Meadowbank Estate

OK,

Meadowbank Estate in Cambridge Tasmania is not a secret or insider tip- its probably just about the opposite of secret as everyone we mentioned our impending Tassie trip to, insisted we visit this winery- and I am so glad we followed their advice! This place is absolutely divine!

Bearing in mind that popularity, it would be a good idea to book ahead- we were lucky that they could squeeze us in for lunch with only a 30 minute wait (perfect for some tasting!)- I would hate to think we might have missed it.

Set amongst vines with lovely water views (though in Tasmania just about everything seems to look out over the water!), this was the perfect spot for a late summer lunch. The staff were amazing- not only their efforts to accomodate a late lunch party of 8 on Easter Sunday but their knowledge of the food and ingredients as well as the wine was indeed impressive- both our waiters were mainland expats and absolutely in line with what you would expect in more upmarket Melbourne or Sydney restaurants, but with a more relaxed air.

See Rita's Bite for more raves about the staff: http://pc-rita.blogspot.com/2008/10/meadowbank-revisited.html

Now I'm not usually a fan of the tapas style eating- multiple entree sized, try different things out concept- I usually prefer to have a substantial main and go for it- but glad this place did this, we tried out a number of dishes and they had one thing in common- amazing produce (pretty much a given on the island) and simplicity of presentation and flavours- nothing felt overly elaborated.

Smoked trout fritter, garlic aoli




Smoked hock terrine, cornichons, toasted brioche

Rich flavours of the hock in the lightest of light environs- an absolute delight!


Sugar cured ocean trout, potato pancake, crispy bacon, horseradish cream



Breast of honey smoked duck, figs, walnuts, wild rocquette (to share)

The sweetness of the honey smoking and figs complemented the duck so well- perfectly cooked!

Chargrilled tuna, skordalia, grapes, capers, pine nuts, white anchovies
A perfectly cooked piece of tuna- the skordalia was brilliant (must get a recipe for that!).

I'm not going to attempt to describe the wines- as I am anything but an expert on wine, but their 2005 Pinot took my fancy (http://www.meadowbankwines.com.au/popups/wines/pinotnoir.htm)- some of our party really enjoyed the unwooded chardonnay http://www.meadowbankwines.com.au/popups/wines/chardonnay.htm.

But make your own call on the wines.

Meadowbank Vineyard

699 Richmond Road

CAMBRIDGE TAS 7170
T: +61 3 62484484



And for a really comprehensive list of Tassie restaurants check out Rita's bites http://pc-rita.blogspot.com/2006/04/restaurant-reviews.html

The Standard Hotel, Fitzroy

The Standard Hotel

293 Fitzroy Street
Fitzroy 3065
(03) 9419 4793

Its funny how you don't think to write about the places you spend the most time in, well I don't anyway- and now its time to pay tribute to one of my favouritest places in Melbourne to hang out, eat, drink- The Standard Hotel.

From the outside, unassuming to say the least, it offers fantastic food at pub prices and has what I believe to be one of the best beer gardens in Melbourne. Its a great place for a Sunday lunch, a group gathering (our bookclub Christmas party here was a roaring success!) or in winter their trivia nights are a great laugh. But the food- its just fantastic.

A great permanent menu, with the usual burgers, steak sandwiches, bangers and mash (mmm wih rosemary and lamb) but also vegetarian enchiladas, kangaroo steaks or dips and nibblies for a snack. But add to that their range of seasonal specials, and you just never get bored. Yesterday, on the specials board were chili quail, stuffed figs- awewome seasonal food.





The emphasis seems to be on fresh produce and simple flavours- always a hit.

Check it out, enjoy an afternoon in the garden. And try one of their good range of on tap beers or wines (my prsonal fave is the Shaw and Smith Sauvignon Blanc).

Why oh why are there no good breakfast joints at Southbank

We are in such a bind- invited to brekkie, thinking about where to go nearby and between the three of us can't agree...someone doesn't like the toast at Bond Store, I don't like the atmoshphere at the Blue Train, and last time I lost my glasses there, the kiwi waitress at Fabric is so unfriendly, don't want to see her sourpuss face first thing in the morning.
So we will have to travel...Sweethearts I guess it is...

Rhubarb crumble

Made with fresh rhubarb from Fiona's garden, this was a delightful tug of war between sweet and tart flavours with the coconut giving it a lovely summer feel.

Made this a couple of days later with blueberries instead of rhubarb (adding a touch of cinnamon as well as vanilla to the fruit mix)- also divine!

Ingredients
12 rhubarb stalks, washed and cut into 4cm pieces
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp caster sugar extra
1/4 cup plain flour
50 g cold butter, chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup flaked almonds

Preheat oven to 180 degrees
Mix rhubarb, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and spoon into a smallish ovenproof dish
Mix the extra sugar and flour together
Using your fingers, mix in the butter
Add the coconut and almonds to the crumble mix and spoon onto the rhubarb mix.
Bake for 40 minutes
Serve with ice cream or cream.

Eurodore Port Melbourne

Eurodore is amazing- their selection of cheese and delicacies is definitely worth a look if you're in the area, but unfortunately my breakfast choice this morning was a real flop. Zucchini fritters- they were doughy and not cooked well enough. Just not up to scratch. Accompanying salmon was great though- so I didn't have to starve!

I had to suffer through food envy as hubby's scrambled eggs were divine with crispy fat slices of bacon. And our friend from Perth's porridge with rhubarb and pistachios were wonderful.

A brilliant spot to sit outside nd enjoy the brekky, just avoid the fritters!





http://www.eurodore.com/

271 Bay Street Port Melbourne

03 9646 3499

Open 8am - 7pm every day

Hubby's Beef Wellington

This was divine. Something a bit different for a Sunday roast.

You take 2 pieces of good scotch fillet.

Season and seal in the pan.

Pan fry mushrooms and thyme.

Top the scotch fillet with duck pate, your mushrooms and a fresh sprig of thyme.

Wrap it up in puff pastry.

Brush the top with egg yolk

Bake in a hot oven until golden brown.

Serve with mash and veges.

Worst Mojito ever

Wow, now I've experienced the worst Mojito ever. At the Fitzroy Spanish Festival. Disappointment!

What's really bad is I can't remember the name of the bar to warn people. A pub on the corner of Johnston and Brunswick- actually really good fun- full as you'd expect at festival time- great music, good mixed crowd.

But the mojito was made with dark rum, a slice of lime- not big chunks- and the most pathetic sprig of mint you've ever seen. And sugar syrup, instead of raw sugar. Undrinkable and most definitively the worst mojito I've ever tasted.

Understandable if they'd have had 20 cocktails on the list, but for the Spanish festival, they had a total of 4 cocktails on offer. Pathetic!

In will find out what the place was called to name and shame!