Two exciting things

Excitement number one is me getting up the gumption to take this blog to more than just me. I just commented on Gluten Free Girl's blog thanking her for all her inspiration and linking this blog. Me. Author of a badly written blog that doesn't even have pictures yet! Scared! But, the only way to be a writer is to write, hence I am writing. Practise makes perfect, right?

Excitement number two was, of course, food. Wonderful gourmet food of the modern 'the chef is making a statement' style. Vue de monde is a French restaurant in Melbourne that is "Inspired by the days best available produce, menus are tailored to each table creating a tasting style experience."

It is not cheap:
"5 course for $150 (inclusive of some premium ingredients), $15 per course for each additional course."
But it was fantastic.

We saw no menu, the uber efficient/fantastic wait staff sat us down at our table and asked if anyone had any food issues besides my gluten intolerance, which had been mentioned when we booked. Then they started to bring us food......

The Menu (from what I scribbled down at the time)
An amuse bouche of aloe vera and green tea broth with mushroom foam

Truffle risotto garnished with shaved truffle

A terrine with 5 layers - carrot, foie gras, ham, rabbit, pistaccio, served with fresh pistaccios

King fish fillet served with carrot and cardamon foam on baba ganoush garnished with a crisp aubergine slice with coconut husk char for seasoning

Palate cleanser - Peach juice served with dry ice

Slow cooked caramelised belly pork layered with crackling and pork cracker in pan juices with wilted turnip leaves

Lamb done three ways - sirloin, sweet bread, and belly, served with a dark sherry reduction which was painted on the plate and split peas

Palate cleanser - a frozen kiwi fruit lollipop covered in peppermint jelly

Amuse bouche - served in a 6 pack egg carton served in pullet egg shells - pistacio custard, white chocolate and orange mousse, prune and armagnac eggnog

Dessert:
Grand Marnier souffle with apricot sorbet and vanilla creme anglaise with apricot sauce and citrus powder
A chocolate cake(?) made from almond meal and rice flour filled with spiced chocolate ganache served with milk sorbet

amuse bouche - petit fours
almond macaroons
Meringue with a pipette of passionfruit and mango sauce which is squirted into the mouth while eating
Banana icecream ball covered with dark chocolate
chocolate coffee cup
Apple in caramel sauce with foam garnish

Others in my party had matched wines to each course as well. I had a sample of each, but only a sip or two. *sigh* bliss

While I feel a bad person for eating obese goose liver (foie gras) and eating things from depressed chicken egg shells (pullet eggs), it was completely tremendous. We rolled out of the restaurant four hours later stuffed to the gills and then some. But despite this we are still contemplating the twelve course menu they also offer - the gastronomes menu.

Though I may have to be vegan for a couple of days to work off my bad food karma!

Not only was the food a celebration of flavours and the like, it was also served warmth and good cheer and not once was I left out of anything as a gluten intolerant. The only dish in the menu above that was different for me was the first amuse bouche. The others had some sort of lobster bisque served in sea anenomes. They had gluten free bread for me, which they even toasted! I had my own pat of butter (which was so good. Why is it that I forget how wonderful butter can be?) to prevent cross contamination.
How can people say the GF is restrictive when five people can enjoy together such a feast? Though I don't suppose that truffles being gluten free will occur to many as they are darned expensive. But, we are not relegated to rice cakes and water for the rest of our lives.

Tonight is a double feature at the Astor cinema, which is a beautiful building, still with original balcony level, and actually has double features! Which I think is lacking in the modern cinema experience. The Philosopher and I shall eat at Grill'd again and I shall try a new burger out. This is not deprivation - this is living!

Vue de Monde, Collins St, Melbourne
The Astor Cinema, Windsor, Melbourne. Cult movies, double features, completely awesome.