Butchers Grill, Melbourne CBD

If you’re visiting Melbourne, you’ll see Butchers Grill advertised in almost every tourist guide and I can’t see why not. The beautiful interiors, vibrant wallpaper and grand chandeliers create an elegant European yet cosy dining atmosphere. The menu was so amazing that I have to admit, I may have over-ordered just a teeny bit for dinner between the boy and I.

Complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar!

Char-grilled baby octopus with tomato, fennel and feta pasta ($17.00)

Seared scallops with vegetable cream and pork crisps ($18.00)

Snicla – pork fillet filled with smoked ham and cheese served with spring onion and potato salad ($31.00)

Grilled lamb loin with pea puree, salted grapes and flamed capsicum ($38.00)

Bombe Alaska -28 degree vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate center and flamed meringue  ($15.00)

The Food Zoo experience: My favourite dish was the feta salad and the Bombe Alaska (which took a while to choose from the amazing mouthwatering dessert menu!). Was a bit disappointed with the scallops which were slightly overcooked but don’t think this would deter me from coming back next time!

Butchers Grill
141 Bourke St
Melbourne CBD
T: (03) 9639 1222

MoVida Aqui, Melbourne CBD

More from Melbourne… The MoVida Aqui, the newer branch of the famous Spanish MoVida Melbourne. I would definitely have wanted to try MoVida at Hosier Lane but apparently it was all booked out. Nevertheless Aqui was absolutely amazing and I’m glad I tried it!

Busy with lots of hustle and bustle around but also happens to remain quite casual. I love how the bar is decorated with red and black milk crates… A nice touch to the environmental and underground feel =)

Complimentary bread and olive oil

Anchoa -Hand-filleted Cantabrian Artisan anchoy on crouton with smoked tomato sorbet ($4.50 each)

A what-the-hell-weird-combination which you just can’t stop eating! The cold tomato sorbet with salty anchovy and crispy crouton… Never would have thought I would enjoy it.

Lengua –  Chargrilled David Blackmore +9 Wagyu Beef tongue with celeraic salad and a slow cooked egg ($16.50)

My absolute favourite dish of the entire Melbourne trip – no joke! The beef tongue was amaaazing and the celeraic salad was so crispy yet thick when mixed with the egg yolk.

Bomba – Catalan potato bomb filled with chorizo ($4.50 each)

I liked the sound of the chorizo and potato combination but unfortunately, not enough chorizo =(

Carillera De Buey – Slowly braised beef cheek in Pedro Ximenez on cauliflower puree ($22.50)

Because of this dish… I am now addicted to anything with cauliflower! The meat was cooked so well it practically fell apart in my mouth! Makes me wish I was in Melbourne again…

Pancetta con Morcilla – Confit pork belly and morcilla with apple puree ($23.50)

Hmm I don’t seem to remember tasting the morcilla (especially since I just found out it’s basically “blood sausage”) but I DO remember that everything tasted swell – Nothing like a heavy pork dish served with a sweet apple puree.

MoVida Aqui certainly lived up to expectations (the way they sell themselves on their website is actually true) and I’d be so keen to try the original MoVida Melbourne next time!

MoVida Aqui
500 Bourke St Level 1
Melbourne 3000
T: (03) 9663 3038

MAZE, Southbank (Melbourne)

And so begins a series of posts of my Melbourne food safari. Be prepared to be wowed! We’ll start with a blast from Maze – or more famously known as Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant. And wait for it… Lunch menu, three sets for only $42.o0! The best advice I’ve had going to Melbourne is that if you want to enjoy all the fine dining restaurants, eat your heart out during the weekdays as the lunch sets are the best value!

Complimentary butter with seaweed butter

One of the best complimentary breads ever! So soft with the perfect amount of salt seasoning and interesting butter as well.

Yellow fin tuna tartar white radish, yuzu, black garlic

Loved this dish – a wonderful combination of little delicate ingredients with a variety of textures especially those teeny enoki mushrooms.

Foie gras and chicken liver parfait Madeira, mulberries, toasted sourdough

Foie gras (French for “fat liver”) was so nice and smooth it spread like thick gooey peanut butter! Another one of my Maze favourites…Yum!

Charred leek salad truffle mayonnaise, pickled mushrooms

I’ve never been a huge fan of leek but I found this dish quite pleasant. The leek was soft and thoroughly cooked and the chopped shallots added a nice crunchy taste with the rest of the dish.

“ Tête de cochon” watermelon, kohlrabi, crispy pigs ear

I don’t recall ever having pigs ear before but I didn’t really prefer this dish in particular. But once again, I absolutely absolutely love how Maze plates their dishes so elegantly. The dishes are petite but not to the point where you would feel completely ripped off from the usual fine dining meals.

Crispy roast pork belly calvalo nero, soybeans, dashi

This dish was sooo nice! The pork was super crispy even when the lovely and light dashi (Japanese cooking stock) was poured over the dish when served.

Gisbourne duck leg Sweet corn, cracked wheat, fig jam

Wasn’t too ken on the cracked wheat but regardless, juicy tender duck meat with some sweet corn puree – need I say more?

And to top it all off, some random Melbourne graffitti… Everything in Melbourne is awesome!

Maze Melbourne
8 Whiteman St Crown Metropol Level 1
Melbourne. 3006
T: (03) 9292 8300