This week we both decided we were going to try a place we had heard of quite a bit and as it was close to home we didn't stay around Melbourne and were able to catch our normal train.
We included Jess this week because of the fact that the place was nearby, and her and I went for our normal walk first as I wanted to make the most of being home early.
It was also a bit different this week as we decided we would pick the food up and eat it at home, so after getting back from the walk Pete and I went and did just that.
On walking in through the restaurant door the aroma of the food sneaks up on you almost like a thief and the ambience and decor almost left us breathless. It was because of this high standard that we were so surprised that they offered a takeaway service.
The service was reasonable although the high demand of the food from a previous order meant the staff were scurrying around trying to fulfill ours without making us wait too long. They continually came to us with updates on how much longer we'd be waiting, which we did appreciate.
We didn't have an entree nor unbelievably dessert because of the fact we were taking our order home and we knew we could grab something there if the main meal did not satisfy us.
Luckily we didn't as the mains were well and truly ample and all three of us enjoyed the feast that was set before us. Jess actually had a little left over and she was looking forward to taking it to work for her lunch. That meant to me that she really enjoyed it too.
I particularly liked the presentation of the food which was immaculate. It was so good that they had different containers for each of us.
I had been wanting to try the hot and spicy chicken that was formed into kebabs and the accompanying gravy since I had seen it advertised. Pete went with his favorite of chicken breast fillets and Jess had only been interested in having the original chicken.
We all enjoyed the food, although because of the short wait while they filled our order, some of it was just warm.
All in all, a pleasant evening and we will definately go back again at some stage.
Total cost for the meal including drinks was $50
My last comment on the night would be....FINGER LICKIN GOOD!
HAHAHAHA gotchya!!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Week 6 - The Point
Okay, so this was Pete's pick this week and he had been wanting to try this restaurant since he saw it in the book. It is on Albert Park Lake and I thought it might be a bit far away, but Pete assured me it wasn't, so we decided that's where we would go.
Pete had to stay back and do some stuff at work so he called and arranged for me to get the tram outside work and he'd meet me on it when it got near him. Of course I worried because he had my train ticket, and this would be the time that inspectors got on and I'd be one of those many people with a good excuse like "my husband is getting on just up the road and he has my ticket" Anyway, I was saved and none got on and Pete did manage to find me on the tram. We only had about a 5 to 10 minute walk to the restaurant. Pete made a booking for 6pm and asked if we could have a table overlooking the lake....hmmm and I thought he isn't romantic! We were once again early so we sat on a bench outside and just watched the ducks and swans and rowers on the lake. I think Pete might have watched a few female walkers, but hey, I just said he was romantic, so I just checked out the guys :)
Now, when we were walking to the restaurant we noticed there was one table outside, it was cold out and I had a bit of a laugh as I imagined that was our table overlooking the lake..thankfully I was wrong! The restaurant itself was lovely and we had a corner table which had a view of the lake and the skyline of Melbourne..beautiful.
The waitress was called Krystal and she took our orders, brought us some water and was very nice.
She came back with a cup and saucer for each of us and said it was with the chef's compliments and would give us a boost before our meals. It was a mussel velute (thick soup)and there was also a mussel that seemed to be coated in tempura batter on the side. This was gorgeous and although Pete tried a bit, I finished his off. We also had fresh, hot rolls with oil to dip them in. Pete dipped, I didn't because I'd prefer butter.
For entrees I thought I'd try something different and ordered the smoked trout with seared scallops and Pete ordered a warm pea salad. Now I thought smoked trout meant it was cooked, but alas it wasn't and I didn't enjoy that very much. It also had some apple puree and sprouts and eating that with the scallops almost took away the taste the trout left in my mouth. Pete's salad was nice and had a mixture of peas, asparagus, brussel sprouts, beetroot and roasted nuts and raddichio lettuce with carrots. There was also a thin slice of potato on both our entrees which were described as paper potato. He enjoyed his and the mouthful I tried was nice.
With our mains, I had the slow cooked pork belly with pearl onions and shitake mushrooms and there was a hard piece on top of the pork which I found to my delight to be crackling! Pete had a well done Minute steak of pasture fed Porterhouse from Longford Tasmania,blue cheese, wild rocket and balsamic salad with a red wine shallot jam.
We thought we'd add two side dishes to this as we have learnt that there are not usually much of an accompaniment to the mains. This time we had home made spatzle,caramelised onions and gruyere cheese, and the other was steamed King Edward potatoes and herb butter.
For our wine we decided on a DeBortoli Rose.
Krystal also came round and gave us another bread roll between the entrees and the mains. I had seen that for a medium rare steak it could take 45 minutes, so I figured with Pete ordering well done that we could be there till Christmas.
We really enjoyed the main meals and the sides went very well with them. They weren't huge meals, but we were nicely satisfied...but there is always that tiny room for dessert :)
Pete surprised me and went straight for the chocolate dish, as that is what I would normally do. He had Valhrona dark mousse Malakoff, cumquat marmalade and blood orange icecream. I tried the Apple tarte tartin, star anise and cinnamon icecream,praline crumbs and vanilla espumas.
Krystal took our dessert orders and then came back with something she said would cleanse our palates. Some pineapple jelly with pina colada icecream. These did the job and were delicious to boot.
The desserts were very nice and we both tried each others..and I must say Pete's was yummy.
All in all a lovely evening, the service was excellent and the food (apart from the trout) was delicious, and the view was brilliant.
The meal, including the wine was $206.00
Pete had to stay back and do some stuff at work so he called and arranged for me to get the tram outside work and he'd meet me on it when it got near him. Of course I worried because he had my train ticket, and this would be the time that inspectors got on and I'd be one of those many people with a good excuse like "my husband is getting on just up the road and he has my ticket" Anyway, I was saved and none got on and Pete did manage to find me on the tram. We only had about a 5 to 10 minute walk to the restaurant. Pete made a booking for 6pm and asked if we could have a table overlooking the lake....hmmm and I thought he isn't romantic! We were once again early so we sat on a bench outside and just watched the ducks and swans and rowers on the lake. I think Pete might have watched a few female walkers, but hey, I just said he was romantic, so I just checked out the guys :)
Now, when we were walking to the restaurant we noticed there was one table outside, it was cold out and I had a bit of a laugh as I imagined that was our table overlooking the lake..thankfully I was wrong! The restaurant itself was lovely and we had a corner table which had a view of the lake and the skyline of Melbourne..beautiful.
The waitress was called Krystal and she took our orders, brought us some water and was very nice.
She came back with a cup and saucer for each of us and said it was with the chef's compliments and would give us a boost before our meals. It was a mussel velute (thick soup)and there was also a mussel that seemed to be coated in tempura batter on the side. This was gorgeous and although Pete tried a bit, I finished his off. We also had fresh, hot rolls with oil to dip them in. Pete dipped, I didn't because I'd prefer butter.
For entrees I thought I'd try something different and ordered the smoked trout with seared scallops and Pete ordered a warm pea salad. Now I thought smoked trout meant it was cooked, but alas it wasn't and I didn't enjoy that very much. It also had some apple puree and sprouts and eating that with the scallops almost took away the taste the trout left in my mouth. Pete's salad was nice and had a mixture of peas, asparagus, brussel sprouts, beetroot and roasted nuts and raddichio lettuce with carrots. There was also a thin slice of potato on both our entrees which were described as paper potato. He enjoyed his and the mouthful I tried was nice.
With our mains, I had the slow cooked pork belly with pearl onions and shitake mushrooms and there was a hard piece on top of the pork which I found to my delight to be crackling! Pete had a well done Minute steak of pasture fed Porterhouse from Longford Tasmania,blue cheese, wild rocket and balsamic salad with a red wine shallot jam.
We thought we'd add two side dishes to this as we have learnt that there are not usually much of an accompaniment to the mains. This time we had home made spatzle,caramelised onions and gruyere cheese, and the other was steamed King Edward potatoes and herb butter.
For our wine we decided on a DeBortoli Rose.
Krystal also came round and gave us another bread roll between the entrees and the mains. I had seen that for a medium rare steak it could take 45 minutes, so I figured with Pete ordering well done that we could be there till Christmas.
We really enjoyed the main meals and the sides went very well with them. They weren't huge meals, but we were nicely satisfied...but there is always that tiny room for dessert :)
Pete surprised me and went straight for the chocolate dish, as that is what I would normally do. He had Valhrona dark mousse Malakoff, cumquat marmalade and blood orange icecream. I tried the Apple tarte tartin, star anise and cinnamon icecream,praline crumbs and vanilla espumas.
Krystal took our dessert orders and then came back with something she said would cleanse our palates. Some pineapple jelly with pina colada icecream. These did the job and were delicious to boot.
The desserts were very nice and we both tried each others..and I must say Pete's was yummy.
All in all a lovely evening, the service was excellent and the food (apart from the trout) was delicious, and the view was brilliant.
The meal, including the wine was $206.00
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Week 5- Terra Rossa Restaurant Bar
It was my choice again this week and I decided on the Terra Rossa. It is at 87 Flinders Lane in Melbourne and easy to get to for us, just hop on the tram outside my work and go all the way up till Exhibition St and then a short walk after that. We had made a booking for 5.30 and had said we would not rush dinner and expect to be on the later train, therefore not making that last minute dash for the early one.
My first impression was that it seemed very warm and inviting, and not formal at all. We were shown to the back part which is the restaurant section to a table for two. Unfortunately the bar section is right next to that and a party of three drunk guys were having a lovely time at the next table swearing and carrying on with the waitress. I must say that Pete could definately see why she was getting the attention, although I think she could have worn something a bit more decent for waitressing and not like she was about to start dancing up and down a pole waiting for tips!
When we got the menu I was a little disappointed that it had changed from what I had seen in the Entertainment guide, as that had my mouth watering at the thought. There was a good selection however from breads to pizza, pasta, fish and meat.
We thought we'd try the oven baked italian bread with olive oil and dukkah to start with. The entrees we decided on was garlic and chilli king prawns with a lime and coriander dipping sauce for me and Pete had skewered lemon and thyme chicken kebabs with minted yoghurt.
For our mains, I chose, chicken risotto- slowly cooked chicken breast with pumpkin and rosemary finished with white wine and parmesan. Pete decided on chargrilled gremolata chicken breast on a meditteranean vegetable salad. We also picked a bottle of Barwick Crush Rose as we thought that would be nice with the chicken dishes.
The bread was nice and the entrees were lovely, however my one complaint there is that they brought the bread out and my entree and the waiter said Pete's wouldn't be too long so Pete told me to go ahead and eat mine as it was hot. I had finished mine before his had even arrived at the table. Pete enjoyed them however so at least that was something.
The mains were delicious although not huge servings and I definately felt I needed dessert to fill me up.
I picked the warm chocolate fudge cake with double cream and Pete went with the mixed berry crumble with vanilla bean icecream. These were extremely yummy and we tried each others and I think I preferred Pete's..surprise surprise because everyone knows how much I love chocolate.
The wine was tasty and refreshing and went down very nicely with the meal.
The service was good, except the waiter forgot we had asked to see the dessert menu and Pete had to go up and ask for it. Everything was brought out without much time between courses and the food was tasty,but we both felt it had a hint of La Porchettas about it
After the initial annoyance with the trio next to us the evening was enjoyable, although I don't think I would go there again..Pete might however, as the waitress gave him a wink when he paid the bill..although even that wink and ample cleavage didn't warrant a tip!
Total cost of the meal, including the wine was $111
My first impression was that it seemed very warm and inviting, and not formal at all. We were shown to the back part which is the restaurant section to a table for two. Unfortunately the bar section is right next to that and a party of three drunk guys were having a lovely time at the next table swearing and carrying on with the waitress. I must say that Pete could definately see why she was getting the attention, although I think she could have worn something a bit more decent for waitressing and not like she was about to start dancing up and down a pole waiting for tips!
When we got the menu I was a little disappointed that it had changed from what I had seen in the Entertainment guide, as that had my mouth watering at the thought. There was a good selection however from breads to pizza, pasta, fish and meat.
We thought we'd try the oven baked italian bread with olive oil and dukkah to start with. The entrees we decided on was garlic and chilli king prawns with a lime and coriander dipping sauce for me and Pete had skewered lemon and thyme chicken kebabs with minted yoghurt.
For our mains, I chose, chicken risotto- slowly cooked chicken breast with pumpkin and rosemary finished with white wine and parmesan. Pete decided on chargrilled gremolata chicken breast on a meditteranean vegetable salad. We also picked a bottle of Barwick Crush Rose as we thought that would be nice with the chicken dishes.
The bread was nice and the entrees were lovely, however my one complaint there is that they brought the bread out and my entree and the waiter said Pete's wouldn't be too long so Pete told me to go ahead and eat mine as it was hot. I had finished mine before his had even arrived at the table. Pete enjoyed them however so at least that was something.
The mains were delicious although not huge servings and I definately felt I needed dessert to fill me up.
I picked the warm chocolate fudge cake with double cream and Pete went with the mixed berry crumble with vanilla bean icecream. These were extremely yummy and we tried each others and I think I preferred Pete's..surprise surprise because everyone knows how much I love chocolate.
The wine was tasty and refreshing and went down very nicely with the meal.
The service was good, except the waiter forgot we had asked to see the dessert menu and Pete had to go up and ask for it. Everything was brought out without much time between courses and the food was tasty,but we both felt it had a hint of La Porchettas about it
After the initial annoyance with the trio next to us the evening was enjoyable, although I don't think I would go there again..Pete might however, as the waitress gave him a wink when he paid the bill..although even that wink and ample cleavage didn't warrant a tip!
Total cost of the meal, including the wine was $111
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