MUMU Grill: Take It Slow Wine Dinner, Crows Nest (30 April 2009)

70 Alexander Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065
http://www.mumugrill.com.au

Pavlova Magic

My dining experience tonight is all owed to Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella who invited me along with a number of other notable food bloggers to enjoy a 'Take it Slow' Wine Dinner menu generously provided by our host Craig Macindoe, the owner and chef of MuMu Grill, along with Ben Riggs from Mr. Riggs wines. The $95 per person event focussed on the philosophy of slow cooking which aims to concentrate flavour, maximise tenderness and maintain nutritional content.

Food bloggers were invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen of this very large design savy restaurant before sampling olives and 18 month Jamon at the tapas bar matched with Mr. Riggs Viognier and Tempranillo which I thoroughly enjoyed. Personally I preferred eating the thin single slices of Jamon from a platter rather than the generous portions served on bread so I could better appreciate the melt in your mouth tenderness and savour the flavour of the meat.

13 hour slow roasted slices of lamb shoulder were tender as expected and I'm a big fan of meat on a bone so gnawing on my tasty grilled backstrap cutlet was truly a highlight. The very drinkable, full bouquet Shiraz matched the dish well and one of my favourite drops of the night. Next was the double roasted duck with meat easily falling over the bone along with the slow cooked poached pear which was beautifully rich in it's true flavour.

After so much meaty goodness the pavlova dessert arrived last which was an explosion of fresh tasting fruit and double whipped cream on my taste buds and one of the best pavlova desserts I've enjoyed. The perfect crunchiness of the pavlova was well balanced with the sugary soft stickiness of it's inside. It was a perfect end to the dinner.

The other food bloggers dining were:
Lorraine http://www.notquitenigella.com
Howard http://www.eatshowandtell.com
Shez http://onebitemore.blogspot.com
Anna http://morselsandmusings.blogspot.com
Arwen http://hogletk.wordpress.com
Lisa http://spicyicecream.blogspot.com
Trina http://foragingotaku.blogspot.com
Jennifer http://www.jenius.com.au
Steph http://raspberricupcakes.blogspot.com

Other visits to MUMU Grill:
• 29 Mar 2011 - Porkestra The Encore

• 22 Sept 2010 - Ribfest (Lamb, Pork and Beef ribs)

• 31 Aug 2010 - Lambageddon Dinner

• 3 Feb 2010 - Beer Tasting Dinner

• 15 Aug 2009 - Lunch Express Menu, Pumpkin Gnocchi, Eye Fillet, Zucchini Flowers

• 30 April 2009 - Take It Slow Wine Dinner, Mr Riggs Wines, Jamon, Saltbush lamb, Double roasted duck, Brown sugar pavlova

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Cooked with love and sustainability

CONS: Not for vegetarians

MUST TRY: Brown sugar Pavlova, Mr Riggs Shiraz 2007

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Our host and chef: Craig Macindoe

Craig introduces the restaurants food philosophy to the food blogger guests before taking them on a behind-the-scenes tour of kitchen

Bloggers prepare to check out the cool room

Craig explains how their meat is stored

Whole Arcadia Saltbush Lamb in storage and being aged

How to cook a steak poster in kitchen

Shopping list

Roasting oven

Craig explaining the finer points of preparation and about the produce they use in the restaurant

Platters of 18 month Jamon on Catalan bread prepared and ready for dinner guests

Mr. Riggs Viognier 2007

Assorted olives (my favourites were the larger green and black ones)

18 month Jamon and Catalan bread

Vine ripened tomatoes in the kitchen

Mr. Riggs Viognier 2007

Mr. Riggs 'Yacca Paddock' Tempranillo 2007

Craig greets the dinner guests and explains the Wine Dinner menu

Whole Arcadia saltbush lamb roasted for 13 hours served with minted eggplant and white bean paste, green beans, beetroot jus

Mr. Riggs 'The Gaffer' Shiraz 2007

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

2.5 hour Double roasted duck with bok choy and poached pear

Mr. Riggs Shiraz Viognier 2007

Brown sugar Pavlova with Seasonal Fruit (blackberries, kiwifruit, strawberry, rockmelon, pineapple, passionfruit, honeydew melon)

SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Mr. Riggs Sticky End Viognier 2008

Food bloggers doing what they do best, photography food unmercifully

Howard from eatshow&tell in action

Lorraine from Not Quite Nigella in action

Arwen from Hoglet K taking food notes

Shez from One Bite More taking food notes

The Wine Dinner menu by MuMu Grill and Mr. Riggs Wines

"This Wine Dinner has taken 18 months 16 hours and 40 mins in preparation to get to you. And only 3 hours for you to consume it."

Ben Riggs from Mr. Riggs wines

Graham Strong from Arcadia Saltbush Lamb

Restaurant wall graphics

Bathroom door graphics

Entry view of dining area and open kitchen area

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