I’ve not been sharing my favourite food experiences but they are all in my head and I have to exorcise them – so I’m going to do this fast! Ages ago we had dinner at 555 Nicholson Street, now Bistro Flor but many years ago home to the famous Fives restaurant. This warm and friendly Bistro maintains the high standard. We have been a couple of times – and both experiences were good. A tiny kitchen sends forth really fine dishes which are served by genial but very capable waiters – our favourite both times, an American sporting a big silver ring through his nose. I had wonderful duck, half a bird, moist and luscious. But most memorable was a great plum tartin – an interesting variation on a classic dish. Delicious, but I was not sure that the accompanying chocolate ice-cream served it well – vanilla would have brought out the plum flavour better (or they could try Violet! – see my previous food post). We also had great wine, a big red – but I can’t remember name or region, so not helpful! I really recommend this place. Nice and central, easy to get a park and really, really good food at a reasonable price.
Great shared meals at Next Door in Northcote (love the grain dishes – quinoa and the like) and Rumi’s in Brunswick (where the banquet – sometimes not a great option – is really good). And lots of good meals at our local, Supermaxi that I will come back to in another post on another day.
Then last week a friend and I ventured deep into trendyville at Josie Bones in Smith Street. I hadn’t known about the famous Master Chef link until after we had decided to go, but that gave added lustre to the evening, even though they weren’t there! Very stylish setting – long and narrow space, bare floor boards, big communal table at one end, small bars jutting out along one wall, long bar on the other side – tall bar stools for seating. I must say I would rather sit at a table in a comfy chair – showing my age I suppose – definitely not hip! We, the customers, were all in black or variations thereof, so added to the cool Melbourne look. Along the wall behind the bar a big, realistic (very pink and sinewy) skinned rabbit! Someone was taking photographs the night we were there – eating early, so the place was not full, just nicely populated. A young woman went from place to place asking if we minded, and offering to delete us if we objected – which was the right thing to do. So ambience and service all good.
Menu was interesting but not extensive. Small dishes – $14-$16, larger ones $20 plus. A lovely beetroot and haloumi cheese salad was interesting and a good foil to the relatively fatty dishes we chose. In retrospect we overdid that a bit – pork belly (nice) plus pigs head (served as a sliced roll – a bit rich) was one dish too many. Probably our fault, but better guidance, which we asked for, would have been good. The stand out dish for me was the calves liver. I love calves liver and this version was delicious – rare and pink in a creamy sauce with tiny gnocchi. Great. If you like calves liver.
The other stand out – and for which I will certainly return – and about which I have been raving if anyone is interested – was the beer! Male master chef contestant was an afficiando and he certainly delivers! An enormous selection from which to choose. Apparently there was a wine selection at the end of the beer list, but we didn’t get to that. On a cold Melbourne night what could be better than a glass of creamy stout? Well three small glasses of different stouts!
That is what I had – and the associated patter from the young man serving the ‘tasting’ selection was well worth the $25 cost – and was worth the visit to Josie Bones on its own. I was promised one local, European style stout made in a certain way to avoid bitterness, from Yarra Glen – great and tasted as described. The second was a bitter stout – akin to a long black coffee. Again, tasted as described. The third was a smooth, creamy concoction that could certainly have been drunk with a dessert had we got that far. A fantastic experience.
So do go to Josie Bones!. And have the calves liver if it is on the menu. And have the tasting selection – worth every dollar. But don’t go on a Tuesday – why not? ‘Cos they’re not open on a Tuesday as I found out when I took my son for a beer tasting.
Finally another great food experience a couple of days ago, far from our thriving inner city restaurant patch. We took my Mum to the Galley Bistro at Craigs Royal Hotel in Ballarat for a belated Mothers Day lunch. Exceptionally fine dishes – confit of duck, moist and succulent with slices of duck sausage as an extra titbit. Great. Hare with papardelle pasta – rich and gamey hare; fine, creamy white, hand made pasta served al dente. Delicious. Big thick sirloin steak with potatoes and truffle sauce – every last bit wolfed down by aforementioned son. Of the desserts three nice ones but one stand out idea, and perfectly executed dish, was the trifle made with slow poached quinces and armagnac. Service, all good. I really appplaud those chefs working in our regional areas – they work under a bit more pressure than their city counterparts I reckon. And this meal was great.
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