Estelle

Best food in Melbourne?, Well best we’ve had for a long, long time. these are the sorts of conversations you have after eating at Estelle’s in High Street Northcote. Just up from the Town Hall. Great food. Great atmosphere.

We celebrated a family occasion there this month. Second time we’ve been there. It’s got a bit more polished. Flasher surrounds – were there always tiles on the back wall? Tables and chairs a bit smoother? Or do we imagine these things. The menus is smarter – it used to be a single sheet.

The constant is the food. Exquisite and inventive. We had the five courses accompanied by the adventurous wine selection. Three little starters – Jerusalem artichoke, melon in edible paper and something on a cracker – all delicious. First course heritage tomatoes with a fromage of some description with a clear tomotoe consomme poured in to finish. Accompanied by champagne. Crisp and clean A gorgeous combination.

Next a vodka martini flavoured with maraschino cherry sugar syrup to go with spinner crab in a bernaise sauce and some crispy things on top. Intense flavour of crab. Omelette texture and appearance. But not eggy. Martini an inspired accompaniment.

Moreton bay bugs. Out of their shells. Succulent. In black squid ink. With strips of potato. A syrupy pink rose served on ice was a flavoursome accompaniment. Can’t remember what. But all good. Next course was chicken breast. A thin strip of mushroom pressed into the strip of flesh. A light Pinot Noir to wash it down.

Finished with a dessert of medallions of sour cream ice-cream and caramel and something crispy and a hazelnut liquor served on ice.

So really, best food in Melbourne. Yes.

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