Taste of Melbourne 2010

Naturally I was excited for Taste of Melbourne 2010 after having a great time last year with my Doben. We went on Friday night and Sunday with two very different experiences. Friday night was very busy and frantic in a night club sort of way, having to push through crowds and wait in long lines to buy food. I forgot to take my camera on Friday night, so the only photos I have of what I ate were the dishes that I ate again on Sunday when I did bring my camera! 

First up on Friday we went to Longrain's busy and loud niche upstairs to try their Yellow curry of wagyu beef with cucumber relish. It was good, but seemed to lack something that we have found in their other curries at Longrain. Next we tried the Seared atlantic scallops, lardo, breadcrumbs, gazpacho dressing, Stokehouse, which I ate again on Sunday.

Seared atlantic scallops, lardo, breadcrumbs, gazpacho dressing - Stokehouse

Next we tried the Cavatelli di messina with prawns, peas, pecorino, lemon oil - Mezzo Bar & Grill which was nice and piping hot. I then tried The Palace Wagyu burger, which was a bit disappointing with a dry pattie and dry bread accompanied by a very sweet red wine chutney. After that, we decided to try a dessert and happened to come across one that knocked all that bitter disappointment of my face! 

The Bombe - strawberry sorbet, white chocolate parfait and toasted meringue - Stokehouse

Yes! I have a photo because I insisted we have this again on Sunday. I went with different group of friends on Friday to Sunday, so on Sunday I watched everyones reaction when they ate it! What a dessert. I have never eaten a bombe alaska due to it being a trendy concoction in the '80s ('90s?), which I was unfortunately too young or non existent to enjoy. I did often see this in some of my mum's cooking books and was always intrigued by the fact it being a ice cream sort of cake. I have had no other bombe to compare it to, but I think that everyone who tried it would agree, Stokehouse did The Bombe every justice it deserved to ignite a comeback. 

We didn't eat very much on Friday due to eating quite slow and saving the proper run for Sunday. I feared similar or worse crowds but thankfully there were fewer crowds and a more relaxed bunch they were. So Sunday: first up was what sold out on Friday,

Organic slow braised pork cheek, white polenta, raisins and marsala sauce - Mezzo Bar & Grill
I loved this. It was nicely braised and tasty but I wished I could have more polenta to go with it! Next up was Maze:

Seared cured Marlborough king salmon, warm sweet corn and potato salad: Maze Restaurant & Maze Grill

The fish was buttery to eat and very moist. The sweet corn and chorizo really worked nicely. Next was one of our absolute favourites of the whole day from The Palace by Luke Mangan,

Eye fillet, potato mash and sauce bordelaise - The Palace by Luke Mangan

I did over look this dish on Friday but this really was spot on. The two times that we ate it, everything was piping hot and melt in your mouth wonderful. 

Tuna carpaccio, goats feta, rocket and ginger eschalot dressing - The Palace by Luke Mangan

This was nice, only I really wished that the tuna was sliced a bit thicker and without goats cheese. The goats cheese was really strong against the subtle fish and overpowered the dish.

Smoked duck, apple ad walnut rillettes - Libertine & Le Traiteur

I really, really enjoyed this. We were offered a matched red for 4crowns, how could one resist? And together with the rillettes was so heavenly. I really loved the apples together with the duck.

Mr Donati's crispy Pork Bellly, peas and wild sorrel coulis, purple potato, fromage frais, garden herbs - Embrasse

Dory cooked in squid, organic beetroots and carrots - Embrasse

Unfortunately I think this dish worked against Embrasse being served as a tasting size. I have seen that this dish is on the menu in house, obviously with a thicker and larger piece of fish. I can see how this would work with a bigger piece as the smaller piece was overpowered by the squid ink.

Hazelnuts and chocolate parfait Forest Floor - Embrasse

We all really enjoyed this along with the cute presentation. Very creative and delicious mushroom with dirt.

Raspberry and rosella flower cannelloni, strawberry and native mint salad - Charcoal Lane

Pistachio 'panna cotta', caramel salted popcorn - Sarti

Overall I had a great time at Taste this year. I had the opportunity to try dishes from restaurants that I would otherwise overlook or reluctant to try. Places I would really like to visit now are Stokehouse and Libertine from their outstanding dishes. As for next year we have all planned to do it all over on the Sunday and I hope I can arrange to make it to Sydney in March to try out what Sydney's Taste has for me to devour!