James Halliday's Wine Companion Magazine Launch at Golden Fields

I recently attended the launch of the new magazine, James Halliday's Wine Companion, at Golden Fields.  I must admit that when I received the invitation, I was just as interested in the venue as I was in the magazine itself.  Prior to the evening, I'd heard great things about Golden Fields, but never actually been myself.  You see, I tend to avoid hyped-up new venues, especially if they have a no-bookings policy.  I am the type of person who likes to plan my social life weeks in advance, and the possibility of being stuck for two hours without a table is just too much for my fragile constitution to bear!  I've also, generally, been quite disappointed with the food at these types of hyped-up venues (e.g. Mamasita, Hu Tong), and can never justify the long wait.  I thought that this event would be a good opportunity to sample some of Golden Fields' famed dishes, without the added stress of trying to secure a table!

There were loads of people there, and it was great to catch up with some bloggers who I hadn't seen in a while.  Unsurprisingly, there were quite a few wines being served, including the delicious Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling and the 10 Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir.

And some of the nibbles that were on offer:

Clockwise from top left:
Squid-skewer
House-made cold rice noodles with sesame paste and chilli oil
Twice-cooked duck, steamed bread, vinegar and plum sauce
Pressed pork terrine with ginger jam

I wasn't particularly wowed by the dishes - the cold rice noodles had a lovely texture and a nice garnish of fresh herbs, but overall it was extremely bland.  I would have liked a lot more of the sesame paste and chilli oil!  The duck was my favourite - I love soft mantou dough!

And of course, there were plates and plates of Golden Fields' famous lobster roll.

I believe it was Ed who said he wanted to secure a large plate of these lobster rolls, and scoff the lot!

New England lobster roll, hot buttered bun, cold poached crayfish, watercress & Kewpie

I liked the rolls, but didn't love them - another danger of trying things that have received a lot of favourable press: naturally expectations are high.  I definitely liked the soft, lightly toasted buns, but felt that there wasn't enough lobster for the bread.  (Although having said that, these were canapé versions; looking at other blog posts, the full-sized version is a lot more generous with the lobster).

I've already agreed with my dad that, inspired by the Golden Fields roll, we're going to make our own lobster rolls for Christmas this year, and we're going to make sure they're chock full of lobster!

We were all given a proof copy of the magazine to take home with us.  I don't tend to read a lot of wine writing, and I was actually surprised by how much I loved it!  It seems to be targeted towards people like me: young-ish, enthusiastic wine drinkers, who want to increase their wine knowledge but aren't interested in traditional, old-world stuffy wine writing.

Hehe, I love James Halliday's distinctive 'hawk' eyebrows

There was only one article by James Halliday himself: a very useful guide to cellaring wines.  Having never read his writing before, I greatly enjoyed his clear, unfussy style.  There were also features on rose and sparkling red (yum yum), and some great food and travel features, including - gasp! - recipes for a 3 course meal to accompany champagne.  Could that be more me??

Do you recognise Seppeltsfield Road in the above picture?  Yay, Barossa!

The first issue of James Halliday's Wine Companion Magazine will be on sale at the end of the month, and I'm really looking forward to reading future issues.

Sarah attended the magazine launch at Golden Fields as a guest.

I recently attended the launch of the new magazine, James Halliday's Wine Companion, at Golden Fields.  I must admit that when I received the invitation, I was just as interested in the venue as I was in the magazine itself.  Prior to the evening, I'd heard great things about Golden Fields, but never actually been myself.  You see, I tend to avoid hyped-up new venues, especially if they have a no-bookings policy.  I am the type of person who likes to plan my social life weeks in advance, and the possibility of being stuck for two hours without a table is just too much for my fragile constitution to bear!  I've also, generally, been quite disappointed with the food at these types of hyped-up venues (e.g. Mamasita, Hu Tong), and can never justify the long wait.  I thought that this event would be a good opportunity to sample some of Golden Fields' famed dishes, without the added stress of trying to secure a table!

There were loads of people there, and it was great to catch up with some bloggers who I hadn't seen in a while.  Unsurprisingly, there were quite a few wines being served, including the delicious Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling and the 10 Minutes by Tractor Pinot Noir.

And some of the nibbles that were on offer:

Clockwise from top left:
Squid-skewer
House-made cold rice noodles with sesame paste and chilli oil
Twice-cooked duck, steamed bread, vinegar and plum sauce
Pressed pork terrine with ginger jam

I wasn't particularly wowed by the dishes - the cold rice noodles had a lovely texture and a nice garnish of fresh herbs, but overall it was extremely bland.  I would have liked a lot more of the sesame paste and chilli oil!  The duck was my favourite - I love soft mantou dough!

And of course, there were plates and plates of Golden Fields' famous lobster roll.

I believe it was Ed who said he wanted to secure a large plate of these lobster rolls, and scoff the lot!

New England lobster roll, hot buttered bun, cold poached crayfish, watercress & Kewpie

I liked the rolls, but didn't love them - another danger of trying things that have received a lot of favourable press: naturally expectations are high.  I definitely liked the soft, lightly toasted buns, but felt that there wasn't enough lobster for the bread.  (Although having said that, these were canapé versions; looking at other blog posts, the full-sized version is a lot more generous with the lobster).

I've already agreed with my dad that, inspired by the Golden Fields roll, we're going to make our own lobster rolls for Christmas this year, and we're going to make sure they're chock full of lobster!

We were all given a proof copy of the magazine to take home with us.  I don't tend to read a lot of wine writing, and I was actually surprised by how much I loved it!  It seems to be targeted towards people like me: young-ish, enthusiastic wine drinkers, who want to increase their wine knowledge but aren't interested in traditional, old-world stuffy wine writing.

Hehe, I love James Halliday's distinctive 'hawk' eyebrows

There was only one article by James Halliday himself: a very useful guide to cellaring wines.  Having never read his writing before, I greatly enjoyed his clear, unfussy style.  There were also features on rose and sparkling red (yum yum), and some great food and travel features, including - gasp! - recipes for a 3 course meal to accompany champagne.  Could that be more me??

Do you recognise Seppeltsfield Road in the above picture?  Yay, Barossa!

The first issue of James Halliday's Wine Companion Magazine will be on sale at the end of the month, and I'm really looking forward to reading future issues.

Sarah attended the magazine launch at Golden Fields as a guest.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Mockingbird Bar

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try out Mockingbird, a trendy little tapas and cocktail bar on Fitzroy street, next to the George cinema. It's been open for a few years now, but I actually hadn't heard about it until I was invited down. The answer was, of course, yes. Y'all know I love cocktails, and I very rarely head out to St. Kilda, unless it's for a show or concert (recently saw [title of show]). Or some wicked cheesecake and Gugelhupf!

Mockingbird Bar
129 Fitzroy St
St Kilda, Vic 3182
Ph: (03) 9534-0000
Website

We arrived at about 7pm last Friday, together with Thanh and Ling, and took some pictures out on Fitzroy St before heading in. Have a look at more of Sandra's fabulous shots on her Flickr!

The owner George took over the site a couple of years ago, and renamed it Mockingbird, in honour of his late mother, whose favourite novel was To Kill A Mockingbird.

These shots of Atticus Finch were brought over from the USA by a regular customer.



Red velvet curtains and soft lighting create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which is enhanced by the use of scented candles. A nice touch.



They have a good cocktail list, including some classics and some signature cocktails, and the food is a mixture of small plates and main meals.

We started off with a round of cocktails... (and I must stress I didn't have these all to myself; we shared them between the 4 of us!)


Espresso martini - Vodka, tia maria, frangelico, shot of espresso

I thought the espresso martini was fabulous! It simply tasted like strong, sweet brewed coffee, with a fabulous creamy foam on top. I'm quite sure it was a lot more alchoholic than it tasted, hehe.

Back: Caramel Martini
Front: Manhattan Cosmopolitan - Vodka, cointreau, chambord, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice
Not pictured: Atticus Finch - Dark rum, sloe gin, peach schnapps, fresh lime juice

The caramel martini tasted a bit like Baileys - a good choice for those of us who like creamy cocktails.T he Atticus Finch looked quite similar to a Cosmo, with a lovely peach flavour (like Japanese peach water - momo no tennensui).

For food, we started with a Mockingbird tasting plate, which included a range of different charcuterie and other treats. FYI, for all the items we tried, I got the prices from the menu - however, George may have altered the quantities from standard-size to serve our group of 4.

Mockingbird tasting plate - Antico Rosso chicken parfait, hand-pressed sopressa, mussels in strawberry (an unusual combo, but it worked!), wagyu bresoala, taramasalata, pancetta, cornichons and olives - $24

I particularly liked the taramasalata, finding it fresh, rich and creamy. The chicken parfait was also a highlight. (Must learn to make my own!) The tasting plate came with a serving of warm pita bread, which was very soft and had a delectable charred taste from the pan.

Warm pita bread

In my opinion, cocktails are best accompanied by deep-fried morsels...

Mozzarella and herb arancini with beetroot sauce - $6

Beer battered Moreton Bay bugs tails with caper mayonnaise - $24

The moreton bay bugs were extremely fresh, and crispily fried, topped with a classic tartare-style sauce, and little fish eggs, capers and red onions scattered about. Mmm.. I could have eaten a whole plate of those to myself!

We had a couple more drinks in between courses.. (well, it was a Friday night!)

The below drink, the Lychee and Passionfruit martini, is what we would describe as a "typical Sarah drink", combining 2 of my favourite ingredients.

Lychee and Passionfruit Martini

George generously provided the recipe for the cocktail, which I will share with you now, in the hope that someone will make it for me. *Hint hint*

Mockingbird's Lychee and Passion fruit Martini

1 oz lychee vodka
1/2 oz lychee liquor
1/2 oz passionfruit liquor
two barspoons passionfruit pulp

Mix ingredients (except the pulp) in a Boston glass, shake and double strain on a cocktail glass. Add the two barspoons of passion fruit pulp.

Another Mockingbird special is their "twisted mojito" - like a regular mojito, but with vanilla vodka. I think the warmth of the vanilla worked really well against the freshness of the mint and the lime.

We shared the following main, which looked deceptively simple - just chicken and polenta - but was absolutely amazing! My favourite of the night.

Half-roasted chicken on truffled polenta with jus deglaze - $28

The chicken was juicy and had crispy skin. I don't normally like polenta, but this version was delicious. It was decadently smooth and creamy, and I think it had more than a touch of butter!

And to finish off... a couple of creme brûlées.
Creme brûlée with espresso ice-cream and burnt orange ice-cream - $11

Who doesn't love the tap-tap-crack of a creme brûlée? Mockingbird's version had a thin and crackly sugar top, and a smooth custard. No little vanilla-bean flecks, but it was a good version nonetheless. The ice-creams were both very grown-up flavours - a strong espresso, and a slightly bitter burnt orange.


From the outside, Mockingbird looks like a standard cocktail bar, and whilst they certainly do have great cocktails, I was just as impressed by the food they serve. A lovely spot for a quiet drink, a snack or something more substantial.

Sarah and Sandra dined as guests of Mockingbird, with thanks to George Lentzos.

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try out Mockingbird, a trendy little tapas and cocktail bar on Fitzroy street, next to the George cinema. It's been open for a few years now, but I actually hadn't heard about it until I was invited down. The answer was, of course, yes. Y'all know I love cocktails, and I very rarely head out to St. Kilda, unless it's for a show or concert (recently saw [title of show]). Or some wicked cheesecake and Gugelhupf!

Mockingbird Bar
129 Fitzroy St
St Kilda, Vic 3182
Ph: (03) 9534-0000
Website

We arrived at about 7pm last Friday, together with Thanh and Ling, and took some pictures out on Fitzroy St before heading in. Have a look at more of Sandra's fabulous shots on her Flickr!

The owner George took over the site a couple of years ago, and renamed it Mockingbird, in honour of his late mother, whose favourite novel was To Kill A Mockingbird.

These shots of Atticus Finch were brought over from the USA by a regular customer.



Red velvet curtains and soft lighting create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which is enhanced by the use of scented candles. A nice touch.



They have a good cocktail list, including some classics and some signature cocktails, and the food is a mixture of small plates and main meals.

We started off with a round of cocktails... (and I must stress I didn't have these all to myself; we shared them between the 4 of us!)


Espresso martini - Vodka, tia maria, frangelico, shot of espresso

I thought the espresso martini was fabulous! It simply tasted like strong, sweet brewed coffee, with a fabulous creamy foam on top. I'm quite sure it was a lot more alchoholic than it tasted, hehe.

Back: Caramel Martini
Front: Manhattan Cosmopolitan - Vodka, cointreau, chambord, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice
Not pictured: Atticus Finch - Dark rum, sloe gin, peach schnapps, fresh lime juice

The caramel martini tasted a bit like Baileys - a good choice for those of us who like creamy cocktails.T he Atticus Finch looked quite similar to a Cosmo, with a lovely peach flavour (like Japanese peach water - momo no tennensui).

For food, we started with a Mockingbird tasting plate, which included a range of different charcuterie and other treats. FYI, for all the items we tried, I got the prices from the menu - however, George may have altered the quantities from standard-size to serve our group of 4.

Mockingbird tasting plate - Antico Rosso chicken parfait, hand-pressed sopressa, mussels in strawberry (an unusual combo, but it worked!), wagyu bresoala, taramasalata, pancetta, cornichons and olives - $24

I particularly liked the taramasalata, finding it fresh, rich and creamy. The chicken parfait was also a highlight. (Must learn to make my own!) The tasting plate came with a serving of warm pita bread, which was very soft and had a delectable charred taste from the pan.

Warm pita bread

In my opinion, cocktails are best accompanied by deep-fried morsels...

Mozzarella and herb arancini with beetroot sauce - $6

Beer battered Moreton Bay bugs tails with caper mayonnaise - $24

The moreton bay bugs were extremely fresh, and crispily fried, topped with a classic tartare-style sauce, and little fish eggs, capers and red onions scattered about. Mmm.. I could have eaten a whole plate of those to myself!

We had a couple more drinks in between courses.. (well, it was a Friday night!)

The below drink, the Lychee and Passionfruit martini, is what we would describe as a "typical Sarah drink", combining 2 of my favourite ingredients.

Lychee and Passionfruit Martini

George generously provided the recipe for the cocktail, which I will share with you now, in the hope that someone will make it for me. *Hint hint*

Mockingbird's Lychee and Passion fruit Martini

1 oz lychee vodka
1/2 oz lychee liquor
1/2 oz passionfruit liquor
two barspoons passionfruit pulp

Mix ingredients (except the pulp) in a Boston glass, shake and double strain on a cocktail glass. Add the two barspoons of passion fruit pulp.

Another Mockingbird special is their "twisted mojito" - like a regular mojito, but with vanilla vodka. I think the warmth of the vanilla worked really well against the freshness of the mint and the lime.

We shared the following main, which looked deceptively simple - just chicken and polenta - but was absolutely amazing! My favourite of the night.

Half-roasted chicken on truffled polenta with jus deglaze - $28

The chicken was juicy and had crispy skin. I don't normally like polenta, but this version was delicious. It was decadently smooth and creamy, and I think it had more than a touch of butter!

And to finish off... a couple of creme brûlées.
Creme brûlée with espresso ice-cream and burnt orange ice-cream - $11

Who doesn't love the tap-tap-crack of a creme brûlée? Mockingbird's version had a thin and crackly sugar top, and a smooth custard. No little vanilla-bean flecks, but it was a good version nonetheless. The ice-creams were both very grown-up flavours - a strong espresso, and a slightly bitter burnt orange.


From the outside, Mockingbird looks like a standard cocktail bar, and whilst they certainly do have great cocktails, I was just as impressed by the food they serve. A lovely spot for a quiet drink, a snack or something more substantial.

Sarah and Sandra dined as guests of Mockingbird, with thanks to George Lentzos.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Mamasita

You may remember my awesome cousin Catherine from such posts as "Porque no los dos?". She loves all things Mexican (including her boyfriend Oscar!), so it was only a matter of time before we made our way to Mamasita, the new modern Mexican restaurant and bar that everyone is raving about.

Mamasita
Level 1/11 Collins St
Melbourne 3000
(03) 9650-3821
Website

To be honest, we actually tried coming a couple of weeks earlier, on a Friday night at 7pm. HAH! When we were told we'd have to wait about 2 hours, we gave up and went around the corner to the City Wine Shop. This time, we were strategic about it: we arrived at 6pm on a Monday night and got a table straight away. Hah! We also brought Oscar with us for authentication purposes.

Sandra got there before the rest of us, and ordered some tortilla chips for us to nibble on as we perused the menu. It came with "los dos", salsa AND guacamole. Cue fits of giggles from my cousin and I, as we repeated "Porque no los dos?", and hummed the Old El Paso song, haha. Yeah, we have a weird sense of humour.


Topotos los dos - Tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa - $8

The guac was fresh and tasty, but the chips needed a lot more salt, and we all agreed that the salsa tasted like it came out of a jar.

It took us a little longer to decide than we expected, so we ordered some corn to keep us going.

Elotes callejeros - "Street Style" chargilled corn with queso, chipotle mayonnaise & lime - $3.80 each

I loved the corn! Under the mountain of parmesan was a smear of a delicious spicy mayo and the corn itself had a wonderful smoky taste. Catherine found the parmesan a bit strong - in fact, I think she used the word "offensive" - but I love parmesan, so that wasn't a problem for me.

It took us a bit longer to get our heads around the rest of the menu - there was a selection of ceviche, tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, ensaladas and some comida para la familia (main meals). We saw a few tables around us ordering the tostadas - little corn crisps with various toppings - but at $12 for 4 we didn't feel that they would be very filling, or good value. Perhaps better with a drink than as part of a meal.
The menu has the Mexico City metro map on the back, which was a really cute touch. Oscar wanted to take the menu with him because it reminded him of home!

For starters: Cuz got ceviche, Oscar ordered 2 meat-filled tacos, and Sandra and I shared a bean taco. Some condiments were brought to the table as well - 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a bowl of a dark-green oily sauce that the waitress told us was pico de gallo, but didn't look like any pico de gallo that any of us had ever seen! It tasted good, but as Oscar confirmed, it just wasn't pico de gallo.
Ceviche de Yucatan - Market fish with green tomatoes, mint, lime & coconut milk - $12

I tasted the ceviche, and loved its tangy freshness. Cuz, however, was disappointed at the lack of promised coconut milk. When we asked our waitress, she informed us that it was actually a mix of coconut water and coconut milk, not thick coconut milk.

From back to front:
Al Pastor: Roasted pork with pineapple, coriander & white onion
de Cordero: Pulled lamb with shallots & mojo verde
Frijoles con nopales: Baked black beans, cactus, 'pico de gailo' & queso fresco

I enjoyed the soft, warm tortillas, but Oscar commented that they weren't handmade, and weren't "real" tacos because they were made of corn, not flour. Or maybe they were made of flour, and "real" tacos are made of corn? I'm not sure.
He didn't care too much for the pork one, but thought the lamb ones tasted like the ones back home. Fantastic!
The bean filling was great - hearty but not stodgy, and it had some chilli and slices of cactus inside. I put some of that green hot sauce on my half of the bean taco, and boy, was it hot!!! Go cautiously.
So, on to the mains:
Chilli relleno - Bullhorn chiles stuffed with wild mushrooms, pepitas, epazote and pumpkin sauce - $16
Sandra enjoyed the chilli relleno, and don't you just love the bright colours?
Cuz and Oscar shared the prawns, which looked quite impressive. The green almond sauce had a very subtle, fresh flavour. Again, however, Oscar commented that it didn't taste Mexican at all, and that he'd never seen or heard of a dish like this back in Mexico.
Camarones gigante a la ajillo - grilled prawns with toasted garlic, & green almond sauce - $28

I think I made the best choice of the night, ordering this big bowl of juicy, crispy ribs.

Costillas de cerdo al cipotle - Chipotle glazed pork ribs, pickled onions & coriander - $18

Apart from tasting great, I think these ribs were the best value dish of the night. $12 for 4 little tostadas or $18 for a big bowl of ribs? The ribs WIN! The meat was tender and had small crispy pockets of fat - delicious. There was also heaps of sauce, perfect for scooping up with a tortilla or soaking into rice.
I ordered some plantains on the side, not because they matched, but because I am fascinated with island food - you know, plantains, yams, taros etc. (Other examples include the food in Vanuatu, or the Carribbean food I had in London).

Platanos Machos - Fried plantains, salsa & queso freso - $4.50
These plantains were thinly sliced and deep fried with the skin on, and were delicious! They didn't have a banana-y flavour at all, but tasted like soggy fried potatoes. (And y'all know how I feel about soggy chips!) They didn't seem to be seasoned very strongly, if at all, and needed a lot of salt. For some reason, there was no salt provided on the tables, but it was quickly brought out when requested.
I didn't get photos of them, but we also ordered a bowl of plain rice, some frijoles and 2 serves of tortillas. Apparently tortillas and beans is about as Mexican as you can get, and Oscar was wolfing them down!

So, you might think all that food was enough, but not for us.

Catherine and I ordered a dessert of arroz con leche to share, whilst Oscar ordered another 2 lamb tacos. I find it interesting how people can always eat huge amounts of the food they've grown up with. You can see how much Oscar was eating on this occasion, Sandra can always eat heaps of schnitzel and potatoes, and put me in front of a Chinese banquet and it will be demolished!
Arroz con leche - Rice pudding with cinnamon, coconut & agave nectar - $10

The arroz was topped with Persian fairy floss, and interestingly, there was a crumbed base, much like a cheesecake. I don't think it quite worked - the arroz was already quite dry, and the crumbly biscuit base just exacerbated the dryness, making it catch in our throats. Not counting the crumbs though, the pudding itself was quite good.


Overall we enjoyed the meal at Mamasita, and I probably would go back again, especially to try out their drinks. The service was good too, with our waitress being very knowledgeable about the whole menu. The food came out at a reasonable pace, despite the ever-increasing number of customers. However, it was a little expensive, and definitely not authentically Mexican. Not that I'm that fussy, I mean, I eat POCHACHOES! But Cuz and Oscar were a little disappointed with the authenticity of the food as a whole. I'd be more inclined to call it modern Mexican, with the reinterpretations of traditional favourites like pico de gallo, arroz con leche and so on.

The search for authentic Mexican food in Australia still continues. I am trying to get Oscar to lend me his sister's tortilla-maker and organise some sort of Mexican fiesta, so watch this space!

You may remember my awesome cousin Catherine from such posts as "Porque no los dos?". She loves all things Mexican (including her boyfriend Oscar!), so it was only a matter of time before we made our way to Mamasita, the new modern Mexican restaurant and bar that everyone is raving about.

Mamasita
Level 1/11 Collins St
Melbourne 3000
(03) 9650-3821
Website

To be honest, we actually tried coming a couple of weeks earlier, on a Friday night at 7pm. HAH! When we were told we'd have to wait about 2 hours, we gave up and went around the corner to the City Wine Shop. This time, we were strategic about it: we arrived at 6pm on a Monday night and got a table straight away. Hah! We also brought Oscar with us for authentication purposes.

Sandra got there before the rest of us, and ordered some tortilla chips for us to nibble on as we perused the menu. It came with "los dos", salsa AND guacamole. Cue fits of giggles from my cousin and I, as we repeated "Porque no los dos?", and hummed the Old El Paso song, haha. Yeah, we have a weird sense of humour.


Topotos los dos - Tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa - $8

The guac was fresh and tasty, but the chips needed a lot more salt, and we all agreed that the salsa tasted like it came out of a jar.

It took us a little longer to decide than we expected, so we ordered some corn to keep us going.

Elotes callejeros - "Street Style" chargilled corn with queso, chipotle mayonnaise & lime - $3.80 each

I loved the corn! Under the mountain of parmesan was a smear of a delicious spicy mayo and the corn itself had a wonderful smoky taste. Catherine found the parmesan a bit strong - in fact, I think she used the word "offensive" - but I love parmesan, so that wasn't a problem for me.

It took us a bit longer to get our heads around the rest of the menu - there was a selection of ceviche, tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, ensaladas and some comida para la familia (main meals). We saw a few tables around us ordering the tostadas - little corn crisps with various toppings - but at $12 for 4 we didn't feel that they would be very filling, or good value. Perhaps better with a drink than as part of a meal.
The menu has the Mexico City metro map on the back, which was a really cute touch. Oscar wanted to take the menu with him because it reminded him of home!

For starters: Cuz got ceviche, Oscar ordered 2 meat-filled tacos, and Sandra and I shared a bean taco. Some condiments were brought to the table as well - 2 bottles of hot sauce, and a bowl of a dark-green oily sauce that the waitress told us was pico de gallo, but didn't look like any pico de gallo that any of us had ever seen! It tasted good, but as Oscar confirmed, it just wasn't pico de gallo.
Ceviche de Yucatan - Market fish with green tomatoes, mint, lime & coconut milk - $12

I tasted the ceviche, and loved its tangy freshness. Cuz, however, was disappointed at the lack of promised coconut milk. When we asked our waitress, she informed us that it was actually a mix of coconut water and coconut milk, not thick coconut milk.

From back to front:
Al Pastor: Roasted pork with pineapple, coriander & white onion
de Cordero: Pulled lamb with shallots & mojo verde
Frijoles con nopales: Baked black beans, cactus, 'pico de gailo' & queso fresco

I enjoyed the soft, warm tortillas, but Oscar commented that they weren't handmade, and weren't "real" tacos because they were made of corn, not flour. Or maybe they were made of flour, and "real" tacos are made of corn? I'm not sure.
He didn't care too much for the pork one, but thought the lamb ones tasted like the ones back home. Fantastic!
The bean filling was great - hearty but not stodgy, and it had some chilli and slices of cactus inside. I put some of that green hot sauce on my half of the bean taco, and boy, was it hot!!! Go cautiously.
So, on to the mains:
Chilli relleno - Bullhorn chiles stuffed with wild mushrooms, pepitas, epazote and pumpkin sauce - $16
Sandra enjoyed the chilli relleno, and don't you just love the bright colours?
Cuz and Oscar shared the prawns, which looked quite impressive. The green almond sauce had a very subtle, fresh flavour. Again, however, Oscar commented that it didn't taste Mexican at all, and that he'd never seen or heard of a dish like this back in Mexico.
Camarones gigante a la ajillo - grilled prawns with toasted garlic, & green almond sauce - $28

I think I made the best choice of the night, ordering this big bowl of juicy, crispy ribs.

Costillas de cerdo al cipotle - Chipotle glazed pork ribs, pickled onions & coriander - $18

Apart from tasting great, I think these ribs were the best value dish of the night. $12 for 4 little tostadas or $18 for a big bowl of ribs? The ribs WIN! The meat was tender and had small crispy pockets of fat - delicious. There was also heaps of sauce, perfect for scooping up with a tortilla or soaking into rice.
I ordered some plantains on the side, not because they matched, but because I am fascinated with island food - you know, plantains, yams, taros etc. (Other examples include the food in Vanuatu, or the Carribbean food I had in London).

Platanos Machos - Fried plantains, salsa & queso freso - $4.50
These plantains were thinly sliced and deep fried with the skin on, and were delicious! They didn't have a banana-y flavour at all, but tasted like soggy fried potatoes. (And y'all know how I feel about soggy chips!) They didn't seem to be seasoned very strongly, if at all, and needed a lot of salt. For some reason, there was no salt provided on the tables, but it was quickly brought out when requested.
I didn't get photos of them, but we also ordered a bowl of plain rice, some frijoles and 2 serves of tortillas. Apparently tortillas and beans is about as Mexican as you can get, and Oscar was wolfing them down!

So, you might think all that food was enough, but not for us.

Catherine and I ordered a dessert of arroz con leche to share, whilst Oscar ordered another 2 lamb tacos. I find it interesting how people can always eat huge amounts of the food they've grown up with. You can see how much Oscar was eating on this occasion, Sandra can always eat heaps of schnitzel and potatoes, and put me in front of a Chinese banquet and it will be demolished!
Arroz con leche - Rice pudding with cinnamon, coconut & agave nectar - $10

The arroz was topped with Persian fairy floss, and interestingly, there was a crumbed base, much like a cheesecake. I don't think it quite worked - the arroz was already quite dry, and the crumbly biscuit base just exacerbated the dryness, making it catch in our throats. Not counting the crumbs though, the pudding itself was quite good.


Overall we enjoyed the meal at Mamasita, and I probably would go back again, especially to try out their drinks. The service was good too, with our waitress being very knowledgeable about the whole menu. The food came out at a reasonable pace, despite the ever-increasing number of customers. However, it was a little expensive, and definitely not authentically Mexican. Not that I'm that fussy, I mean, I eat POCHACHOES! But Cuz and Oscar were a little disappointed with the authenticity of the food as a whole. I'd be more inclined to call it modern Mexican, with the reinterpretations of traditional favourites like pico de gallo, arroz con leche and so on.

The search for authentic Mexican food in Australia still continues. I am trying to get Oscar to lend me his sister's tortilla-maker and organise some sort of Mexican fiesta, so watch this space!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

A Wicked Supper

On Sunday night we went to see the final show in the Melbourne season of Wicked at the Regent Theatre. Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that I love, love, love Wicked. Including the final show, I've seen it 7 times. (The majority of viewings have been on cheap $30 lottery tickets, so it's not *such* an extravagant habit... right guys? Right??)

I know that I don't tend to write about non-food related topics here, so I'm sure you'll forgive me while I gush.

OMFG it was totally awesome!! We had fantastic seats, about a third of the way from the front, so we could still see all the performers' faces, but still view the stage as a whole (unlike when you get the $30 lottery front-row tickets - you're so close that the impact of the stage and effects can be diminished).

The crowd went nuts, with every major character getting huge cheers when they came on, and after every song (and during some songs too!). During For Good I could hear heaps of people around me sniffling and sobbing. Awww!

Apparently, Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) had been unwell for 2 and a half months, and unable to perform, only coming back for the final week. We happened to catch her performance on the Wednesday night during the final week (lottery tickets - yay!), and had no idea she'd even been ill. It was only after that night (but before the last show) that I did some internet research and realised what a Huge Deal it was for her to be back on stage and kicking ass. Gooooo Amanda! As for the final night, even though she was still recovering, Amanda totally nailed The Wizard and I. In her other two big songs, Defying Gravity and No Good Deed, she missed, like, half a note in each song, but still brought the house down with her performance. She's such an amazing performer. Having listened to the official Broadway soundtrack a million times, I've decided I like Amanda's voice even better than the original Idina Menzel (who also rocks).

Millsy is, well, Millsy, and his charm, good looks, and decent voice more than make up for his wooden acting and dancing. His persona also happens to be perfect for Fiyero so you kinda forget everything else, hehe. Lucy Durack is such a cute Glinda - the "ga" is silent - and you could see she was so excited and happy. I am so glad we got to see the final Melbourne show!

Well, all that standing and clapping and cheering sure does build up an appetite.

We were going to go to Caboose, but by the time we got there (about 9:45pm), we were informed that the kitchen was about to close, and we could eat, but we'd have to leave in half an hour. However, our waiter also let us know that 2 doors down was La Vita Buona wine bar (same owners, same kitchen), which was open til a bit later so we'd be able to relax and spend some proper time there.

La Vita Buona
7 City Square
Melbourne 3000
Ph: (03) 9654-7855

La Vita Buona lists itself as a cellar, bar and delicatessen.


I loved the atmosphere - all dark and cosy, with an indoor fireplace, and loads of wine bottles (on shelves, and empty ones for decoration). There are a few small tables on one side of the space, and a large communal table on the other side, which is where we sat.

When we sat down, our waiter informed us that there was a caviar special for the month of August, as it's La Vita Buona's 1st birthday. You get 25g of avruga caviar, with all the trimmings and a glass of Henriot champagne for $30. SOLD! I didn't know if this would be filling enough, so I also ordered the "marinated cheese with bread and crackers" to share.

Oooh... bubbles.

Asparagus risotto - $22

The risotto came out first, and our waiter informed us that the kitchen had "stuffed up" our order, and there would be a short wait on the caviar. It didn't bother me at all, but he was extremely apologetic and offered to deduct the champagne from the bill. Very generous! I literally only waited 5 minutes, and probably wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't said anything.

I'm told the risotto was full of fresh, crunchy asparagus, but did have a rather strong sour taste (not sure if this was un-evaporated wine or lots of lemon).

Marinated cheese with bread and crackers - $8

I'm not sure what type of cheese this was, but it was very tasty, in a garlicky oil with rosemary and peppercorns. It came with slices of good baguette, white (Turkish?) bread and oatcakes. Mmm.... oatcakes. Cheese for supper is not traditional - there's that old wives' tale that it gives you nightmares. I've read somewhere that a study has proven that it's false (funded by the Cheese people, no doubt), but I happened to have weird dreams that night, hahaha!

Now, the caviar.
Caviar plate! Clockwise from top - egg yolk, chopped shallots, chopped spring onions, capers, cornichons. Centre: 25g of avruga caviar. Bottom: 3 blini. $30 with a glass of Henriot champagne during August.

I don't know anything about caviar, or how to judge if it's good or not - beluga, avruga, whateva. Many years ago I read Jeffrey Steingarten's caviar article in It Must Have Been Something I Ate (a wonderful book), but found it so frightfully complicated that I was too intimidated to try eating any. Then of course, there's the price factor. This dish, however, was delicious! All the different tastes and textures - salty, rich, sharp, soft, crunchy. The blini were still warm, and very nice. I noticed that they were all a uniform size, possibly using a cookie cutter to cut them from a much larger blini. Ooh... now imagine that giant blini they'd have in the kitchen... I soooo want a giant blini.

To be truly Wicked, one must order a decadent dessert. We shared a vanilla Crème brûlée, which from memory was about $12, and beautiful!


The dish was rather large and deep, but the custard wasn't overly sweet or rich - I was very impressed.

La Vita Buona was a good find - despite being cosy and intimate, it's in an accessible location. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about their wines, and overall the food was good, and very well priced.

On Sunday night we went to see the final show in the Melbourne season of Wicked at the Regent Theatre. Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that I love, love, love Wicked. Including the final show, I've seen it 7 times. (The majority of viewings have been on cheap $30 lottery tickets, so it's not *such* an extravagant habit... right guys? Right??)

I know that I don't tend to write about non-food related topics here, so I'm sure you'll forgive me while I gush.

OMFG it was totally awesome!! We had fantastic seats, about a third of the way from the front, so we could still see all the performers' faces, but still view the stage as a whole (unlike when you get the $30 lottery front-row tickets - you're so close that the impact of the stage and effects can be diminished).

The crowd went nuts, with every major character getting huge cheers when they came on, and after every song (and during some songs too!). During For Good I could hear heaps of people around me sniffling and sobbing. Awww!

Apparently, Amanda Harrison (Elphaba) had been unwell for 2 and a half months, and unable to perform, only coming back for the final week. We happened to catch her performance on the Wednesday night during the final week (lottery tickets - yay!), and had no idea she'd even been ill. It was only after that night (but before the last show) that I did some internet research and realised what a Huge Deal it was for her to be back on stage and kicking ass. Gooooo Amanda! As for the final night, even though she was still recovering, Amanda totally nailed The Wizard and I. In her other two big songs, Defying Gravity and No Good Deed, she missed, like, half a note in each song, but still brought the house down with her performance. She's such an amazing performer. Having listened to the official Broadway soundtrack a million times, I've decided I like Amanda's voice even better than the original Idina Menzel (who also rocks).

Millsy is, well, Millsy, and his charm, good looks, and decent voice more than make up for his wooden acting and dancing. His persona also happens to be perfect for Fiyero so you kinda forget everything else, hehe. Lucy Durack is such a cute Glinda - the "ga" is silent - and you could see she was so excited and happy. I am so glad we got to see the final Melbourne show!

Well, all that standing and clapping and cheering sure does build up an appetite.

We were going to go to Caboose, but by the time we got there (about 9:45pm), we were informed that the kitchen was about to close, and we could eat, but we'd have to leave in half an hour. However, our waiter also let us know that 2 doors down was La Vita Buona wine bar (same owners, same kitchen), which was open til a bit later so we'd be able to relax and spend some proper time there.

La Vita Buona
7 City Square
Melbourne 3000
Ph: (03) 9654-7855

La Vita Buona lists itself as a cellar, bar and delicatessen.


I loved the atmosphere - all dark and cosy, with an indoor fireplace, and loads of wine bottles (on shelves, and empty ones for decoration). There are a few small tables on one side of the space, and a large communal table on the other side, which is where we sat.

When we sat down, our waiter informed us that there was a caviar special for the month of August, as it's La Vita Buona's 1st birthday. You get 25g of avruga caviar, with all the trimmings and a glass of Henriot champagne for $30. SOLD! I didn't know if this would be filling enough, so I also ordered the "marinated cheese with bread and crackers" to share.

Oooh... bubbles.

Asparagus risotto - $22

The risotto came out first, and our waiter informed us that the kitchen had "stuffed up" our order, and there would be a short wait on the caviar. It didn't bother me at all, but he was extremely apologetic and offered to deduct the champagne from the bill. Very generous! I literally only waited 5 minutes, and probably wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't said anything.

I'm told the risotto was full of fresh, crunchy asparagus, but did have a rather strong sour taste (not sure if this was un-evaporated wine or lots of lemon).

Marinated cheese with bread and crackers - $8

I'm not sure what type of cheese this was, but it was very tasty, in a garlicky oil with rosemary and peppercorns. It came with slices of good baguette, white (Turkish?) bread and oatcakes. Mmm.... oatcakes. Cheese for supper is not traditional - there's that old wives' tale that it gives you nightmares. I've read somewhere that a study has proven that it's false (funded by the Cheese people, no doubt), but I happened to have weird dreams that night, hahaha!

Now, the caviar.
Caviar plate! Clockwise from top - egg yolk, chopped shallots, chopped spring onions, capers, cornichons. Centre: 25g of avruga caviar. Bottom: 3 blini. $30 with a glass of Henriot champagne during August.

I don't know anything about caviar, or how to judge if it's good or not - beluga, avruga, whateva. Many years ago I read Jeffrey Steingarten's caviar article in It Must Have Been Something I Ate (a wonderful book), but found it so frightfully complicated that I was too intimidated to try eating any. Then of course, there's the price factor. This dish, however, was delicious! All the different tastes and textures - salty, rich, sharp, soft, crunchy. The blini were still warm, and very nice. I noticed that they were all a uniform size, possibly using a cookie cutter to cut them from a much larger blini. Ooh... now imagine that giant blini they'd have in the kitchen... I soooo want a giant blini.

To be truly Wicked, one must order a decadent dessert. We shared a vanilla Crème brûlée, which from memory was about $12, and beautiful!


The dish was rather large and deep, but the custard wasn't overly sweet or rich - I was very impressed.

La Vita Buona was a good find - despite being cosy and intimate, it's in an accessible location. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about their wines, and overall the food was good, and very well priced.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad