For Tim's birthday this year, his choice for dinner was a Melbourne institution, Grossi Florentino, which serves an Italian inspired menu. We went to Grossi Florentino Upstairs, the swish fine dining section:
Service is done the old fashioned way - you are referred to as "sir" or "madam", as the case may be, and you are waited on very attentively. There is a stool for your handbag, and crumbs are vacuumed off the white linen tablecloth between courses with what looks like a gold cigarette case.
The side plate at Grossi Florentino reflects parts of the 1933 murals painted on the walls of the restaurant:
Soon after being seated, we were served with a couple of amuse bouche - the first being salmon:
and the second, being almost too pretty to eat, clams:
We were also served bread with a choice of butter, balsamic butter or oil (the balsamic butter was dreamy):
At Tim's option, we went a la carte - 3 courses for $140.
For entrée, Tim chose the risotto con gamberi (prawns, saffron, zucchini):
while I went for the mud crab (mandarin, radish, bunya nut, buckwheat) - primarily because I was curious what they did with the bunya nut - it is not a strong flavour so I didn't really notice it in the dish:
Again, it was such a pretty dish.
For main, Tim went with a special - slow cooked wagyu:
I went for the John Dory - kale, macadamia, saffron and celeriac:
The kale is the green swishes on the plate. The little splodges on top of the fish are nduja, a spreadable salami. This dish was very light and enjoyable - I was happy with my choice, and a light meal helps you to manage three courses.
Before dessert, we were served a palate cleanser in the form of coffee sorbet on milk foam:
For dessert, I couldn't go past the chocolate soufflé - I have never had a soufflé that I didn't make myself before, and I really enjoyed it, particularly with the lashings of chocolate sauce:
Tim's dessert was the showpiece - the Sfera alla Fragole, a magical dome with fermented strawberries, meringue, yoghurt sorbet and marscapone:
With coffee, we were served another magical dome:
This one was filled with sweets:
80 Bourke St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: (03) 9662 1811
Wow that's the way great meals should be done! You've got me thinking about the balsamic butter now too! :D
ReplyDeleteWow that does look like a really special dinner - I have been past so many times but never stepped inside and now I would love to (if there is enough veg food of course - though the desserts look really special)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun dinner!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is the most fantastic dinner you have ever posted...what lovely food and the presentations were stunning. Happy Birthday, Tim! Love this post.
ReplyDelete