Masani - where have you been all my life

I am in equal measures thrilled and upset. Thrilled to have found this gem of a restaurant, upset that I used to walk past it thinking 'that place looks too expensive and fancy for lil' ol' me'. I would also like to thank friend G for turning forty and inviting me to partake of a fantastic meal, fantastic wine, and fantastic conversation to celebrate it.

Masani (in case there is anyone else in Melbourne who hasn't been there) is located at 313-315 Drummond Street Carlton, has an amazing menu (usually with many specials to complement the standard fare), and a dining room featuring an amazing pair of fireplaces (bigger than my bathroom) which keep the high ceilinged rooms toasty warm. Another top tip for you tipplers, Masani allows you to BYO with just a $7.50 corkage fee (cheap if you are having a special meal with a few special wines from your personal collection).

The night we went I had the Duck-and-Duck - started with Duck Livers for entree and then had crispy roasted duck for main. I only had eyes for my own meal that night, but seem to recall rave reviews for the beef cheeks? I will definitely be back for my next special (but not necessarily too special) occasion.

A B Day

A, a good foodie friend of J's and mine had a birthday dinner party at his place the other night. A is the man who first introduced me to the wonders of schnapp's roasted duck - far out!! He is a big fan of duck and so we celebrated his birthday in style - duck drumsticks, beautiful lamb fillets (he got a rotisserie add-on for his bbq that was begging to be tried out) and many sides and salads. On top of this we had a great selection from A and his wife A-M's extensive cellar - a lovely night was had by all. Happy Birthday old man!