Baked gnocchi with tomato sauce

Tutto Bene
Mid Level Southgate
Melbourne
Vic 3006
tel: 9696 3334
Tutto Bene website

Just a quick post to remind y'all of my favourite restaurant, Tutto Bene. (You may remember it from such posts as this year's birthday dinner). I popped in with a friend of mine one Sunday afternoon, when we wanted a special lunch that wouldn't break the bank. Lovely views, friendly service, insanely good risotti. What more would you want?

Risi e bisi

Tutto Bene is still one of my favourite restaurants. After many years and many visits, they still produce reliably delicious Italian food, at a reasonable price and with good service. We visited on Australia Day Eve, for a relaxed and casual dinner before seeing Nine (which was horribly painful to watch, but at least we were full and happy!)

Tutto Bene
Mid Level Southgate
Melbourne
Vic 3006
(03) 9696 3334
Website

When we made the booking, we were told that we could definitely have a 6pm table, but we may have to leave before 8, due to lots of bookings for the tennis. As we were prepared for this, and the food came out speedily, this was definitely not a problem. In fact, I think it was very considerate of them to tell us when we booked!

Woo! Go Melbourne.

For drinks, I had an aperol spritz - aperol and sparkling wine. (I tweeted about this, and then re-created it at home for our Australia Day BBQ the next day - divine!)

Lovely drink. Plus you can see me tweeting in the background.

For starters, we shared the mozzarella special - burrata with fresh pea puree and cherry tomatoes. The little leaves you see scattered on the plate tasted like very fresh coriander, but I'm not sure what they actually were.
Mozzarella special - $18.50

Love the pea puree swirl - they've certainly got a bit more cheffy since the last time I visited!

I'd never had burrata before, but was very keen to try it. The outside is normal mozzarella, whereas the inside is a mixture of mozzarella and cream, giving it a very soft, almost liquid centre.

It was absolutely delicious, intensely milky and soft. It was fabulous with the herbs, peas, tomatoes and bread. And a generous sprinkling of salt!

You can't go to Tutto Bene without having a risotto...

But first, let's check out this funky risotto spoon!

I've noticed that they seem to change at least one aspect of the plates and cutlery almost every time I visit. (April '07, September 07, April '08, Feb 09... and those are just the visits I've blogged, hehe.)

For myself, I ordered a new addition to the menu - risotto with prosecco and scallops. (If you can't tell, I'm a sucker for any type of sparkling wine.

Risotto with prosecco and scallops - $28.50

Although it looked great and had perfect texture, I was slightly disappointed with this one, as it was a little bland for my taste.

I was suffering some serious plate-envy when I saw Sandra's mushroom risotto!

Risotto ai funghi misti - $22.00

Classic. I love how there's such a huge variety of different mushrooms in there.

After all of that deliciousness, there was still heaps of time, but alas, no room for dessert, so all that was left was a leisurely walk up to the cinema!

Before seeing Wicked for the 2nd time, we went to Tutto Bene for the millionth time. I love their fantastic risotti and their consistently good service.

Tutto Bene
Mid Level Southgate
Melbourne 3006
Ph: (03) 9696-3334

The risotto you see in the first picture was a special they had - Coopers Sparkling Ale flavoured risotto topped with scampi. I ordered this because I was intrigued by the idea of a beer-flavoured risotto... and because I've already had all the other ones on the menu already. Shhh...

The risotto was quite creamy, with a slightly bitter edge from the beer, and the scampi were amazingly fresh and perfectly cooked. From memory it was about $28. I loved it!

Insalata caprese - Slices of tomato, basil and mozzarella pearls extra virgin olive oil and balsamic - $13

Funghi Misti - Mixed wild mushroom, parmigiano and aromatic herbs - $22

As expected, everything was fantastic. And even better when washed down with some prosecco. We were in and out in 1 hour, and then up the road for some fabulous gravity-defying musical spectacularity...

Ok! November Unblogged Files time! Lots of deliciousness this month as usual!

Let's look at some breakfasts. The long weekend at the start of November was an excuse for PANCAKES! I loved Joy The Baker's overnight yeasted pancakes (recipe in Homemade Decadence), which I served with blueberries, maple syrup and maple-glazed bacon...

Overnight yeasted pancakes with blueberries and maple-glazed bacon

... and on Cup Day, I whipped up a batch of Megan J Gordon's faaaaabulous wholegrain buttermilk pancakes (recipe in Whole-Grain Mornings), this time with normal grilled bacon, blueberries & maple syrup.

Wholegrain Pancakes

And here are some non-pancake breakfasts:

Top: Cheese & Tomato Toasties; Yogurt, Berries & Coconut Sugar Middle: Raspberry Oatmeal Swirls; Buttered Light Rye Toast with Scrambles & "Hot Cow" cheese Bottom: Garlic Rolls with Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon; Yogurt, Berries, Muesli

Sandra bought me a big bag of bagels from the new 5 and Dime Bagel shop (Katherine Place, Melbourne, Vic 3000), which meant fab bagels for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yay! We got two already made up (onion bagel with spring vegetable schmear; plain with maple bacon schmear) and some unfilled ones, which I had with cream cheese and Harris Smokehouse smoked salmon.

Bagels

One night, for a totally decadent celebration, we cracked open a bottle of 2004 Dom Pérignon and had it with a Brillat-Savarin. Boom.

Dinner

Other dinners at home weren't quite as decadent, but still delicious...

Clockwise from top left: Kassler with bread dumplings & red cabbage; Steak w fried potatoes & sauteed spinach; Celeriac & bacon penne; Chicken jambalaya with creole sauce; Fleischkaese im Broetchen mit Wurst

The Double came back to KFC in November... and of course that meant I did as well. Two zinger patties, hash brown, zinger sauce, bacon, cheese. Argh so much yum.

The Double

I didn't do a lot of cafe or brunch visits in November, but I did seem to find myself at Plantation (Level 2, Melbourne Central 300 La Trobe Street, Melbourne) quite often...

Plantation coffees

 ...and I did enjoy a quick breakfast at Olio and Pane (328 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122) one morning!

Olio & Pane - Cappuccino and Raspberry Almond Cake

Here are some cheap eats I enjoyed throughout the month...

Top left: Gozleme from The Borek Bakehouse (481 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000) Top right: Sheftalia Souvlaki from Kalamaki Greek Street Food (389 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000) Bottom: Lachmachun & Chips from Wrap it Up Cuisine (244 High Street, Kew VIC 3101)

Top Left: Pork mince & beans and eggplant from Best Food Gallery (599 Station St, Box Hill S VIC 3128) Top middle: Pan fried mini Shanghai pork buns from Noodle Kingdom (264 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000) Top right: Pork threads & garlic chives and pork mince & beans from Dainty Sichuan (218 Bourke St Melbourne VIC) Bottom Left: Pork and Bean noodles from Dumplings Plus (Emporium) Bottom Centre: Chicken Pho & Viet Iced Coffee from Pho Nom (Emporium) Bottom right: Barley Beef Bimbimbap from Anju (18 Little La Trobe St Melbourne, VIC 3000)

One night, the lovely Ashley from I'm So Hungree invited me to join her for risotto at Tutto Bene (28 Southgate Ave., Southgate Shopping Complex, Southbank VIC 3006). It was so lovely sitting on the balcony, enjoying a glass of wine in the warm evening!

Cheers!

We enjoyed their spanner crab risotto, and shared a couple of desserts: a pretty pretty Eton mess, and a very impressive tartufo, made of banana gelato with a salted olive oil centre. (N.B. the wine and risotti were complimentary because Ash had been invited to review them, and we paid for the desserts). I've always loved Tutto Bene, but I feel like the desserts have really, really improved since our last visit.

Tutto Bene

Our friend Duncan had us over for a lovely lunch - homemade pretzels, fried chicken, fried potatoes and chocolate mousse. Wow!

Duncan's Lunch

Here are a couple of little treats I enjoyed this month that I really wanted to share with you!

This peanut butter choc chip cookie sandwich made by Butterbing Melbourne was incredible! Rich creamy peanut butter frosting and two super rich, chewy dark chocolate cookies. Wow.

Peanut Butter Choc Chip Cookie Sandwich

I know I said I was on a donut ban... but then the grad at work bought me a Short Stop Donuts donut because I never shut up about them, and it was a flavour I hadn't tried before and then I was off the wagon. Fluffy raised donut with vanilla bean glaze - sweet but super yum!

Vanilla Bean Raised Donut

Another day I had a serious chocolate craving, so I baked Dorie Greenspan's French chocolate brownies, with brandy-flamed raisins. They were soooo good! You gotta try this recipe!

Dorie Greenspan's French Brownies with Brandy-Flamed Raisins

Last week, I was invited to the re-launch of La Chinesca (71 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000) - lots of food, lots of cocktails, and a live salsa band! The highlights were the great cocktails, the super tender beef asado and the chips! I really want to go back another night and try more from the menu.

La Chinesca: Beef Asado; Grilled Scallops lomo saltado & lomo; CHIPS

And finally, I got promoted at work this month (woohoo!), so I had a little celebration dinner with my parents at home - Dad brought champagne, and I made Jamie Oliver's rigatoni with sweet tomatoes, eggplant and mozzarella...

Champagne, Rigatoni

 ... and some fluffy fluffy garlic buns!

Super fluffy garlic rolls

And that was November! December plans: hosting a barbecue (it's been ages since we entertained!), a little trip overseas (yay!), and a very very low key Christmas. I'm not even in the mood for baking or cooking a big meal, and so far, all that my family have decided on is CHAMPAGNE. Lots of. Hooray!

Wow, March was incredibly busy! At the end of last month's Unblogged Files, I said March would be "quiet yet fun", with "one or two events, spending time with family and friends, work, gym, the usual"... it was actually nuts! Here we go.

So, I've been busily blogging in March, with heaps of things I did this month already appearing on the blog. I've already blogged my visit to the Artisan Bakery and Bar as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, my visits to The Arbory Launch Evenings, the eggplant parmigiana dinner party, India Delights, my white chocolate and raspberry scones, and the avocado cheesecake. But there was more. Heaps more!

Avocado and lime cheesecake, avocado choc mint smoothie from Five Plus Smoothie

Breakfasts! Here are some oaty, berry combinations...

Top left: Oatmeal & raspberries x 2 Bottom left: Chocolate Cake, sour cream, blueberries, coffee Top right: Strawberry Oat Breakfast Crisp Bottom right: Yogurt, Green Press granola, raspberries, coffee

... some bread-based brekkies...

Left: Irrewarra Sourdough fruit bread, Pepe Saya butter Top right: Eric Kayser Baguette, Vue de Monde Hot Cross Bun Bottom right: Homemade focaccia, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, rocket

 ... and all of the avocados.

Left: Light rye toast, chilli scrambles, bacon, sliced avocado Top right: Irrewarra Sourdough fruit toast, Avo on toast Bottom right: Peanut butter toast, avocado on toast

The subscription is over until June, phew!

Avocado toast!

Here are some homecooked dinners.

Top row: Pumpkin risotto; Chicken fajitas Bottom row: Frikadellen with cauliflower & potatoes; Pork schnitzels, roast vegetabls, Ofen Makkaroni alla Mamma; Bratkartoffeln with scrambled eggs and bacon

Top left: Vegetable soup Top right: Taiwanese Meat Sauce on rice Bottom left: Salmon, broccolini, pumpkin, avo, spinach Bottom right: Honey pepper chicken

I did a little unblogged baking throughout March too - making Smitten Kitchen's Everyday Chocolate Cake...

Smitten Kitchen's Everyday Chocolate Cake

... and a variation on that cake, her "I Want Chocolate Cake Cake", for my friend Kimba's birthday!

I Want Chocolate Cake Cake

And speaking of Kimba's birthday, we celebrated with drinks and nibbles at Heart Attack and Vine (329 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053)...

Espresso Martinis, Aperol Spritz

... then All Of The Cheese at Milk the Cow (323 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053).

5 Cheese Platter - $37

Espresso Flip - garnished with BellaVitano Espresso Cheese - $18

And just in case that wasn't enough dairy, we stopped in at Pidapipo (299 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053) for gelato! I still think Spring Street Grocer is the best gelato in Melbourne, but Pidapipo was still pretty darn good.

Pidapipo - Hazelnut and Peach

I didn't make any new cafe visits this month, visiting good old Plantation Coffee (Shop 253, Level 2, Melbourne Central, 300 LaTrobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000) whenever I needed a caffeine hit!

Plantation Coffee (Shop 253, level 2, Melbourne Central 300 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000)

Also Little Rogue (12 Drewery Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000).

2 x Magic at Little Rogue

And Spiga (2 Menzies Alley, Melbourne VIC 3000).

Cappuccino, Bacon Sandwich

Here are some weekday lunches.

Top left: Kay's Chicken from Hanaichi, QV Top right: Thr1ve bowls! Bottom left: Dips from The Borek Bakehouse, (481 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000), Bread from Eric Kayser Bottom right: Miso Ramen from Little Ramen Bar (346 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000)

Top left: Beef Bimbimbop from By Korea (1/222 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000) Top right: Soy fried chicken and rice from By Korea Bottom left: Curry Tonkatsu from By Korea Bottom right: Bebek Penyet with Sambal, Es Teler (Emporium, Level 3 321 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000)

One night, we went to an old favourite for dinner - Tutto Bene (Mid Level Southgate,Melbourne VIC 3006), followed by the musical Sweet Charity. Yay! I know Tutto Bene is famous for their awesome risotti, but their espresso martini and eggplant chips were also very impressive.

Tutto Bene

One day, I went to Yum Cha with my parents at Taipan (237-239 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East, VIC 3109). Best.

Yum Cha

Last Friday, we went to see Hannah Gadsby at the Comedy Festival, with a few sneaky drinks before and after at Ferdydurke (31 Tattersalls Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000) and Murmur (17 Warburton Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000). TGIF!

Cocktails at Ferdydurke

Murmur (17 Warburton Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000) Front: Old Pal - Rye whiskey, campari and russo vermouth - $19 Left: Chili Mojito - $19

We had some friends over for a games night - I made spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and a giant chocolate chip cookie!

Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

Finally, I was invited to the launch of the Jameson Festival Club VIP night at HiFi Bar (125 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000) as part of the Comedy Festival. Whiskey tasting, comedy, DJs and deelicious barbecue from The Beaufort. (P.S. the food was seriously impressive - I loved the pulled pork sliders, ribs, tomato salad and fried pickles. Totally want to go to The Beaufort for dinner now!)

Jameson

Phew! That was March.

Upcoming in April: MY BIRTHDAY YAAAAAAAAAAAAY