etch dining

8 September 2009, 03:06

There’s an item on the dessert menu called the ‘lolly tray’ at Etch Dining (62 Bridge St, Intercontinental Hotel) and those words alone are enough to make me dance with happiness.


There’s nothing like planning your stomach (and mind) in preparation for dessert and so one fine day way back in erm May Christie, Darcie, Helen, Jen, Lorraine and I are having lunch at Justin North’s latest restaurant.


Fried goat’s cheese ($9) with vanilla and lavender scented honey. ‘i want the balls’ i blurt out without thinking for my eyes had immediately spied the magical words of ‘fried’ ‘cheese’ and ‘honey’. Dividing those two golden balls of deliciousness into 6 portions was painful but sharing is caring and after switching plates around to photograph we begin the plate swapping dance to try each others dishes. Cos that is how we roll.


Shaved Serrano gran reserva ($12) with peppered melon, chilli and mint. We were all pleasantly surprised that the melon was watermelon and not the usual rockmelon. Change is good y’all! Salty and sweet with a kick of chilli towards the end i could’ve eaten my body weight of this.


Crispy spiced local squid with sweet paprika mayonnaise ($9). A paper cone filled with crunchy squid morsels arrives alongside a saucer of paprika mayonnaise and they are immediately nommed up


Sardines on toast ($12) Vintage sardines with celery gazpacho and green apple tartare. i don’t usually eat sardines because i find them too fishy (or maybe because noods grosses me out and orders them on pizza) but these are deliciously moreish with the oily fish pairing well with the diced apple


Caramelised pork belly and roasted Queensland scallops ($23) with sherry gel and sweet corn puree. Look at that luscious slab of pork belly sitting there all glistening and sexy. i didn’t think the pork or the scallops needed the sweet corn puree but i think i just have issues with puree. i like my foods unpureed thank you.


Salad of local Heirloom tomatoes ($18) with fried zucchini flowers and herb emulsion. Um i really don’t remember eating this. Uh moving along…


Cauliflower, cepe and macaroni cheese ($28). Mine! Mac n cheese! But an adults version with a smattering of golden breadcrumbs atop a fabulously cheesey pasta with cauliflower florets buried beneath. It is happiness on a plate.


Basque style cassoulet with herb crumbs ($18). The cassoulet is soul warming and filled with pork belly, pork sausages and haricot beans.


Roast rump of pork with crackling ($32). Ooh baby look at that fat juicy slabs of pork! Darcie is super generous at parcelling out her precious crackling mmm crackling


A side of Fried Provencal potatoes ($9) with aged prosciutto and smoked garlic mayonnaise. i love prosciutto. Someone want to buy me a leg of prosciutto?


A side of Vichy carrots ($6). Yup carrots. They were tasty.


And then dessert time! Caramel date tart ($15) with burnt butter ice cream and Earl Grey tea syrup. While not a fan of the earl grey syrup the tart is a hit and the icecream scraped up till the last drop


Baked chocolate delice with mandarin ($15). Not exactly the best presentation but the rectangle of super light chocolate cake is fought over and then…


The Etch lolly tray ($15) arrives! Violet Fizzy Rock, Peanut Brittle, Salted Butter Caramels, Lemon and vanilla marshmallows. We each have a favourite pot- mine being the fizzy rock candy which dissolves on the tongue with a happy buzz. The peanut brittle breaks into tiny pieces when crunched on and thankfully doesn’t stick to the teeth. The caramels are soft and sweet with a hit of saltiness and the marshmallows disappear faster than you can utter yum


An angel winged mannequin looks after the ladies bathroom…

1. Oh like a trip down memory lane! If only more restaurants offered lolly trays. So much fun!

   — Helen (Grab Your Fork)    Sep 8, 10:40 AM    #
   
   

2. LOL, I want the balls too! I can’t believe I still haven’t had the chance to go here yet, violet fizzy rock and mac n cheese! My kinda restaurant :)

   — Steph    Sep 8, 12:05 PM    #
   
   

3. That food looks awesome, but oh my god, that pork belly and scallops look the BEST. Delicious!

   — Katie    Sep 8, 03:15 PM    #
   
   

4. oh yum!
   its 3pm, im hungry
   need food!!

   ive been anting to go here actually, love the fotos i’m def ordering the fried goats cheese & the mac cheese

   — betty    Sep 8, 03:33 PM    #
   
   

5. The Etch lolly tray looks so good. Yummmmmmmmm

   — Katherine    Sep 8, 09:02 PM    #
   
   

6. I regret not getting the fried cheese X(… must revisit! and you don’t like puree :O? But that pork belly drooool

   — FFichiban    Sep 8, 09:04 PM    #
   
   

7. Definitely drooling over that baked chocolate delice. Yum!

   — Fudge Addict    Sep 9, 10:48 AM    #
   
   

8. That mac and cheese looks seriously good! And the lolly tray totally appeals to my inner child ;)

   — Jacq    Sep 9, 12:20 PM    #
   
   

9. I thought you only danced for cupcakes and macarons and chocolate.

   The zucchini flowers remind me of chicken feet for some reason.

   — Simon    Sep 9, 10:33 PM    #
   
   

10. Ohmygod everything looks good! That pork belly and scallops is my idea of heaven on a plate – all my favourite foods in one sitting!!!

    — Trisha    Sep 10, 06:49 AM    #
    
    

11. You have very nice blog!! Drooling~

    — Princess Cheryl    Sep 10, 09:00 PM    #
    
    

12. helen: i want to go back just for the dessert… lets go!
    steph: heh balls! no boobies tho heh
    katie: zomg the pork belly was fabulous!
    betty: the mac and cheese was fun to eat! and definitely get the lolly tray!
    katherine: i loved the pop rock candy in the lolly tray!
    ffichiban: haha i have issues with my textures…
    fudge addict: heh not sick of chocolate?
    jacq: heh think the lolly tray appeals to everyones inner child! the pop rock candy was awesome!
    simon: lol i dance for food in general i think
    trisha: heh and end it with the lolly tray!
    princess cheryl: thanks dude!

    — chocolatesuze    Sep 11, 03:01 AM    #
    
    

13. My mouth is salivating remembering that meal!

    — Christie @ Fig&Cherry    Sep 11, 09:13 PM    #