Lunch @ Bistro Vue

It's coming up to the end of the financial year, so we're in the city to take advantage of all those sales and for lucky me, it means a brand new iMac. Deciding on which model to get will be made over lunch at Bistro Vue.

Dinner @ Home Dining Room

It used to be called Siblings and before that Balloons but now you'll find that it's "home" to Home Dining Room. While there hasn't been a great change to the externals, they have been noticeable changes within.

For starters:


olive bread, pumpkin dip, grilled haloumi, crispy japanese chicken with sesame mayo, braised pork belly with caramelised onion and braising reduction, zucchini and mint fritters; in the center fennel & radish salad



This was washed down with a rather pleasant and very easy to drink 2006 Fonterutoli Chianti Classico.

For mains:



Lamb with beetroot on creamy polenta



Mini Beef Roast with Roasted Vegetables, horseradish cream stuffed Yorkshire pudding




We moved from Italy to Spain for our next choice - 2006 Callejo Tempranillo. It proved an excellent drop to enjoy with the cheese too.



A tasty wedge of Rochebarron.

For dessert:



Poached quince, pistachio crumble, cinnamon Crème fraîche



a sort of Berry Mess




The details:
Home Dining Room
601 Burwood Road
Hawthorn
Phone: 03 9819 5555

Open:
Breakfast & Lunch - 7 days
Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday
Fully Licensed but offer BYO wine Tuesday to Thursday

Lunch @ Les Boucheries Parisiennes

There's a new menu at Les Boucheries Parisiennes and we're having a difficult time deciding on what to eat. Having managed to select soup to begin, Paalo decided he had made enough decisions and left the rest of the meal in the capable hands of the Chef.

First Course:


Cauliflower soup, cod brandade, herb oil, caviar

Cauliflower and salt cod, this obviously is my selection. The intense flavour of the brandade is softened by sweet creaminess of the soup


French Onion Soup

A simple presentation but the flavours ring true.

2nd Course:


Beef carpaccio, frisee lettuce, asparagus, parmesan cheese, truffle dressing

Meltingly soft beef, clean well-defined flavours.

3rd course:


leek and fennel tart, caramelised scallops, sweet corn puree

so delicious it deserves a close up!



The use of fennel seeds in the pastry was a brilliant touch to bring in the flavour of aniseed. As always the scallops were picture perfect - plump and sweet and just cooked.


For mains:


Duck breast, zucchini fritter with oxtail ravioli, eggplant salad

Beautifully pink duck breast served on a warm salad of sautéed eggplant pieces.


Rabbit pie with wild mushrooms, goats cheese mashed potato, baby asparagus

Underneath that puffed lid sits the rabbit pie. Adding goat cheese to the potato is a clever idea, it brings a touch of sharpness to the rich buttery puree.

Cheese:



No dessert but who really needs it when you have such a fantastic array of cheese on offer.



The details:

Les Boucheries Parisiennes
268 Toorak Road, South Yarra

Phone: (03) 8256 1636

Open:
Lunch - Tuesday to Sunday: 12pm to 2.30pm
Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday: 6pm to late

Web:
www.lesboucheries.com.au

Dinner @ Matteo's

Once again we're off to dinner with Elle and Al but this time we've gone for a reliable favourite, Matteo's.

As always we've opted for the degustation.


From left to right:
Teriyaki glazed baby squid stuffed with sea eel, rice crusted tofu, pickled plum and bonito mayonnaise
Petuna ocean trout tataki, yuzu miso sauce, Yarra Valley salmon roe
Carpaccio of Hiramasa Kingfish, prawn remoulade, shiso sauce

To Drink: 2008 Clonakilla Riesling, 2008 Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc

The first course is usually some type of variation on this grouping of flavours which is such a great way to begin. It's clean and refreshing and the Hiramasa Kingfish would go down as one of our all time favourites.


From left to right:
Pan-fried rice noodle raviolo of grilled eggplant and smoky baba ghanoush, soya bean salad, red miso sauce
Baked Asian pie of minced chicken, pork belly and eggplant

To Drink: 2007 Quealy Independence Pinot Gris, 2005 Knight Granite Hills Pinot Noir


From left to right:
Seared wagyu beef,
Peking cabbage and bamboo shoot okonomiyaki pancake, bbq sauce
Grilled gyu-tan ox-tongue, pan fried saganaki cheese, red raisin and seeded mustard dressing

Drink: 2003 Parker Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Brini Estate Shiraz Grenache



Warm dark chocolate fondant pudding
Caramelised banana ice cream
crepe roulade with ricotta and pistachio nougat

Drink: 2006 Cookoothama Darling Point Botrytis Semillon


The details:

Matteo's
533 Brunswick Street, Nth Fitzroy
Phone: 9481 1177

Open:
Lunch: Sunday-Friday from noon
Dinner: 7 days from 6pm

web:
www.matteos.com.au