Tonight's Dinner

Our second proper dinner party in our new home. This time with our neighbors Jean, his visiting sister and Christophe, as well as Maki and her boyfriend. Six hours around the table suggests that it was a fine meal with good conversation.

• tarama tacos with mooli
• speck, prune and candied walnut
• beet tartare on chips
• crudites of carottes rapees, celeri remoulade, concombre yoghurt curry
• foie gras & pain viennois, dates
• shitake & chestnut veloute
• saucisses & lentils, salsa verde
• French cheese, selection Jean & Christophe
• Japanese strawberries

Archies' Avo on Toast

Seemed like Melbourne was going crazy about Avocado on toast. We had a truly spectacular one at Archie's every morning. Now that is a breakfast place.  The deal clincher on this one is the sumac and dukkah.

toasted peasant bread (or corn/rice cake for me)

best ripe avocado

best EVOO

squeeze of lemon

sumac

home-made dukkah (easy!)

maldon sea salt

torn mint leaves to taste

torn parsley

feta cheese cubes (we go for cow feta)

home-made chilli sauce (preferably using a couple of different rehydrated dried Mexican chillies)

1. toast your bread, preferably over grill
2. place toast on plate, plump avocado chunks haphazardly on the toast
3. dress with lemon, salt, EVOO
4. sprinkle generously with sumac and dukkak, then herbs and finally with feta to taste

Gildas via Builders Arms

The most memorable taste bomb from Melbourne, from the Builder's Arms on Gertrude Street. Here, the usual anchovy, olive and guindilla are spared the toothpick and rest gently on a toast.

sourdough, sliced into thin diagnols
best quality anchovies
guindillas (pickled green chillies)
home-made aioli

Tapenade
120 gr pitted green olives
1/4 clove garlic
70 gr blanched, toasted almonds
5 gr preserved lemon
50 g parsley, chopped
100 ml EVOO

1. put all the tapenade ingredients in a blender, slowly adding EVOO
2. brush baguette slices with EVOO and grill lightly on each side
3. spread tapenade on each slice of grilled bread
4. top each with anchovy swirled around a chilli
5. spoon aioli on toast after platter is brought to the table

Tonight's Dinner

The Slawson's deserved this delightful little dinner for making the effort to come and visit the Richters! Was thinking of making smoked haddock on polenta with pesto, but too much.

• Speck & robiolo, dates & walnut
• Pan carasau, mozzarella, salted anchovy, lemon zest
• Grilled octopus & pesto
• Leek vinaigrette David
• Nduja & crab tagliolini
• Braised oxtail and pan-fried scallop, reduced balsamic
• Mixed greens, toasted hazelnuts & parmesan
• Compte, tangerine mostarda
• almond cookies