ChinChin Melbourne

125 Flinders Lane,
Melbourne 3000

Walking up Flinders Lane with a post-Movida glow, discussing our dinner plans (at this stage still undecided) we spot a very cool looking restaurant. "This is the one the Movida guy told us about!". Open just 4 weeks now, ChinChin is the newest operation from Andrew McConnell and Chris Lucas with ex-Jimmy Liks Chef Andrew Gimber.


And what a place!


From the team at Projects of the Imagination the interior, with it's high pressed metal ceilings, graffiti like posters on the walls and a whole bunch of timber and steel columns and, along with a very striking menu, led to a decision made. Just when you thought that Flinders Lane and its ubiquitous corner sites were full to bursting, this minx comes along for a share of the pie.

Interior View

Back  a few hours later for a late nosh we were not disappointed. A pet hate of mine is when people judge a new restaurant too harshly. 3 weeks old, there will always be teething problems. This is a big space with an ambitious menu and a bunch of new staff learning as they go. Yes, the vegetables were the same in a few of the dishes - this to me says "smart operator" - less wastage and cheaper when buying in bulk.


The Wine Guy (an apron worn with these words just in case you missed him) assists in choosing the 2009 Garagiste Chardonnay from Mornington Peninsula. A perfect example of how fresh and well matched a young Chardonnay can be with Asian flavours. Very tempted by the  wine exclusively made for Chin Chin made by Yabby Lake winemaker Tom Carson.

2009 Garagiste

Chardonnay 

Mornington Peninsula

13% alcohol

$65 menu pricing

Being an avid menu reader, I felt the need to order off the menu. If making another decision is a bit of a stretch after a long day, "Feed Me!" will create a surprise banquet menu.

Very cool menu

We start with the kingfish sashimi w Lime, Chilli, Coconut and Thai Basil. The coconut cream drizzled over the top with the fresh lime is a match made in piscatorial heaven.

The seared Scallops on the Half shell w Crispy Sweet Pork and Green Chilli Nahm Jim is my preferred surf and turf option - mouthfuls of salty, sweet goodness.

The Green Curry of Rockling, Eggplant, Snake Beans and Thai Basil, Jumbo Clams wok tossed w Black beans and Chilli and the Twice Cooked Hopkins River Beef Short Rib w Saw Tooth Coriander and Prik Nahm Pla was my pick of the more substantial dishes. 


Not being so partial to baby corn, the vegetables were a little of a distraction but the flavours in the dishes were rich and intense. A little more gravy and this would have made the side of Chin Chin Roti that we ordered sing (one of my favourite things from my days in India). 

There are so many things on this menu I want to come back for - time to find another excuse to flit down to the great southern city!

Movida Melbourne

1 Hosier Lane
Melbourne 3000
www.movida.com.au

The ideal Saturday is spent exploring this beloved city with nothing but time on your hands and an empty stomach. Lucky for me, my saturday in Melbourne filled the criteria. A morning of croissants from Babka followed by hours of walking the intricate lane ways of the city ending in Hosier Lane and hello Movida. 

This has to be one of my favourite city restaurants. Movida opened in 2003 and has been on the up ever since. I love to sit at the sub-terranean bar and watch people (read: wedding parties) walk up and down the cobbled laneway splayed with graffiti. 

Hosier Lane

Mr Nomad and I came here on our first trip to Melbourne many moons ago so this is a sentimental fave, the food and wine living up to the memory. Now I am not an anchovy girl but I'm working on it. The larger white anchovy option yes, the darker, more pungent option is in the 'very rarely if ever' category. Yet put these little suckers of salty, fishy goodness on a piece of toasted sourdough with a dollop of smoked tomato sorbet and you have a burst of flavour that coats the tastebuds and welcomes that first sip of Spanish Tempranillo that complete the picture. The Marques de Riscal 'Reserva' is a well rounded, deep cherry coloured drop with soft tannins. Not so well matched to the wonderful Pollo Escabache al Miguel - spiced chicken (perhaps the 2010 Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Chardonnay from Stathbogie Ranges Victoria may have suited?) but I couldn't go past this tasty mouthful. 

2008

Glaymond 'El Abuelo'

Granache
Barossa Valley

2005
Marques de Riscal 'Reserva'

Tempranillo

Rioja Spain

Then the 'main' meal - Raciones. Movida is a Spanish tapas restaurant which divides its dishes between 'Tapa' and 'Raciones'. Not huge, but not small. Perfect to share. The Pulpo - chargrilled   octopus with house made chorizo and chickpeas is a taste sensation - always one for surf and turf, the octopi and swine combination is fast becoming a personal favourite. The earthiness of the chickpeas created a well balanced dish.  

Finally, having spent some time in Spain last year, seeing Jamon aged 24 months with Pan Catalan brought back memories of hot summer days in Barcelona's El Born district eating plates full of jamon with tomato and garlic covered toast. And this is what we got - huge thumbs up for this simple combination which showcases the produce. The Jamones is from the Carrasco family in Spain using only the finest 'Paletilla' which is only the meat from the front legs of the Iberico pigs. These are a certain breed of pig bred in a small area of Spain who feed on 'bellota' or acorns. 

Image/ finofoodandwine 

This dish came just in time to try the 2008 Glaymond 'El Abuelo'

Granache from the Barossa Valley. Silky smooth with a punch of pepper and spices and the earthy aroma of a well balanced grenaché, could not have been more perfect with the tart tomato and salty jamon. Almost felt like we were eating this wine!

With our bellies full and our whistles wet, we emerge to a greying Melbourne afternoon where we roll in to the taxi just in time before the heavens really do unleash.