Grand Richmond Italian Yum Cha for MFWF
Italian Yum Cha! What a concept! So fun and playful. The World Loves Melbourne was invited to a media premiere of the upcoming Italian Yum Cha event at Grand Richmond for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Grand Richmond always puts on the best events! They go the extra mile; for example at this event we were treated to a plethora of amazing courses, personalised table setting, excellent artwork of the menu, overhead decorations at the table and a Lion Dance! (The Lion Dance took us totally by surprise).
A signature cocktail was a perfect start to proceedings.
Each Saturday and Sunday lunch of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, The Grand's chefs hat kitchen will be serving Italian specialties in traditional yum cha style. We highly recommend this event as one of the highlights of the Festival! Some of the sessions are already booked out so get in now to secure your place.
I found the overall amount of food to be generous, and of high quality (this being a hatted restaurant and all). Like any Yum Cha the food comes out one course soon after another; the activity and variety lends itself to a great connection time at the table and a convivial atmosphere! Simply, it's fun! We love the main restaurant downstairs but we are also impressed by the upstairs function rooms 9great for corporates).
Barnie and Tiur below, tremendous hosts and always the life of the party.
The extra touches (above). Lion Dance action below. I'm not an expert on Lion Dancing but these guys were top notch!
If you love Italian food and also love yum cha, think little steamer baskets opening to surprise with a myriad of other Italian delights. Served in yum cha portions, we challenge you to try them all (although you may not be able to)!
Caprese salad, fior burrata; an earthy and classic Italian dish.
Swordfish carpacio, smoked tomato, lemon oil.
Everyone loves zucchini flowers! Zucchini flower fritti.
The famous Grand Richmond burnt butter pasta! pumpkin tortelli, amoretti and oregano is a delight!
Indulgence overdrive! Suckling pig croquettes, lentils and Dijon.
Char-grilled quail, charred leeks, corn and sea herbs. What a delightful dish! Juicy quail and loved the sea herbs.
A highlight is the Pork belly, summer vegetables and mustard fruit. Although a yum cha dish, several of these dishes are of a reasonable size, rich and filling!
We covered so much ground in this yum cha meal! Prawn risotto, basil and preserved lemon. Creamy risotto and decent prawns.
Caramelised figs, pink pepper ice cream, rhubarb.
Doughnuts! What a way to finish! Who cares about the calories! Italian Yum Cha at Grand Richmond is highly recommended!