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Welcome to our second Degustation Event!!!
Our first degustation night was so successful that in order to accommodate all those wishing to come along we held our March Foodie Experimentators' Event simultanesouly on the same night at both restaurants. Over 50 adventurous diners have gathered at Le Bistro in Prahran and l'Epicerie in Elsternwick for the second culinary adventure on Monday, March 1.
Kobi, Jacky, Adrian, and myself actively participated in creating the seven course menu for the night; while Albert and Eugene suggested the accompanying wines and apperitifs for the evening. Once again, each dish was totally new, not available on our regular menu. We felt that the night's selection was more ordered and balanced, combining the excitment of a degustation night and the feel of a proper continuous meal.
Ravioli de St Jacques a la mousse d'encre d'encornet (Scallops Ravioli with Squid Ink foam, Bisque sauce and herbs) was our first dish of the night. It was accompanied by Domaine Laroche Petit Chablis, an excellent chardonnay-style wine from the Bourgogne region in France.
Tasmanian Salmon with Orange and Mascarpone Sauce was next on the menu. It was accompanied by a delicious glass of a subtle, pink-ish Prentice Ramato Pinot Gris from the Grampians region of Victoria.
Third on the list was a lighter dish - Three-Mushroom broth with quail surprise. The dish was designed to give our Foodies a breather for their tummies, while still appealing to all other senses. The broth was served with Tielka Jasmine Flower infusion.
The "main course" of the evening began with the Two Ways Quail, which was served with beetroot chards and egg & bacon vinaigarette. It was accompanied by a lighter choice of red, a beautiful Domaine Bouchard, from the Bourgogne Region in France.
The evening continued with what we jokingly call "Hungry Jacky's Burger" - in honour of our Jacky, of course - porterhouse patty and smoked duck breast on brioche with marrow and ceps sauce. The accompanying wine was Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viogner from the Pyrenees region of Victoria.
Next were the sweet delicacies of the evening. This part was kicked off by Stone Fruit Consomme, which was served with a biscuit and accompanied by a deliciously rich glass of chilled Chapoutier Muscat de Rivesaultes, from Languedoc in France.
Our seventh and last dish for the night was Cheesecake crumble with Chocolate Ganache... washed down by a shot of Pommeau de Normandie, a French apperitif, best desribed as a fortified apple cider - an innovative finish to this gourmet evening.
At l'Epicerie, I would like to thank Eugene for hosting the dinner and taking these pictures; Jeremy and his able front-of-house teamsters Annaick, Jean-Clement, Elodie, and Mathieu; and Adrian with his tireless kitchen collaborators Jessy and Arunah.
The next event will take place in four weeks' time, on Monday, 29 March 2010, 7pm.
Cost: 40pp (plus 30 for matching wine [optional]).
Click here to join the Foodie Experimentation Group and attend the event @ L'EPICERIE
Click here to join the Foodie Experimentation Group and attend the event @ LE BISTRO
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