Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Hallam's Waterfront Seafood Restaurant - Launceston, Tasmania

13 Park Street, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia (03) 6334 0554
Open 7 days for lunch and dinner (closed Christmas and Boxing Day)

Freshly shucked Tasmanian Pacific Oysters sourced from Tasmania's East Coast - Natural, Fresh Lemon

Freshly shucked Tasmanian Pacific Oysters sourced from Tasmania's East Coast - Salmon Pearls, Fresh Horseradish

Waterfront Taste Plate

Tasmanian Spring Bay Blue Lip Mussels Steamed Open in Saffron Broth

Grilled Tasmanian Blue Eye Trevalla, Oven Roasted Chat Potatoes, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Basil Pesto, Green Beans

Tasmanian Seafood platter, A selection of Hot and Cold Tasmanian Seafood (for Two)

Verdict? ★★☆☆ The fresh oysters and the fried prawns in the taste plate were absolutely divine. But the service was a little slow and disappointingly the entrĂ©es were the highlight of the meal. 
Meal style: Dinner of 7 shared dishes (including a salad - not pictured)
Cost: $226.50 total (between 4 people, not including drinks)
Time and date of visit: 6:45pm Saturday 24 November 2012

Hallam's Waterfront Seafood Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Monday, November 26, 2012

Chicco - Seddon, Victoria

77 Charles Street, Seddon, Victoria, Australia (03) 9687 7194
Open Wednesday - Monday, 8am - 4pm



Pesto scrambled free range eggs with wilted spinach on sourdough

Verdict? ★★☆☆☆ Staff are friendly and the coffee drinkable, but there was a bit too much liquid on the generous plate for  my liking (from the runny scrambled eggs to the overly buttered bread and the watery spinach). I believe there may be better options nearby.
Meal style: Brunch
Cost: $19.00 total
Time and date of visit: 11:15am Friday 23 November 2012

Chicco on Urbanspoon

Middle Fish - Carlton, Victoria

122-128 Berkeley Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia (03) 9348 1704
Open Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm and Saturday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm


Thai ice milk tea.

Thai ice black coffee.

Kang Prik Gra Dook Moo - Slow Cooked Pork Ribs Curry with Potato, Green Beans and Kaffir Lime Leaf, accompanied with Seasonal Raw Vegetables. This dish is traditionally very spicy, intense and powerfully flavoured.

Noodle Salad with Fresh Mango topped with Crispy Prawns.

Verdict? ★★☆☆ 
Meal style: Lunch (2 shared dishes)
Cost: $32.00 total (between 2 people, not including drinks)
Time and date of visit: 1:30pm Sunday 25 November 2012

Middle Fish  on Urbanspoon

Weekly Menu, 24 November - 30 November 2012

Saturday 24 NovemberHallam's Waterfront Seafood Restaurant
Sunday 25 November: Gold Leaf
Monday 26 November: Tomato and egg on rice
Tuesday 27 November: Reuben sandwiches
Wednesday 28 November: Pho Tam
Thursday 29 November: Pork and mustard greens
Friday 30 November: Ribs and greens Rockfish

Monday, November 19, 2012

'Friends of Attica' Dinner

74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea, Victoria, Australia (03) 9530 0111
Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 6:30pm to late

Friends of Attica was something unlikely to ever be repeated until they do it again.  Ben Shewry mentioned that they hope to host something like this once or twice a year.  Dan Hunter commented that Ben should be congratulated for finally getting around to organising the thing that they had talked about doing for so long.

Yes, I was in the same room as Ben Shewry and Dan Hunter.  Yes those bastards both cooked my dinner. It was a pretty amazing opportunity - to be wined and dined by a gang of chefs who were all obviously into one another and having just as much fun behind the scenes as we were front of house. 

Each chef submitted three dish ideas to Mr Shewry (a meat, a fish and a vegetable dish).  He then selected what they would make on the night.  The guys from Sixpenny in Sydney really stood out with their crab dish and Sixpenny is now on our list of places to visit.  I will say that for me, the Attica dishes won the night overall.  But it should also be kept in mind that Ben Shewry got to pick what everyone else cooked.  Each dish was worthy of the culinary company it was keeping.

I still don’t really understand how we got to go to this thing.

Beefeater botanical and Holgate Temptress.


Mustard Leaves from our garden. Creme Fraiche, Lemon Myrtle, Alpine Pepper by Attica.

Mustard leaves from our garden. Creme fraiche, lemon myrtle, alpine pepper by Attica.

Walnut Puree with Mushrooms by Attica.

Scallops, Mustard, Beach Plants and Rhubarb by Ben Greeno - Momofuku Seiobo.

Steamed Mud Crab, Silky Macadamia, Camomile by Dan Puskas & James Parry - Sixpenny.

Dry Aged Mutton and Flathead Sashimi, Broccoli and Salted Dandelion by Dan Hunter - Royal Mail Hotel.

Mackerel Broth and Lovage by David Moyle - The Stackings at Peppermint Bay.

Steamed Soy Milk Custard, Shiitake, Ginger, Peas, Fried Onions by Dan Hong - Ms G's, Mr Wong.

Wagyu Fillet, infused with Tobacco and Vanilla, Fennel, Mint, Green Olive and flavours of Cabernet by Phil Wood - Rockpool on George.

Winter Carrots by Luke Burgess - Garagistes.

Fresh Curd Ice Cream with Caramalised Apple Balsalmic by Ben Shewry - Attica.


Pukeko Eggs.

- words by pisso | images by ĂĽberjoi.

Verdict? Grateful beyond words to the people who cancelled their booking at the last minute!
Meal style: Friends of Attica dinner (course degustation)
Cost: $210.00 per person (not including drinks)
Time and date of visit: 7:30pm Wednesday 3 October 2012

Attica on Urbanspoon

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Weekly Menu, 17 November - 23 November 2012


Saturday 17 November: 'Casa Beauville'
Sunday 18 November: Gumbo with chicken and sausage
Monday 19 November: Corn soup with avocado
Tuesday 20 November: Mapo tofu
Wednesday 21 November: Guilin noodles
Thursday 22 November: Fishy tacos
Friday 23 November: 'Mayne Manor'

Friday, November 16, 2012

Huxtable - Fitzroy, Victoria

131 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia (03) 9419 5101
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm till late.

freshly squeezed grapefruit juice


jalapeno & cheddar croquette

olive crumbed basil mozzarella, smoked tomato

olive crumbed basil mozzarella, smoked tomato

xo bun with crab, jalapeno & thai basil mayo

crisp filo log of lamb puttanesca, lemon yoghurt

roasted snapper, szechuan eggplant, pickled cucumber
fried duck eggs, chilli braised ham hock, pickled okra, szechuan s & p

ice cream and fudge sandwich

yuzu meringue tart



Verdict☆ I'm amazed we didn't burst with all those delicious flavours as we waddled away.
Meal style: Lunch
Cost: $122.00 (total between 2 people not including drinks)
Date and time of visit: 12pm Saturday 22 September 2012

Huxtable on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Café Vue - November Mixology (Cocktail Degustation), Victoria Regions

Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9691 3899
Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm

Victorian Regions

We take a tour around the regions of Victoria and celebrate the great produce of our neighbors.
Five small courses will be matched with five cocktails with music to set the scene to each course.

MACEDON RANGES / DAYLESFORD:
Easybeats - Friday On My Mind


Arvo martini

Tuki Farm Rainbow trout, asparagus, herbs

  YARRA VALLEY:
Paul Kelly - From St Kilda To Kings Cross

Basket Special

Alloway Buffalo terrine, pickle

Alloway Buffalo terrine, pickle

MILDURA:
Cold Chisel - Forever Now

Sidecar

Mallee Lamb, grape, almonds

MORNINGTON:
Gotye - The Only Way

Wine Punch

Red Hill ‘Black Sheep,’ rhubarb, walnut bread

BEECHWORTH:
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (Feat. Kylie Minogue) - Where the Wild Roses Grow

Mead

White peach sorbet, vanilla panacotta, honey oats

Verdict? Super fun-times with the girls. We'll be back for the December edition!
Meal style: Cocktail degustation

Cost: $95.00 per person
Time and date of visit: 7:00pm Friday 9 October 2012

Café Vue on Urbanspoon