Archive for category Pizza
Opening Night @ Taste of Melbourne 2011!
Posted by amystown in Chocolate, Cider, Cocktails, Dumplings, Fine Dining, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD, Pizza on September 16, 2011
I was lucky enough to attend the bloggers tour of the opening night of Taste of Melbourne 2011 last night and had a ball! It was a huge night, jam packed with almost more foodie excitement that one can handle in one go…I will do my best to keep it concise.
The Tour
Behind the scenes at Sarti
Our first stop was a visit to Sarti where we were taken behind the scenes into their kitchen to meet the chefs. Here we saw the prepping in full swing for a full night of service. They were platting up their ‘Bresaola di rombo’ celery, beetroot and dried mandarin. Fabian (wearing the hat), one of the chefs insisted we tried the freeze dried mandarin, and his description of “Cheese and bacon ball texture” with a sweet edge was just spot on!
I asked Fabian how they choose dishes for events like Taste of Melbourne, and for them it was all about choosing something visually pleasing, that they could put together without too much stress yet still “send out with love”.
Rekorderling Cider Bar
Our next stop… Cider!!
We were lucky enough to sample their entire range including the new Apple and Blackcurrant flavour. This new addition was sweet, yet had a refreshing dry after taste, almost like soda water. It was clean and delicious. The apple and pear flavours with their subtly and sweetness were still my favourites.
A trip to Italy with San Pellegrino café Society and + 39 Pizzeria
As we made our way upstairs we entered what looked like a café on the streets of Italy. A large old counter housed a pizza oven and chefs at work. There were tables and chairs, chalkboards explaining the menus, wooden crates decorating the walls and more hospitality that you can imagine. It was exactly how the art director explained it to us “A 40’s or 50’s Italian Pizzeria”! Photos from their café society photo competition offered to final year RMIT students also decorated the venue, showing San Pellegrino in café settings from numerous artistic perspectives.
After sipping on our San Pellegrino we were treated to pizza’s from + 39 Pizzeria, winners of Best Pizza in Melbourne two years running! Having to know their secret I asked Remo Micolini (second from the left) just what sets them apart. He told me it’s all in the dough. The key to the perfect dough? Simplicity he tells me. Keep the ingredients to a minimum and give it the perfect time to rise and spin and you will have perfect dough.
As I bit into the Margherita I have to say I was blown away. Simplicity and perfection is exactly what I got! The base was light and crispy and straight from the oven and topped with beautiful cheese, tomato and a few simply basil leaves. Heaven. They deserve the title of Best Pizza in Melbourne in my books.
I was also told that we are to expect a new and exciting venture from the team at +39 Pizzeria very soon. All I know is that it will be called Non Solo Pasta! I can’t wait.
Mojito’s with the team at Sensology
Now it was cocktail time!!
We spent 15 minutes with the boys from Sensology learning step-by-step how to make the perfect Mojito every time. From slicing the limes to measuring the sugar to only muddling 5-6 times…they had a lot of secrets to share!
The final product? Delicious! They were also kind enough to have us all walk away with our own cocktail making kits…cocktail night anyone?
The wonderful Jacques Reymond
This man needs no introduction! Receiving three chef hats from The Age Good Food Guide for many years, his restaurant has become a Melbourne Institution. We had the pleasure to meet Jacques and get to know the man behind the success. When I asked Jacques what he thought it was that sets him apart and keeps him at the top after all these years he said it comes down to passion and loving what you do…”I love to do it” he told me. He also has a great team and family behind him. He also told me that even though he works in the restaurant every day it is open he still enjoys cooking for his family on his one day off.
Jacques cooked two beautiful dishes for the demonstrations. These gorgeous mussels were one of them.
Last Stop…Jindi Cheese
The last stop of the tour was a Masterclass with Jindi Cheese. We were lucky enough to sample their ORT Camembert, the Robin Hood Gold, the Jacksons Track, the Triple Cream White and their Sapphire Blue.
Personally I would highly recommend the Jacksons Track, which was a very soft white creamy cheese that you almost needed a spoon to serve, and their Sapphire Blue which was salty and creamy and not too strong.
Let loose in Taste Of Melbourne
From here we were released into the chaos that was opening night of Taste of Melbourne 2011. There were more people there that I would have imagined, literally having to squeeze through crowds to make your way around.
Cocktails from Stokehouse
I was sure to sample the Espresso Martini II from the Stokehouse bar. It was Grand Marnier and White Crème de Cacao topped with hazelnut praline “for a little crunch”. Yum…
Dumplings from St Kahterine’s
I also made my way to St Katherine’s to taste the Turkish Lamb Dumplings, garlic yoghurt, sumac and dried fruit. These were fun and delicious. Tiny steamed dumplings were packed with beautiful lamb and then sprinkled with herbs and sumac and topped with yogurt. They were beautiful.
Rum tasting?
On the hunt for something sweet we walked past the Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum stand and I saw tasting and became very curious. Richard, the bartending proceeded to take us on a tasting of three of their rums. The youngest to be accompanied by dried peach and the oldest dark orange chocolate. Not a huge Rum drinker, I didn’t quite ‘enjoy’ the drinks themselves, but I could most certainly see the differences and it was a very fun experience.
Shocolate
We finally found our sweet fix! The people from Shocolate kindly gave us a tasting of their praline balls, which are literally the size of golf balls! They were divine! Creamy and rich and crunchy.
After buying a number of products we were treated to a taste of their Lemon Grass Macaron. I was blown away. The outside was so soft it melted in your mouth, but still retained that subtle crisp exterior while the inside was lemony and creamy. I bought some Macarons to take home.
All in all it was an amazing night…too much to see in such a limited time, so I recommend going early and taking allllllll the time you can!
For more information on some of the products listed:
Sarti: www.sartirestaurant.com.au/
Rekorderling: www.rekorderlig.com.au/
Sensology: sensology.com.au/
San Pellegrino: www.sanpellegrino.com/
+ 39 Pizzeria: plus39.com.au/
Jacques Reymond: www.jacquesreymond.com.au/
Jindi Cheese: www.jindi.com.au/
Stokehouse: www.stokehouse.com.au/
St Katherine’s: www.stkatherines.com.au/
Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum: www.appletonestate.com/
Shocolate: shocolate.com.au/
Girly dinner @ D.O.C Pizza and Mozzarella Bar, Carlton
It was Thursday night and I had a bottle of Pino Gris in hand. I was ready for a BYO girly dinner. The venue of choice for the evening: D.O.C Pizza Mozzarella Bar in Carlton.
I was the last to arrive and after meeting the girls outside, we headed in to find a table. It was packed! For a moment I was a bit worried we wouldn’t get a seat. Thankfully there was a table spare, and we nestled in. After opening a bottle of wine the chatting started!
In the busy venue, and our inability to decide what to order was starting to frustrate the wait staff. After about probably 15 minutes our waiter came over and said “girls, let me hassle you to order or you won’t be eating tonight!”. While he said it with a smile, not to offend, the vibe of the restaurant is clearly a fast one!
We all decided on a pizza. I decided on the Pizza San Daniele, which was San Marzano tomato, D.O.P buffalo mozzarella and D.O.P. San Daniele Prosciutto. The others ordered a ‘Pizza Tiger Prawn (prawns, tomato, mozzarella, endive and fresh chilli) and a ‘Pizza ai Porcini’ (wild mushroom, truffle oil and mozzaralla in bianco). Thinking it might all be very rich and cheesy we also ordered a salad of mixed leaves and balsamic dressing to share. I note here that there are no alterations available. I got the feeling, they see their way of making pizza the right way to make pizza!
While pizza is pretty much the only main on the menu, there are a range of antipasto options and a whole section dedicated to mozzarella and a range of accompaniments. Pizza’s range from $15-$22 depending on toppings.
By this time there was almost a line out the door, eager pizza lovers were hovering outside and on spare bar stools casually drinking beers and chatting, awaiting a table.
The pizza finally arrived and it smelled amazing!
My pizza was delicious! The crisp base was topped generously with mozzarella and prosciutto, and then each piece was topped with fresh white buffalo mozzarella which was flaky and beautiful. While it was not the most flavoursome pizza I have ever had, each ingredient was lovely.
We were right in ordering a salad; the mix of the tart balsamic vinegar and the peppery lettuce was the perfect side to cut through the rich pizzas.
While I didn’t try the other two pizzas, I could smell the freshness of the prawns and was informed that both were delicious.
It did take us a while to make our way through the large pizza’s, yet once we had ordered no one seemed to mind how long we took!
Finally there was one amusing happenings I feel I need to share…On a visit to the bathroom I heard a number of young girls arguing in the next cubicle. I came out and asked if they were ok…This little girl, aged about 8 looked up at me and said “What’s your name?” as I told her her friend looked at me and said, with a hand movement only Beyonce could have replicated “She is the owners daughter you know?!”. “Wow” I responded, “That’s awesome”. Realising they were quite capable to take care of themselves I went to leave, the young owner turned to me and said “Enjoy your meal”…little business woman in the making!
D.O.C Pizza and Mozzarella bar is vibrant, loud, busy and fun. They serve reliably good pizza with beautiful produce. The line out the door is evidence of that!
A great place for a casual night out with friends.
For more information:
D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella bar
295 Drummond St
Carton, 3053
(03) 9347 2998
Birthday Brunch @ Rococo, Hawthorn
As a lover of brunch I thought it was the perfect activity to start my birthday celebrations!
I had been to Rococo once before when I was on a gluten free diet and had been very disappointed. I was disappointed because the menu was so amazing, yet all I could eat was the fruit salad. So…I thought I needed to venture back and try something different!
Their breakfast menu is huge and amazing! They have freshly bakes sweets, breads of all forms, muesli’s, pancakes, eggs and sides in all ways you could ever want and even cheese on toast with home made baked beans.
On this particular morning I couldn’t go past the Smashed Avocado on grilled sourdough with feta, fresh tomato, and basil served with marinated mushrooms and poached eggs. It was delicious!! The avocado fresh tomato and basil was fresh and flavorsome and the eggs were soft and runny. The mushrooms were also yummy, sautéed to perfection. The fresh crunchy sourdough topped on the meal. The soy cappuccino was, while nothing out of the ordinary, what I needed!
My sister ordered the Creamy scrambled eggs with feta fresh tomato and basil. While quite similar to my meal, this had an extra rich creamy note. She was very happy!
While nearly everyone else also ordered the smashed avocado, there was a side of freshly baked scones with jam and cream ordered. I sneaked a little taste and was jealous I didn’t order my own! Warm and light, just how scones should be.
As we were leaving, we saw a number of lunch orders being taken to tables. Huge thin crust pizza’s topped with large meatballs and large focaccia’s, sliced and served with an array of dips went past us. This has made me swear to return for dinner and tapas!!
For more information:
Rococo
797 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn
(03) 9818 8212
Welcome home dinner @ Red Tongue, Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Posted by amystown in Cafe, Fitzroy, Pizza, Uncategorized on April 25, 2011
After a big trip to America my sister and her fiancé came home wired, excited and a little jet-lagged.
In an attempt to keep them awake til a reasonable hour we all decided to head to Brunswick St for some quiet drinks and a bite to eat.
We found ourselves at a little café called Red Tongue Café.
The menu offers a wide variety of pizzas and pastas as well as a range of other mains including burgers and salads. They also offered a small amount of entrée’s featuring dips and bread and bruschetta.
On this particular evening the open chicken souvlaki with Greek salad really appealed. When it arrived I was not disappointed. Flat pita bread was the bed for fresh salad, tzatziki and beautifully cooked juicy chicken pieces.
The others ordered the Red Tongue burger, which was huge and looked mouth watering; the fettuccini marinara and the special pizza of the night, which while quite small both looked delicious. The food was simple and well cooked; I expect it’s a very reliable venue.
For dessert most of us ordered the Café latte cheesecake as the waitress swayed us by saying she would “sell her soul for a piece of that cake” and she was not kidding. It was divine. The coffee flavour ensured it wasn’t too heavy and the chocolate base complimented the layers beautifully.
Would definitely go back to Red Tongue for good quality reliable meals.
For more information:
275 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
(03) 9415 9244
http://www.redtongue.com.au/default.htm
Tapas and pizza @ Denn Bar and Restaurant, Northcote
Posted by amystown in Gluten Free, Pizza, Tapas on February 22, 2011
Having walked past Denn so many times but never gone in, I thought it was the perfect place to suggest when a girlfriend asked where we should go to dinner one night.
With wooden and leather décor, Denn had the perfect vibe for the tapas and wood fired menu that it offers.
As the three of us looked at the tapas menu for entrée and had a crazy thought that they might be able to make the dips and bread gluten free as they offered gluten free pizza bases. When we asked our friendly young waiter he was like “of course”…with two gluten free members in our party we were over the moon!
Our shared entrée of grilled gluten free flat bread (with normal bread for the gluten eater ) with dips as well as tomato-marinated prawns was amazing. The prawns were sweet and spicy and the garlic aioli that accompanied them just completed the flavour.
Then to the gluten free flatbread…for those of you who haven’t eaten gluten free bread, you usually wouldn’t eat it alone unless forced! This bread was soft and flavoursome and I found myself eating the garlic and and sea salt topped bread alone, forgetting we even had dips!
Other entrees (all around the $15 mark) included saganaki, vine leaves, marinated olives, and a large range of flavoured flatbreads.
Then to our main. There were pastas, risottos, and meat and fish dishes on offer, yet Denn are known for their woodfired pizzas so we thought it made sense to sample them. With the gluten free bread such a hit, I had high hopes for my pizza.
When my mushroom, haloumi, pesto and sundried tomato pizza arrived my hopes rose again, and as I tasted it I was not at all disappointed. The bread was the perfect crisp for a pizza base and the generous toppings coated every inch!
The other pizzas on the table received the same reception. My sister who is not gluten free also informed me that it was the best normal pizza she has had in a very long time, so don’t feel this place only has gluten free goodies on offer!
Pastas, pizzas, risottos all came around the $22 mark with the steak and fish of the day prices varying a little more and moving closer to the $30 mark.
Another venue I would recommend to lovers of both tapas and pizza and definitely for those of you also on a gluten free diet.
For more information:
Denn Bar and Restaurant
113 High Street
Northcote VIC 3070
(03) 9482 1231
www.denn.com.au/
Family and birthdays @ Innocent Bystander, Healesville
In a promise to report honestly on my restaurant experiences, it is here that I will share with you my first negative experience since starting my blog…
When we asked my mum what she wanted to do for her birthday she had two requests. To be taken out for dinner and for it to be near her house in St Andrews.
With these stipulations my sister and I looked into some of the wineries in the Yarra Valley and came across Innocent Bystander which had great reviews from numerous sources and is in both The Good Food Guide and Cheap Eats Guide…how could we go wrong. On top of this they have their own bakery, winery and cheese room.
As we arrived we were overwhelmed by the beautiful steel brewery vibe of the venue. We could see produce for sale at various stations and cheese and breads on display. With a gluten free menu provided to me we were very happy. This however didn’t last very long.
Upon closer inspection of the gluten free menu there were a few items, which raised concerns including the arancini, the fries and the fried cauliflower. When pushed the waitress reluctantly asked the kitchen returning to inform me that yes these foods were deep fried with wheat and gluten products rendering them no longer gluten free. In an attempt to not let the service or the mistakes disappoint I chose other items.
The menu features tapas style entrees including nuts and olives, breads, arancini, sashimi and hams. The main section is divided into two, their gourmet pizzas, which they are known for, and then other mains including dhal, steaks, a snapper dish and a seafood salad.
The gourmet pizzas were received very well by those at the table, as were the gourmet sides that included asparagus with buttered almonds.
My entrée of king fish sashimi with white miso dressing was lovely, the strong taste of the miso balanced the intense experience of the raw fish and my main of pumpkin and red lentil dhal (without the cauliflower) was again quite good. It came with a layer of toasted slivered almond on top which gave crunch to the somewhat soft textured dish.
All of the meals were beautiful, yet that is not what I remember when I think of the night…I remember the service.
More than one wine we ordered from their list was not available, and we were constantly given attitude and snappy remarks when asking for help. After questioning the missing wines we were told we were lucky to have received what we did.
Finally in an attempt to give mum a good birthday, my sister secretly gave the waitress a candle to put in her dessert. When the desserts arrived with no candle, we asked quietly what had happened and again got treated with contempt.
All in all, the wait staff were a little too pretentious for their own good and acted as though the venue and the food spoke for itself. I speak for myself here when I say service is almost more important than the food in a venue like this and I would rather miss out on good even great food for friendly and helpful service.
In all honesty, I wont be making the trip to Innocent Bystander again.
For more information:
336 Maroondah Highway Healesville VIC 3777 - (03) 5962 6111
Open Weekdays 10am-10pm; Weekends 8am-10pm
www.innocentbystander.com.au/
Sun, great food and…Bridesmaids @ Republica in St Kilda
So…my big sister is getting married! With four bridesmaids, what better excuse to spend an afternoon eating and drinking in the sun! Nothing brings people together like a few drinks and great food.
With the weather predicting 30 degrees and sunny I set out to find a beach side venue. I went to Google and searched “gluten free tapas St Kilda”…to my surprise I was inundated with results; Republica caught my eye.
As we arrived, I was not disappointed. We headed straight to their beer garden out the back to secure a table in the sun. While the venue was very busy with tables in short supply, the décor manages to work beautifully to make you feel like you’re in your own little world!
The view from our table…
With celebration in the air we ordered our first bottle of sparkling…with many to follow!
Our sparkling of choice: Croser Pinot Noir/Chardonnay NV from Adelaide Hills SA. Quite light and not too sweet…easy to drink 
As the conversation flowed and tangents were taken, it took us almost an hour and a half to get around to ordering lunch.
When we eventually got around to the menu (marked gluten free, much to my delight!) it took us even longer to decide!
The menu features a range of tapas items (ranging from $10 to $20 with platters slightly more expensive), pizzas under $20 and mains consisting of what I would describe as beachside gourmet ranging $25 to $35. Desserts for $10 completed the menu.
With my head swimming with choices, I became more confused when I looked at the specials board and saw a Prosciutto wrapped scallops with French lentils, broccolini and lemon crème fraiche. I have to say that the service was amazing and the waiter who I asked for intolerance assistance made many a trip to the kitchen with a final answer of “they will work something out for you” and a smile. Did they ever! My meal was amazing. The scallops were perfectly seared on the outside and soft on the inside and the small lentils flavoured with spices created a flavour contrast to the smooth seafood. The expertly cooked broccolini added a slight crunch and freshness, which I have to say really completed this meal. I do add word of warning here, if ordering a main I recommend ordering sides, as the portions are not large.
My sister and the bride to be ordered the roasted blue eye, which demonstrated the kitchens ability for presentation as well as taste. She told me that blue eye, was cooked perfectly and that the carrot puree was sweet without overpowering the other flavours. Finally the cod brandade, which we were not completely sure what it was turned out to be a type of cod and potato ‘cake’ was crisp and delicious.
Finally the pizzas (enough on their own) created a bit of excitement from my friends as they all leaned in to steal a bite.
As the day turned into night, to our surprise and delight a band started and the dancing followed!
For more info:
Republica
10-18 Jacka Blvd
St Kilda VIC 3182
(03) 8598 9055
www.republica.net.au/
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