Posh Rice

Risotto was the first thing I learnt to cook. My father placed me in front of the stove with firm instructions to keep stirring. I carefully ladled warm stock onto the rice, anxiously waiting for the grains to become plump. Accordingly it seems it was about time I made it to Simon Humble’s (ex-Scusami) risotteria Tutto Bene.

A friend and I arrive with an 8pm booking with not a table to be spared. We’re seated outside to peruse the menu and offered what later turns out to be complimentary drinks while we take in the Southbank views. Tick, tick, tick.




After a 20 minute wait we’re finally seated. The interior is warm, romantic and intimate, a little too intimate in some ways. Tables are rather close so if you enjoy a bit of eavesdropping, this is the place for you. Definitely not the place to break up with someone.

The bread is pleasant but the apparently award winning olive oil bearing the Simon Humble label sets it above average. You can take your very own bottle home for $22. Although there’s a wide selection of non-risotto options I’ve come with a mission. My friend’s risotto Isola – pork, veal and chicken with cinnamon and rosemary (18.50) is incredibly flavourful and so different to the usual risotto options that grace most menus. My only criticism is that the temperature seems to suggest the plates are spending a little too much time at the pass.




Without hesitation I decide on the anatra, funghi e salvia - braised duck, porcini mushroom and sage (20.00). It arrives heady with the aroma of porcini but seems to also contain another mushroom. I dare not ask what it is after reading about The Age reviewer who enquired about the type of mushrooms used at an Indian restaurant. The waiter returned after some time to announce “They are Coles mushrooms Sir.”




We finish with the Zabaglione (14.00) which is presented at the table with the waitress whisking the warm mixture in a copper bowl as she pours it over the crushed amaretti biscuits. It’s served with a scoop of ice cream that almost cuts through the intense richness. There's also the gelateria if you want your dessert to go.




Tutto Bene is ideal for a first date or long overdue catch up with friends but with rice this good, who needs a reason to visit?

Tutto Bene
Mid-Level Southgate
Southbank
Ph: (03) 9696 3334
http://www.tuttobene.com.au/

Grossi Florentino

I'm not ashamed to admit I am taking advantage of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Restaurant Express deals. For $30 you get two courses, a glass of wine and tea or coffee. Some the restaurants will even let you have a peek at what's on offer. It kicked off today and runs until the end of March.

Unsurprisingly Grossi was at the top of my list. My understanding is that during the week you get to eat in the restaurant and at the weekend you are in the grill. Given that mains in the restaurant are in the $35+ range I jumped at the opportunity to dine there. Do you get the normal quality of food and service? No. Is it fantastic value for money? Absolutely.

As a curious sort of girl the approach I recommend is to share an entree and dessert with a dining partner so that you essentially get to sample three courses. Of course you should always have a taste of their main if you want the widest possible sampling experience!




Now for the good bits. Grossi Florentino goes above and beyond the package with grissini, bread with olive oil and butter and biscotti with your coffee. Amazing what a difference the little things make! The staff were quick to correct mistakingly charging for the coffee (at $8 a cup no less!) and were warm and attentive despite clearly being run off their feet. Surprisingly Guy Grossi was gracing the room with his presence. I was sure he would be at the World's Longest Lunch but no complaints!

To start I shared the entree Taglierini with calamari braised with white wine, garlic and tomato. It didn't make for a pretty picture and was slightly over-salted but major bonus points for dividing the serving into two without us needing to ask. The flavours are nothing to write home about but the calamari is tender and the pasta had a beautiful texture.

For mains I had the veal scaloppini pan fried with marsala and herbs and served with mash. The mash was glorious and perfect with the rich juices from the veal. I was also lucky enough to taste the Stico d’ agnello, braised veal shank with red wine and beans, with polenta. On the day the shank was actually lamb and what a fine piece of meat it was too! Neither main was mind blowing but both were perfect wintery comfort food on the first rainy Melbourne day in weeks. I can't think of anywhere better to spend a grey day than in that richly wood panelled room.




For dessert the red wine and raspberry gelato with fresh berries and almond pastry seemed to be without the promised red wine but perhaps this was for the best. The sorbet was punchy and while the serving was small, it made for an excellent finish to the rich meal.





It would be amiss of me not to mention another sweet highlight, the biscotti served with excellent coffee. They were studded with pistachio and cranberries with a strong orange zest flavour. Lovely.




Perhaps what really made the meal was knowing there would be no unpleasant surprises on the bill. I headed next door to the fantastic bookstore Hill of Content to spend those saved pennies.

Unsurprisingly I have many more restaurants to sample over the next few weeks. Join me as I explore Melbourne's restaurant scene on a budget!

Beyond the Food Court

I confess to liking the changes made in recent years to Melbourne Central. I'm quite aware I should perhaps feel ashamed but in these changes I of course include the new dining spots such as tonight's destination; Chilli Padi (Menzies Alley, next to Max Brenner).

On my initial visit soon after their opening I was showered with attention. Tonight it couldn’t have been more different. I know they're busy on a Friday but there seemed to be some timing issues. The waitress kept coming to the table at 1 minute intervals to get our mains order yet happily left our dirty dishes on the table for 10 minutes. I don't expect much from a spot that charges $10 for mains but it would be nice to be asked if I wanted another drink. Luckily my dining partner shares my service expectations.

I would suggest skipping the starters if you’re looking for good value. The satay skewers ($6 for 3) couldn't have been smaller if they tried and I wasn't quite sure how to respond when the waitress asked "isn't the dipping sauce great?". I personally found it more oily than flavourful. At least drinks were a bargain at $4.50 due to happy hour. What more could a girl want on a Friday night?

The chicken laksa ($10) was a great balance of flavours by my tastes and I couldn't slurp up enough of those noodles. The only downfall was... well the chicken. Perhaps the duck or seafood options would have been better. The beef penang with roti chani or rice ($10) was smaller but equally flavour packed. The green tea dessert ($6.50) we finished with was surprisingly delightful for something that had been sitting in the cake display. Next time I'd love to sample the black sesame ice cream.

The menu is dominated by Malaysian food with a few South Indian options. If you're looking for something a little different from McD's or the standard food court kebab this is your place.