Restaurant Review: Cutler & Co

Location: 57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Phone: 03 9419 4888
Link: cutlerandco.com.au
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Wine Bar, International
Overall Impression: 8.5/10

 

Awarded the best restaurant in Victoria by Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2013, Andrew McConnell's flagship restaurant, Cutler & Co, showcases perfectly executed Modern Australian fare.

The restaurant is surprisingly relaxed for a fine dining establishment. Forget the white table cloths; the ambience is much more like a trendy bar with its brick-exposed walls and soft curtain-like chandeliers hanging down from the high ceilings.

J and I decided to reward ourselves with the degustation menu. This option will set you back $150 per person (excluding wine and the additional cheese course).

Selection of appetisers   

Oyster broth, Hervey Bay scallop, king brown mushroom & wild garlic 

Hand-picked mud crab, buttermilk potato, almond & brown butter 

Hay baked carrots, goats curd, toasted grains & ash 

Smoked & fried duck, morcilla, carrot & gingerbread 

Roasted suckling pig, mustard, kohlrabi & onion soubise 

Apple & sorrel sorbet, fennel meringue & dill 

Earl Grey ice cream, chocolate, Pedro Ximenez prunes & honey

Salted caramel chocolates 

The Cutler & Co menu is unpretentious.

The food boasts tried and true flavour combinations that work a treat and are perfectly executed. Every dish had very well-balanced flavours and was presented beautifully. Course after course, our taste buds were spoiled with bursts of delicious flavours. It was obvious that the quality of the food sourced was of the highest standard. The Hervey Bay scallop was of particular note with its natural sweetness which paired harmoniously with an oyster broth that had just the right hint of mushroom and garlic flavour (anymore and it would have over-powered the sweetness of those fresh scallops).

Cutler & Co certainly affords a brilliant dining experience for patrons. The space is elegantly relaxed with brilliant attention to detail. Each element of every course was consistently cooked to perfection - the pork crackling was beautifully crisp, the unctuous smoked and fried duck was moist and tender. As expected, the service was brilliant. J and I both felt incredibly welcomed and comfortable. Our wine glasses were consistently filled and our courses were delivered at perfect intervals. We cannot wait to return.

Restaurant Review: St Katherine's

Location: 26 Cotham Road, Kew

Phone: 03 9207 7477

Link: www.stkatherines.com.au

Cuisine: Modern Greek, Turkish, Mediterranean

Overall Impression: 7.5/10

Headed by acclaimed chefs George Calombaris (GC) and Shane Delia, St Katherine’s is a celebration of their individual family histories and culture on a plate. 

Embracing a sense of community and family is the sharing style menu that features a fusion between Modern Greek, Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. 

Sitting in St Katherine’s you notice the chefs on display at the far end of the dining area. The Turkish grill, fourteen spike rotisserie and the wood fired ovens are blazing and you get the sense that you’re in for a treat. 

There are several dining options at St Katherine’s. Having tasted “The Ultimate” dinner option of four courses worth of wonderful food for a reasonable $73 per person at the start of the year, M, D and I were curious to see what would be on offer for the bargain 2 course ‘Xpress’ lunch that is a mere $19.50 per person. 

First Course

Our first course consisted of a couple of dips, freshly baked Turkish bread (served in a paper bag), lovely braised calamari and a ground lamb pide. 

Braised local calamari tomato, garlic, chilli, lemon thyme & almond crumbs

A selection of dips

Pide - ground lamb, tomato, garlic, parsley, Aleppo pepper, lemon

Turkish bread

Second course

For our second course we received a perfectly grilled salmon, slow roasted rotisserie chicken and rice pilaf. 

Grilled salmon

"Off the rotisserie" slow roasted free range chicken

Rice pilaf mushrooms, tarragon, hazelnuts

What is certain is this – you can never leave a GC establishment hungry! Even with the Xpress lunch option, we were very well fed. We found the food flavoursome, healthy and fresh. Whilst hardly revolutionary, the flavour combinations were tried and true - they simply worked. St Katherine’s Xpress lunch is certainly one of the best value lunches Melbourne has to offer.

Event: Unplugged at Touché Hombre

Touché Hombre will be supporting local artists every night this week when it hosts its second series of Unplugged.

 

At Unplugged, guests can enjoy tacos, tequila and tunes every night this week with intimate performances from artists including The Psyde Projects, Jess Young Trio as well as The Tom Showtime Trio featuring well known MC N’Fa Jones. N’Fa has had recent success with his latest hit ‘March On’ which is being played by top radio stations nationally, so this is a fantastic opportunity for guests to hear him perform up close and personal as well as the rest of the great line up.
 

The free events will kick off this week at Touché Hombre and run from 7:00pm (Monday - Thursday) and 8:00pm (Friday and Saturday) until late.

Restaurant Review: Prime House

Location: Shop 5a, 500 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9602 2955
Link: primehouse.com.au
Cuisine: Steakhouse, Breakfast/Brunch, Burgers
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Once upon a time, EARL Canteen was *the* purveyor of gourmet sandwiches on the 500 Bourke Street turf. Their complete reign has now come to an end with (relatively) new kid on the block, Prime House.

 

It was Scotty’s second last day in my building so we all headed out together to catch up for the very last time at Prime House.

Although they are located side by side, the concepts behind EARL Canteen and Prime House are completely different. EARL focuses on delicate flavours and beautiful harmonious pairings whereas at Prime House, it is all about the beef and American-style rich, bold and spicy flavours.

The main downside to Prime House is the lack of seating. The tiny dining area has merely one large communal table and a few stools along the front window. There are some tables and chairs directly outside the restaurant but these are often occupied during the weekday lunch hour.

Prime House pork & crackle bun $9.50

16 hour slow roast free range Pork, House Coleslaw, Gravy & Crackling

Given the lack of seating available, take away is a hot option. The take away Prime House Hot Rolls are a very reasonable $9.50* with items such as the popular Pork & Crackle Bun, Hot Chicken Roll and my personal favourite, the Hot Roast Beef Roll which is served with deliciously caramelised onions, baby spinach and a creamy blue cheese mayonnaise and luscious gravy. 

The Pork & Crackle Bun received Scotty’s tick of approval!

Apart from being a good steakhouse, Prime House is also a great lunchtime option – just be prepared to do a bit of waiting if you want to dine-in.

Scotty – All the best in Canada! You will be missed!

*The Rolls will cost you an extra $3 if you decide to dine-in or sit at one of the tables outside the restaurant.

Restaurant Review: City Quarter

Location: Level 1, Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Road, Geelong
Phone: 03 5222 6233
Link: thecityquarter.com.au
Cuisine: Tapas, Coffee, Pizza
Overall Impression: 7/10

A mere couple of hundred metres from Corio Bay, this waterfront bar boasts stunning views of the sea and the Geelong city skyline. 

The fit out is modern with white walls, low lighting and wooden furnishings.

 

The menu boasts an array of gourmet pizzas and worldly inspired tapas.

Classic Margherita, Rich Napoli, oregano and cheese pizza    

Known for their delicious pizzas, the City Quarter pizza has a thick crust much like the typical pan pizza or Chicago-style pizza. Each pizza crust was perfectly crisp on the outside, moist on the inside and on the right side of chewy. 

Left: Roasted pumpkin, basil pesto, bocconcini, blistered cherry tomato pizza

Right: Lamb, semi dried tomato, roasted onion, herbs, tzatziki and cheese pizza

Like the delicious crust, the toppings also did not disappoint! From the Classic Margherita to the decadent Middle Eastern inspired Lamb and tzatziki pizzas, we were pleased with the flavour combinations and the use of fresh ingredients.

Roast pork, BBQ sauce, caramelised onions and roasted capsicum pizza  

     

   Prawn, garlic, spinach, fetta and chilli oil pizza

My favourite pizza was the prawn, garlic, spinach, fetta and chilli oil pizza. The prawns were cooked to perfection. They were large, juicy and fresh. Amply seasoned, the pizza had a beautiful aroma and had an intensely rich flavour of garlic and herbs.   

 

City Quarter also serves lovely cocktails, premium beers, spirits and boasts an impressive wine list.

City Quarter is a Geelong gem. It is an elegant bar that is great for large groups (given the wide dining area). The staff are accommodating and have a genuine focus on customer care. I cannot wait to return for more of their impressive pizzas.

Event: Kitchen Garden Workshops for foodies with green thumbs!

Melbourne Central Launches Urban Gardening Workshops

This month treat  your green thumb and sign  up for Melbourne Central’s Community  Kitchen  Garden  Workshops  held  during  Kitchen  Garden  Week  (24-28  September) and experience the art of inner city living gardening.

Learn how to create your own thriving kitchen garden in an urban environment with the experts from Fitzroy Nursery who will provide valuable tips and advice to an intimate group of budding gardeners.  As part of the class, participants will choose a range of seasonal herbs to plant in their very own herb planter box valued over $36 and will walk away with a range of spring kitchen garden recipes which are set to inspire this season.  

What:              Melbourne Central’s Community Kitchen Garden Workshops

When:             Wednesday 26 September 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Thursday 27 September 12.30pm – 2.30pm

Where:             Melbourne Central Community Kitchen Garden, Level 2

Bookings Essential:    Workshops are open to the first 60 people to register. 

Groups are limited to 30 people per class. 

Sign up at http://www.melbournecentral.com.au/

 

Cafe Review: BrimCC Organic Soup and Japanese cafe

Location:601 Little Collins Sreet,  Melbourne

Phone: 03 9614 5316

Link: brimcc.com.au

Cuisine: Japanese, Organic, Soups

Overall Impression: 7/10

Oddly named “BrimCC”, we were told by the smiling staff that “Brim” comes from their soup cups always being filled to the brim which leads to customer happiness and “CC” varies in meaning depending on the seasons. In winter, “CC” stands for Chunky and Cosy and in summer, “CC” stands for Cool and Colourful.

Advocates of organic produce, BrimCC have led the way for a healthy focus on organic eats whilst sticking to their Japanese tradition.

Beef and curry rice

The service is sincere and although the queues are long, the wait is always kept to a minimum with staff member that works with Germanic efficiency.  

Vegetarian Cauliflower soup

The café originally only served soups and sushi rolls but the menu has now expanded to include a larger range of Japanese delights. 

BrimCC is a lovely venue for a casual lunch that is deliciously organic, hearty and healthy.

Cafe Review: Cacao Fine Chocolates & Patisserie

Location: Various (see below)
Phone: 03 8598 9555
Link: cacao.com.au
Cuisine: French
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Cacao Fine Chocolates & Patisserie is a reputable patisserie that serves chocolates, cakes, pastries and award-winning macarons. The coffee served is also of a high standard which is brilliant given how coffee and sweet delights go hand in hand. Cacao has 4 retail stores scattered around Melbourne.

I always enjoy visiting Cacao. The stores are always a tempting sight - endowed with beautifully arranged chocolates of different shapes and sizes. The wide selections of chocolates are difficult to go past!

Apart from indulging in their popular macarons, J and I enjoy having our coffees with their delicious cakes and pastries. On this occasion we settled on a beautiful aniseed and Belgium chocolate ganache cake with a flaky blueberry Danish. Cacao is certainly a great spot for a chocolate and/or caffeine fix.

The Cellar Bar (Grossi Florentino)

Location: 80 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 1811
Link: http://www.grossiflorentino.com/grossi-florentino/the-cellar-bar.aspx
Cuisine: Italian
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Want some Grossi style Italian lovin' without the hefty price tag? The Cellar Bar is a brilliant spot for post-dinner coffees and cakes. They have a good selection of desserts, serve consistently good coffee and it is always nice to indulge in one of their decadent hot chocolates.

Lemon Tart

Tiramisu

Ricotta cake

Hot Chocolate

I can never go past their ricotta cheesecake - wonderfully moist with a heavenly touch of diced orange peel and cherries.  The only downside is the inconsistent service. It can range from brilliant to down right rude which is a real pity.

Restaurant Review: Red Spice Road

Location: 27 McKillop Street, Melbourne

Phone: (03) 9603 1601

Link: http://www.redspiceroad.com/

Cuisine: Asian, Thai, Vietnamese

Overall Impression: 7/10

Check out our review of the Red Spice Road bar (where we enjoyed a few yummy cocktails) here and our first visit to Red Spice Road here.

Betel Leaf with Chicken, Crab, Coconut, Chilli and Kaffir Lime

Red Spice Road continues to draw in the crowds with its South East Asian influenced offerings. While the food on offer is perhaps not entirely “authentic”, the menu boasts South East Asian cuisine that thankfully retains authentic characteristics like robust flavours and the generous use of spices. A year and a half from our first visit, we are pleased to see that Red Spice Road has continued to deliver on all fronts.

 

We particularly enjoy their banquets which are great value and a brilliant introduction to Modern South East Asian cuisine for first timers. 

Ocean Trout Tartare

Twice Cooked Lamb Ribs with a Tamarind and Coconut Relish

Pork Belly with Apple Slaw, Chilli Caramel and Black Vinegar

 

 

The Red Spice Road pièce de résistance, the famous pork belly continues to please. Each morsel bursts of flavour. The pork belly skin is delightfully crispy and the meat is tender and succulent. That pork, the tangy black vinegar marinade, paired with the accompanying luscious caramel sauce with a dash of heat from chillies is a match made in heaven. 

Prawn, Snowpea, Baby Shiso, and Red Radish Salad and Lemon Grass

Beef Cheek Massaman Curry with Kipfler Potatoes and Baby Onions

Crispy Fried Chilli, Turmeric Chicken with Beansprouts and Cucumber Ginger Relish

Pandan Cream with Coconut Jelly, Peanut Praline, Puffed Wild Rice, Tapioca Pearls and Coconut Ice Cream

 

 

Their desserts are delicious.

Choc, Chilli, Mint Parfait with Salted Peanut Caramel, Rice Puffs and Pineapple Sorbet

 

 

My favourite dessert so far is the Choc, Chilli, Mint Parfait with Salted Peanut Caramel, Rice Puffs and Pineapple Sorbet. The parfait is perfectly smooth and indulgent. The salted peanut caramel layer has the right balance of saltiness and sweetness and the hint of chilli is invigorating.

Ice Cream Sundae – Black Rice Ice-Cream, Coconut Jelly, Zen Liqueur, Papaya and Honeycomb

 

Red Spice Road offers a menu that is incredibly fresh, vibrant, full of flavour and beautifully presented. The communal dining style ensures your palate is treated to a variety of tastes and flavours which is great for those who enjoy trying a bit of everything.

 

 

Cafe Review: Bunyip Cafe

Location: 313 Coventry Street, Melbourne

Phone: 0411 968 650

Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast/Brunch, Coffee

Overall Impression: 5/10

 

Bunyip Café is a cosy café in South Melbourne with a warm and inviting space. It was the first day of spring and South Melbourne market and its surrounds were packed with people enjoying the warmer weather. J and I were glad to stumble upon Bunyip Café as it appeared to be the only place that did not require a reservation that Saturday afternoon for lunch.

Toasted focaccia – chicken, avocado, salad and mustard mayo

Samsun pide – wood fired pide filled with minced lamb, onion and herbs

 

Long macchiato

The food is of a reasonably good standard and the coffee is pleasant. The staff were friendly and the food arrived promptly. 

Brad Pitt is killing them softly...

There's a new Brad Pitt movie arriving at our shores on the 11th of October 2012 - "Killing Them Softly".

The movie is about an illegal card game being held up, stalling underground criminal activity and the mafia's call to Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to bring things back to the previous status quo.  

See Killing Them Softly at your nearest Hoyts. Mine is Melbourne Central Hoyts cinema! Don’t forget to check out their Xtremescreen, Director’s Suite and the Bean Bag Cinema!

Restaurant Review: Williams Bar & Cafe

Location:1 William Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9296 8862
Link: http://www.clarionsuitesgateway.com.au/williams-bar-cafe/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Pub/Bar Food, International
Overall Impression: 5/10

William’s Express lunch menu is great value for money. From $10, you receive a meal that includes a drink (a glass of house wine, pot of beer, soft drink or juice) which is served promptly so that you are well and truly within your lunch hour break!

Potato and leek soup

Potato, leek, onions and cream served with garlic croutons

Skinny latte

 

Restaurant Review: Tonik Bar

Location: 524 Macaulay Road, Kensington
Phone: 03 9376 9928
Link: tonikbar.com.au 
Cuisine: Breakfast, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 7/10

On weekend mornings, Tonik Bar transforms into a casual dining space that serves a brilliant breakfast. Perfect during these warmer months, there is alfresco seating where you can bask in the pleasant warmth of the sun. 

Toasts – bacon and cheese 

Eggs Benedict – toasted English muffins with smoked salmon, sautéed spinach, “bubble and squeak” bacon and topped with hollandaise 

My eggs benedict with hollandaise on the side was beautifully cooked. The yolk oozed out as I cut through the egg. The sautéed spinach it was served with was flavoursome and the muffins were perfectly toasted. 

Ricotta hot cakes with poached raspberries, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream 

The ricotta pancakes were light and fluffy and the poached raspberries matched beautifully. The dish was the perfect combination of sweet and tart. 

Sides - baked mushrooms, house made hash browns, chorizo sausages 

Tonik Bar is a neighbourhood gem. The standard of the food served is high and the service is impeccable. We found the staff friendly and helpful. Apart from being a great bar on Friday and Saturday nights, Tonik Bar delights with its good weekend breakfast.

Restaurant Review: Binh Minh

Location: 40 Victoria Street, Richmond
Phone: 03 9421 3802
Cuisine: Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Binh Minh is one of the most popular eateries along Victoria Street. And for good reason. 

We decided to pop in for dinner on a Saturday night to celebrate my gorgeous friend, Junie’s visit to Melbourne (a special bi-annual event we all look forward to). 

The restaurant not only serves traditional Vietnamese fare, it also serves Malaysian and Thai food that is executed well. The menu is fresh and vibrant. Their most popular dishes include “Yummy Chicken wings” and their Beef Pho. 

I particularly enjoy their Beef Pho. The broth is beautiful. It is full of flavour and tastes incredibly natural and comforting. 

In terms of service, Binh Minh is a notch above the other eateries in the area. The wait staff are friendly, accommodating and have a cheeky sense of humour. They really go out of their way to make you feel at home. The restaurant is dimly lit (which is a welcomed change from the usually fluorescent-lit Vietnamese eateries close-by). 

The restaurant allows for BYO for corkage of a mere $3 per bottle. So, J and I brought a bottle along to share. It was wonderful to drink, eat and catch up with Junie and reminisce the parts of our youth we spent together and also hear about Junie’s juicy love affair! 

The only real downside to Binh Minh is how popular it is. The restaurant can get very busy and noisy. 

Binh Minh is a fabulous eatery for a South East Asian feast. The servings are generous and the extensive menu means you will be spoiled with choice.

Restaurant Review: Camy Shanghai Dumpling

Location: 25 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 8555
Cuisine: Chinese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Camy Dumpling House has inadvertently become a well-known Melbourne culinary institution. The dumplings may not be the best but they certainly deliver what they promise. The menu is invariably greasy (literally) and features a wide variety of dumplings, noodles, rice dishes and stir fries. The main reason for its popularity is the very low price tag. Hell, for $15 you can opt for their all-you-can-eat adventure that of course includes dumplings. 

Ambience-wise, Camy Dumpling House looks like that caricature dodgy-looking Chinese restaurant in a China Town somewhere in the world. In terms of service, the staff can be quite rude and dismissive but the idea here is to persevere and remember that customer service is not their forte. 

All in all, Camy Dumpling House is a bit of fun and is great for a (very) casual get together with friends. The staff are disinterested and the dumpling meat is dubious to say the least but given the good memories I have had there I do feel an odd sense of loyalty to this Tattersalls Lane restaurant. With an unusual choice of oldies music that is played on repeat and the frequent intermission for the “Happy Birthday” song (which is played extra loud), Camy Dumpling House promises at the very least an “interesting” dining experience.

Restaurant Review: Ajisen ramen

Location: 130 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 1100
Link: ajisenramenmelbourne.com.au
Cuisine: Japanese
Overall Impression: 4.5/10

Founded in Japan, this Japanese chain eatery has seen international expansion with branches all over the world. Their speciality is ramen (as the ‘Ajisen Ramen’ would suggest) served in tonkotsu soup which is a hearty and flavoursome pork broth.

Chargrilled Beef Ramen Ramen served with Char-Grilled Beef, Egg & Vegetables

 We both ordered the chargrilled beef ramen and were extremely disappointed. While the noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth had a beautiful flavour, the beef itself was inedible. As rare as it was served, it was chewy and sinew-riden and perhaps the toughest piece of meat I have ever had.

 

While Ajisen Ramen has hit the nail on the head with their ramen in tonkotsu soup, it is a pity that the protein element of the dishes are given much less care.

 

Product Review: Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice

Heinz has just released a new product called Golden Circle Healthy Life that is filled with a good dose of dairy-free probiotics. As our usual sources of probiotics are dairy goods like yogurts and fermented milk drinks, this new juice is particularly handy for anyone who is lactose-intolerant (or have kids that simply cannot stand the taste of yogurt!).

Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice is currently the only probiotic juice of its kind in Australia. The juices taste just like regular Golden Circle fruit juices because the probiotics don’t add any flavour at all. And just like regular Golden Circle fruit juices, they have no added sugar, no artificial colours or flavours and are very high in Vitamin C.

The juice comes in 2 conveniently sized packs (300ml and 1L) and is available in 2 delicious flavours - Breakfast, and Apple and Mango. 

What is so good about probiotics?

Probiotics are good bacteria that help our digestive system and enhance our immune response to protect us from environmental stresses. The Golden Circle Healthy Life Fruit Juice has a unique blend of probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL 9.

This is a Product Talk by Nuffnang

Restaurant Review: Peko Peko

Location: 181 Wells St, Southbank
Phone: (03) 9686 1109
Cuisine: Modern Taiwanese

Overall Impression: 6.5/10

Peko Peko is a cosy Taiwanese eatery that serves Japanese-inspired cuisine and authentic Taiwanese fare. The restaurant is decorated with framed pictures of cartoons and comics which gives it a very relaxed and fun vibe. 

The Pop Chicken (which is beautifully battered and crispy morsels of chicken served with steamed rice and two sides) is one of the most popular items on their menu along with the Peko Box (which is the house rendition of a bento box) and Beef About (a Taiwanese beef noodle soup). 

While options for desserts are limited, their Earl Grey tea panna cotta and black sesame ice-cream (when it appears on the specials board is a brilliant choice). 

Given its popularity, the main thing you have to bear in mind about Peko Peko is that this restaurant is almost always packed to the brim. So either show up without a reservation and be prepared to have to opt for the take-away option or make a booking at least a day in advance.

Read our first review of Peko Peko here.
 

Restaurant Review: India Delights

Location: 59 Mahoneys Road, Forest Hill
Phone: 03 9877 7593
Cuisine: Malaysian, Indian, Asian
Overall Impression: 6/10

India Delights is a Malaysian/Indian (Mamak) eatery in Forest Hills that serves deliciously cheap fare.

Dhal

Lamb Briyani

Roti

 

The roti has a crisp finish with a moist interior, making it the perfect canvas for the decadent curries.

Chicken 65

 

Their Chicken 65, Dried Mutton Curry and Beef Rendang dishes are a standout.

Dosa

 

The food in general is very authentic and full of flavour.

Teh Tarik

 

The Teh Tarik was a beautifully sweet end to the meal.

 

 

India Delights is a no-frills hawker-style eatery that offers the soundest bang for your buck. The service is friendly and prompt and they accept credit cards (which is rare for restaurants in this price range).