March 9, 2011: Embrasse Restaurant

18/12/2012: Embrasse has late closed, but caput chef Nicolas Poelaert tin move straightaway live establish at Brooks inwards the city.

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Michael's blood brother Matt, who shared this repast with us, is a resident of Japan.  We experience extremely lucky that he was prophylactic with us inwards Commonwealth of Australia spell lastly calendar week Nihon experienced ane of its worst earthquakes.

So many people lead maintain died, been injured, lost their homes as well as livelihoods. If y'all lead maintain the means, delight brand a donation to the Red Cross Nihon as well as Pacific Disaster Appeal.

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We've non got all that excited nigh the plenty of gratuitous events as well as a definitely-expensive-but-totally-vegetarian vi course of pedagogy repast at Embrasse.  Embrasse's co-founder Nic Poelaert teamed upward with Pope Joan's Matt Wilkinson to acquaint For The Love Of Vegetables, as well as nosotros were mighty pleased to portion the occasion with Michael's blood brother Matt.

Course release ane was called 'spikes as well as spoons'.  The spoons featured caprine animal cheese, fresh hazelnut, as well as plum jam.  These were rather sweet, as well as dominated yesteryear the hazelnut.

The spikes carried carrot, beetroot, as well as radish, roasted to a real sweetness as well as tender nation as well as only seasoned.

Our instant course of pedagogy went salad style. The tabouli with Meredith caprine animal curd was terrific, with lots of variation inwards flavours as well as textures.  I couldn't assistance thinking smugly, though, that our months with Ottolenghi lead maintain had us producing to a greater extent than or less very-nearly-as-good salads at home.

The follow-up salad was definitely out of my reach though, a gorgeous mix of figs, radishes, lettuce as well as toasted coriander seeds. 

Michael as well as Matt's favourite dish was the dull cooked Green poulet egg, served with garlic as well as corn champ.  They didn't swallow much corn every bit kids but this was bringing them around.  I was to a greater extent than taken yesteryear the seasoning sprinkled over the top.

The 4th course of pedagogy brought together swede, spiced cauliflower, banana capsicum, organic carrots, as well as Jerusalem artichokes.  The pale sheets that looks similar pasta were to a greater extent than ofttimes than non probable shaved swede as well as the Jerusalem artichoke appeared every bit dots of puree; the capsicum curl was stuffed with spiced cauliflower. Cauliflower stuffing excepted, this dish was a petty bland as well as our to the lowest degree favourite of the night.

The lastly savoury course of pedagogy is where I actually lead maintain to range Nic Poelaert to a greater extent than or less credit.  We've been served beetroot during almost every high-end dinner we've had, as well as it's almost ever been teamed with sweetness apples or a piquant white cheese. Here instead was burnt jersey milk as well as orangish sugar, offering the same complementary sweetness as well as piquancy inwards a completely novel way.  Wonderful stuff!

The beetroot plate was served with a dish of aligot, mashed murphy as well as then saturated with cheese that it stretched similar mozzarella when nosotros attempted to serve it.  Goop never tasted as well as then good.

For dessert nosotros were treated to Embrasse's famous Attica's Terroir for me - I recall I'm biased towards desserts that offering sour amongst the sweet. 

We finished with to a greater extent than or less citrusy 'macaroons' from Vanessa.

While our repast was presented meticulously yesteryear the kitchen staff, I can't study the same for the front end of house.  One waiter was gentle as well as friendly spell the 2 others were extremely stand-offish, ofttimes non bothering to beak to or fifty-fifty expect at us every bit they brought nutrient as well as drinks.  None of them could state us anything to a greater extent than nigh the nutrient than was listed on the menu.  This actually disappointed me, every bit learning nigh the ingredients as well as techniques that acquire into each dish ever enriches my appreciation for them.  I don't know whether these were Embrasse's park staff, as well as presumably they didn't know this carte also every bit they powerfulness Embrasse's touchstone menu.  Possibly this final result was to a greater extent than stressful to trace together than a typical black inwards the restaurant.  Blog reviews I've read for Embrasse lead maintain few comments nigh the service as well as those are to a greater extent than ofttimes than non positive, as well as then hopefully our experience was non typical of this restaurant.

Still, nosotros were treated to an interesting option of what Embrasse tin move offering vegos also every bit to a greater extent than or less festival specials.  The regular carte is real promising, with the same honey of vegetables evident inwards many of the dish descriptions.

Embrasse Restaurant
312 Drummond St, Carlton
9347 3312
fully licensed
especial final result veg degustation $130 with matched wines
http://www.embrasserestaurant.com.au/

Accessibility: Entry, seating as well as service on the footing degree seem real accessible.  Toilets are situated upstairs.