Vue de Monde (Melbourne) 28/05/2011

Some how Shannon Bennett has managed to spread himself across the world and manages to run, in our virw, the best restaurant in Melbourne by fair margin. Every aspect of the food is outstanding, as is the service and Alex, their Canadian sommelieur, served fine matching wines with each dish we ate. Since it's the best we don't have to name any of their competitors. They are simply better than the rest. Everything may change when they move in a few weeks to the 55th floor at the Rialto. It could be even better! Their currently very crowded kitchen
will be much larger. The view will be magnificent to but the table cloths will be gone!.
For now everything is for sale, their show plates ($250)
that match the painting on the wall in the entry hall
and even the painting itself.
The meal we had was superlative. After three small Amuse bouche we had a series of dishes each better than the last until the coup de gras, if you can say such a thing, an unbelievable smoked chocolate souffle. Only one dish failed to reach the highest standard, a tuna which had been cooked through rather than seared. The waghu dish and the cheek were mouth watering, tender and full of flavour. Just simply a spectacular meal.
Here are the dishes and the menu.

AMUSE BOUCHE

Smoked eel

Vensison

Pumpkin

CRABE, BROCOLI, BETTERAVE

Spanner crab, broccoli, beetroot

2009 Feudi di San Gregorio ‘Pietracalda’ Fiano di Avellino DOCG Campania, Italy

CONSOMMÉ DE CHAMPIGNON

Mushrooms, walnuts, consommé

2009 Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Etna Rosato’ Etna Rosato DOC Sicily, Italy

ÉCREVISSE, LANGUE DE BOEUF, ÉMULSION DE BEURRE NOISETTE

Marron, beef tongue, brown butter emulsion

1994 Best’s Riesling Great Western Victoria, Aus

OEUF DE CANARD, RIS D’AGNEAU, OIGNON, TRUFFE

Fried duck egg, lamb sweetbreads, pickled onion, truffle

2002 Moët & Chandon ‘Cuvée Dom Pérignon’ Épernay Champagne AOC, Fra

SORBET AU CONCOMBRE, GRANITE AU SUREAU

Cucumber sorbet, elderflower granite, frozen lime

THON, GRAISSE DE PORC, POIRE ÉPICÉE

Blue fin tuna toro, pork fat, spiced pear. The only dish that failed as the tuna was not just seared but cooked through.

2009 Carrick Pinot Noir Central Otago South Island, New Zealand

KANGOUROU, CHOU, FRAMBOISE

Kangaroo, cabbage, raspberry

2007 Cristom Pinot Noir ‘Sommers Reserve’ Willamette Valley, Oregon, United States of America

JOUE DE BŒUF DE BLACKMORE, RADIS, ANETH ET SAUCE AUX ANCHOIS

Blackmore wagyu beef cheek, radish, dill, caper, anchovy sauce

1998 Dalwhinnie Shiraz Eagle Series Victoria, Australia

ASSORTIMENT DE FROMAGES

Assortment of cheeses, bread, condiments

2009 Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOC Rhône Valley, France

ENTREMET SUCRÉ

Frozen lolly, popping candy, house made lemonade

CRÈME GLACÉE À MERINGUE CITRONNÉE, CHOCOLAT BLANC, PERSIL

Lemon meringue ice cream, white chocolate, parsley, served with lemonade

SOUFFLÉ Á LA GRAINE DE TONKA, GLACE AU CACAO FUMÉ

Tonka bean soufflé, smoked cocoa ice cream

NOTRE SÉLECTION DE CAFÉS, THÉS, INFUSIONS ET PETITS-FOURS

A selection of coffee, teas, infusions & petits-fours

Score: Peerless 19.25/20