Ramblr

Where on earth has 2017 disappeared to? I’m not sure what’s happened. Although I did post in February, saying it was my intent to get back into writing on the blog, I just feel like I’ve been consumed by life! However, a couple of weeks ago my dad informed me that the wife of one his friends, who I have never met, apparently asked why I hadn’t been writing recently and sometimes that’s all you need as a little kick in the butt to get back on it. I never like to disappoint! 

Lots of things have happened in my personal life. Brad and I got engaged (which I still intend to write a blog post about), we’ve had some unexpected losses, and I’ve turned 29 - how terrifying! 

For the latter, my actual birthday fell on a weekday, so decided to postpone Brad’s dinner treat for me until Friday, where I booked us in for Ramblr on Chapel Street. 

Ramble, since it’s opening, and a couple of glowing reviews from foodie friends, had been stuck in my mind so although I could’ve made Brad spend much more on me…sometimes the heart (and tastebuds) just want what the heart wants. 

Having had visited Leonard’s House of Love a couple of months earlier, you would never guess by first look that it was owned by the same people. The space is almost painfully cool, almost blending in on the street, dimly lit with clean stripped back finishes offset with touches of warm material and finishes. It’s very Melbourne chic. 

We’re so lucky in Melbourne to have a great range of restaurants from the high end, to the cheap eats, to the not too expensive - but definitely very nice - sweet spot, which is where, in my opinion Ramblr sits beautifully.

I love that the menu reads simply, just feature ingredients, and not too much fluff. Best to leave some anticipation after all!

Since it was my birthday celebration, my usual aversion to gluten was on hiatus for the night. The house made bread was gorgeously warm, with delightfully crunchy crust and just lightly herbed, salted, perfectly seasoned. 

Warm cocktails? That involve figs? And bourbon? (I think)? Tick, tick, tick.

Crispy pigs head fritters with sauce ravigote also ticks all the things I like. The golden, crisp, brown batter on the outside is just to die for. It wasn’t quite as moist and juicy as I thought it might be on the inside, but it was just right.

Calamari noodles with smoked bone marrow and kim chi sounds like it comes from another planet, and kind of looks like it too. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s an abstract art piece, with the vibrantly coloured, and flavoured (hello spicy kick!) kimchi a stark contrast to the incredibly textural calamari curls. I absolutely adored this dish - a real palate awakener!

In continuing my disregard for gluten for the evening, I ordered the crab linguine with lemon, dill, chilli, garlic butter and bottarga for my main (although Brad and I swapped plates half way through, as we always do). Brad’s been going on recently on how good just simple pasta is - without being drowned in sauce and this really was just a beautiful example of that. The pasta it self was beautiful in texture, gorgeously al dente, and so wonderfully complimented with simple ingredients and sweet crab meat. I don’t do pasta often, but when I do, it’s gotta be like this.

While the linguine was light and zesty, the slow cooked beef cheek, BBQ onion and horseradish sat on the other end of the spectrum. A small but densely packed luscious lot of protein. A little sticky, the beef still had some structure to it, but fell apart beautifully and was so tender - and although little, filled you up very quickly!

Dessert options are limited to two, and feeling pretty full, just opted for the baked muscatel custard with cinnamon poached quince. I’d had mixed responses to quince desserts in the past, but this creation from Ramblr was a hit for me. Perhaps because it was more custard than quince and I was kind of delighted that it was executed like a creme brûlée (not sure what I was expecting otherwise though…). I actually did like the quince a lot too though, maybe it was the texture that made it seem sweeter, and lighter than I’d had before, but I enjoyed it greatly. 

In all, I was greatly impressed by Ramblr. I love the modern Australian dining experience that is a good balance of experimental and boundary pushing, but with a lack of pretentiousness about it. The setting was relaxed and intimate, but professional. For a nice meal out, I also found the price point to be very reasonable - in fact I think there might’ve even been a first (or perhaps second date?) going on at the table next to us…! 

(Also, shit, how I am 29 already?)

Ramblr

363 Chapel Street

South Yarra

 

Atlas Dining

Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest of the restaurant

Some nights Brad and I will slouch on the sofa watching the news when some upstart in the soccer world is reported on during the sports news. At this point Brad always comments on how young they are - and how old it makes him feel.

I had the same kind of thoughts visiting Atlas Dining in South Yarra, with owner and chef Charlie Carrington just 22 years old.

God damn, you guys don’t need to know what I was doing when I was 22. I reckon it’s a pretty big feat to be opening your own restaurant!

Already with a couple of big notches in his belt, having worked in kitchens such as Vue de Monde in Melbourne, Firedoor in Sydney and around the world, Atlas Dining is the culmination of all those experiences with a revolving menu inspired by a different cuisine every couple of months.  

When I visited with Kara in October we were excited to try to the Vietnamese inspired set menu, 4 courses for $50 per person, or 6 courses for $65 per person - which in Melbourne’s scene at the moment and the quality of food that we enjoyed that evening, is absolutely amazing value. 

To begin with though, the space is simply stunning. The place is so new, it smells of freshly cut wood, which is prominent through the earthy but minimalist interior. It’s mature, but contemporary and fresh.

Drinks are presented in a Vietnamese passport cover, and although some Vietnamese specific specials were on offer such as 333 Beer, a glass of Fritz’s Riesling big the spot for me instead. 

To begin your meal, once you’ve decided if you’re doing four or six courses (do six, do six, do six), you’re given your cutlery bundle which makes me feel like an adventurer. Like if Indiana Jones was getting ready for an epic journey through a degustation, he’d want this beautiful leather bundle too!

But to start, it’s finger food (sort of). There’s really not much of a better way to warm the hearts of two food loving girls than with chicken liver pate, with honey and served on a grilled baguette. Simply delicious. The lightly charred baguette is perfection, the pate smooth and unexpectedly quite sweet with the generous dollops of honey in it. 

The king salmon with sweet potato is a vibrant punch of colour on the plate, but refreshing and bright on the palate. I absolutely adore the smooth creaminess of the sweet potato puree. 

Asparagus with wood ear mushroom and hen’s egg doesn’t scream Vietnamese in terms of flavour palette to me, but the use of seasonal asparagus makes me so happy. The dish is simple, but gorgeously executed, the tips of the lightly charred asparagus unexpectedly tender, and highlights his use of light wood cooking techniques. 

Everyone has been talking about the wagyu beef pho tartare, and rightly so! The dish is artwork when it arrives on the table and is pretty much the epitome of a deconstructed pho. The diced and tender pieces of beef are aromatic, and so tender, infused with all the richness we’re used to getting from the broth - which on this plate are concentrated and found in lightly charred onions. There’s zest, bang, texture - oh the rice crackers I absolutely adore. 

The corn fed duck with preserved vegetables is a surprisingly generous in it’s portion size, as Kara and I definitely start to fill up! The duck breast is plump, juicy and succulent, the preserved vegetables balancing out the rich meat.

Coconut, lemongrass and fried shallot is not quite a dessert as I first thought it might be, but is actually a palate cleanser - and a very delightful one at that. I would have loved for it to be 30 degrees out while eating it, the shaved ice so textural and the coconut and lemongrass so refreshing, with the contrast of the shallot to curb the sweetness. 

And now it was really onto dessert, with rice, cashew and banana - to be concise. I loved the nutty black rice coated in coconut cream - reminded me of some of my mum’s favourite desserts, and the intensely rich banana ice-cream with crunchy cashew crumb to bring it all together. Definitely one of those desserts where I could have gone for a bigger serve because it was just so delicious. 

Atlas was really all in the details, service, food, atmosphere, interior details - it all comes together to be a very relaxed atmosphere serving remarkable mature and complex food. It was nice to see Charlie himself pop out to serve and present the food himself to his diners now and again. 

The Vietnamese menu finishes in December, and in 2017, Charlie and the team will be back to introduce a menu with flavours, inspirations and ideas from their Israel trip - definitely looking forward to that one! 

Atlas Dining

133 Commercial Road

South Yarra

 

SOS Cafe

As Brad and I approached Save Our Souls Cafe (also known as SOS Cafe) in Toorak, me in my ripped jeans, ankle boots and leather jacket, I felt so out of place amongst all the lycra, puffy vests and sneakers. Can you imagine? Feeling overdressed in South Yarra? Having a Real Housewives of Melbourne moment here. 

But that’s the crowd at SOS Cafe, a health conscious cafe, with it’s gorgeous courtyard feel; it’s rare to find a cafe with more outdoor seating (even if it is kind of covered) than indoor seating isn’t it? 

Although ‘health’ these days can be a bit trendy and a bit light on the feeling feel aspect, fortunately the menu is well balanced to keep couples considered; lots of light and fresh fruity dishes, but also heartier warm dishes for those who might’ve just run half a marathon (I wouldn’t put it past the crowd). 

Matcha Maiden lattes are the size of your head, amazing value for $4.50. Brad’s latte is also sizeable, and looks lovely and rich. 

I had been craving acai bowls, despite the cooler morning, and was naturally elated with the gorgeously presented dish. More of a glass beaker than a bowl, but hey, details. 

Served with house granola, toasted coconuts flakes and fresh seasonal fruit, it’s a generous serve, that’s got plenty of texture and crunch; always something I enjoy and no shortage of fruit. 

Brad got the beef tacos, served on organic soft gluten free corn tortillas with slow cooked organic spicy beef, Mexican beans, avocado salsa and a crispy slaw. Man, SOS Cafe may be well known for their acai bowls and Instagram friendly dishes, but I loved the flavour in these beef tacos, which definitely need more love. Beef was tender and the corn salsa on top full of spice and kick. 

Overall, I enjoyed breakfast, being outside with all the natural light first thing in the day is lovely, and the food leaves you feeling good too. Very keen to visit again with a girlfriend to give the gluten free tiramisu pancakes a go! 

SOS Cafe

5/177 Toorak Road

South Yarra

 

Chandon in the City at the Emerson Rooftop

Disclosure: I was invited to dine as a guest

I know I often mention whenever I go to a regional restaurant how lucky we are that we have so many different wine regions within an hour from us…but even then, I still don’t find myself taking advantage of this fact often enough. 

Heck, when Melbournians are even reluctant to cross the river, why would they travel an hour (gasp) out of town? 

Domaine Chandon, one of the most well known wineries in the Yarra Valley (for plenty of good reasons), has considered this, and so, instead of having the visitors come out to them in the Yarra Valley, they’re bringing the cellar door and a taste of the vineyard restaurant, Greenpoint Brasserie, to the Emerson in South Yarra instead through the month of April.

Beginning from April 5th (I’m a bit late, sorry!) to the 28th, on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5pm, visitors can pop up to the gorgeous Emerson Rooftop and either indulge in a dinner menu curated from Greenpoint Brasserie, or sample the range of wines Chandon have on offer; including some that are usually only available at the Cellar Door in Yarra Valley. 

Although you’d be missing the beautiful scenery out at the winery, you will instead get the beautiful skyline view of the city, so I suppose that’s not such a bad trade off!

Stay a while and tuck into the charcuterie board that should be appropriately matched to a magnum (it’s huge!), we loved the terrine and bresaola in particular or get stuck into grilled lamb cutlets on a bed of eggplants, raisins, pine nuts and ancient grains. Equally, if you’ve got to dash, the oysters with Yarra valley salmon roe and lime are simply superb and the cured ocean trout is meaty, gorgeously pink and perfectly paired with some herbed creme fraiche. 

Or you could just stroll around with bubbly in one hand and lobster roll in the other; what more could you want?

Speaking of bubbly, although from Chandon it is a given (and delicious), be sure to give some of their other wines a go. I loved how refreshing the rose was, not too sweet, and the vintage bubbles are sublime. 

Although you can pop up Tuesday to Thursday with a few friends to sample the wines, if you can round up 30; you can book out the rooftop and have a full degustation experience. Talk about luxury hey? 

The Emerson

143-145 Commercial Road

South Yarra 3141

Ichi Ichi Ku

It’s rare that Brad and I ever actually go out for what you would categorise as ‘lunch’ over ‘brunch’ on a weekend. We always end up just heading for eggs and coffee because Melbourne’s got so many cafes going on anyway, it’s always reliably affordable and…what’s not to like about our fantabulous brunch scene? 

But when Brad had a morning class to tutor online (from the comfort of my study (which is actually a shoebox of a room)), to cover for someone else on a Saturday…all sorts of options opened for a 1pm lunch. Ooh exciting!

With a game of lawn bowls happening later in the afternoon that day in Windsor, I decided we should pop down to Ichi Ichi Ku in South Yarra for a Japanese feasting. I had heard so much about it from other friends who were in love the place (possibly married to it from the sounds of it), that I was only too happy to tick it off my list. 

I was surprised to find how small and cosy Ichi Ichi Ku was, with far more limited seating than I expected. I loved though how much it reminded me of the little bars and izakayas in Japan, with traditional looking woods mashed up with posters, graphics and all forms of Japanese style illustrations. The exterior style structures also put inside was also pretty cool. 

I’m not sure what I was expecting at Ichi Ichi Ku, although my friends had told me how much they loved it, I was somehow still skeptical. It looked too cool, too western…but man. The food was awesome.

Brad got the Kitsune udon, in a hot udon soup (obviously) with flavour fried tofu, soft tofu and shiitake mushroom. Oh man; I could not stop reaching over to help myself to the broth. So flavoursome, with plenty of delicious umami kick. 

I decided to get the bento, which came with some sashimi, a seaweed salad, miso soup, hot veggies, brown rice, a fried item, and a little dessert (strawberry daifuku and a cherry on this occasion). My photos do no justice as to how big this thing was. It took up like half the table and everything tasted so good. The veggies were fresh, the sashimi was cool, and generous thick cuts. I loved the fried veggies/prawns (I think), which was so, so crunchy and liberally covered in this delicious barbecue style sauce. It’s a lot of food, but for the most part it all tastes delicious, but also quite fresh and healthy (apart from the one deep fried thing)! 

Great value if you’re hungry as well…it’s a hunger buster!

We also got a spicy tuna roll to share (had no idea the food was going to be all so big), which also proved to be a very big serve! I had thought initially $20 was a bit on the rich end, but when you see what you’re getting…it’s actually pretty alright. Again, beautiful fresh produce, the avocado topping the rolls is generously thick, and the spicy tuna got some serious kick. I could’ve just eaten this on it’s own as my meal! 

So now, having been myself, I’m part of the group who’ll totally harp on about how good Ichi Ichi Ku is. Although I thought the prices initially looked to be a bit on the high side, when you see what you’re actually getting, it’s awesome value and super delicious. I’m not in this part of town very often, but seeing as the same group has recently opened Ichi Ichi Nana…you might see me stuffing my face with sushi again very soon…

Ichi Ichi Ku

119 Park Street

South Yarra

 

Darling

Some weekends, I’m scrambling around on Zomato for 20 minutes trying to decide where the heck I want to go for breakfast.

Some days, the cosmos align, I pop onto Instagram and bam. Someone’s posted something new, that looks delectable, that I need to visit right then and there. 

And that’s how Brad and I found ourselves at Darling one lovely Sunday afternoon. 

Darling had just opened earlier in the week when Brad and I visited; goodness is it stunning. It’s clean and minimal, but with luxe touches, not so much of the Scandinavian feel. Brass table edgings, marble counters, black mirror at the back. It was very luxurious, but in an very understated way. I couldn’t help swooning over the beautifully designed space, that still feels quite relaxed, the whole time we were there. 

My chai was delicious. Not the spiciest chai I’ve had, but just so tasty. The tea flavour was quite aromatic, and the milk was just so beautifully done…that I ended up having two. Only happens if I really like the chai y’know.

The menu has your usual suspects, but I also love the addition of “The Wok” section, which I find a bit random, but also delicious sounding and would love to come back again to try some of the offerings from it (although why on earth would you spell ‘Penang’ as ‘Panang’? It hurts my Malaysian soul).

This time though, I’m here for the organic acai bowl with banana, apples, chia seeds, activated caramelised buckinis, coconut flakes and fresh berries. What a stunner of a dish. So many colours, so cool and refreshing, and all sorts of textures, smooth, crunchy, crispy; I couldn’t get enough of it. Absolutely full of flavour too. Would have had two of these if I could have as well!

Brad got the veggie breakfast, with poached eggs, sautéed kale, avocado, roasted tomato, seasonal mushrooms and kipfler potato. I loved how fresh and bright Brad’s plate looked, I couldn’t resist tucking into those potatoes myself, so golden! 

It was but a quick visit with my darling to Darling, but I absolutely can’t wait to be back for more. Especially with summer coming around I want that organic acai bowl in my face all day everyday!

Darling

2 Darling Street

South Yarra