Yak Italian Kitchen

Yak Italian Kitchen & Bar
150 Flinders Lane
Melbourne 3000

The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Express Restaurant lunches are a great way to try a new restaurant (or visit an old favourite) on a budget. For $40 you get the choice of 2 courses, a glass of wine and coffee.

I generally like to try a new restaurant and so I met a friend at Yak Italian, on the corner of Russell Street and Flinders Lane. I have been past this corner many times but never really noticed this restaurant.  

To begin we were served warm bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and olives.  How gorgeous is the crockery! The speckled gold plates and bowls are beautiful.

My friend and I ordered the same items so unfortunately I don't have a variety of meals to show.  In the battle between what I want to eat versus what would be good for the blog post, the want won this time.

Handmade potato gnocchi served with a rich meat ragu

For entree I had the Gnocchi of the day.  It was divine.  The gnocchi were light and fluffy and very moreish.  The sauce was ok and to be honest not what I imagine when I read the words rich meat ragu but the gnocchi was really the star of the dish.

The other entree option was a Caprese salad.

Pan seared fish fillet served with a seasonal vegetables salad

For main, I ordered the Fish of the day.  The pan seared barramundi came with a selection of seasonal vegetables and fennel foam.  It was beautifully presented and the fish was cooked perfectly.  The vegetables were interesting, the fennel strands were quite crisp and the fennel foam was very tasty and perfectly complemented the dish.  

The serves weren't large but they were perfect for lunch.

I enjoyed a class of Little Vespa Pinot Grigio from the King Valley with my meal.

The alternative main option was Veal Ossobuco Milanese served with chargrilled buckwheat polenta.  I did like the sound of this however it was a really hot day so I decided to go with the lighter fish option.  I did not apply this logic to the entree because gnocchi!

Good coffee finished our meal.

For those with a sweet tooth the dessert offerings were Italian style doughnuts filled with pistachio ice cream, baked orange and cinnamon or Tart of the day.

Yak presents tasty, interesting food.  I'm glad I finally 'discovered' it.      

 

Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar - MFWF Restaurant Express

Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank 3006 

I love the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Restaurant Express lunches.  The deal is 2 courses and a glass of wine for $40. There are many participating restaurants and it is a great way to try a restaurant without a huge financial outlay.  This year I only had time for one lunch so chose Mr Hive Kitchen & Bar which has been on my 'list' for awhile.  It is located in the Crown Casino complex in the space previously occupied by Gordon Ramsay's Maze.  Entry is via the Crown Metropol Hotel.    

The restaurant decor carries through the 'bee hive' theme.

We began with delicious bread and salted butter.  There were a number of wines to choose from including a sparkling.  I had the Yarra Ridge Sauvignon Blanc which was lovely and crisp.

Jicama ravioli / avocado / pistachio

My friend and I decided to share an entree and dessert to try as much of the menu as possible.  The two entrees on offer were Smoked Rainbow Trout, potato, cucumber, celery or Jicama ravioli, avocado, pistachio.  We chose the ravioli but I have to admit we had to ask what Jicama was first!!  Turns out it is root vegetable that looks like a turnip.  

The salad is served cold and the ravioli is actually very thin slices of Jicama filled with the avocado mixture.  It was light, fresh, different and quite tasty but it didn't overly excite me and is probably not something I would rush to order again.

Ora King Salmon / peas / asparagus

The two options for mains were "Black Angus" flat iron (300g), black miso, shitake salad served medium or Pan fried Ora King Salmon, peas, asparagus.  We both chose the salmon which was divine.  Beautifully cooked, with a deliciously crispy skin it was a lovely dish.

Dessert was Summer berry Eton mess or Mrs Hive's chocolate bar, peanuts, caramel.  I have previously had Mr Hive's Eton Mess at Taste of Melbourne 2012 and whilst it was delicious we were very keen to try the chocolate bar.

Chocolate bar / peanuts / caramel

The chocolate bar was every bit as good as it looks though it was very rich and dense and I would struggle to finish it alone.  The peanut butter ice cream was lovely and helped cut through the richness.

Our meal concluded with tea or coffee.  Despite this being an express lunch we weren't rushed which was nice.

Bistro Flor - MFWF Restaurant Express

Bistro Flor

555 Nicholson St

Carlton North 3068

Last weekend I enjoyed a restaurant express lunch at Bistro Flor in North Carlton. A cute little corner restaurant it has plenty of appeal.  At 12pm on a sunny Saturday our group of three had the restaurant to ourselves.  The service was good, attentive but not intrusive.

The MFWF restaurant express lunch consists of two courses, a glass of wine and tea or coffee for $35.  At Bistro Flor a choice of two entrees, mains and desserts was offered.

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Buxton smoked trout pâté, horseradish cream and caper berries

We began by sharing the two entrees.  The trout pate was nice enough however the horseradish cream was very bland - no discernible horseradish flavour.  The toast was burnt and had a distinct charcoal taste but was quickly replaced when we pointed this out.

Yarra Valley zucchini flowers, eggplant stuffing and harissa

The beautiful stuffed zucchini flowers were definitely the pick of the entrees.  Delicious.

Pan fried John Dory filets, nut and grain salad, orange marmalade

The Fish of the Day was John Dory fillets.  The fish was well cooked and the accompanying grain and nut salad gave a lovely crunchy contrast.  A little bit more of the orange sauce would have been good.

Confit Wimmera duck leg, sautéed spinach, peach relish

The duck was very nice and the peaches beautifully fresh.

Eton Mess with Victorian strawberries

The Eton Mess was delicious.  The gorgeous strawberries a highlight.  

P M 24 - MFWF Restaurant Express

P M 24

24 Russell Street

Melbourne 3000

I have wanted to try PM24's famed rotisserie chicken for quite awhile now.  Unfortunately, this was not part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Restaurant Express lunch menu.  Which, just means that I will have to make a return visit, which will not be a hardship!

Philippe Mouchel’s French Bistro and Rotisserie is in a beautiful warehouse space, with tall ceilings, large windows and beautiful light fittings whilst still retaining a cosy, traditional bistro feel.

  

The MFWF restaurant express lunch consists of two courses, a glass of wine and tea or coffee for $35. A refreshing Pinot Grigio and warm sourdough rolls in a cute fabric sack was a nice start. 

There was a choice of two entrees, two mains and dessert or cheese.  I had an entree and main, whilst my friend L had a main and dessert.  

Organic chicken liver terrine, toasted sourdough, onion jam and salad

The onion jam was the highlight of my entree.  Beautiful, sticky and moreish!

Daube of duck leg, Paris mash and vegetables

Tasmanian salmon & silver beet polenta, red wine jus and beetroot

The duck and salmon were beautiful - perfectly cooked and delicious. 

Apple Mirliton, pistachio ice cream

Dessert tasted as good as it looked.

The service was excellent.  Even though we were the first lunch sitting, (12 -1.15), and lingered over good coffee, we didn't feel rushed.


As the man himself farewelled us I was already planning my return visit.  My anticipation for the chicken has grown even more!