Two Dinners & A Day In Melbourne
At the end of May (yes, this post has been sitting in my drafts that long!), the SoulFood family had their first official business trip together. The destination: Melbourne, the reason: exhibiting at the Australasian Podiatry Conference, held at the very official Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
The last time we'd been to Melbourne was years ago, and admittedly any memories had long faded, so I was all the more excited to refresh them.
Due to the conference and its social commitments, we knew we would only have two evenings and one day to experience the city and its renowned culinary offerings.
So on the first night we headed straight for Coda. Located off one of the main laneways (for which Melbourne is so famous), Coda is bunkered underground. What the industrial interior lacks in coziness, the friendly gents waiting on you more than make up for.
Don't be put off by the empty table - since the place is usually always packed and one has to book weeks in advance, we were lucky to even get a reservation, however only for 8:45pm, by which time most Kiwis and Australians have long finished dinner.
The food itself is difficult to define. Described as "French - Vietnamese", "Modern Asian", or "Modern Australian". I would most probably go with the latter, describing it as plenty of fresh seafood served in innovative and unique combinations of flavours perfectly mingling ethnic and European.
Executive Chef Adam D’Sylva's diverse background and experience definitely shines through.
What made Coda's menu most attractive for us however, was the fact that it also didn't follow the traditional entree, main, dessert set up, opting instead for "Smaller", "In-between", "Bigger", "On The Side", dishes and "The Sweet Stuff".
The "smaller" dishes are essentially appetisers and designed to be ordered per person. I began with the Hervey Bay scallop, pearl tapioca and Yarra Valley salmon caviar (AU$9.8ea), which quite frankly I could've happily eaten ten more of - more of the melt-in-your-mouth scallops and tapioca, with that refreshing "pop" of caviar.
While I would love to make this entire post about each and every one of Coda's unique dishes, as you can see, food photography in dimly lit restaurant is less than ideal. But apart from that I also want you to experience it for yourself AND also have to squeeze another evening and an entire day into this post!
However, what I will finish with - "The Sweet Stuff": Peanut butter parfait, graham cracker crunch, dark chocolate and marshmallow (AU$20). While the marshmallow layer could've been a teensy bit lighter, i.e. not quite so dense/chewy, for my taste, the flavour combo was a natural winner.
While perusing the menu just now to get the description of above dessert, I discovered this among the sweet stuff: Black pepper meringue, young coconut, strawberry and lime...see what I mean?! Just to try this combination would be another reason for me to want to book ASAP.
But another day, another dusk of the conference came and went.
By the time Friday (last day of the conference) rolled around, we were absolutely shattered. I didn't remember the last time I'd talked so much my throat hurt, or been on my feet for 14 hours a day, for three days straight, having lost the sensation in my feet...
But luckily we were at a podiatry conference, so the Fraeulein also got herself a nifty new pair of loafers from Bared - producers of beautifully seductive shoes that have a "sensible" secret: a footbed designed by a podiatrist. Yeah I realise that doesn't sound too sexy, but boy do they feel sexy!
Now while the fact that I tried them on after standing in heels for 12 hours probably did have some effect, it literally felt like walking on clouds. So much so that I wore them straight out of their new Melbourne CBD shop!
Off to do some more exploration - by foot naturally - of Melbourne's laneways and arcades...
In one of which we stumbled upon these two cuties, which reminded me of my 'Brookview Teahouse' days...
But they weren't quite as as cute as these two.
They will forever be my faves!
After a rather average pizza (hence why this doesn't count as one of THE two dinners) but nonetheless delightful evening, we finished with a stroll along the river. Taking in the buzzing bars and dazzling lights, before returning to our apartment and falling into a deep slumber.
To wake to a final, glorious autumn day!
For the sake of saving our feet, we took the tram into the heart of the CBD just in time to catch the morning sun bathe the steeple of St Paul's Cathedral in its light.
In fact, the whole cathedral was aglow.
And another one...
This is the exterior of the silent room or garden (or something like that) in Melbourne, apparently the interior is a beautifully peaceful space within the Melbourne CBD. I would've loved to see it, but unfortunately it gets locked on Sundays and for some reason I can't find any further info about it...oh well! Another reason to come back :)
Chinatown...'nuf said :) Here we did have some pretty awesome dumplings!
And finally onto our last dinner in Melbourne at...
Tonka is the "sister" restaurant of Coda. Where Coda is modern Australian, Tonka is modern Indian, albeit with the same dining "system" of "Smaller", "Bigger" etc. dishes.
This time we began with Blue swimmer crab puttu betel leaf with pomelo, celeriac and coconut (AU$10ea) - a zingy and refreshing start!
And Five spice calamari with squid ink boondi, celery, pickled onion and avocado raita (AU$22) a perfect combo of spicy, sweet/sour, crisp from the boondi (a Rajasthani snack food made from sweetened, fried chickpea flour in case you were wondering ;) and the refreshing coolness of the avo raita...hmmm....
Onto the bigger dishes: Palak Paneer gnudi with pine nuts and lemon pickle (AU$27) - a fusion dish if ever there was one! Gnudi being Italian - lighter, fluffier, gnocchi-like dumplings usually made from ricotta - in this case from Palak Paneer in the silkiest, creamiest of spinach sauces. Very clever!
The fish I believe was Petuna ocean trout done in the tandoori oven and unfortunately I can no longer identify the third dish :) My bad, but all were very moreish and while having such unique flavours, complemented each other perfectly.
On to dessert: while it looks beautiful, I must admit I was a little disappointed with Tonka's version of "bombe Alaska" - Green apple bergamot Bombe Alaska with caramelised puffed rice (AU$20) to be precise.
I have always wanted to try this classic dessert which I have never seen on a menu, so I was super excited! But I should've known better than to think it would've been served the classic way...It was still nice, but just not the Bombe Alaska I was hoping for...
And that was it - two dinners and a day in Melbourne! :) Phew! Of course there was a drinks highlight as well...but more on that another time.
In the meantime: cheers!
Yours truly, Fräulein SoulFood x
The last time we'd been to Melbourne was years ago, and admittedly any memories had long faded, so I was all the more excited to refresh them.
Due to the conference and its social commitments, we knew we would only have two evenings and one day to experience the city and its renowned culinary offerings.
So on the first night we headed straight for Coda. Located off one of the main laneways (for which Melbourne is so famous), Coda is bunkered underground. What the industrial interior lacks in coziness, the friendly gents waiting on you more than make up for.
Don't be put off by the empty table - since the place is usually always packed and one has to book weeks in advance, we were lucky to even get a reservation, however only for 8:45pm, by which time most Kiwis and Australians have long finished dinner.
The food itself is difficult to define. Described as "French - Vietnamese", "Modern Asian", or "Modern Australian". I would most probably go with the latter, describing it as plenty of fresh seafood served in innovative and unique combinations of flavours perfectly mingling ethnic and European.
Executive Chef Adam D’Sylva's diverse background and experience definitely shines through.
What made Coda's menu most attractive for us however, was the fact that it also didn't follow the traditional entree, main, dessert set up, opting instead for "Smaller", "In-between", "Bigger", "On The Side", dishes and "The Sweet Stuff".
The "smaller" dishes are essentially appetisers and designed to be ordered per person. I began with the Hervey Bay scallop, pearl tapioca and Yarra Valley salmon caviar (AU$9.8ea), which quite frankly I could've happily eaten ten more of - more of the melt-in-your-mouth scallops and tapioca, with that refreshing "pop" of caviar.
While I would love to make this entire post about each and every one of Coda's unique dishes, as you can see, food photography in dimly lit restaurant is less than ideal. But apart from that I also want you to experience it for yourself AND also have to squeeze another evening and an entire day into this post!
However, what I will finish with - "The Sweet Stuff": Peanut butter parfait, graham cracker crunch, dark chocolate and marshmallow (AU$20). While the marshmallow layer could've been a teensy bit lighter, i.e. not quite so dense/chewy, for my taste, the flavour combo was a natural winner.
While perusing the menu just now to get the description of above dessert, I discovered this among the sweet stuff: Black pepper meringue, young coconut, strawberry and lime...see what I mean?! Just to try this combination would be another reason for me to want to book ASAP.
But another day, another dusk of the conference came and went.
By the time Friday (last day of the conference) rolled around, we were absolutely shattered. I didn't remember the last time I'd talked so much my throat hurt, or been on my feet for 14 hours a day, for three days straight, having lost the sensation in my feet...
But luckily we were at a podiatry conference, so the Fraeulein also got herself a nifty new pair of loafers from Bared - producers of beautifully seductive shoes that have a "sensible" secret: a footbed designed by a podiatrist. Yeah I realise that doesn't sound too sexy, but boy do they feel sexy!
Now while the fact that I tried them on after standing in heels for 12 hours probably did have some effect, it literally felt like walking on clouds. So much so that I wore them straight out of their new Melbourne CBD shop!
Off to do some more exploration - by foot naturally - of Melbourne's laneways and arcades...
In one of which we stumbled upon these two cuties, which reminded me of my 'Brookview Teahouse' days...
After a rather average pizza (hence why this doesn't count as one of THE two dinners) but nonetheless delightful evening, we finished with a stroll along the river. Taking in the buzzing bars and dazzling lights, before returning to our apartment and falling into a deep slumber.
To wake to a final, glorious autumn day!
For the sake of saving our feet, we took the tram into the heart of the CBD just in time to catch the morning sun bathe the steeple of St Paul's Cathedral in its light.
In fact, the whole cathedral was aglow.
And another one...
This is the exterior of the silent room or garden (or something like that) in Melbourne, apparently the interior is a beautifully peaceful space within the Melbourne CBD. I would've loved to see it, but unfortunately it gets locked on Sundays and for some reason I can't find any further info about it...oh well! Another reason to come back :)
Chinatown...'nuf said :) Here we did have some pretty awesome dumplings!
And finally onto our last dinner in Melbourne at...
Tonka is the "sister" restaurant of Coda. Where Coda is modern Australian, Tonka is modern Indian, albeit with the same dining "system" of "Smaller", "Bigger" etc. dishes.
This time we began with Blue swimmer crab puttu betel leaf with pomelo, celeriac and coconut (AU$10ea) - a zingy and refreshing start!
And Five spice calamari with squid ink boondi, celery, pickled onion and avocado raita (AU$22) a perfect combo of spicy, sweet/sour, crisp from the boondi (a Rajasthani snack food made from sweetened, fried chickpea flour in case you were wondering ;) and the refreshing coolness of the avo raita...hmmm....
Onto the bigger dishes: Palak Paneer gnudi with pine nuts and lemon pickle (AU$27) - a fusion dish if ever there was one! Gnudi being Italian - lighter, fluffier, gnocchi-like dumplings usually made from ricotta - in this case from Palak Paneer in the silkiest, creamiest of spinach sauces. Very clever!
The fish I believe was Petuna ocean trout done in the tandoori oven and unfortunately I can no longer identify the third dish :) My bad, but all were very moreish and while having such unique flavours, complemented each other perfectly.
On to dessert: while it looks beautiful, I must admit I was a little disappointed with Tonka's version of "bombe Alaska" - Green apple bergamot Bombe Alaska with caramelised puffed rice (AU$20) to be precise.
I have always wanted to try this classic dessert which I have never seen on a menu, so I was super excited! But I should've known better than to think it would've been served the classic way...It was still nice, but just not the Bombe Alaska I was hoping for...
And that was it - two dinners and a day in Melbourne! :) Phew! Of course there was a drinks highlight as well...but more on that another time.
In the meantime: cheers!
Yours truly, Fräulein SoulFood x
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