Zoe, Hugh, Peter, Gerry, Gaby, Barry
Peter was back in town for the submission of his thesis - well done Peter - and it was a nice opportunity for the inaugural members of the posh dinner society to catch up.
Again, it's been too long since the meal to remember what we ate. I think that there was a variety of oysters that the people-who-like-them ate. It's a strange venue - it was an old ballroom and it is now quite cavernous as a dining venue.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Courthouse - 12 Feburary 11
Zoe, Liz & Gaby
I've left it too long to remember what we had at The Courthouse in North Melbourne. We all enjoyed the meal though, apart from the very strong eau de vie at the end of the meal.
I've left it too long to remember what we had at The Courthouse in North Melbourne. We all enjoyed the meal though, apart from the very strong eau de vie at the end of the meal.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Commoner - Sunday 12 September 2010
Zoe, Liz and Gaby
It has been a long time since a three member meeting of the PDS but with Liz's return to Australia we had a great opportunity. It ended up being a great night at The Commoner with all of us agreeing that it's now one of our top 5 dinners.
When I saw a Negroni on the cocktail list I couldn't go past it. It contains three of my favourite alcohols - gin, campari and vermouth - and I'd never had it before. Whilst the first hit is all alcohol everything after is just great. After the cocktail I joined Zoe and Liz with the Dao tempranillo. A great choice by Zoe.
On Sunday nights The Commoner is menu free and for $55 for food we were (overfed) extremely well. The following mouthful size morsels of yum came out and we enjoyed all immensely.
Spiced fish with paprika on crostini
Radishes with hummus
Babaganoush
Roast pumpkin with caramelised onions, yogurt and coriander
Bread and crostini with cumin sesame seeds and oil
Boiled eggs with olives and salted cod
The next dish, of semolina gnocchi with jerusalem artichokes and walnuts was possibly my favourite dish of the night. In fact I think we all enjoyed it - the gnocchi was so creamy. Other plates brought at the same time were mushroom croquettes with cauliflower puree and sSnapper with harissa.
This was about when we were feeling full but we found room for the simple but delicious cut steak with caramelised onion and horseradish cream. The hand cut chips and simple green salad with it were just right.
Finally the meal finished with a vanilla cream tart with poached quinces and walnut praline and some peppermint tea.
A great night, so great in fact that I plan to go back for my birthday dinner. It was a lovely way to end a weekend - just relaxing with friends while fabulous food was brought to us. There was a freedom that came with a meal with no menu that was so good that I don't that I'd go back on any other night than a Sunday.
It has been a long time since a three member meeting of the PDS but with Liz's return to Australia we had a great opportunity. It ended up being a great night at The Commoner with all of us agreeing that it's now one of our top 5 dinners.
When I saw a Negroni on the cocktail list I couldn't go past it. It contains three of my favourite alcohols - gin, campari and vermouth - and I'd never had it before. Whilst the first hit is all alcohol everything after is just great. After the cocktail I joined Zoe and Liz with the Dao tempranillo. A great choice by Zoe.
On Sunday nights The Commoner is menu free and for $55 for food we were (overfed) extremely well. The following mouthful size morsels of yum came out and we enjoyed all immensely.
Spiced fish with paprika on crostini
Radishes with hummus
Babaganoush
Roast pumpkin with caramelised onions, yogurt and coriander
Bread and crostini with cumin sesame seeds and oil
Boiled eggs with olives and salted cod
The next dish, of semolina gnocchi with jerusalem artichokes and walnuts was possibly my favourite dish of the night. In fact I think we all enjoyed it - the gnocchi was so creamy. Other plates brought at the same time were mushroom croquettes with cauliflower puree and sSnapper with harissa.
This was about when we were feeling full but we found room for the simple but delicious cut steak with caramelised onion and horseradish cream. The hand cut chips and simple green salad with it were just right.
Finally the meal finished with a vanilla cream tart with poached quinces and walnut praline and some peppermint tea.
A great night, so great in fact that I plan to go back for my birthday dinner. It was a lovely way to end a weekend - just relaxing with friends while fabulous food was brought to us. There was a freedom that came with a meal with no menu that was so good that I don't that I'd go back on any other night than a Sunday.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Cutler and Co - 7 May 2010
Zoe and Gaby
We've agreed not to post about the last official Posh Dinner Society meeting in November last year. It was at Cecconi's and we felt that it just didn't qualify - partially due to the poor service and underwhelming food, and partially that we had a cast of thousands (really only 8 people: Zoe, Hugh, Gaby, Barry, Liz, Peter, Gerry, and Peter's friend from SF).
So, it's been a while and Zoe and I, the only members in Australia agreed to hold a small, but quorate, meeting at the intended venue of the last catch-up: Cutler and Co.
It was a good move to go for dinner - even with just the two of us (in fact, maybe better for it!).
We started with fabulous drinks (Aperol and blood orange juice for me and Campari and pink grapefruit for Zoe) - with the mixers served in beakers which was a bit of a flash back for both of us. Then we moved on to a carrot salad (cooked, raw and pickled) and confit ocean trout. Yum.
Mains of roast suckling pig - not a whole one - and pheasant. The pheasant was a first for both of us. The breast meat was not particularly flavoursome though the quince helped, but the crumbed leg meat (recreated as a drumstick) was richer and tender. The pig came with a lovely barley risotto.
I went for the deliciously desserty ice-cream sandwich with salted caramel. Somewhat uncharacteristically Zoe chose a dessert over the cheese, and was rewarded with the best dish of the evening: steamed quince and suet gingerbread with chestnut icecream. It was just delicious - not too sweet, but the richness of the quince and the warmth of the ginger was just delicious. It was an inspiration for the winter puddings to come over the next few months.
We thought of you Liz and Peter, and hope that you get the chance to have a meeting of the US chapter of the Posh Dinner Society. You should definitely come to Cutler and Co when you're next back at in Melbourne.
We've agreed not to post about the last official Posh Dinner Society meeting in November last year. It was at Cecconi's and we felt that it just didn't qualify - partially due to the poor service and underwhelming food, and partially that we had a cast of thousands (really only 8 people: Zoe, Hugh, Gaby, Barry, Liz, Peter, Gerry, and Peter's friend from SF).
So, it's been a while and Zoe and I, the only members in Australia agreed to hold a small, but quorate, meeting at the intended venue of the last catch-up: Cutler and Co.
It was a good move to go for dinner - even with just the two of us (in fact, maybe better for it!).
We started with fabulous drinks (Aperol and blood orange juice for me and Campari and pink grapefruit for Zoe) - with the mixers served in beakers which was a bit of a flash back for both of us. Then we moved on to a carrot salad (cooked, raw and pickled) and confit ocean trout. Yum.
Mains of roast suckling pig - not a whole one - and pheasant. The pheasant was a first for both of us. The breast meat was not particularly flavoursome though the quince helped, but the crumbed leg meat (recreated as a drumstick) was richer and tender. The pig came with a lovely barley risotto.
I went for the deliciously desserty ice-cream sandwich with salted caramel. Somewhat uncharacteristically Zoe chose a dessert over the cheese, and was rewarded with the best dish of the evening: steamed quince and suet gingerbread with chestnut icecream. It was just delicious - not too sweet, but the richness of the quince and the warmth of the ginger was just delicious. It was an inspiration for the winter puddings to come over the next few months.
We thought of you Liz and Peter, and hope that you get the chance to have a meeting of the US chapter of the Posh Dinner Society. You should definitely come to Cutler and Co when you're next back at in Melbourne.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Claypots
I had a flashback a couple of days ago to our expedition to Claypots on Gertrude St in Fitzroy for chilli crab. I couldn't even remember what year we'd gone and was going to suggest 2007 when Peter unearthed the email arranging the dinner.
...
It was 20 December 2005!
Given that it was so long ago I really can't remember much at all. Anyone care to shed some light on the experience?
...
It was 20 December 2005!
Given that it was so long ago I really can't remember much at all. Anyone care to shed some light on the experience?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Esposito - 25 April 09
Zoe, Hugh, Liz & Gaby
It was Zoe's birthday this week and to celebrate a posh dinner was declared. There were a number of places that we tried to book and were unfortunately booked out but we will keep them on our shortlist for future outings (Movida, Hellenic Republic and Cutler & Co).
Esposito was a first for Hugh and Liz but for Zoe and I it was something that we'd done before - sort of. Esposito was previously Toofey's - the location of the inaugural posh dinner society meeting. The focus is still seafood and the setting is very similar. We all enjoyed our meals (vegetarian gyoza, cured salmon, quail, baked whole fish, seafood linguine, john dory fillets) but Zoe and I were reminiscing for the bygone days. We all agreed though that the taster of seafood and herbs, and the sides (orange and fennel salad and gratin of spinach and onion) were great.
Whilst Zoe and I felt that the level of service was poor, particularly in comparison with Toofey's which set the benchmark for us, Zoe felt that the desserts were possibly better. We shared a fabulous cheese plate, a pear and custard tart with blood orange sorbet, and a date and frangipane tart with vanilla icecream. Yum!
It was Zoe's birthday this week and to celebrate a posh dinner was declared. There were a number of places that we tried to book and were unfortunately booked out but we will keep them on our shortlist for future outings (Movida, Hellenic Republic and Cutler & Co).
Esposito was a first for Hugh and Liz but for Zoe and I it was something that we'd done before - sort of. Esposito was previously Toofey's - the location of the inaugural posh dinner society meeting. The focus is still seafood and the setting is very similar. We all enjoyed our meals (vegetarian gyoza, cured salmon, quail, baked whole fish, seafood linguine, john dory fillets) but Zoe and I were reminiscing for the bygone days. We all agreed though that the taster of seafood and herbs, and the sides (orange and fennel salad and gratin of spinach and onion) were great.
Whilst Zoe and I felt that the level of service was poor, particularly in comparison with Toofey's which set the benchmark for us, Zoe felt that the desserts were possibly better. We shared a fabulous cheese plate, a pear and custard tart with blood orange sorbet, and a date and frangipane tart with vanilla icecream. Yum!
Rumi - 19 March 09
Peter, Emily, Zoe, Hugh, Simon & Gaby
Peter was back in Australia with his partner Emily. When organising the dinner I asked Peter if there was anywhere that he was interested in going to or any cuisines that he was missing. His response included lebanese and as I'm going through something of a middle eastern phase at the moment I was pretty happy and went ahead and booked for us at Rumi.
Peter, Emily and I were joined by Simon, Zoe and Hugh and we had a lovely meal with highlights that included panfried cauliflower, eggplant, lamb and mamoul (a beautiful date shortbread).
Peter was back in Australia with his partner Emily. When organising the dinner I asked Peter if there was anywhere that he was interested in going to or any cuisines that he was missing. His response included lebanese and as I'm going through something of a middle eastern phase at the moment I was pretty happy and went ahead and booked for us at Rumi.
Peter, Emily and I were joined by Simon, Zoe and Hugh and we had a lovely meal with highlights that included panfried cauliflower, eggplant, lamb and mamoul (a beautiful date shortbread).
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