Welcome to Melbourne Foodie. The blogspace of a young foodie with a passion for cooking, fine dining and quality food and produce.
Melbourne Foodie, along with the other sources I write for is my way of casually expressing and recording some of the experiences I have had for others to enjoy. I always welcome any feedback,
comments or restaurant suggestions you may have and would love to hear from you soon.
DYING TO TRY: The new Vue de Monde.
MOST RECENT FEASTINGS: SYDNEY: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Spice I Am.
BLOG OF THE MOMENT: I Eat Therefore I Am
Happy eating,
Jon!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sarti Ristorante
Sarti can probably be described as a very Melbourne restaurant. You walk up a small staircase into a bustling dining room - there's a bar in the middle of the room, where one can sit and have a drink and tables (inside and out) around the room. Its noisy and buzzing, but still pretty casual; and the service probably reflects this style. Personally I don't really like being referred to as "mate" or "buddy" by a maitre de when I'm going out for a nice meal, but that withstanding, the staff do know their stuff, and make an effort to please, even if it does involve five different waitstaff throughout the course of a meal.
To be fair I have visited Sarti twice over the past six months or so, and they were two rather different dining experiences - the food on both visits being quite impressive, but I guess the service is what really made the difference; the first episode being far too laxed, whilst the second being simply flawless from start to end. Episode one was also a little hit and miss with some of the food; whilst the second take was completely on the mark - so I guess as long as the mix of variables is right on the evening you are destined to do very well.
The menu at Sarti can best be described as modern Italian and is broken into pastas, smaller and larger plates and sweets. From everything I have read and heard about Sarti before and after my visits, the consensus seems to be that the stuzzichini (shared small dishes, like entrees) are the way to go: where you can structure a meal that will deliver on taste. The mains and pastas are consistent enough, but it is these smaller plates that best highlight the kitchens' creativity and these dishes were largely the basis of my experiences.
Here's a look at some of the hits you might enjoy:
Zucchini Flower: A gorgeous tempura battered zucchini flower filled with a delicate, shredded crab meat farce - light, crispy pefection.
Shallow fried calamari, pickled cauliflower ‘giadiniera’, tartare foam:
Beautiful tender pieces of calamari coated with a crispy polenta crust. The fritti sit on a bed of pickled cauliflower shreds and a light tartare foam, providing two different layers of acidity to break up the dish. The only downfall- excessively salty, but still very much enjoyed.
Calabrian Chilli Crab:
Crispy pieces of fried crab meat, resting on sweet stewed peppers. Not for the chilli-shy: This one really packed a punch.
Tempura Crab Claw:
Gorgeous, fresh, sweet crab meat served with a chilli-salt- Simple prefection.
Gyoza filled with 'cime di rapa', saute of morton bay bugs, basil seeds:
A really nice pasta dish- lots of delicate flavour, perfectly cooked and pretty as a picture. Again, difficult to fault.
Sauteed venison liver with caramalised onions and chickpeas:
A dish I should have loved & really wanted to love - but ultimately a failure. The liver was requested rare, but served cooked right through to an unpleasant level. A replacement dish had the same issue and for me was inedible. Apologies were made - and the dish no longer sits on the menu.
Braised veal cheeks, purple cauliflower cous cous, prosciutto consomme, black rice:
Another dish thats certainly not shy of the sodium, but the flavours were really beautiful. The most tender veal, parcelled and resting atop the toasted rice and other accompanishments, finished with a clear salty prosciutto broth poored at the table. A well executed main plate.
Chocolate and Orange:
Frozen candied orange, blood orange granita, chocolate sorbet and so much more - The bitter and sweet elements worked so well against each other to create a dish which was stunning in both aesthetics and taste. A very passionate waiter guided me through the preparation of the dolce, including the granita: house-made from fresh blood orange juice the restaurant imports from Italy.
White chocolate and native pepper cream, vin cotto, peanuts, apples:
After consuming several bottles of vino I can't remember too many intimates about this one- but needless to say it was lighter way to end the meal, and well enjoyed.
Overall I think Sarti is undoubtedly a great dining experience, where you can enjoy some excellent food in a casual (and noisy) environment; with service which is knowledgable, but relaxed. You could certainly call it a very "Melbourne" dining experience, but for me I don't quite know whether it is consistent enough to be hat worthy - the first take was miles off, whereas my second visit suggested the restaurant certainly deserves its accolades. I guess more research on my part is definitely necessary before I can make a final judgement - well thats my excuse for wanting to head back soon anyhow.
Sarti has been awarded One Chefs Hat and a score of 15/20 in the Age Good Food Guide between 2009-2012.
MY RATING (based on both visits): 14.5/20 - Food 7.5/10 Service 3.5/5 Ambience 3.5/5
http://www.sartirestaurant.com.au/
To be fair I have visited Sarti twice over the past six months or so, and they were two rather different dining experiences - the food on both visits being quite impressive, but I guess the service is what really made the difference; the first episode being far too laxed, whilst the second being simply flawless from start to end. Episode one was also a little hit and miss with some of the food; whilst the second take was completely on the mark - so I guess as long as the mix of variables is right on the evening you are destined to do very well.
The menu at Sarti can best be described as modern Italian and is broken into pastas, smaller and larger plates and sweets. From everything I have read and heard about Sarti before and after my visits, the consensus seems to be that the stuzzichini (shared small dishes, like entrees) are the way to go: where you can structure a meal that will deliver on taste. The mains and pastas are consistent enough, but it is these smaller plates that best highlight the kitchens' creativity and these dishes were largely the basis of my experiences.
Here's a look at some of the hits you might enjoy:
Zucchini Flower: A gorgeous tempura battered zucchini flower filled with a delicate, shredded crab meat farce - light, crispy pefection.
Shallow fried calamari, pickled cauliflower ‘giadiniera’, tartare foam:
Beautiful tender pieces of calamari coated with a crispy polenta crust. The fritti sit on a bed of pickled cauliflower shreds and a light tartare foam, providing two different layers of acidity to break up the dish. The only downfall- excessively salty, but still very much enjoyed.
Calabrian Chilli Crab:
Crispy pieces of fried crab meat, resting on sweet stewed peppers. Not for the chilli-shy: This one really packed a punch.
Tempura Crab Claw:
Gorgeous, fresh, sweet crab meat served with a chilli-salt- Simple prefection.
Gyoza filled with 'cime di rapa', saute of morton bay bugs, basil seeds:
A really nice pasta dish- lots of delicate flavour, perfectly cooked and pretty as a picture. Again, difficult to fault.
Sauteed venison liver with caramalised onions and chickpeas:
A dish I should have loved & really wanted to love - but ultimately a failure. The liver was requested rare, but served cooked right through to an unpleasant level. A replacement dish had the same issue and for me was inedible. Apologies were made - and the dish no longer sits on the menu.
Braised veal cheeks, purple cauliflower cous cous, prosciutto consomme, black rice:
Another dish thats certainly not shy of the sodium, but the flavours were really beautiful. The most tender veal, parcelled and resting atop the toasted rice and other accompanishments, finished with a clear salty prosciutto broth poored at the table. A well executed main plate.
Chocolate and Orange:
Frozen candied orange, blood orange granita, chocolate sorbet and so much more - The bitter and sweet elements worked so well against each other to create a dish which was stunning in both aesthetics and taste. A very passionate waiter guided me through the preparation of the dolce, including the granita: house-made from fresh blood orange juice the restaurant imports from Italy.
White chocolate and native pepper cream, vin cotto, peanuts, apples:
After consuming several bottles of vino I can't remember too many intimates about this one- but needless to say it was lighter way to end the meal, and well enjoyed.
Overall I think Sarti is undoubtedly a great dining experience, where you can enjoy some excellent food in a casual (and noisy) environment; with service which is knowledgable, but relaxed. You could certainly call it a very "Melbourne" dining experience, but for me I don't quite know whether it is consistent enough to be hat worthy - the first take was miles off, whereas my second visit suggested the restaurant certainly deserves its accolades. I guess more research on my part is definitely necessary before I can make a final judgement - well thats my excuse for wanting to head back soon anyhow.
Sarti has been awarded One Chefs Hat and a score of 15/20 in the Age Good Food Guide between 2009-2012.
MY RATING (based on both visits): 14.5/20 - Food 7.5/10 Service 3.5/5 Ambience 3.5/5
http://www.sartirestaurant.com.au/
Labels: REVIEWS: Fine Dining, Sarti Ristorante
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
The Vegie Bar (Fitzroy)
There is always something great about walking into a restaurant where a certain buzz factor exists. It may be the reputation or hype of the venue, or perhaps the presence of a celebrity chef in action. Then again it can be the simple joy of witnessing the smiles on every patrons' face as they sit down conversing and enjoying a good meal in a fun, hip setting. This is definitely the case when you visit the Vegie Bar, where you'll join an eclectic mix of young and old whom all seem to be loving the food and generally having a blast. The Vegie Bar is a unique venue in a sense, positioning itself as a healthy vegetarian eatery delivering high quality food at low prices. It undoubtedly meets its vision, offering patrons a diverse menu of vegeterian and vegan fare which will surely satisfy vegos, as well as the(normally meat-eating) masses.
Upon entering, one immediately immediately feels at home as you are greeted by the friendly, casual staff who seem to love their jobs: definitely a good sign. I happily take a seat at one of the large newspaper and magazine scattered communal tables at the front of the the venue and am presented with a menu, and left to ponder for a couple of minutes. The menu is fairly broad with a selection of smaller and larger dishes including a range of Asian-style dishes, pizzas and some more inventive fare.
I start off with a couple of the small plates. First up is a "Siamese Samosa" which has a warm mushy filling with just a hint of spice. The pastry is flaky without being greasy and it is sided by a fresh tomato dipping salsa. Most enjoyed.
The other starter I sample is the rice balls. They are just crisp outside with a softer filling made up of white rice and a fine dice of vegetables. The balls are finished off with a peanut satay sauce which provides a nice balance to the dish, as well as a few rocket leaves for crunch. Once again, quite satisfying.
Moving onto mains I probably choose one of the less adventurous options in the "Vegie Roast", interested to see what their interpretation would be. The dish is presented well and I am not dissapointed in the choice. What you get is not just a pile of vegies that have been baked and thrown on the plate. Each of them has had their own preparation, some exhibiting sweet caramalisation, others having been marinated or gently confit. A selection of root carrots, potatoes, pumpkin and zucchini sit atop a bed of baby spinach and rocket leaves and the dish is finished with a range of seeds for crunch and texture. The accompaniments include a good hummous and some toasted foccacia for dipping. A very generous plate of food, which again I cannot really complain about. If anything though I would have liked a mushie or two to be thrown in the mix.
After a short break I decide that I am persuaded into trying one of the house-made cakes to end the meal. There are a range of delectable choices available on displau including a vegan offering in the Chocolate Royale. What I'm presented with is a huge slice of sheer chocolate indulgence. It is rich, moist and oozing with a runny chocolate centre, as well as being smothered with a silky ganche and flaked coconut. It has some serious yum factor, and the one slice will comfortably treat two people after a meal - I personally winded up playing with it after a couple of bites, making a right mess. The soy hot chocolate to accompany my dessert is OK, without being particularly praise worthy. I'd possibly have been better with one choosing an organic chai.
The Vegie Bar is located along busy Brunswick Street in Fitzroy and has a diverse menu which is sure to have somehting to please everyone. Cheap, cheerful, casual dining - you really can't go wrong.
www.vegiebar.com.au
Upon entering, one immediately immediately feels at home as you are greeted by the friendly, casual staff who seem to love their jobs: definitely a good sign. I happily take a seat at one of the large newspaper and magazine scattered communal tables at the front of the the venue and am presented with a menu, and left to ponder for a couple of minutes. The menu is fairly broad with a selection of smaller and larger dishes including a range of Asian-style dishes, pizzas and some more inventive fare.
I start off with a couple of the small plates. First up is a "Siamese Samosa" which has a warm mushy filling with just a hint of spice. The pastry is flaky without being greasy and it is sided by a fresh tomato dipping salsa. Most enjoyed.
The other starter I sample is the rice balls. They are just crisp outside with a softer filling made up of white rice and a fine dice of vegetables. The balls are finished off with a peanut satay sauce which provides a nice balance to the dish, as well as a few rocket leaves for crunch. Once again, quite satisfying.
Moving onto mains I probably choose one of the less adventurous options in the "Vegie Roast", interested to see what their interpretation would be. The dish is presented well and I am not dissapointed in the choice. What you get is not just a pile of vegies that have been baked and thrown on the plate. Each of them has had their own preparation, some exhibiting sweet caramalisation, others having been marinated or gently confit. A selection of root carrots, potatoes, pumpkin and zucchini sit atop a bed of baby spinach and rocket leaves and the dish is finished with a range of seeds for crunch and texture. The accompaniments include a good hummous and some toasted foccacia for dipping. A very generous plate of food, which again I cannot really complain about. If anything though I would have liked a mushie or two to be thrown in the mix.
After a short break I decide that I am persuaded into trying one of the house-made cakes to end the meal. There are a range of delectable choices available on displau including a vegan offering in the Chocolate Royale. What I'm presented with is a huge slice of sheer chocolate indulgence. It is rich, moist and oozing with a runny chocolate centre, as well as being smothered with a silky ganche and flaked coconut. It has some serious yum factor, and the one slice will comfortably treat two people after a meal - I personally winded up playing with it after a couple of bites, making a right mess. The soy hot chocolate to accompany my dessert is OK, without being particularly praise worthy. I'd possibly have been better with one choosing an organic chai.
The Vegie Bar is located along busy Brunswick Street in Fitzroy and has a diverse menu which is sure to have somehting to please everyone. Cheap, cheerful, casual dining - you really can't go wrong.
www.vegiebar.com.au
Skinny Dog Hotel (Kew) - Melbourne's biggest Parma!
The Skinny Dog hotel continues to offer Melbourne's biggest Chicken Parmagianna, and now probably also one of its best.
It has been a couple of years between visits but last weekend called for a lunch trip out to Kew, and how could we go to the Skinny Dog and not order their famous parmie. $25 gets you a gigantic oval plate sized parma - good quality chicken breast, a nice herb crumbing, good napoli sauce, shaved ham, fresh basil leaves and heaps of mozzerella goodness - not fine dining but satisfying nonethless. Chips and salad are served with this beast - but as the picture dominates - its all about the parmie itself, and it was good - leaps ahead of the equally huge beast I remember demolishing a couple of years back. For those not so brave a half serve is available for $15, as well as a range of other menu options.
http://www.skinnydoghotel.com.au/
It has been a couple of years between visits but last weekend called for a lunch trip out to Kew, and how could we go to the Skinny Dog and not order their famous parmie. $25 gets you a gigantic oval plate sized parma - good quality chicken breast, a nice herb crumbing, good napoli sauce, shaved ham, fresh basil leaves and heaps of mozzerella goodness - not fine dining but satisfying nonethless. Chips and salad are served with this beast - but as the picture dominates - its all about the parmie itself, and it was good - leaps ahead of the equally huge beast I remember demolishing a couple of years back. For those not so brave a half serve is available for $15, as well as a range of other menu options.
http://www.skinnydoghotel.com.au/
Labels: REVIEWS: Casual Dining, Skinny Dog Hotel
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Melbourne Foodie - back in action soon!!!!!!
Just a quick note to let you know that Melbourne Foodie will be back into production & better than every - really soon - so WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!
Massive apologies that I have been so very slack over the last 2 years but I've had a lot going on and can't wait to share with you all my new foodie experiences from Melbourne & beyond.
Massive apologies that I have been so very slack over the last 2 years but I've had a lot going on and can't wait to share with you all my new foodie experiences from Melbourne & beyond.
SYDNEY: Zaaffran Indian Restaurant
A belated dining experience: Zaaffran Indian Restaurant (Darling Harbour, Sydney):
Without any hesitation I would have to say that Zaaffran offers the best Indian food I have ever experienced. Unique flavours unlike anything I have tried before - this is not your typical curry house and really makes all the other Indian restaurants I have tried seem like novices.
A snapshot of a meal: Simple looking food, that delivers on so may levels.
SALMON MARINATED WITH YOGHURT, GARLIC, DILL AND MUSTARD; OVEN-ROASTED
WITH BELL PEPPER TOPPING; SPICED MASH; LEMON-TURMERIC REDUCTION; MINT CHUTNEY:
A very subtle flavoured, but elegent dish.
LAMB CUTLETS GRILLED WITH GINGER, GARLIC, BLACK PEPPER, CORIANDER AND CURRY LEAF, FLECKED WITH SESAME SEEDS; SEASONAL SALAD; GARLIC CHUTNEY; BEETROOT RAITA; POTATO WEDGES:
A simple looking dish but meet that is so tender it just melts away, with spicing to match.
GARLIC NAAN: the way it should be.
SYMPHONY OF KULFI AND ICE-CREAM: A selection of Aam ki Kulfi - Zaaffran's version of mango kulfi, Zaafran Sensation - a triumphant blend of pistachio with saffron, cardamon and almond, and Gulab aur Elaichi Kulfi - a sweet kulfi flavoured with rose petals and cardamon.
Zaaffran ultimately serves up some of the most unique tasting food of any type you are likely to try and certainly provides a massive "wow factor" in terms of taste. Deliacte spicing and subtle finishes make you yearn for more. It is a restaurant which I strongly look forward to visiting when I return to Sydney, featuring an intriguing menu which I cannot wait to explore further.
MY RATING: 15.5/20 - Food: 8.5/10 Service: 3.5/5 Ambience 3.5/5
www.zaaffran.com
Without any hesitation I would have to say that Zaaffran offers the best Indian food I have ever experienced. Unique flavours unlike anything I have tried before - this is not your typical curry house and really makes all the other Indian restaurants I have tried seem like novices.
A snapshot of a meal: Simple looking food, that delivers on so may levels.
SALMON MARINATED WITH YOGHURT, GARLIC, DILL AND MUSTARD; OVEN-ROASTED
WITH BELL PEPPER TOPPING; SPICED MASH; LEMON-TURMERIC REDUCTION; MINT CHUTNEY:
A very subtle flavoured, but elegent dish.
LAMB CUTLETS GRILLED WITH GINGER, GARLIC, BLACK PEPPER, CORIANDER AND CURRY LEAF, FLECKED WITH SESAME SEEDS; SEASONAL SALAD; GARLIC CHUTNEY; BEETROOT RAITA; POTATO WEDGES:
A simple looking dish but meet that is so tender it just melts away, with spicing to match.
GARLIC NAAN: the way it should be.
SYMPHONY OF KULFI AND ICE-CREAM: A selection of Aam ki Kulfi - Zaaffran's version of mango kulfi, Zaafran Sensation - a triumphant blend of pistachio with saffron, cardamon and almond, and Gulab aur Elaichi Kulfi - a sweet kulfi flavoured with rose petals and cardamon.
Zaaffran ultimately serves up some of the most unique tasting food of any type you are likely to try and certainly provides a massive "wow factor" in terms of taste. Deliacte spicing and subtle finishes make you yearn for more. It is a restaurant which I strongly look forward to visiting when I return to Sydney, featuring an intriguing menu which I cannot wait to explore further.
MY RATING: 15.5/20 - Food: 8.5/10 Service: 3.5/5 Ambience 3.5/5
www.zaaffran.com
Labels: REVIEWS: Interstate, Zaaffran Indian Restaurant (Sydney)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
SYDNEY: Pancakes on the Rocks
Another sickly sweet indulgence I sometimes enjoy when travelling to Sydney is a visit to Pancakes on the Rocks. I personally think their pancakes are a lot better than those of say, Pancake Parlour in Melbourne and they are really good value as well, with most options under $12, and extra pancakes available for $2 each.
To eat - Hot n Troppo ($10.95): Buttermilk pancakes with grilled banana, walnuts, cream, chocolate ice cream and home made chocolate sauce. Delicious - though I did feel a little sick for the rest of the day after all of the chocolate and cream which I am not really used to. Certainly not a healthy choice but I guess a little indulgence is OK sometimes.
Pancakes on the Rocks have four locations throughout Sydney, with long trading hours 7 days a week. They serve reasonable meals including ribs and steaks as well as a tempting selection of sweet and savoury pancakes and crepes. If you haven't been before Pancakes on the Rocks is a great place to try. Not somewhere to visit every week, but I guess it can certainly be a nice indulgence every now and then.
www.pancakesontherocks.com.au
To eat - Hot n Troppo ($10.95): Buttermilk pancakes with grilled banana, walnuts, cream, chocolate ice cream and home made chocolate sauce. Delicious - though I did feel a little sick for the rest of the day after all of the chocolate and cream which I am not really used to. Certainly not a healthy choice but I guess a little indulgence is OK sometimes.
Pancakes on the Rocks have four locations throughout Sydney, with long trading hours 7 days a week. They serve reasonable meals including ribs and steaks as well as a tempting selection of sweet and savoury pancakes and crepes. If you haven't been before Pancakes on the Rocks is a great place to try. Not somewhere to visit every week, but I guess it can certainly be a nice indulgence every now and then.
www.pancakesontherocks.com.au
