The lane ways of Melbourne always provide a new experience for a decent coffee and some perfectly poached or scrambled eggs, I always seem to gravitate to the similar sorts of venues - dirty ones with milk crates stacked up nearby. Maybe I don't give myself much hope of enjoying the flash cafe experience, terrazzo, wicker and starched aprons appeal to me but the perceived snobbery of such places always puts me off even if there is none to be seen. Maybe I feel under dressed - I mean one suit is enough for a wedding but one more for the cafe is a little too much. Sneak around the stores and see if you can grab a bargain, and line up lunch - Where to go? On the phone to find where the cheap / cheerful noodle joint is, and superbly positioned around the corner from the death trap hotel. Vietnamese Pho` is a new phenomenon for me and is taking hold of my taste buds and probably will not release its hold till my passport has the stamp of approval. Beef Pho` is aromatic yet spicy, sour yet sweet - All bases covered and satisfaction guaranteed... I could walk through China town in Melbourne and press my face against every shop window to see which ones have the bums on seats and the look of love on the faces of punters but I weigh a recommendation like the price of Gold! So when my number one sister says... 'the one on Russell St. with the chicken and beef head on the sign' we lock in like a seagull on a hot chip!
Wedding - hors d'oeuvre roaming around the moment the bride sighs with relief is an absolute stroke of genius. Hearing "Would you like a G & T sir?" after seeing the choice of lager was just another tick for the decision makers! I was rollicking along after a few hours and combine that with a superb choice for dinner and some swing to spice up the bunions. I cannot speak highly enough of good choices at such functions - Booze, Food, and Music are all crucial to weddings and I have been lucky enough to have been to some beauties. I have also been involved in some shockers, like the one where I served at a buffet and could not count the parachute clad couples on one hand. Parachute seems a silly choice of material when choosing to smoke ciggies like a steam train let alone at a wedding!! - the fire hazard seems a large risk, but whose worried when the Holidays are flowing!
What to do on a morning after? You have two choices: Push through your pain and deal with your issues in your own way, Or.....? I do not believe in the other.... Jump on a tram and consume your body weight in Colombian coffee. I plan to take full toll of my freedom in the big smoke. St. Ari is a small cafe that many South Mebournites would know and most likely feel ho hum about. Mind you it would be their attitude to winning the tatts lotto, '14 million dollars? Yeah I s'pos I could buy a few things...' I, however was intrigued by the genetic background of every casual employee of the coffee roaster come cafe. They all seemed so exotic, Brazilian or Asian I could not put my finger on any of them. Same could be said of the menu which was clearly lunch or breaky - no middle ground. When I saw the mini patisserie cabinet inside I knew my choices were clear, more coffee, fresh apricot danish, individual carrot cake, coconut and berry tart. Never under estimate the absorbent quality of pastries - Yesterdays booze has met its match!!
Having been requested to organise a venue for dinner on Friday evening, I am instantly tightening my shortlist and cursing those tempting venues who don't take reservations. What is the reasoning behind this? Is it to deter the un-willing? Well it deterred us, we could not take a chance with a party of 8... I booked us into a consistent performer with the traditional Italian hospitality to boot, also a chance to sight some underworld players! Rambling back past the bank of the Yarra I slip past the completely inconspicuous Crown Casino, darting in and out so as to not pick up an addiction. I quickly perused the Rockpool, Brahimi and Nobu menu's with some interest but none interested me more than the Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons menu. Having been denied a reservation I thought I would get a feel for the tiled venue over a beer and rather enjoyable chat with one of the jacketed bar staff. A3 sized menu packed full of delightful dishes well within the reach of the common food lover, as though someone told them that they can charge what they like at the base of the Crown Casino cos' everyone else does - but this is what they like to charge.
I slip down Collins St. to see if I can save the life of a suicidal investment banker, but sadly they are struggling to put their plastic office chairs through the toughened glass of their elevated cages. Maybe I will be able to see them binge on my way to a post wedding function at the docklands, one poor fellow walks into one of two doors which is clearly locked - his accomplices re-direct him to the open door and his rampant blood pressure eases momentarily. Like a disoriented pigeon who sees a bath in a shop window- Bang!
A sort of stroke of luck, two of our dinnr booking have decided on another engagement which improves our willingness to hit the banks of the Yarra, and wait for a table at Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons.
Knowing our chances are slim for an immediate table, we slack jaw into the brilliantly finished interior of Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons. We make our presence felt and are happy to enjoy a drink in waiting, 45minutes miraculously becomes 15 and we are directed to a table well positioned at the rear of the cave level lighted venue.
Our waiter seems more like a caricature of a waiter than the real thing, his enthusiasm is somewhat infectious or un settling. Either way he is certainly sure of himself, presuming that we will have a selection of small dishes for entre`. We correct one of his selections as it was the exact copy of one of our post wedding hors d'oeuvre, obviously a popular choice around the platter pushers of Melbourne. I know what I want to eat but what to drink with it seems to be the tougher choice. My recently married male imbiber is also asking tough questions - and the answer becomes easier when the delightfully cautious females of our party opt for a pleasant chilled Sangiovese poured from a font on a marble wall. The venue is sectioned by certain work areas, clearly defined by the stainless racks and stacks of bread piled in, I get an impromptu lesson on the Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons method of their bread plate. The manager jokingly chastises his minion for making a wedge out of a crusty loaf, and I begin to gather the feeling that this unique playful confidence with which the staff operate lends itself to a wonderful atmosphere. I am starting to really envy the Melbournites with this at their tram door!
A hugely satisfying imported Barbera is poured and swilled as the entre's are cleaned up. Oil is sopped up and re poured from bottles set into our tight tables, cafe style with a bit more refinement than a stack of milk crates. It is unpretentious and it is tiled, showing that the two can be found together in harmony. My meal is simple in its concept and even simpler in its presentation, a stuffed pigs trotter. And that was exactly what I got - oh yes and a cheek of lemon... Don't revolt with disgust, the only thing that would give it away would be the sight of it. It tasted like a thick velvet cannelloni stuffed with a loose sausage meat with the aroma of prosciutto, some spices and herbs. Extremely satisfying and well executed. I was keen to try the other choices around our table: Spaghetti with spicy nap sauce and crab steamed in paper, A ragu like soup with black eyed beans, Meatballs, Fresh bean and carrot salad, Roast spuds with garlic and rosemary, mix of olives and lentils with sausages. All had '...such intensity!' to quote former Indian test cricketer Ravi Shastri, his words were ringing through my head after his stirring preview to the first test in Bangalore.
Candy stores and kids, mine was a delightful evening - I am confident that everyone also enjoyed their experience - Mine however was a discovery of an unpretentious, slick and happy venue that I will return to.
Now would someone show me the way to the nearest Gelateria!
Giles
hot tip, fearless blogger...my wife introduced me to beef pho at charlie's shack, grote street, 6 years ago and i have not had a better one in the city of churches since. pho loyalists are all over this temple of aroma. pho on!
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