The Press Club ... masterchef... challenge?

We were at The Press Club in recent weeks, it's actually my first visit to this infamous restaurant.

At the same time, it gives me reason to do my blog about my experience, especially after watching tonight's Masterchef. A very different episode it is because George, yes.. Mr Calombaris held the challenge at his very own - The Press Club. The challenge was part of a relaunch with 60 guests in attendance (from celebrity chefs like Jacques Reymond to directors of The Press Club). The guests then award the winning team ie Red or Blue team, made up of challengers from Masterchef.

And boy did George get fired up... Callum was asked to redo the smoked yoghurt soup with chicken oysters dish.. well he stuffed it up the first time, George asked him to redo it again.. but Callum decided to do a refix of the stuffed dish which only wasted time, then off to the shops he went to buy cucumber because emmm no cucumbers left. He does the groceries thing another 2 more times.. since he ran out of yoghurt too and one other item. Heheee the guy must have been losing his head by then! Then one of the chicken dishes was served pink? oh no.

George then said someething along the lines of cleaning up the base of the plates because if the plates are stuck to sh*t, sh*t will be served to the tables and sh*t must never be served to anyone in his restaurant. Yes he used those words including the S word. Heheee it sounded real funny.

It was an entertaining episode. Imagine serving and cooking for celebrities? And if you are in his George's restaurant, if it ain't done right, do it again.

Well, let's go back to my initial opening, yes our dinner at The Press Club, started with lovely bread, dipped to olive oil filled with olives, and complementing black volcanic salt? I'm sure I heard correctly. Now that was good.

The order:

Entree
- Prawns : domatosoupa, kalamata olive sponge, young basil, kefalograviera crisp - the olive sponge was unusual (in a good way) and provided a lovely bouncy texture to the rest of the dish. I loved this dish.. tasty tasty tasty. $30
- Chicken : pastelaki of its wings, kritharaki, mytzithra snow. Very good, mmm the pasta (ie orzo).. mmm the very tender chicken.. mmmmm very very good $23



Main
- Lamb : 'neck', miso mousaka - I only finished half of it.. my least fav dish of the night, the sauce that complemented it was fairly heavy in taste, and I'm not a fan of the sauce. $46
- Kakvakia : salmon dory scallop yabby calamari clams celery yuzu latholemono (2 to share $84)


Sides
- Sweet corn : kalaboki charred, herbed yoghurt cheese, almonds $9.50
- Potatoes : crispy patates, patzari, feta $9.50
There was nothing spectacular about the sweet corn dish, but the potatoes was lovely with the dipping sauce, ie patzari is beetroot roasted in cumin served with yoghurt. Different.



We didn't try the Symposium Degustation at $125 pp for 8 courses, but the table next to us did and with each course that came out also matched a curious look on their faces hehee.

Of course, table service is great.. that's what you'd expect. Compared to Hellenic Republic (George's other restaurant), it's modern crisp and sharp complete with warm wooden panels.. afterall this is George's baby and his first too and reflects a very professional looking restaurant. But... I like Hellenic Republic much much more (read my previous blog in recent days) just because of the wholehearted meals you get in a less formal setting.. comfort food ahh :)

Find The Press Club Restaurant @ 72 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC