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.