Southgate, an unappealing destination for Melbourne locals who tend to dismiss this area on the banks of the Yarra as being a place that’s full of tourist traps. But what if we’re wrong, what if there are places worth checking out in this part of town? We were invited to check out the 2015 edition of Southgate Moveable Feasts and were very interested to see what exactly this Melbourne dining destination had to offer.
To start, our small group was taken to Pure South, a restaurant that’s dedicated to promoting the best of Tasmania. From the outset I was impressed by the food that we were served. These guys have been around for over 10 years and throughout have been dedicated to showcasing the freshest seasonal produce from ethical farmers, fishermen and artisan producers in Tasmania, King Island and Flinders Island. We had a few dishes, including a cheese and black truffle filled doughnut but my favourites were the sea urchin and the smoked salmon, both pictured below. The quality of the ingredients was apparent with each bite.
Next we moved on to Waterfront where we had the choice of a variety of mains courtesy of the Zampelis family, who have been in hospitality in Melbourne since 1902. I went for the slow roasted beef cheek and was not disappointed. The meat was beautifully tender and the whole dish was no-nonsense, allowing the flavour of the beef check and accompanying mashed potato and carrots to come through. A real winter warmer that was all about the produce.
One of the diners in our group went for the tuna and clams and was equally impressed with her selection.
To finish the night we visited The Deck for dessert. I couldn’t go past the chocolate ganache with fresh mandarin and milk crumb. The flavours were spot on – not overly sweet and quite complex texturally. A great way to finish a great night of eating.
I was really happy that I accepted to invitation to try out some of the offerings at Southgate Moveable Feasts. I’ve not made an effort to visit this part of town for dining before and I must say that I was impressed. The 3 venues we visited all offered really tasty food and I ended the night very satisfied. Consider me a Southgate convert.
Southgate Moveable Feasts
When: Sunday 14 June 2015 – Monday 3 August 2015
Entry: $65.00 or $85.00 (includes 3 courses, a glass of wine and tea & coffee)
Where: Southgate Restaurant and Shopping Precinct, Melbourne