Birthday Dinner at Restaurant Atelier

The other night we went to dinner at Restaurant Atelier with our friends Lindsay and Grant to celebrate Matthew and Lindsay's January birthdays.

We went for the seven course degustation menu with matching wines. The summer degustation menu wasn't printed, so each course was selected by the chef and was a surprise for us!

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Everything was lovely, so it was hard to determine a favorite course. Below is the menu (from my notes!), if you'd like to drool. ;)


2009 Mader Riesling (Alsace)
Flash fried and crumbed Kangaroo Island hen’s egg with white asparagus and goat’s curd.

2010 Ocean Eight Pinot Gris (Mornington Peninsula)
Alaskan king crab spring roll with wasabi aioli, soy beans, pickled daikon and ocean trout roe.

2009 Capercaillie Cuillin Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
Flash fried and crumbed chicken confit with salt cod brandade, frisée and garlic marmalade.

2009? Bloodwood “Big Men in Tights” Rosé (Orange, NSW; Malbec and Cab Franc)
Or, 2008 Domain Metrat et Fils Chiroubles Cru Beaujolais (Gamay)
Roasted swordfish loin with corn puree, Spanish peppers, eggplant and red capsicum, dusted with fennel pollen.

2007 Chateau Mont-Redon Cotes du Rhone (Grenache/Syrah/Cinsault blend)
Honey braised duck with carrot puree, broad bean salad and a pickled quail egg (pickled in Chardonnay).

2006 Yering Station Late Harvest Riesling (Yarra Valley)
Strawberry sorbet with strawberry salad and basil garnish, and
Poppy custard with fig sorbet and "Pop Rocks."

2007 Grand Maison Monbazillac Botrytis Semillon
Soufflé with mango, paw paw and pineapple, with lime milkshake with a chocolate straw, and coconut ice cream.

P.S. Americans, red capsicum is red bell pepper, and paw paw is papaya!