.   Secure  at  intervals  with  kitchen  string.  Drizzle  the  skin  with  oil  and  season  with  a   little  more  salt.  Place  the  pork  skin  side  up   in  a  large  roasting  dish.       

Shape  the  remaining  stuffing  into  a  fat  sausage ,  wrap  in  aluminium  foil  and  set  aside.       Cook  the  pork  for  25  minutes  at  high  heat.       Decrease  the  temperature  to  180°C.     Add  the  stuffing  log  to  the  roasting  dish  and  cook  the  pork  for  a  further  45  minutes,  or  until     the  juices   run  clear  and  the   skin  has  crackled.  If  using  a  meat  thermometer  the  pork  is  cooked  when  the  internal   temperature  reads  75⁰C  when  inserted  into  the  thickest  part.     Remove  dish  from  the  oven ,  transfer  pork  onto  a  hot  tray  and  set  aside  in  a  warm  place   to  rest  for  15   minutes.       
Remove  and  discard  the  string.  Remove  the  crackle  to  carve  the  meat.     Serve  meat  with  crackle  and  additional  stuffing .   


Turkey,  Prawn  and  Pomegranate  Salad     
Serves  6       
2  kg  turkey  breast     
1  small  onion,  halved   
2  bay  leaves   
4  black  peppercorns   
1.5  kg  cooked  prawns,  peeled  with  tails  left  on     
1  large  handful  baby  spinach  leaves     
1/  2  pomegranate ,  seeds  removed     
1  small  red  onion,  finely  sliced   
1  small  handful  flat  leaf  parsley,  coarsely  chopped     

Lemon  dressing       
2  tablespoons  lemon  juice   
1  clove  garlic,  crushed   1  teaspoon  
Dijon  mustard   
1/2  teaspoon  caster  sugar   
1/3  cup  (80  ml)  extra -­‐virgin  olive  oil     
Sea  salt  and  freshly  ground  black  pepper     

Lemon  mayo  drizzle     
1/4  cup  (60  ml)  whole  egg  mayonnaise   
1  tablespoon  lemon  juice  
1/2  teaspoon  Dijon  mustard     
Sea  salt     

Remove  and  discard  the  skin  and  any  sinew  from  the  turkey  breast.  Place  the  turkey,  onion,  bay   leaves  and  peppercorns  in  a  large  saucepan  and  cover  with  cold  water.  Gently  simmer  for  45  minutes   or  until  cooked  through.  Set  aside  to  cool  slightly  in  the  poaching  liquid.  Transfer  turkey  onto  a  large   plate  and  refrigerate  until  completely  cool.  Meanwhile  to  make  the  lemon  dressing,  combine  the  lemon  juice ,  garlic,  mustard  and  sugar   in  a  small   bowl.  Gradually  whisk  in  the  oil  and  season  with  salt  and  pepper. To  make  the  lemon  mayo  drizzle,  whisk  the  mayonnaise,  lemon  juice  and  mustard  together  in  a  small   bowl.  Season  with  salt.       

Shred  the  turkey  into  small  chunks.  Combine  the  turkey,  prawns,  spinach,  onion,  half    of  the   pomegranate  seed s  and  parsley  in  a  large  bowl.  

Pour  over  the  lemon  dressing    and  toss  to  coat.   Arrange  onto  a  serving  platter  and  sprinkle  with  the  remaining  pomegranate  seeds.   
Drizzle  with   lemon  mayo.
Serve.


Summer  Christmas  Pavlova     
Serves  8  
6  large  egg  whites ,  at  room  temperature  
1  1/2  cups  (300  g)  caster  sugar  
2  tablespoons  corn  flour
2  teaspoons  white  vinegar  

Topping  
1  1/2  cups  (375  ml)  thickened  cream
1  tablespoon  icing  sugar   
250  g  strawberries ,  hulled  and  halved   
125  g  blueberries     

Preheat  the  oven  to  120°C.       Draw  a  23  cm  disc  on  the  underside  of  a  piece  of  baking  paper  and  place  disc  side  down  on  a  baking   tray. Whisk  the  egg  whites  using  an  electric  mixer  with  a  whisk  attachment,  until  soft  peaks  form.  Gradually   add  the  sugar,  one  tablespoon  at  a  time,   whisking  continuously  until  the  meringue  is  thick  and  glossy   and  the  sugar  has  completely  dissolved.       

Spoon  the  meringue  into  the  centre  of  the  marked  disc  and  spread  out  to  an  even  thi ckness,  creating   decorative  waves  around  the  edge.       Bake  for  1  1/2  ho urs,  or  until  slightly  crisp  on  the  outside,  but  not  coloured.  Turn  the  oven  off  and   leave  the  pavlova  in  the  oven,  until  cooled  completely.       

To  decorate,  whisk  the  cream  and  icing  sugar  together  using  an  electric  mixer  with  a  whisk   attachment,  until  soft  peaks  form.  Spread  the  cream  over  the  top  of  the  pavlova  and  scatter  the   strawberries  and  blueberries  over  the  top.       
Slice  to  serve.          

Event Review: UCAN Cafe Launch

UCAN Cafe
Location: Altona North Community Library, Corner of Millers & McArthurs Road, Altona North, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9391 7929
Link: http://www.ucancafe.com.au/
UCAN café is a part of an enterprise under the Yooralla umbrella. In a nutshell UCAN provides employment opportunities for people with a disability. Interestingly, they employed Melbourne’s first blind barista, Aaron D’Altera (he wasn’t born with a disability but contracted a brain infection a few years ago which destroyed 90% of his vision). 

To raise awareness about what they do, an initiative called the UCAN challenge is now up and running – the challenge involves some of Melbourne’s most well regarded cafes and baristas taking part in a blindfold challenge. That is, making a coffee without the aid of their vision. 
Various videos of baristas taking the challenge can be viewed on the UCAN website. J and I were privileged to attend the UCAN challenge launch at the Fox FM rooftop on Monday the 19th of November. As expected, UCAN Cafe catered the event. The food was lovely and the service was by far one of the best I have ever encountered. The staff members were passionate, cheerful and clearly took pride in their work. Here are pictures from the launch for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Aaron D’Altera tells us his story
UCAN Cafe treats
performance by Rudely Interrupted

Restaurant Review: Grill'd

Link: www.grilld.com.au
Cuisine: Healthy burgers, salads,
Overall Impression: 7/10

The Grill’d chain seems to be taking over Melbourne and it is easy to see why.
Catering for people who love burgers but feel bad when they have them (I can certainly identify with this!), Grill’d is a burger chain that serves delicious and most importantly, healthy burgers.
 They also have a nice range of salads that are really healthy.
What a brilliant concept!

Locations:
Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon Grill'd on Urbanspoon  Grill'd Healthy Burgers on Urbanspoon Grill'd Healthy Burgers on Urbanspoon

Restaurant reviews: Persimmon and Kri Kri Greek Restaurant (Christmas functions)

Persimmon

Phone: 03 8620 2434
Location: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Link: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/visit/places-to-eat/persimmon
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 7/10

It’s the first week of December but Christmas celebrations have started as early as mid-November for me. The first one was a cocktail party at Persimmon at NGV. 

As far as function finger food went it was brilliant. The night featured an array of delicious items including freshly-shucked oysters served with Japanese seaweed salad, perfectly battered calamari and lovely desserts including the above pictured raspberry soufflé. What a great start to the festive season!

Persimmon on Urbanspoon



Kri Kri Mezethopoleion

Phone: 03 9639 3444
Location: 41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Link: www.krikri.com.au/
Cuisine: Greek
Overall Impression: 7/10
Named after the Cretan mountain goat found on the island of Crete in Greece, Kri Kri celebrates Greek cuisine with authentic and fresh food in a relaxed environment.

Mixed Dips - Varied dips
Piperies Xithantes - Marinated roasted peppers

We had their “Dinner Banquet #1”. 

Saganaki - Grilled Kefalograviera cheese with lemon
Octopothi - Chargrilled octopus
Giganthes - Lima beans braised with tomato and onion
Calamari Lemonato - Deep fried lemon marinated calamari
Loukanika - Grilled spicy pork and orange sausage
Patates Sto Fourno - Oven baked potatoes with lemon and oregano
Elleniki Salata - Greek salad
Keftethes - Chargrilled meatballs
Kotopoulo Scaras - Chargrilled chicken skewers
Dessert

It was the perfect casual Christmas venue. Everyone was very pleased with the food – everything tasted fresh, authentic and was flavoursome. The servings were incredibly generous - most of us struggled getting out of our seats after our meal! The waitstaff were polite and helpful (although the service was a tad slow).

Kri Kri Mezethopoleion on Urbanspoon

Bar Review: The Lui Bar

Location: Level 55, Rialto Melbourne, VIC 3000
Phone: 03 9691 3888
Link: http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/the-lui-bar
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Bar
Overall Impression: 6/10
It was James’ final day at our work place (OWP). He was moving on to greater opportunities and just a tad too happy about leaving for our liking. Slightly annoyed but also sad that he was leaving, Frank and I decided to reminisce his time at OWP by having a drink at Lui Bar.
We arrived at the Vue de Monde reception, located on the ground floor of the Rialto and expressed our interest in going up to the Lui Bar. Fifty five floors later, we found ourselves at the bar. The fittings are very modern but in the harsh light of day (the Melbourne summer 7pm being akin to the Melbourne winter 2pm), the gold and silver furnishings appeared almost tacky. The famous “clouds” that hovered over the bar looked like dull plastic instead of a funky cloud-like effect.
I can picture how this would look post sun-set though. It would have been incredible.
You can’t argue with the unobstructed view - spectacular.
The pop-up cocktail menu features a wonderful array of interesting concoctions as well as classics, all with beautiful pictures to match.
Complimentary nibbles
James, Frank and I were pleased by the cocktails and drinks we were served at the Lui Bar and we all found the service to be of a high standard. I would certainly recommend paying the Lui Bar a visit for a late night cocktail rendezvous or pre-dinner drinks - just make sure the sun has set or is about to for maximum enjoyment.

The Lui Bar on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review: The Deanery

Location: 13 Bligh Place, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9629 5599
Link: thedeanery.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 7/10
With an extensive wine list that you can be assured has been cellared appropriately, The Deanery has quite the reputation as a wine bar. 

Jamon Serrano
House made pork & chicken sausage, apple risotto
The food served is also of a very good standard. 
Chargrilled octopus, calamari, saffron potato, chorizo
Half roast duck, baked potato, burnt orange sauce
With Robin Wickens (Interlude) as head chef, the menu features well-executed Modern Australian fare. 
Passionfruit Bombe Alaska
Keeping with the wine-theme, the dining room feels like an old cellar – dimly lit, wooden furniture and exposed bulb lamps. 
The Deanery is an all-rounder, boasting both a solid wine and food menu which also happens to be very well priced. The service is equally as impressive. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable. 

The Deanery on Urbanspoon

Making Christmas a Highpoint

Our Christmas celebrations started early this year.
With two of our closest friends planning an overseas trip over the Christmas period, we decided to have an extra early Christmas dinner with them last weekend.
Roast turkey
Roast potatoes
Roast pumpkin, Meredith goats cheese & rocket salad
Chocolate mousse with brandied berries

Gastrology were invited by Jess from MANGO to visit Highpoint’s new Fresh Food Market and were generously provided with a $50 voucher to use at the Fresh Food Market and a $25 voucher to use at Melbourne Fresh Meats which we put to good use (along with quite a few extra dollars from our own hip pocket) to purchase all our Christmas dinner ingredients.

Thankfully the dinner was a huge success. We were very pleased with the quality of the produce from both the Fresh Food Market and Melbourne Fresh Meats. Here are the recipes we used to prepare our Christmas dinner. They are all very simple and easy to follow. Enjoy!


Recipe: Roast pumpkin, Meredith goats cheese & rocket salad

Ingredients
  • ¼ pumpkin (from the Highpoint Fruit and Vegetable Market)
  • 6 'squares' of Meredith goats cheese in extra virgin olive oil (from Go Vita)
  • 200 grams of rocket (from the Highpoint Fruit and Vegetable Market)
  • 1 small red onion (from the Highpoint Fruit and Vegetable Market)
  • 2 tablespoon good quality extra virgin olive oil (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
  • 1 tablespoon good quality balsamic vinegar (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 220 degrees celcius.
  2. Place chopped pumpkin on a baking tray lined with baking paper, drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden.
  4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk good quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar until combined and season to taste.
  5. Very thinly slice the red onion.
  6. In a large bowl toss the pumpkin, sliced red onion, rocket and crumbled goats cheese together gently. Drizzle with the dressing.

Recipe: Roast turkey and gravy

Ingredients
Instructions

We bought a fresh turkey that was ready to cook. So all we did was lightly brush the turkey skin with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and pop it into the oven, following the instructions on the pack.

For the gravy, we saved the turkey juices and turned it into a lovely gravy by reducing the liquid in a pot and adding rosemary, a spoonful of butter, dissolving one tablespoon of corn starch and lastly, adding salt and pepper to taste.


Recipe: Roasted potatoes

Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 220 degrees celcius.
  2. Remove leaves from the rosemary sprigs and chop finely.
  3. Place chopped potatoes on a baking tray lined with baking paper, add rosemary sprigs, drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden.

Recipe: Chocolate mousse with brandied berries

Ingredients
Instructions

The recipe says that it is for 2 people but when we doubled it for our party of four, it was far too much! I would recommend halving this recipe for two, or using it as is for four.

Instead of the raspberries that Donna Hay uses in her recipe, we served the chocolate mousse with brandied berries which were very easy to prepare. We mixed icing sugar and brandy to taste, then allowed the berries to soak in this mixture for about 4 hours.

Event Review: Taste of Melbourne

Taste of Melbourne is a food festival that celebrates Melbourne's culinary scene. This year, Taste of Melbourne was held in Albert Park for the first time at the beautiful lakeside location, Pelican Lawn. A number of Melbourne restaurants participated, offering tapas sized dishes for visitors to buy and try.

Albert Street Food & Wine “Minted Mermaid” – pea & mint soup, smoked salmon & apple $10

We started our Taste of Melbourne journey with a very creamy "Minted Mermaid" from Albert Street Food & Wine. The chilled soup was thick, decadent and had beautiful flavours.
Albert Street Food & Wine - Duck brik, peach and ginger chutney $12

Albert Street Food and Wine on Urbanspoon
 The Aylesbury - Dorper Lamb Ribs, Pea and Mint $6

One of our favourite dishes was the lamb ribs from The Aylesbury which had big Mediterranean flavours and were delectably juicy and tender, with a perfectly crisp layer of skin.
The Aylesbury on Urbanspoon
Movida - Pinchitos Morunos, Chargrilled Moorish Lamb skewers $8

Movida's lamb skewers were perfectly cooked - deliciously charred on the outside and perfectly pink on the inside. They were, as described, incredibly moorish. 
MoVida Next Door on Urbanspoon

Malaysian Kitchen cooking demonstration
The Atlantic - Tempura Soft Shell Crab with jalapeno and ponzu $10

Another highlight of our evening were these beautiful morsels of tempura soft shell crab from The Atlantic. The batter was light and not greasy. The crab tasted fresh and juicy!
The Atlantic on Urbanspoon
 Libertine - Smoked venison, beetroot & horseradish $12

The folks behind the Libertine stall were incredibly friendly - it was great to see that their high standard of customer service extended beyond the restaurant!
And the smoked venison did not disappoint. There was a lovely balance of flavours between the salty slices of smoked venison and the slight tartness of the beetroot. The horseradish brought a wasabi-like kick to the dish. It was lovely.

Libertine on Urbanspoon

Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar - Salt bush lamb shoulder, peas and mint $8

 Mr Hive's lamb shoulder was deliciously tender and tasty.
Mr. Hive Kitchen & Bar on Urbanspoon 
1 Cocktail + 2 tastes $8
The cocktails from Radii Restaurant & Bar (Park Hyatt) which were accompanied by moreish canapes were most impressive.
Radii Restaurant & Bar, Park Hyatt Melbourne on Urbanspoon
Gundowring ice cream $2 for 2 cones
And soon it was time for dessert.
The Botanical - Yuzu cloud, coconut pearl, guava sorbet $6

This was the best dessert we had at Taste of Melbourne. The luxurious coconut milk contrasted spectacularly with the tartness from the guava sorbet and the yuzu brought a lovely chewy textural element to the dish.
The Botanical on Urbanspoon
The Point - Baked organic quark cheesecake, hazelnut crumb and raspberry $6
Mahjong - Steamed BBQ pork buns $6 
We ended our time at Taste of Melbourne with a supper classic, Char Siu Bao from Mahjong. Unfortunately, the buns were slightly dry but thankfully the sweet and salty barbecued pork filling was enjoyable to eat.

Mahjong on Urbanspoon

Entry tickets courtesy of Nuffnang

All in all, Taste of Melbourne is an interesting experience. While I would not describe that experience as being one that could replace dining at one of the exhibiting restaurants, it can certainly give you an idea of what a restaurant has to offer and most importantly, can be a really fun day out with family and friends.

Restaurant Review: Locale (De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant)

Location: De Bortoli Yarra Valley, Pinnacle Lane, Dixons Creek
Phone: 03 5965 2271
Link: debortoli.com.au
Cuisine: Italian, Coffee
Overall Impression: 9/10


The weather is warming up and plants are blossoming, revealing their gorgeous springtime colour. While the Yarra Valley is beautiful all year round, spring is a brilliant time to visit. Many inspiring private gardens open to the public and the National Rhododendron Gardens’ Spring Floral Display is in full bloom. In addition to the stunning scenery, J and I love the Yarra Valley for its beautiful food and, of course, spectacular wine.

But from all of the wonderful food on offer, there is only one Yarra Valley restaurant that has truly captured our hearts - Locale (the restaurant attached to the De Bortoli winery in Dixons Creek).

The dining area is spacious, elegant and exudes an air of calm. The wide windows allow the sun to trickle in and present magical views out to the De Bortoli vineyard and the broader Yarra Ranges. The sense of true Italian hospitality is palpable, echoed in the modern Italian menu prepared using high quality, fresh ingredients which are often locally sourced. The service is always friendly and efficient.

A special mention must be given to the wonderful head waiter Tony, who is always warm and
welcoming.


Bread

One of the things J and I look forward to when we visit De Bortoli is their bread. Whilst this may seem like a strange point of focus in a restaurant review, the bread is absolutely moreish. Fresh, fluffy and moist, it is almost cake-like in texture and is coated in a layer of salty polenta. In our opinion, it is by far the most delicious bread served at any restaurant. J could be quite happy eating just the bread for lunch, dipped in some beautiful extra virgin olive oil.

As usual, each dish was cooked perfectly. 
Pan seared scallops with pea crush and local Yarra Valley black truffle

Our scallops were plump, perfectly seared and tasted sweet and fresh. 
Parmesan and potato gnocchi with pork sausage, saffron, tomato and chilli

The gnocchi was divine and obviously made with love. As with all good gnocchi, it was soft and pillow-like, providing an ideal canvas for the intense flavour of the pork sausages and saffron. 
Pan fried dory fillet with black venere rice, broccolini, cime di rapa, fresh chilli, garlic and biodynamic olive oil

The fish skin was beautifully crisp and the flesh was deliciously moist and tender – perfectly cooked. 
Oven roasted pork belly with Italian style lentils, baby spinach and apple and rosemary chutney 

The pork belly was tender throughout and topped with a delicious layer of crispy crackling. 
Milawa free range chicken, pan roasted aromatic spices, sautéed potatoes and cavalo nero

The chicken dish was hearty and once again, cooked perfectly. 

affogato con zeppole - vanilla gelato & italian doughnuts served with de bortoli black noble 

The affogato dessert was outstanding. We were given a whole bottle of De Bortoli black noble and told to help ourselves! The Vanilla gelato was rich and indulgent and paired beautifully with the doughnuts that were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. This is one of the best versions of an affogato we have come across. 

Biscotti and coffee were, as always, a perfect end to the meal. 

Every now and then a restaurant manages to capture a place in your heart. Locale is such a place. More than just the high quality of the food and wines on offer, Locale transports you to another world where all of the stresses of modern, city living evaporate and life is a lot simpler. Despite having eaten at Locale countless times already, it continues to draw us back time and again and has rightfully claimed a spot in our favourite restaurants of all time.


Locale at De Bortoli Vineyard on Urbanspoon
De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Restaurant Review: Di Palma's

Location: 688 High Street, Kew East
Phone: 03 9859 8999
Link: dipalmas.com.au
Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
Overall Impression: 6.5/10
Di Palma’s serves hearty and affordable Italian fare at two locations (Hawthorn and East Kew). One of the few family-friendly restaurants with white table cloths, it has become a regular place for my family when we dine out for a lazy Sunday lunch with all the kids. They have a children’s menu that comes with free ice cream that the children are always excited about and for the adults, the menu ranges from wood-fired pizzas to pastas and also includes a good variety of mains.

We are consistently pleased with the standard of food on offer. It is consistently cooked well and uses fresh ingredients.

What we like most about Di Palma’s is the brilliant service. The staff always make us feel welcome and the children are always well taken care of. The homely, yet modern ambience means we can always have a relaxing time with the family. There is also a BYO policy (corkage charge $9 per bottle) which is great for when you want to enjoy a special bottle with your meal.



Di Palma's on UrbanspoonDi Palma's on Urbanspoon