Dinner @ Bottega

It's no secret that we are quite fond of Italian food so when Grace raved about her new local Bottega it certainly got our attention. Soon enough a date was arranged and we joined Grace and K for dinner.

With prosecco in hand we started off the evening with a little something to share:

Dinner @ Nuevo 37

Since we're staying at the Hilton and are after a quiet night we're returning to Nuevo 37 for dinner.

To share:

Babes of Barolo and Barbaresco

An in-depth exploration of the wines of Piedmont being under the watchful gaze of some of Italy's hottest producers. Demand for Barolo and Barbaresco is at al all time high across the globe and with a run of great vintages it is easy to see why.

Lunch @ Sotano

We have another wine session in a couple of hours and for lunch we're staying close and visiting Sotano. Something "soft" to drink seems appropriate and these lemon, lime and bitters are a perfect choice.

Global Wine Experience - 2007 Burgundy

Melbourne is the heartland for Burgundy worship in Australia and two of its foremost self-acclaimed nuts James Halliday and Philip Rich will help unravel the eternal mysteries that lie therein, through a single wonderful vintage, 2007. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leflaive, Roumier, Henri Boillot, Leroy and a raft of other top flight produces will be on show

We're here for the first session of the Acqua Panna Global Wine Experience and it's been held at the new Congress Center which is a most impressive venue. As we wait for the room to open it's fascinating to observe the type of people coming to this Burgundy Tasting - it's a well over 50's crowd of men who might find their kin in trainwatchers or twitchers.

Dinner @ Nuevo 37

Ramon Freixa, renowned Spanish culinary star and Nuevo37 executive chef, will showcase a bold, authentic New Catalan offering of unique and diverse tastes, textures and temperatures.

The evening will feature a seven-course degustation presented and discussed by Ramon, with each course complemented by exceptional and rare wines opened by hotel sommelier Josh Fraser.

We have enjoyed our meals at Nuevo 37 so when we saw that Ramon Freixa was hosting a dinner as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival there was no question that we'd have to attend and keeping us company are PJ and Sam.

Lunch @ Les Boucheries Parisiennes

It's been a couple of months since we've been to Les Boucheries so a visit was well overdue. As it turns out, you could say our timing was quite good as changes are in the pipework.  There'll be a new name and a different direction food wise but not to worry, it still will be in the capable hands of Chef Paul Griffiths.

So for our lunch today, we've got a little sneak peek at what's on offer in the near future.

Dinner @ Charcoal Lane

We're joining Al & Elle for dinner at Charcoal Lane - up until now we've only had lunches here so it will be interest to see how dinner fares.

We begin:

Dinner @ Barkers Wine Bar and Bistro

The good people of Hawthorn might have been rather miffed at the recent rantings considered opinions of one La Becki but as they generally don't buy the (garb)Age they have avoided the mis-aimed spray.

Anywho, onto the food.