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Sunday, August 17, 2008

Lunch @ The Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel

Having emerged from the Cheese Show around 12 we headed downstairs to check out the dining options at Crown. It boiled down to two - The Brasserie or Bistro Guilliame and obviously, The Brasserie won out.

It's a large, light and airy space located at a suitably far enough distance that you aren't distracted by the constant tinkling of the poker machines.

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good, chewy, crusty rolls, warm from the oil is served alongside

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olive oil and a house-made dukkah.

The menu is quite large with an abundance of interesting dishes we finally settle on the following:

For starters

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Carpaccio of Wagyu tenderloin, porcini and walnut vinaigrette, celeriac and fruits julienne

A pleasure from the first bite to the last - the wagyu is so soft it falls apart, the flavour works well with the earthy porcini.


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The Brasserie's assorted duck charcuterie with duck foie gras
Drink: 2005 Six Acres Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

This dish can be ordered with or without the foie gras but that wasn't an option for Paalo - going clockwise from the glass which contains duck rillettes we have, duck sausage, duck prosciutto, duck liver pate, duck tartare, slice of foie gras and in the centre duck ravioli.

Paalo very generously offered me tastings of each and I would have to agree with his assessment, it's very hard to actually pick a favourite.

Onto mains:

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Duet of roasted duck breast and braised leg with beetroot
Drink: 2005 Louis Jadot Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy

It's my turn  for some duck - pink roasted duck breast sitting atop a braised leg and served with a rich lacquer like jus.


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Pork hock stuffed with pork sausage on braised lentils

Paalo ordered one of the specials - the most amazing dish of pork hock - you could almost eat it with a spoon it was just that gelatinous. 

For sides we order:

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Well crusted Potato Gratin

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Sautéed mushrooms with Parisienne gnocchi


Because it has been such an enjoyable afternoon, we finish off with

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The Brasserie's Dessert Tasting Plate - there's pistachio ice-cream, raspberry sorbet, chocolate cake, rum baba, apple tart, coffee pannacotta and brioche.

I think we can safely say that there is one very good reason to visit the Crown complex and it's The Brasserie.


The details:

The Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel
Riverside at Crown

Open:
7 days - Lunch and Dinner

web: The Brasserie

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous19:33

    Guilliame on Friday night... but seeing the Pork Hock special has me intrigued... care to try and replicate it on 'cookanything'... lol?

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  2. it was pretty spectacular and I don't think I could do it justice

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  3. Hi Haalo,
    Your lunch sounds lovely! I looked at the website and noticed alfresco tables. Do you think that it would be nice to sit out there in summer? I am slowly planning my culinary adventure in Melb for the end of the year.

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  4. Hi Nora - yes there are quite a few outside tables but they do face the setting sun so they could be quite a warm place to sit. There also might be the issue of cigarette smoke depending on whether it is classed as an outdoor space.

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