~ Curious Charlie ~

Taste of Melbourne 2017 @ Friday, November 30, 2018

Taste of Melbourne 2017
Thursday 30th Nov

So at some point the program I use to edit my photos became no longer free, paired with that and illness (all dental) we became really behind, so often these days we're keeping it real. Like that lighting there.

I absolutely love presha fruit! How cute are these lunch box sized ones?

The first day of the Taste of Melbourne! This year we've got a vip amex marquee, fancy glamping tents (do they have air con? Cause I love that as a date idea) and some other events on the side. Like a $160 open bar, cheese platters and canapes 10th birthday party. Alas we weren't invited... one day.

Set at yarra park it's behind joliment station, no swan sh*t, yay! Lots of grass no dust or mud. It's also much more spread out. Picnic style was highly encouraged thanks to the picnic rugs from amex.

It's near joliment and the 75 tram. We got lost because we took the wrong tram... but eventually we made it!

This year it's just cards instead of crowns, which was equal to $1/1 crown anyway. Bags were sale for a gold coin, but we really didn't need another. Cause jas carried everything :P I'm a little concerned that he sees us as Mr Burns & Smithers. XD But I would like to point out I'm the one that gets us tickets to events.

As always we booked workshops first. I wasn't feeling great so I may have laid down for a bit. And had a salad... yes I bought my own food (which I didn't make) to a food event.

I love butter, I even slightly/vaguely recall the very first time I had it at summer camp!

Isn't pastry beautiful?

Lurpak Bakery $8.

Apple Tarte Tatin with Pomegranate Molasses

At the Lurpak we made a rough puff pastry (dough + butter) with the dough being made for us. 120kg+ for all the workshops (RIP because this was the only session, the rest of the event was cancelled, but I'm pretty sure they donated all the stuff to food bank or something). Caramel apple tarts with chef pre-made caramel. We played with the dough and made apple roses. I've always wanted to do this! Alas ours weren't tight enough and failed. But our dough was perfect.

When the teacher does your work for you then compliments you on it XD We got two compliments and had three helpers. Feels like middle school again. I may have had no friends but I was a brilliant, same thing could be said for college actually.

Into the oven and back in 45mins. It was nice not to be over a stove (November is summer here). This year the theme is tarts. In the past we've done lamb, fish and open face sandwiches (arranging, no cooking required).

How was it? Less flakey than expected. Caramelized apple was pretty Good, some crystallized bits. Needs something sprinkled over it... brown sugar perhaps?

This was nice, they used native fruits for this soda.

There were a few seats here and there, lots in the vip area, and amex provided picnic rugs. Today was a good day, no rain. The next few days it rained and the event was canceled.

We always have to stop by Gazi.

Gin & Tonic

I love event offers! They're like food showbags, though you actually will eat most of it!

How pretty are these straws?

When H2 tries to do what Cocobella does. This was $10 including the bag, alas I like my coconut water pure. The cocoa one tastes like soy chocolate milk...

PopBite Popcorn

Checking out stalls we got to most of them, lots of alcohol. It's amazing how different stalls use the same space. Some go all out with leaves, fairylights and all while others just have a table, product and fridge. Shout out to Popbite, for the nicest display! Later on we'd visit them at Eastland.

Electrolux Chefs’ Secrets Tent. $14

Over at the Electrolux marquee it was all lovely with air con!

Alas there was still bugs... two in dessert. Alive. More floating around. Summer.

Let's do another workshop! Cause I like the illusion that I can not only cook but I can create! Or rather jas does it and I sprinkle too much garnish and take pictures. :P At this point despite purchasing our tickets already jas found another workshop he wanted to do more.

Chef Nelly's leading us through an entree/canape sized though full of elements dish.

I help cut the cucumber. I did it wrong... don't ask how.

Snowy mountain trout, cucumber and lime granite

In case you'd like to try this at home.

Dessert was Bannofee pie fine dining style! It was beautiful and delicious! Just look at that foam! I think this is what I want to recreate, though, are we allowed to lick the plate? Jas would have loved this.

Glace Ice Cream was next door, but we just had dessert.. too much food and too little time. I really wanted that thing on the right, though we couldn't leave empty handed.

CoLab Dish: Ultra Marine $20

White chocolate clam shell with freeze dried raspberry, blackberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream

Round two dessert from glace. A work of art!

Can we get something like this made for the wedding? It was very good.

Goodbye till next year! Hopefully it'll be at the same new venue, much closer to the city.

The things we bought home from the Taste of Melbourne 2017,

always love cooler bags, aprons and picnic rugs for our adventures!

If you get one thing from this: always go for one of the first sessions, in case the event gets canceled. And have a game plan, know what to go for first. Oh and bring wet wipes.