Friday, January 06, 2012

Tomislav, Darlinghurst

The BFF and I decide to hit up Tomislav for our last dinner of 2011 and see the year out with style. I've always wanted to try Tomislav as I'm intrigued by head chef  and owner Tomislav Martinovic's take on molecular gastronomy.  Tomislav worked with Heston Blumenthal so I think it's safe to assume he knows his stuff.


I LOVE foams, dirts, soils, crumbs and weird sorbets made from herbs and anything else that the creative chefs at Tomislav care to dish up. I think it's really exciting when chefs can take a simple ingredient and make it something really special  and unexpected - like a basil sorbet for example.  When I cook at home it's always something really simple, where the pumpkin looks like pumpkin, so a trip to Tomislav's is a real culinary adventure.


We kick things off with Rice Crackers with Sea Salt and Vinegar ($10.00). The sea salt and vinegar comes in a nifty little atomiser and a few quick sprays gives the cracker a zingy flavour. Of course we also get the spray all over our hands - you can't take us anywhere!  This is a really simple little starter, but it's so creative and a really fan start to our dinner.


Next up is a complementary serve of Sourdough Bread with Butter. Of course this is not ordinary butter.  The BFF and I are pretty chuffed with ourselves when we identified a hint of espresso in the butter gave the bread a nice sweet after taste. Very clever!


I have to say I got a tad excited when the Scampi Carpaccio with Wasabi, Sour Cream and clear Pumpkin Juice ($24.00) came out as the pumpkin juice was being served in a test tube! Just look at how vibrant the colours are in this dish! Lovely.


For my main meal I chose the Roast Striped Trumpeter Fillet with Tomato, Salt Caramel and Grilled Baby Leeks ($40.00).  The fish came topped with rounds of bone marrow which I passed over to a very happy BFF as I'm not eating meat (other than seafood or meat I know is free-range blah blah blah) at the moment. He said it was delicious, melt in the mouth. Now back to me. The trumpeter was fantastic, and I loved how a little bit of salt caramel in each mouthful gave the fish a sweet taste.


The BFF chose a lamb dish for his main (so he didn't have to share with me I'm sure).  The Roast Suffolk Lamb Rump and Lamb Rib with a mint sauce and roast purple onions ($39.00) looked as pretty as a picture and the lamb was melt in the mouth tender I was told.


We ordered a couple of side dishes to go with our mains, though I was feeling a tad full by this stage so maybe one side dish would've done the trick. I'm sure the crunchy Triple Cooked Crinkle Cut Fries ($11.00) were a nod to Heston.  The little salad of Lettuce with Macadamias and Cranberries ($10.00 was a real treat - I love the sweet note the Cranberries added and the creamy dressing and Macadamias made this more than just a bowl of lettuce.


I really was quite full by this stage but the BFF had his little heart set on ordering dessert. I relented and agreed to have a spoonful or two just to help him out.  Half a plate later though I can attest that the
Milk Chocolate Cream Cake with Caramelised Walnuts and Smoked Banana Ice Cream ($18.00) was the perfect note to end the meal on.

I think the BFF must've been feeling jipped that I ate half of "his" dessert as he quickly ordered another dessert before I could protest. The Vanilla Cheesecake with Grilled Strawberries, Basil Ice and Rhubarb Sorbet ($18.00)  really was the perfect way to end the meal on. The deconstructed cheesecake was so light and the grilled strawberries and basil ice were fantastic elements that really added to the texture and taste of the dish.


Tomislav was the perfect place our last meal together of 2011. The food was fun, creative and just amazing. I'd happily return in a heartbeat.  The dishes were all really exciting, with quirky little twists and elements that raised the meal to something really special. If this is molecular gastronomy then I'm in LOVE!

Tomislav can be found at 2/13 Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst.  Phone them on 9356 4535.

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19 comments:

  1. loved the photos and love tomislav! its been a while since my last visit, thinking of going here for my bday.... maybe.. so indecisive!

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  2. hahaha Mel! I love your posts "I relented and agreed to have a spoonful or two just to help him out" - you are way too kind!!

    This place looks so fun - I've heard so many good things about it, and your post makes me want to try it even more!

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  3. You didn't eat the marrow??? Blasphemy! :)

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  4. miss piggggy! i think these are your best pictures yet.
    we love tomislav! i think its my bfs fav place. probably because he can see his work building and the coke sign simultaneously. i really want to go on a hot night for a drink.. now all we need i a hot night!
    i love the food there. its fun and fine dining-y but not inaccessible or bland.

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  5. Your photos are gorgeous and really do credit to the beautiful food.

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  6. Yum yum yum. Gotta love the cheesecake and the fun nature of MG :)

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  7. Love that entree, looks like a soft-boiled egg white surrounded by runny yolk. Mains look fantastic, too.

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  8. Oh, where's the scampi...?? Tomislav is such a lovely place to eat but... just lacking a little something, I think, to be that ultimately amazing place.

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  9. Hi Tina - oh the scampi is buried under all of that "green stuff". I think the location is not a "wow". When I walked into, say Porteno or Rockpool Bar & Grill, it was really a WOW WOW WOW moment for me.

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  10. Amazing photos Miss Piggy and the food looks and sounds incredible...espresso in the butter; loving it :)

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  11. The cheesecake is one of my favourite cheescakes ever. I love the texture of it. It made me want to buy one of those canisters to make it! :P

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  12. I'm yet to get to Tmislav myself, what a great meal to finish off 2011 with :) mmmmm triple fried chips are my weakness, and everything else looks fantastic too!

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  13. Nice pics - the food looks fantastic. Ever since I tried out the Sugar Hit here, I've been meaning to try it out!

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  14. I went to Tomislav last Jan. The food was good, but I'm with Tina there was just no wow factor for me. Did I expect more from Heston inspired molecular gastronomy? Or is the atmosphere lacking that something special?

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  15. I still have yet to eat here but the husband is particularly keen, so most probably in the coming year.

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  16. Seems such a fun place to eat, has been on my list for a little while. Let's see is 2012 I get my bot there.

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  17. Tomislav is def on my list too. Love the innovation. Looks like such a fun meal :)

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  18. I went there two weeks ago and their menu is now replaced by two degustation options: four and eight courses with each course having four options.

    Tomislav presented very pretty dishes, but not enough side dishes for my tummy :)

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