Cutler & Co.

Previous attempts to dine at Cutler & Co. were foiled by too huge a party (the restaurant requires a party of 8 people and more to go for the degustation menu and with various dietary requirements, we were not keen to do so). This time round, with a smaller party, we finally managed to reserve a table for four on thursday night (after forgoing friday night as it was fully booked). The occasion - celebration of mouse's special day.

I had been waiting for this! Being a fan of Cumulus Inc. - its more casual sister restaurant on flinders lane :)

The restaurant is bigger than I anticipated...spacious, which is not all that common for a fine dining restaurant (or any restaurants in melbourne for that matter). It was quite quiet when myself, mouse, sister & mum walked in at 7pm, but gradually filled up.

This is embarrassing...despite lugging along a SLR, the photos did not turn out so well. I better start learning to use that thing properly :(

Anyway...the food!!

very pretty lamps, and 2 types of bread - sourdough (L), rye (R)

I always look forward to the bread + accompaniments. A couple I sometimes day dream about - maze's (crown metropol) branch like bread with seaweed butter, yummy sweet potato dip at Number8 (crown).

Back to this post...the sourdough was yummy (crunchy on the outside, soft of the inside - the way I like it), but I unfortunately chose the latter which was too sour-y for my taste. I like their unusual butter knife :)

entrees : cured kingfish (top), poached chicken (L), oysters (R)

Fresh oysters, one of my weaknesses. 5 varieties were on offer hence we ordered one each to share among 3 of us. Can't go wrong :)

The cured kingfish  with octopus, avocado & pickled cucumber(a favourite for many) was a hit with mum and sisters. For me, it was certainly a very pretty dish which tasted nice...but somehow reminded me of sushi with the fish and avocado...hence not too exciting. The octopus was the best bit. I would like the cucumber more pickled. Maybe it's just me :P

The poached chicken (with foie gras parfait, quinoa & prune) was my favourite dish of the night even though it did not look as pretty with a huge pile of green covering most of the plate. The chicken was tasty, foie gras is always good, and there were crunchy bits which added a nice texture (sister thought they could be fried onion). Prune is not one of my favourite things but the combination worked.

mains : duck (top), wild barramundi (mid), john dory (bottom)

Mine was the slow roasted duck breast with confit of duck leg - duck breast was a little bit on the rare side for me, but the confit of leg was definitely yummy (sister ate a chunk of it).

Sister had the john dory which was cooked just right (from the small piece I tasted). 

Mouse and mum both had the wild barramundi with mushrooms, potato, fat hen & salsify. They both loved it, especially the super crunchy skin.

desserts : black sesame & apricot sorbet (top), chocolate ice cream sandwich (L), & petit fours (R)

Our desserts to share were plated separately for us, which was really nice of them. 

Mum and mouse shared the black sesame, apricot sorbet, yoghurt, thyme butter cream. I of course sneaked a taste and it was definitely my kind of dessert - the sorbet was refreshing (what I look for in a dessert after a huge meal), black sesame crisp was so fragrant, & I really like the thyme butter cream too! 

I opted to share the chocolate ice cream sandwich, vanilla parfait, salted caramel with sister because I've read some really good things about it. It did fall below expectations for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a great dessert but I guess it was not 'wow!!'...and as I said, chocolate is not what I would usually pick. 

Over coffee, we were served very dense chocolate (I want to say...truffle?) topped with black salt. I did like it, but we were all too stuffed and left with one of them still on the table. 

My verdict - lived up to all the hype for sure :) Great ambience, attentive staff, yummy food. Would I go back? In a heartbeat (but I do need to earn some moolah first *sob*).

Cutler & Co.
55-57 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065
(03) 9419 4888

-MM-

NOBU Melbourne

Most of us would have heard of Nobu. It is a chain of restaurants started in the US, a collaboration between Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa, a chef known for his fusion cuisine - traditional Japanese dishes with a twist, incorporating South American (Peruvian and Argentinian) ingredients. Nobu's flagship Manhattan restaurant is apparently a renowned hang-out for A-list stars...a place for star-spotting :)

Well, we can't expect to run into Paris Hilton in Nobu Melbourne, but Grant Hackett and his wife was there on CC's birthday :)

So anyway, with all the hype, CC decided that she would like to have her birthday dinner (this was last year) there...and that was our first visit to Nobu.

I have to say...while going through a few websites in my research for the restaurant's address and menu, more than 90% of the reviews were negative (I am NOT exaggerating) and most of them complained about the service...many had good things to say about the food (nevertheless, some weren't impressed by the food either).

I will go through the food first, and then you will get my honest opinion :)

So...first visit was on CC's birthday last year.


started with edamame $6

I don't know if they actually charged us because I wouldn't order this...the waitress sort of just brought it along I think...because we started with edamame the 2nd visit as well. Anyway, some of the items are no longer on their menu so I can't quote the price for some of them!

So basically, in Nobu, you order a whole bunch of stuff and everyone shares. There are no entrees or mains (or anything filling for that matter...but wait, I'll get to that)

The cold dishes :


prawn cocktail...we did not like the bitter leaves


yellowtail sashimi with jalapenos


I LOVE this...but I can't find it on their online menu...don't tell me they took it off! It is one of the few reasons I would go back to Nobu :(


beef tataki - also can't find it on their online menu...maybe it is known as another name...reason no.2 for my revisit :)

Sushi - very standard, nothing special at all


scallop & smelt egg $14, eel & cucmber $13

Hot dishes :


2 pieces - gone in one mouthful $4.50


fresh soft shell crab karaage $20


the famed black cod with miso $42 - melts in your mouth...all of us love it!


this is a cold dish...which we ordered at the end because we were not full at all and this was the only thing they had with noodles in it...and even then, only a few strands...mostly made up of something that tasted like archichoke to me (I haven't eaten much archichoke in my life)...didn't like it

Dessert :


wam chocolate satandagi with almond ice cream $18 - not too memorable


mochi no youna $15 - interesting dessert with 'miso sponge'...I thought it would be weird to mix something salty with sweets, but turned out to be yummy!

There are a few things I really like there, so when mum and little sis came to Melbourne, sis & I brought them there for the must-trys :)...and hence my 2nd visit.

Unfortunately, being hopeless at directions, we got lost after finding the carpark to Crown closed (which was where I intended to park) I drove into some tunnel that took me goodness-knows-where, and we had to navigate our way back to crown AND continue hunting for parking. Finally we made it to Nobu, incredibly late for our booking...and we had to give up the table in less than an hour. Needless to say, it was a very rushed dinner...which spoilt the experience.

Again, we started with edamame ...and my 'must haves'

1. yellowtail sashimi with jalapenos - no good photo this time all the photos are a bit blurry this time round

2. beef tataki



3. black cod with miso



New things we tried :


mushrooms cooked in sake - I love mushrooms...but the taste of the alcohol was too overwhelming


seasonal vegetables with spicy garlic sauce $18 - erm...like any old chinatown restaurant, just much smaller serving...I would never order this but mum insisted on vegetables


beef gyoza ~$37 - they have a whole range of different beef, I remember the wagyu one was $72...this was not bad, different from other gyozas I've had


prawn tempura with sauces - unimpressive...even the bowl is not up to standard...tsk tsk


scallop sashimi - I really like this...I think I just like the freshness of sashimi...mmm...only thing, it wasn't cold enough for me


soft shell crab sushi $20 - it was good, little sis loved it :)

So, my take on Nobu Melbourne?

Generally, they do have a few things that make me want to go back - i.e. miso cod, yellowtail sashimi, beef tataki...unless I can find them somewhere else. Otherwise, there are options elsewhere for the similar things e.g. soft shell crab roll - nice but is it worth $20 for 6 pieces?? (I don't think so) Ambience? I wasn't impressed...when I was describing it to my mum, I went 'the tables are like the ones at the hawker centres (in penang)'...as in the design :) Many people complained about the snap-apart chopsticks...and the lousy service...I guess in short, paying fine-dining price when the restaurant doesn't present itself that way. I have no huge complaints about the service...it was good on CC's birthday and all the rush the 2nd time was my fault mostly (sigh)...maybe wasn't as attentive as most fine-dining restaurants.

Another thing, the portions are really small so either be prepared to pay a lot, or eat something else before or after...haha. Actually, be prepared to pay a lot and still not feel full...We paid about $350 for 4 the 2nd time and still had room for desserts, a cheese platter and drinks somewhere else.

I just ask Mouse and San to describe Nobu in 3 words :

Mouse : miso black cod

MM : about the restaurant! not the food!

Mouse : well, that's all it is to me *shrugs*

finee...

San : won't feel full

haha...

Well, I have to go up to 4 words - poor value for money

There you go :)

-MM-

Nobu Melbourne
Crown Melbourne Australia
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank
VIC 3006
03 9696 6566

M.O.O. (Money Order Office)

I celebrated my mum's birthday at M.O.O. (Money Order Office) this year and really enjoyed myself, and I've always been looking for a chance to go back with foodie greedy San and my sister. This morning we decided on a whim to go for dinner tonight, and hence we did just that.

All hidden and cool like an exclusive club.

AND when we reached there, I found out that I forgot to charge my camera like the idiot Mouse I am, and thank goodness San's Sony Ericsson mobile phone camera was rather reliable, unlike my crappy Samsung one (I don't hate my phone, I love it but no denying that the camera sucks almost as much as taugeh (dumb beansprouts/beanshoots)).

M.O.O. used to be a money order post office back in as early as the early 1800's and it's in a rather hidden part of the city. The restaurant had a very nice interior, with a mixture of archaic and modern styled decorum that maintained some sense of the original structure. There's a bar where a lot of people were standing and drinking tonight, and a dining area with the usual wooden tables and private little booth-styled tables. We got the little booths as they seat three people nicely.

The interior!

Interior again!

And obviously not outside!

We sat down and was promptly served. After much debating over the specials and the menu, we all decided to share an entrée, have a main each and share a dessert. Bread came first, served with olive oil as usual. Ordinary crusty bread, that's all I have to say.

That's all the bread we have...each.

For the entrée, I was adamant, ADAMANT on the Snails on Puff Pastry (1/2 dozen; $14). I had them the last time I went and I love them.

Not what you see in the garden eating your plants, these snails.

As gorgeous as I remembered them to be. The garlic parsley butter was superbly fragrant and buttery, soaking into the puff pastry and went very well with the chewy snails. The herb salad was really yummy as well, in fact San decided to swipe the pastry bite with a little of the herb salad and its dressing, and it tasted yummy as well. A complete satisfaction; I could actually order that as my main and be happy with it, BWAHAHA. I love snails when they're cooked and shell-less.

San had the Pheasant ($35) as her main upon the chef's recommendation.

I am a pheasant not a chicken.

It was grilled and served with parsley potatoes. San was not a big fan of meats the Western style, she had the dish because it was recommended. She reckoned it was only okay, even if she did really like the complimenting sauce. She thought the pheasant itself was a little dry and coarse to the bite...maybe a little overdone? I had a bite of it and I think I do like it, even though I agree with San's sentiment that it was a little dry. But I'm a bigger fan of breast meats than San - she's a "fat person" to quote her directly. And no, she (and I) doesn't mean her size - that woman is anything BUT fat.

Sis (also known as MM in San's posts) went for the Cassoulet with Jumbo Quail ($36).

Served in a red pot.

And lids off to reveal the treasure!

A success to Sis, she really really liked it. A Cassoulet is a type of French baked dish with beans, usually with duck but M.O.O. had their variation with quail. Sis loved it and I tried some of it, gotta say the (haricot) bean mixture went really well with the meats. The bean mixture was spiced nicely with peppers and spices. There's also pork along with the quail and a strange looking sausage that was Sis's only complaint in the entire dish. San really slurped on the pork - and I don't blame her, very tender and juicy.

I had the Fish of the Day (price unknown) because Mouse should be eating lotssss of fish.

The Mouse Fish.

Served with olives, tomatoes and black olive mash, my fish was beautifully pan fried to perfection. The texture was succulent and yummy and the black olive mash complimented my fish nicely. The fish was seasoned just to the right taste as well. The tomatoes were grilled and very juicy and sweet to the bite. My only complaint was that the drizzle of olive oil was a little bit more than what I would've liked. Although I would rate my satisfaction to be quite high - higher than San with her dish. :D

Because Mouse should be eating veggies, we decided to order a side of veggies to share. I intended to order the Vine Tomato Salad or Sautéed Spinach but there was some miscommunication with the waitress, as it was noisy and she didn't hear us properly. She didn't reconfirmed with us and somehow put in an order for Bitterleaf ($7).

These leaves are BITTER indeed...like eating some Chinese medicine mixture, blaah.

For non-fans of bitterness ANYWHERE, this side was NOT a success to any of us. We were cringing and trying our best to finish it and I had to take gulps of water along with it because I really cannot stand bitter things. Uragh. What a complete waste! The tomato salad sounded nice, too. :(

For dessert, we ordered the Vanilla Bavarois ($14), served with fresh strawberries and candied mint.

It's pretty delicious, cos it's pretty AND delicious.

WOW. Really fantastic! All three of us loved it. It was basically a custard style dessert with fresh strawberry sauce, strawberries and sorbet. It was cold and nice and very fruity. The custard wasn't sweet and had a hint of vanilla in its taste, leaving the sweetness for the fruit sauce and sorbet, hence everything was matched very well. A success with this dessert!

I think it's a satisfactory and rather lovely dining experience. Granted it was a little noisier than expected, but the ambiance was lovely, food was on the whole rather good and the staff was friendly enough. One of the hidden fine-dining places that should be given attention.

FYI, The Age Good Food Guide 2007 did review M.O.O., and gave it 14/20 - one point short of a chef hat.

As for why the price for my fish was unknown, it was because I had the Entertainment Card and got a free main for one main ordered. :D The Entertainment Booklet was a GREAT buy and proceeds go towards a range of charities, including the one I support full-heartedly, the Cancer Council of Victoria. It has great many discounts for many many food outlets, from fine dining to ordinary pizza places etc. Find out more HERE.

- Mouse

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M.O.O.
Driver Lane
318 Little Bourke Street
Phone: (03) 9639 3020

Waterfront at Station Pier

MM has been mentioning this restaurant a few times and strongly recommends (she herself has been there several times!) us there as she REALLY like the ambience of it. Hence, since HW is here for holidays, I got the chance to tag along and to try out this restaurant =) This restaurant, Waterfront, is opened by the restaurateur Nick Zampelis, who also owned Cafe Greco(Crown), Waterfront (Crown) and Campari (Port Melbourne).

Waterfront (click here for their website), Port Melbourne

After approximately 45 mins of drive (it takes us that long because of traffic jams in the city), we arrived at Port Melbourne. The picture above is the outside of Waterfront, if you can c the words.

Waterfront's menu consists of mainly seafood although they do offer a few choices of steaks. If you wanna indulge yourself, there is luxury seafood platters. The menu also has sushi and sashimi. Yup, the menu is a fusion of western and eastern cuisines, therefore, you can expect to c words like "curry" on it =D

Inside of Waterfront:

I really like the interior design of it where they used alot of timber and glasses. It makes me feel very comfortable, plus the just right amount of light in the restaurant just make it really relaxing and romantic =) For the seatings, you can choose to sit inside o outside. We were seated inside and although this resulted us could not enjoy the view of the sea but we were happy as we needed the warmth! If you wanna have a day look of the restaurant and some scenic views, you can click here.

bread and capsicum dipping sauce

The sauce is very nice! Its just make you wanna eat the bread non-stop =D Luckily, I could control myself and stop at 2 slices of breads.

Entree:

Moreton Bay Bugs, $45

MM loves to eat the bay bugs and hence we ordered this to share. There were 3 bay bugs on the bowl and all of them were being cut into half. You have 2 sauces to dip into ~ lemon sauce and homemade mayo. Btw, they didnt season anything on the bay bugs so I feel its nicer to either squeeze some lemon on it or eat with the lemon sauce. The mayo is nice but it come across to me as too strong, hence, covers up the natural delicate flavours of the bay bugs.

Haha.. just for fun =D

Waterfront’s classic seafood chowder, $19.90

Another entree is the chowder. Its quite lovely with a few pipies and bit and pieces of salmon in the soup.

Our mains:

Seared Salmon fillet with fennel and scallop risotto and lemon butter sauce, $32.00

MM's choice for the main. She feels that the salmon is not seasoned properly, and the risotto as well. Thus, it makes u feel as if the dish misses some essential flavours in it. However, as a whole, not too bad and she enjoys the crispy salmon skin.

Lobster Risotto with green pea, chorizo, chilli, finished with mascapone and Thai basil, $39.90

When we were ordering, HW's eyes have been captured by the word "lobster" next to the risotto and hence he ordered this dish. The red thing on the right is the lobster shell, just in case you are wondering. Although he is quite happy eating the lobster, the risotto itself was too mashy =(

Whole salt and pepper Baby Barramundi, green papaya and pomelo salad, $32.00

My main

This dish came with a bowl of rice. The rice was cooked with coconut milk and hence very aromatic. The name of the dish sounds exciting, isn't it. However, I was quite dissapointed with it as first the sauce was way too little. Although the sauce was quite nice and tasted very oriental and also has a sublte hint of spicyness in it, it wasn't even enuff for 1 piece of the fish on my plate (I got a few pieces of barramundi). 2nd, I did not have any pomelo in my salad. The salad, as u can c, are just bean sprouts, cucumbers and 2 small cubes of tasteless green papaya (the green papaya was cooked b4 adding to the salad, either steam or cook in the water). To be honest, I could not really taste any dressings in the salad! =( The fish itself is crunchy, however, without any proper seasonings and sauce, this dish is too plain!! I can just pan fried a whole barramundi at home myself. San is really dissapointed!

Btw, I oso ordered a glass of wine. I forgot the name though... The restaurant only have 2 types of wines by glass, if im not mistaken. One is muscato and another one is white wine ~ the one i orederd. I did enjoy the wine as it was quite fragrant.

Desserts:

Although we were very full after finishing our mains, somehow we still manage to find some space in our stomaches to savour the desserts =D We only ordered one to share:

Dark and white chocolate terrine with Marquise chocolate and mocha, $16.50

OOO... this dessert is delectable! It tasted like frozen mousse and ice cream at the same time. Very yummy indeed.


Overall, the food, esp our mains, was dissapointing as the rissoto was too mashy and Me & MM's dishes weren't properly seasoned and (mine) did not have enuff sauce at all. However, lucky Waterfront got such a beautiful location as the ambience was very appealing that I might go back to try out other dishes there (mayb lunch to enjoy the views) and also thumbs up for the lady that served us. She was very friendly.

Or, I would go back to Port Melbourne and try out other restaurants there because of the nice views...


San


Waterfront
1 Station Pier
Port Melbourne
Victoria, 3207
Phone: (03) 9676 9180
Fax: (03) 9676 9186