Taste of Melbourne 2014 - Part I

Oh boy, where do I even begin ?

Let's start at the Platinum Lounge, where I had the pleasure to attend the Taste of Melbourne Gala Evening. Oh the VIP lifestyle, yes I could get used to this. Here we mingled, snacked on mouth-watering canapés and sipped on Paul Louis bubbly (Fiji water for the responsible drivers!).

So aside from living it up, we were here for a reason - to celebrate the Best in Taste awards and honour the top signature dishes of the festival.

Winners for Taste of Melbourne 2014 were:

Winner:

Pope Joan – “Mr Wilkie” (Smoked yoghurt soft serve ice cream, raspberry compote, freeze dried raspberries & pistachios)


1st Runner Up:

B'stilla – “BBQ Octopus, Tahini Remoulade, Herbs” (Twice cooked octopus, tahini & caper sauce, lemon)


2nd Runner Up:

Uncle – "Crispy Pigs Ear Banh Mi" (Crispy pigs ear bang mi with pickles and peanuts)

Honourable mention:

Best Dressed:

Brooks

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Lobster Roll (Spicy)

First thing first was Mr Claws. Here we salivated over their signature dish, the Lobster Roll. Think succulent chunks of sweet lobster fused with siracha mayo, all sandwiched between a toasted toll - buttery, soft and oh so fluffy. Hell, the roll itself had already won me over.  

Soft Shell Crab Souvlaki

From Gazi, we enjoyed their Soft Shell Crab Souvlaki - the pillowy soft bread, the satisfying crunch and sweetness of the honey soft shell crab, the silky mayo to the freshness of the mint and coriander. Tell me, how can you possibly say no to those sexy crab legs ?

Mr Wilkie

And how could we not try the winner of the Best in Taste 2014. The smoothest and creamiest smoked yoghurt soft serve ice cream topped with freeze dried raspberries & pistachios. What an absolute treat for the tastebuds. I'm really loving this whole savoury ice cream business. First Brooks, now Pope Joan, you guys are really onto something magical here.

Elote Callejero

Taco Al Pastor

Or course, we also had to have Mamasita's corn and tacos. These foods, I could never get sick of. I could have sat there the whole night eating the corn alone.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to attend the Taste of Melbourne Gala Evening as a guest of Hot House Media & Events

What: Taste of Melbourne 2014
Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert Park Lake
When: Thursday November 13 - Sunday November 16, 2014

http://www.tasteofmelbourne.com.au

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New Shanghai - Night Noodle Market Preview

Get ready Melburnians, New Shanghai is making their debut at the highly anticipated debut at this year’s Night Noodle Market !

Across 17 summer nights, the banks of the Yarra will liven up with colours, sounds and aromas of an authentic Asian hawker market merged with the buzz, excitement and vibes of an outdoor festival.

New Shanghai will be representing the flavours of Shanghai, bringing their ancient recipes created, perfected and passed down generations to generations of the Chen family to your bellies. Think truffle infused Xiao Long Bao, Crispy Salted and Spiced Duck Steamed Buns, juicy traditional Xiao Long Bao, mouth-watering Sheng Jian Bao, plump Vegetarian Dumplings and golden Spring Onion Pancakes. I can’t wait !

 

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of ID Collective and New Shanghai

What: New Shanghai @ Night Noodle Markets
Where: Birrarung Marr (near Federation Square), Melbourne
Cost: Free entry; dishes from $5-$15
When: Friday 14th to Sunday 30th November (From 5pm daily)

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The Kettle Black

Yes, I made it, I finally made it. To The Kettle Black that is, the latest venture from the masterminds behind Top Paddock and Two Birds One Stone. Located in leafy South Melbourne, The Kettle Black is like a dream come true, absolutely gorgeous with its Scandinavian palette of crisp clean lines, impeccable craftsmanship and understated elegance. Oh, swoon !

The menu here is everything but ordinary, and pushes the boundaries with its strong Australian Asian influences to bring you the best of the best. After an avocado smash ? How about seasonal avocado with citrus, toast and local kelp salt. Or perhaps a polenta porridge with burnt maple, textures of strawberry and basil to Robbins Island wagyu skirt steak in a striking black bun - The Kettle Black promises to bring it to the next level.

King Island Crayfish Ash Roll

A million oohs and ahhs later, I went for the King Island Crayfish Ash Roll. The feathery light bun was full of succulent chunks of crayfish – sweey, silky and springy. The dish was brought together with a squirt of tangy yuzu mayonnaise and crisp magenta-streaked leaves. Overall, the flavours were light, clean and refreshing.

House-made Coconut Yoghurt 

On the other end of the table was the House-made Coconut Yoghurt spotted with gluten-free grains, seeds and nuts and a selection of fresh and dehydrated fruits including tissue-thin slices of Toorak Station prickly pear and poached rhubarb. A sprinkling of citrus powders and scattering of edible flowers, this work of art on a plate was utterly mesmerising. Sadly, I was unable to say the same for the taste as I found the overall fragrances too strong. That might just be me though as it seemed to be well received by everyone else.

The Kettle Black in a word ? Beautiful. The space, the coffee and the food - all beautiful. And you know what they say, you are what you eat. Hehehe.


The Kettle Black
50 Albert Road

South Melbourne, VIC

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