http://www.merivale.com/#/cbd/bistrodecbd
http://www.marchintomerivale.com
Dynamic duo in the kitchen
Sydney Morning Herald contributors, chef/owners of Bistrode CBD and Bistrode in Surry Hills husband and wife team, Jane and Jeremy Strode re-unite for one night only at Bistrode CBD.
Thanks to Helen Lear and Phoebe Jackson from Stellar* for inviting me as a guest to the March into Merivale special event, Jane & Jeremy Dinner, at Bistrode CBD. The 5-courses ($85 per person) included a flute of Chandon NV or with matched wines ($130). Scrumptious slices of warmish Sourdough bread and Soy Linseed bread were offered once seated. The first dish of Sweetcorn & Sweet Basil Tart was well matched to the 2008 Champalou Vouray (Chenin Blanc). This ended up being my favourite dish of the night for its pure melt-in-your-mouth consistency and light pastry, nice flavours and sweet slight pop factor of the sweetcorn. The best thing I liked about the Smoked Eel, Spinach Puree & Cauliflower Bahji was the super crispy bahji. I found the smoked eel perhaps a little firm and stringy to cut for some reason but perhaps that was due to a knife malfunction.
The Char-Grilled Quail was unusually served whole and served on a sourdough & marjoram salad. Cooked to what I believe was medium rare I again found it a little hard to cut with my knife for some reason, but trying to negotiate the hidden bones didn’t help to make it a stress-free dish. I enjoyed the flavours but regretted not picking up the bones to gnaw on the tasty bits left. It was matched with a really nice 2006 Domaine du Coulet 'Le Bedos' (Syrah/Gamay) which I’d happily drink again. The Roast Lamb Rump, French Beans, Goats Curd & Harissa was a rich combination of flavours. The knife malfunction didn’t quite help with some of the sinewy bits and the goats curd certainly added a richness which possibly could have been toned down a touch for my liking.
For dessert the Fig Soup, Baked Custard & Walnut Biscuit was an interesting mix. I really liked the smooth textured baked custard and the light crunch of the wafer thin walnut biscuit. Although I was in two minds about the fig soup and thought there was perhaps just a bit too much of it. I wondered if I would have preferred the fresh figs to be slightly caramelised and just a few tablespoons of fig soup drizzled over the dish like a coulis. I really loved the 2009 Mount Horrocks 'Cordon Cut' Riesling though which was decently sweet without being sickly. The layout and décor seems to have remained the same since it was originally Bistro CBD and if you’re a fan of offal you might want to consider the Hearts & Minds ($75pp) event on 24 March or for seafood lovers the Fishtrode ($85pp) might be more to your liking on 31 March.
SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
Thanks to Helen Lear and Phoebe Jackson from Stellar* for inviting me as a guest to the March into Merivale special event, Jane & Jeremy Dinner, at Bistrode CBD. The 5-courses ($85 per person) included a flute of Chandon NV or with matched wines ($130). Scrumptious slices of warmish Sourdough bread and Soy Linseed bread were offered once seated. The first dish of Sweetcorn & Sweet Basil Tart was well matched to the 2008 Champalou Vouray (Chenin Blanc). This ended up being my favourite dish of the night for its pure melt-in-your-mouth consistency and light pastry, nice flavours and sweet slight pop factor of the sweetcorn. The best thing I liked about the Smoked Eel, Spinach Puree & Cauliflower Bahji was the super crispy bahji. I found the smoked eel perhaps a little firm and stringy to cut for some reason but perhaps that was due to a knife malfunction.
The Char-Grilled Quail was unusually served whole and served on a sourdough & marjoram salad. Cooked to what I believe was medium rare I again found it a little hard to cut with my knife for some reason, but trying to negotiate the hidden bones didn’t help to make it a stress-free dish. I enjoyed the flavours but regretted not picking up the bones to gnaw on the tasty bits left. It was matched with a really nice 2006 Domaine du Coulet 'Le Bedos' (Syrah/Gamay) which I’d happily drink again. The Roast Lamb Rump, French Beans, Goats Curd & Harissa was a rich combination of flavours. The knife malfunction didn’t quite help with some of the sinewy bits and the goats curd certainly added a richness which possibly could have been toned down a touch for my liking.
For dessert the Fig Soup, Baked Custard & Walnut Biscuit was an interesting mix. I really liked the smooth textured baked custard and the light crunch of the wafer thin walnut biscuit. Although I was in two minds about the fig soup and thought there was perhaps just a bit too much of it. I wondered if I would have preferred the fresh figs to be slightly caramelised and just a few tablespoons of fig soup drizzled over the dish like a coulis. I really loved the 2009 Mount Horrocks 'Cordon Cut' Riesling though which was decently sweet without being sickly. The layout and décor seems to have remained the same since it was originally Bistro CBD and if you’re a fan of offal you might want to consider the Hearts & Minds ($75pp) event on 24 March or for seafood lovers the Fishtrode ($85pp) might be more to your liking on 31 March.
SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Nice décor and lighting, Professional service, Good quality wines, Interesting dishes
CONS: Some of the dishes were a bit of a hit and miss for me
MUST TRY: Sweetcorn & Sweet Basil Tart, 2009 Mount Horrocks ‘Cordon Cut’ Riesling, Picking up the bones to gnaw on even if it’s a fine dining restaurant
—
Glass of NV Chandon Yarra Valley, Victoria upon arrival
Sourdough bread and Soy Linseed bread
Dish 1: Sweetcorn & Sweet Basil Tart
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)
2008 Champalou Vouray (Chenin Blanc), Loire Valley, France - nice match
Dish 2: Smoked Eel, Spinach Puree & Cauliflower Bahji
2008 J. L. Villa Wolf Pinot Gris, Pfalz, Germany
Dish 3: Char-Grilled Quail, Sourdough & Marjoram Salad
Left over bones from Char-Grilled Quail — I should have picked up with my hands and eaten them dry
2006 Domaine du Coulet 'Le Bedos' (Syrah/Gamay), Rhone Valley, France
Dish 4: Roast Lamb Rump, French Beans, Goats Curd & Harissa
2008 Bodegas Felix Callejo '4 Meses en Barrica' (Tempranillo), Ribera del Duero, Spain
Dish 5: Fig Soup, Baked Custard & Walnut Biscuit
2009 Mount Horrocks 'Cordon Cut' Riesling, Clare Valley, SA
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)
March into Merivale special event 'Jane & Jeremy'
Forks, knives and menu
Level 1 restaurant
Chef Jeremy Strode peering between the plates (probably thinking who the hell is this guy taking a photo of me and it better be good)
Ground floor bar
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