A couple of weeks ago (2 weeks before our wedding day actually), I was invited by the lovely people at Hot House Media and Taste of Melbourne for a sneak preview and official launch party for this year’s Taste of Melbourne at the Point in Albert Park.
Having been to the event every year (except 2008 when it began) I couldn’t help but go along as I really love the Taste of Melbourne (TOM) events held in Melbourne.
This year, TOM is saying goodbye to the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building where it has been in previous years to relocate to the outdoor lake areas of Albert Park. If you’re thinking if you should go, read on my earlier years’ visits for some motivation and salivation 😛 (TOM 2009, 2010 and 2011)
The Taste of Melbourne will be running Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 November 2012. It brings together Melbourne’s hottest restaurants including:
- Albert St Food & Wine
- Bishop of Ostia
- Libertine
- Livingroom Restaurant
- Mahjong
- Mamasita
- MoVida
- Mr.Hive Kitchen & Bar
- Saké
- Taxi Dining Room
- The Atlantic
- The Aylesbury Restaurant & Rooftop
- The Botanical
- The Point Restaurant
So, hungry yet? As part of the launch and preview at the Point, we got to have “A Taste of Taste” and sampled key dishes which would be featured and sold at this year’s TOM.
With glasses of Laurent Perrier in hand, we managed to secure a table to chuck our bags under, whip our cameras out and start our camera totting action 🙂
It was a really fun event as majority of the head chefs working at the restaurants listed above were in attendance to mingle with the guests and media as well as speak about their dishes served that day.
[clockwise from top left: Kingfish Crudo, Horseradish and Pommes Pailles from The Point (Justin Wise); Wagyu Tartare from Sake (Rose Ang); Crispy Pigs Ear from Bishop of Ostia (Matt Wilkinson); and Oysters with Spanner Crab and Green Nam Jim from Taxi Dining (Tony Twitchett)]
All the above were good from memory. I didn’t personally try the wagyu tartare but it looked tasty.
My favourite would have to be the oysters from the four dishes pictured above. The Crispy Pigs Ear was delicious on its own and I found that the bun was in the way! I would have much preferred it cut up into chunks and served on sticks instead! MMMmm…
[clockwise from top left: Prawn Burgers with Crustacean Aioli from The Aylesbury (Jesse Gerner); Spicy Dumplings from Mahjong (Wah Feng); Rekorderlig Ciders of Crisp Pear and Zesty Strawberry-Lime; and Fidua Pasta from Movida (Frank Camorra)]
One of the standout dishes that day was definitely from Movida, where a simple hearty dish of fidua pasta was served. At first, I thought it was to be a paella, but this was much better!
The taste and fragrance of all the seafood and richness of the tomatoes and paprika were evident throughout every mouthful!
The crustacean aioli from The Aylesbury were also addictive. I wanted to steal the pot and hide it in my bag. Blasted, people were looking 😛
[clockwise from top left: Mini Lemon Tarts from Albert St Food & Wine (Philippa Sibley); Yuzu Cloud, Coconut Pearl, Guava Sorbet from The Botanical (Selvina Lim); and Apple & Almond Tartine with Honeycomb Ice-Cream from Libertine (Nick Creswick)]
All the desserts were beautiful. Philippa’s lemon tarts were very zesty and definitely woke me up from the heaviness of the savoury dishes. What I really enjoyed was The Botanical’s dessert as it was just so refreshing and different.
So with this little sneak peek of what is to come at this year’s Taste of Melbourne, has your curiosity been peaked? Are you salivating? Well wipe that drool off your face as I have 5 Double Passes to give away (Thursday & Friday sessions only) to me lovely Australian readers (if you’re in Melbourne for the event that week, even better!) to the Taste of Melbourne 2012 Show!
If you are planning on going and haven’t been fortunate enough to win my double passes, why not save time queuing, go online at www.tasteofmelbourne.com.au and pre-purchase tickets, crowns and special offers.
What are crowns? Crowns are the currency to pay for the food (works like coupons at a fair; so $1 = 1 Crown).
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So these are the details you will need to read if you would like to attend the Taste of Melbourne 2012.
Loosen your belts and bring forth gluttony (only a little bit of course)!
WHAT: Taste of Melbourne 2012
WHEN: Thursday 15th November – Sunday 18th November 2012
WHERE: Albert Park (Pelican Lawn, off Aughtie Drive, beside the Carousel), Melbourne
PRICE: Advance Tickets start from $25.00 (or $30.00 at the door)
Session Time Afternoon Session Evening Session
Thursday 15th November – 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Friday 16th November 12.00pm – 4.00pm 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Saturday 17th November 12.00pm – 4.00pm 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Sunday 18th November 12.00pm – 5.00pm
Taste of Melbourne Tips
Start early. Plan your day. Wear loose comfortable clothing 
Average spend per person (if you’re not too greedy like me) would be around $40 per person (entree, main, dessert, and a drink).
You could also walk around and sample all the different types of food and wine showcased by the different producers and wine makers.
Check the Taste of Melbourne website to keep yourself updated on the timetables and events which are being held.
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Competition Time!
To celebrate this year’s Taste of Melbourne, I am giving away 5 Double Passes (10 tickets) valid for either Thursday or Friday sessions!
All you need to do, is to:
- Like my Facebook Page (if you have done so, fantastic! If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?)
- Tell me “Which of the restaurants featured this year excites you the most and why?“
*Please leave a valid email address in the email box (emails won’t be published) as a contact point.
The competition closes Wednesday, 7th November 2012 at 6:00pm (AEST) and winners drawn that night. Competition is open to all Australian residents with a valid Australian address. Your double passes will be posted out to you, so I will be in contact for a postal address if you are successful.
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[7/11/2012] Announcement: Winners of the Taste of Melbourne Double Passes
Thank you to everyone who signed up, liked my Facebook page and left a comment here.
With no further ado, the competition winners selected by the Random Number Generator are…
*DRUM ROLL*
Congratulations to Ferzeen, Daisy, Trish, Jac (pieceynumnums) & Jillian !!!
I will be in contact shortly for your details.
COMPETITION CLOSED
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I would like to try Mr. Hive Kitchen and Bar because i am a huge fan of desserts!! Not matter how full I am at dinner, there is always space for the sweet stuff! 🙂
Oooh excellent choice!
I would love to try Movida because spanish food is my most fav cuisine.
I’m going to Spain in a month! Yayy!
I am excited by Mamasita. I’ve never been able to dine there as the queues are always huge, and I’d love to sample their dishes!
I follow you on facebook 🙂
Oh no! We just have to make sure you try some of their food this year now won’t we? 🙂
I would absolutely LOVE to try out Movida!! Have never gotten around to going to the restaurant, but given my die-hard love of tapas and that ridiculously delicious looking pasta in your post, I CANNOT think of a restaurant I’ll be spending more time at, if I get to go!
Hooray! Well good luck!
have been dying to try mamasita! but its been so popular i can never score a table. luckily there will be no need for tables at taste festival!
Hahaha No there aren’t tables at all 🙂
Thank you for the great post!! Dying to try out all the food in your post!! Having something from the taxi dining will tick off my bucket list! And the oyster looks so yumm!!!
I love oysters too! So awesome! Taxi does really good fusion Asian!
Woo hoo you have a giveaway too 🙂 I can’t wait to go! I went last year too hehw
The restaurant that excites me the most is Sale and Mr Hive for desserts!!!
I do hope you mean Sake 😛
I am a sweet tooth so it would have to be Mr.Hive Kitchen & Bar
All sweet tooths FTW 🙂
I would have to say Mamasita!! Every time we are in the city we cruise past and the line is always ridiculously long and going past the 7/11 next door. It is a bit disheartening and we are always too hungry to wait. So with Taste of Melbourne’s new location, hopefully the lines won’t be so manic and we can give it a try in spacious, luxurious surroundings 😉
Oh yeah! The lines are ridiculous!
Taxi, they’ve raised the bar in this city.
Hahaha indeed they have 🙂
Mamasita because I have been wanting to go there for awhile however I must say the Prawn Burgers with Crustacean Aioli from The Aylesbury look pretty good!
Yup those prawn burgers were smashing!
Mr Hive Kitchen i have such a sweet tooth…mmmm
They do other things besides dessert! Hahaha but yeah famous for their dessert bar!
MoVida is one of the many featured restaurants which excites me the most because MoVida is the best place for tapas as it were awarded the AGAG Chef Hat in 2012.
Good one!
I’m most excited about Albert St Food and Wine because of its rustic, homey but classically and perfectly executed style of food that would keep me coming back for more.
Oooh that’s a good pick!
The Point Restaurant because I look forward to experiencing the highest pinnacle of dining!
They are pretty good!
Thank you so much!! I am so excited, best news ever!!!! 😀
You are most welcome 🙂