Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Vue De Monde Melbourne for Treasure Tuesday

 


Roast Eel 



Smoked cocktail


Picked Oyster


Caviar on pumpkin mesh


Merren 3 eats




Pineapple sorbet with floral crisps


Cured Kangaroo meat 





We are getting older 


Souffle 


Joel’s birthday was celebrated just last week, an occasion for which I had secured a reservation no less than three months in advance. The booking, as expected, was gone within minutes of the reservation page opening—testament to the enduring allure of this esteemed establishment, which has held its place among Melbourne’s finest dining destinations for over a quarter of a century. Indeed, having now dined at virtually every hatted restaurant in the city, it feels as though we are truly savouring the richness of life’s finer pleasures.

For this special evening, we were seated at Vue de Monde, a culinary landmark atop the Rialto. The evening unfolded with an elegant succession of courses—each a thoughtful homage to native Australian ingredients and refined technique. There was the delicate smoked eel with white chocolate and caviar, a bold yet balanced expression of contrasts. The Western Australian marron arrived perfectly poached, nestled in a vivid green sauce of Geraldton wax and finger lime. A course of Flinders Island lamb followed, prepared with such precision that it seemed to melt upon the tongue. Even the bread service—a warm, crusty sourdough with house-cultured butter—was elevated to a ceremonial delight.

The degustation concluded with an exquisite arrangement of petit fours: wattleseed macarons, eucalyptus marshmallows, and a hand-churned ice cream, theatrically frozen in liquid nitrogen at the table. Each dish was presented with care, matched by service that was both attentive and effortlessly refined.

To commemorate the occasion visually, I brought along my new Sony 16mm f1.8 lens. Its compact form and brilliant aperture made it an ideal companion for capturing the quiet drama of the dining scene—the glint of glassware, the sheen on porcelain, the gentle fall of candlelight on plated artistry.

Sony A7RV

FE 16mm f1.8 GM


Linking Treasure Tuesday


10 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos. Happy Birthday 🎂 đŸ„ł 🎉 🎈 🎁 to Joel.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You got wonderful photos of all the courses. So fancy! A really fitting birthday celebration and a night to remember. This must be the fanciest place you have ever eaten.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, you had an impressive meal. Few or none of those dishes are available here. The two of you must have enjoyed this special dinner.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are quite a gourmand.

    I was wondering about the lens. My wide angle is a big variable focus that I wouldn’t want to lug around for very long.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fancy foods :-D Great shot of you and Joel :-D

    ReplyDelete
  6. That was quite an exotic dining experience. I haven't done one like that in several years.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fantastically photographed dishes,
    almost works of art!!
    Surely in the photo you write that you are getting older you are younger than you are at the moment!!
    Unfortunately we cannot beat time, only capture some of its moments!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. We are all getting older, Roentare! 😂 I love the picture of you and Joel! Thank you for sharing it. You two have a special friendship, that is heartwarming to see. My mouth is watering at all the delicious food. Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are always appreciated. Thank you kindly for the kind visits