Summer Party Time! Ruyi - Pidapipo - Prix Fixe - Brown Brothers

Disclosure: I was invited to attend all the below events

December and January seemed to be popular time to do launches and parties, when people are in the mood to be kicking off their heels in favour for sandals and partying into the night. Also helps that I don't need to worry about where to put my jacket the whole night!

Here's a wrap up of some of the launches from the past two months that I've enjoyed…

Ruyi

16 Liverpool Street

Melbourne 3000

Upon first glance, you might be forgiven that you've stepped into the wrong restaurant. Dumplings and scandinavian aesthetic don't usually go together, but at Ruyi, the name translating literally to 'as you wish', the two make pretty good company together.

Not only is it a dumpling spot, but the place tags itself as a wine bar as well, with a healthy display of wine bottles around the room. 

The food served was inspired Chinese, keeping it's roots but presenting it in a cleaner and more elegant fashion. A little less oil, a little more feel good. 

I particulary enjoyed the fried prawn dumplings with cheese in the middle and crunchy strands of rice noodles on the outside and the xiao long bao did not disappoint (except for the fact that I punched a hole in mine before eating it), with piping hot and flavoursome soup. 

Although the fried rice, delicately wrapped in egg white skins looked so beautiful, and sounded like a fun twist on the usual fried rice, I was disappointed in the lack of overall flavour, a touch of salt wouldn't have hurter!

However, after wrapping my tongue, gently breaking into these beautiful chrysanthemum, fragrant floral jellies, all was forgiven. So cool and refreshing, you'd almost think it was healing you in some way. 

I will admit I looking at the menu prices, I felt it might be a tad rich, but I will need to put the prices in to context one of these days and visit for myself to see what the whole experience is like in full.

Pidapipo

222 Faraday Street

Carlton 3053

You know what's a bad mix in summer? Super hot weather + standing in heels + not eating all day + drinking ONE aperol spritz + being Asian (with relatively low blood pressure) = bad. 

So although nearly face planting into a bench to avoid fainting as I started going tunnel vision and my ears started blocking out noise may have been a bit of a low point, Pipadido otherwise threw a brilliant party (complete with D.O.C pizzas, um perfect?) to announce their launch into the land of Italian gelato in Melbourne, Carlton. 

With sweet, summery colours plastered on the walls, the friendly crew in white t-shirts and obligatory hipster skinny jeans scooped gelato out from the old school wells and delivered delicious mini cones of smooth and creamy gelato. 

I was generally very impressed, loving the typically fruity flavours as gelato instead of sorbets, such as mango milk and poached pear, along with the more unusual yuzu and Vietnamese mint, both refreshing in flavour and decadent in texture, ever creamy, in one lick. Pistachio, the classic, did not disappoint either.

Melbourne's pretty spoilt for choice now with some rocking gelato, and whilst I still have a very soft spot in my heart for Spring Street Gelato, Pidapipo is a very very formidable rival. Dying to check in for some salted caramel next time….only open for this summer, get in quick!

Prix Fixe

Alfred Place

Melbourne

So there I was, yapping away and poking fun at Allan (as always), when suddenly a tinkling harp started playing and the roller door that I was standing in front of gentle rattle as they rise, revealing a golden dusted topless fairy man and an exquisitely statuesque woman in a silken toga and wreath, beckoning us in with champagne and giggles. 

Woah. Despite being a sweaty mess in the 40 degree heat wave we were having, I felt like I was stepping into something straight out of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Awesome.

We were celebrating the launch of Prix Fixe, a new venture between Jason Jones and Phillippa Sibley, and the launch of the sales of their tickets. Tickets? For dining? With Prix Fixe, that's the idea. I didn't quite get the concept until I read the FAQs on the website, where they described it exactly like going to see a musical, which made plenty of sense thereafter.

So like going to the theatre, you buy tickets, for however many people you would like to go with, for a particular night, at a particular time. These tickets then cannot be refunded, or rescheduled, but you can pass them onto your friends if you suddenly can't make it. 

For it's first month of service, starting on the 21st of February, the menu will be inspired by that Shakespeare classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Hence the golden man fairies that were floating around through the night. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what Prix Fixe will deliver, where it is said that food will be the show. Don't forget to book your tickets, $49 for lunch and 2 courses, $79 for four courses for dinner. 

Brown Brothers Summer of Prosecco 

Although only around briefly, the Brown Brothers Summer of Prosecco pop up was definitely one of the most fun launches I'd been to in a while. On paper it seemed immensely hipster, a beach party, in a warehouse, in Richmond, next to a station and behind a supermarket! 

But it was definitely one of the most fun nights I had, tucking into the easy drinking prosecco in these adorable mini bottles, and kicking off my flip flops to scrunch the cool sand between my toes. Great company, with the crew from the #KingValleyLove trip present, made for an amazing night. 

Plenty of Windsor

With a new job, Chinese New year, a truckload of family visiting in about a week and a trip to Asia coming up in two weeks that I have been doing all the planning for, life's been a bit full on at the moment. I'm still in the midst of working out a new work/life balance, figuring out what my priorities are and what I am and am not willing to do to make sure those priorities happen. 

And in thinking about that, as I sit in my room where the baskets of laundry have started to pile up, sorely neglected, whilst I am so happy with the job and the things it has brought, there are plenty of things I would still like. Longer hours to get work done, an hour in the middle of the day where it's okay to have a nap and recharge, more time in the gym, more time to blog, more time to do nothing in, more time to spend with my family and of course, more time with Brad. 

Which makes our ritual of weekend brunching together now even more special to me. 

Forunately, our recent visit to Plenty of Windsor left us wanting for nothing.

As the name might suggests, Plenty is located on the Windsor end of Chapel Street, an area that I've become more and more fond of, with it's smattering of op shops, and quirky little eateries. 

Opened by Jason Chan, who we probably all know quite well now from West Winds Gin, with chef Darren Daley overlooking the menu and the kitchen, Plenty has a smart industrial fit out, with copper piping trailing down the wall, minimalist wire grids housing twiggy pot plants and what looks to be a tree keeping the Slayer espresso machine well shaded. 

I'm quickly charmed by the little details, the huge chest of drawers playing a game of peek-a-boo and doubling up as storage, and the menus that are in fact taped to the backs of cigar box covers, ranging from the minimal Habanos, to the romantic Romeo Y Julieta, what will you get? 

The breakfast menu is short and snappy, but rather sexy, a whole lot of good with a tiny bit of indulgent slipped in on the side. 

Take the fruit pot for example, with buffalo yoghurt and some sponge crumbs for good measure, or you might go a bit richer and grab the pan fried truffle, prosciutto and parmesan sandwich. I won't lie, I was very tempted. 

While deliberating Brad enjoyed a beautiful latte and I very happily supped at my chai, with honey on the side. 

In the end I decided to go down the more breakfast-y route and ordered the asparagus with goat's curd and crumbed poached egg. There's a suggestion of chorizo to go with it, but when I spy black pudding as a side, there's really no competition for me here. Although simple in presentation, it's just executed beautifully. 

The crumbed poached egg, making more of an appearance on menus these days, is the best I've had, with a healthy sprinkle of salt, the crust is light and crisp, just ever so lightly covering the egg. Open that up, and it just melts into the goats curd, which surprises me with it's richness, creamy and smooth, just the most marvellous flavour. A spot of brightness from the asparagus finishes it all up, and the black pudding puts a smile on my face with it's kick. Yes. Good breakfast. Deceptively filling too!

Brad's ham hock with pearly barley mash, fried egg and broad beans and an additional side of mushrooms, is also deceptively filling, I even thought it would be too little for him at first! It's a solid savoury hit, I remember having a nibble but not all the flavours, but I do recall that mash, with that egg being totally comforting and awesome. The type of thing I would like hungover, as much as I enjoyed it sober. 

Having both settled in nicely after our meals, I was reluctant to leave, as I sipped on my chai and talked serious business with Brad (does anyone else have their most serious conversations over breakfast?), soaking in the relaxed vibes. 

Although cosy in size, Plenty is doing some pretty formidable stuff with flavours, keeping it simple but real punchy. I'm totally keen to return for the truffle, prosciutto and pressman sandwich (that sounds like so much sin, but so much win), and look forward to seeing what these guys do with their evenings when they eventually start opening up for dinner. 

Plenty of Windsor

78 Chapel Street

Windsor

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GG's Restaurant and Bar

Disclosure: I dined as a guest of GG's Restaurant and Bar

Almost four years into our relationship, Brad and I don't really go out for anything too fancy these days, something that's nice on the wallet I suppose, but something I also wish we would occasionally plan for a little more (but when partner is not as into food as the other, there's only so much you can do…)

So it's always lovely when I get the opportunity to slide on a bit of eyeliner, wiggle into a little black dress and pull on the heels, for a relaxed but still slightly more dressed up night.

Whilst GG's is pretty slick, with a modern fit out, an impressive looking European styled menu and a lovely dark palette evoking an intimate and cosy ambience, there's still a sense of casualness, should you be in more of a jeans and t-shirt mood. 

Being just a stone's throw from the MCG, and also connected to residential apartments, it's easy to understand why. I feel this balance can be hard to achieve, so I'm pretty impressed when I find somewhere that can do it…and not feel overdressed in my heels. 

We're greeted by the manager Luca, who takes us to a cosy corner table, and promptly materialises a pomegranate bellini on to my table. Prosecco, succo di pesca and a touch of pomegranate foam is a light and fruity start to the night. The pomegranate flavour is a perfect addition, and a nice reminder that I really ought to have the fruit more often!

Luca recommends that I leave the food with him, which I'm happy to do…but make a few little requests, since I had previously been ogling the menu online. 

Our first 'course' is really much more, as a collection of small plates is gathered and presented on our table. A fennel veloute is refreshing, but still lovely and creamy, and the crab beignet's although absolutely tiny, have a soft and subtle crab flavour, that's nicely complemented by a zing of grapefruit, it's smooth and velvety texture contrasted with a crisp panko-esque batter, littered with sesame seeds. 

Two chicken wings are hidden underneath ribbons of green garnish and a handful of nuts and sesame seeds. It's delightfully crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a nice spicy kick. 

Although some might choose to start with the watermelon with feta and a balsamic glaze to clear the palate, I chose to end on it, to prepare me for the next course. Sweet mingled with tart, the creamy texture of the feta wrapping wholly around the watermelon. 

On request, I also received a serve of the black pudding pies, served on a bed of red onion and apples, being a bit of a fiend for black pudding myself. Cute as a button these pies would've only been a touch bigger than a fifty cent piece. Slightly sadly though, the flavour in these came across a bit muted to me, lacking the iron, heat and bite that I normally like in a black pudding, although I loved the pastry, and appreciated the detail in such a small little thing!

Whilst I'm always tempted by three or four cheese anything, from pizzas to souffles, I'm never quite ready to fully commit, a little bit too concerned with how many hours I might need to spend in the gym later. But I took the plunge at GG's with their gorgonzola, mascarpone and parmesan gnocchi, rich, creamy and heavenly, a small entree size serve was just right. The gnocchi, despite carrying quite a weight with all the cheeses, remain fluffy and airy. 

A small slice of salmon with spring vegetables and a crab bisque foam was a reprieve from the richness of the gnocchi, with bright spring flavour.

A feature of GG's kitchen are their rotisserie meats, which change regularly and are slowly roasted over hot coals. This particular meal, we were treated to a generous serving of lamb that had been roasted for 8 hours and a very succulent serving of pork belly, topped with a fresh and crunchy apple salad. Both were very rich and well seasoned, but I tended to prefer the pork belly with the salad balancing the flavours out nicely. The texture of the lamb didn't resonate with me as much, but I think I have a tendency to be relatively picky about how I have my lamb (a little more pink and juicy).

Crisp handcut chips and a side of quinoa and pomegranate salad with couscous made for easy eating on the side as well. I particularly loved the flavour and texture of the quinoa salad, and the bursts of sweetness from the pomegranate. 

Although close to bursting towards the end, when the beautifully presented dessert platter was placed in front of us, with little bite sized portions of each dessert for each person, a vortex suddenly appeared in my stomach, and magically…there was room…

The selection of desserts from the menu included the delicate and light honeycomb panna cotta, a chocolate nougat, rich and dense balls of chocolate mousse, fruit pate and a red skin macaron. Although the macaron may not have been the prettiest thing, it surprised me with how much flavour it had, and although I did not grow up religiously on red skins, definitely brought some nostalgia along with it. 

Nearly toppling on my heels on the way out, Brad and I both immensely enjoyed our night at GG's. A diverse range of food, that still seems to come together in a cohesive theme and palate, relaxed but still elegant atmosphere and friendly service. It's no wonder that we observed such a wide range of clientele through our meal, from the older couples, to one or two families, to boisterous family with young professional as kids, it seems that everyone can be well catered to here. 

GG's Restaurant and Bar

150 Clarendon Street

East Melbourne

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