Best Australian Sparkling Wine: Chandon Prestige Cuvee 1996

Best Non Vintage Champagne: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere N/V

Best Vintage Champagne: Jacquesson 2000 Vintage

Best Riesling: Paulett 2010 Polish Hill River (Clare Valley) Riesling

Best Sauvignon Blanc: De Bortoli 2010 Yarra Valley Estate Grown Sauvignon

Best SemillonL: Tyrell’s 2005 Vat One Hunter Valley Semillon

Best Chardonnay: Tarrawarra 2008 Yarra Valley Reserve Chardonnay

Best Alternative Varietal White Wine: Michael Hall 2010 Barossa Valley Rousanne

Best Blended White Wine: Grosset 2011 Adelaide Hills Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Best Value White Wine (Under $20.00): Trentham Estate 2010 Vermentino

Best Sweet White Wine: Westend 3 Bridges 2008 Botrytis Semillon

Best Imported White Wine: Domaine Schlumberger 2004 Kessler Grand Cru Pinot Gris

White Wine of the Year: Tarrawarra 2008 Yarra Valley Reserve Chardonnay

Best Rose: Angove’s 2011 Nine Vines Rose

Best Pinot Noir: PHI 2008 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir and Kooyong 2009 Single Vineyard Selection ‘Meres’ Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir

Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Cullen 2009 Diana Madeline

Best Shiraz: Katnook Estate 2009 Coonawarra Shiraz

Best Blended Red Wine: Wantirna Estate 2008 ‘Amelia’ Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Jacob’s Creek 2010 St Hugo Barossa Grenache Shiraz Mataro

Best Alternative Varietal Red Wine: S.C. Pannell 2010 Tempranillo Touriga

Best Sparkling Red Wine: Joseph N/V Sparkling Red

Best Value Red Wine: Majella 2009 ‘The Musician’ Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz

Best Imported Red Wine: Domaine LeRoy 2006 Pommard Les Vignots

Best Fortified Wine: Penfold’s Grandfather Port

Red Wine of the Year: Cullen 2009 Diana Madeline

Best New Label: Sinapius Vineyard, Piper’s Brook, Tasmania (Sinapius 2009 Riesling/Sinapius 2010 Riesling)

Best Cellar Door of the Year: Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley and Hill Smith, Adelaide Hills

Wine Event of the Year: Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration 2011

Wine Shop of the Year: The Prince Wine Store, 177 Bank Street, South Melbourne

Online Wine Shop of the Year: Grand Millesime

Wine Magazine of the Year: Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine

Wine Book of the Year: James Halliday Australian Companion 2012 Edition

Victorian Wine of the Year: Yeringberg 2008 Estate Shiraz

Winery of the Year: Jacob’s Creek

The 3AW Award for Consistent and Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Wine Industry: Peter Lehmann

Wine of the Year: Cullen 2009 Diana Madeline

Winemaker of the Year: Vanya Cullen

Bruin – 42 Ferguson St Williamstown 9397 4008   

It’s not quite the right term, but if there were a western suburbs café mafia, this is their newest hangout. Iain Munro is the kingpin, and Bruin is his fourth establishment in the area. He started and then sold Le Chien in Seddon, and he’s still at the helm of the very busy cafes The Corner Shop and Wee Jeanie in Yarraville.

For now, Bruin is only open at night, but we can only assume that will change as they perfect their operations. It’s easy to miss, no lights and no big sign, but it makes up for impact when you walk inside – starting with the fabulous, intricate chandeliers. No fancy crystal here, these fittings are made from recycled bed springs, also the source for the novel “curtains” in the front window. With shiny white tiles, and an open(ish) kitchen with frosted glass surrounds – this is a taste of Fitzroy in bayside Williamstown.

The menu is all about sharing, from large long flatbreads, to salads, sardines and spare ribs. The menu has a mainly Mediterranean or Middle Eastern bent, but it’s the risk with this sort of menu that you end up with such a disparate array of dishes it can be almost overwhelming.

We started with some seared Hervey Bay Scallops on the shell with crispy pork belly ($4.50 each) that was bordering on crackling; and stunning Steamed tofu & crab dumplings with duck broth ($5) each – a small bowl of rich soup containing a spongy, tasty dumpling minus the expected wrapper.

Lamb and pinenut filo rolls ($16) were fabulous – long cigars filled with tender meat gently spiced with sumac, cumin and coriander atop buffalo yogurt and a tart mint sauce.

Fried Japanese chicken ($18) was a generous portion if a little dry, but in mouthfuls accompanied by the sautéed spinach and sesame soy sauce it was fresh and crunchy.

The baby beetroot salad ($15) was a real winner, warm whole beets, baby leaves, radish and red onion on creamy goats curd with splatterings of olive tapenade and crunchy toasted grains. Not a huge dish, but it really was a triumph.

From the desserts, peanut butter and butterscotch parfait is very much the reliable it should be – although it would do to get it out of the freezer and let it stand for a bit, so I could have attacked it straight away. 

The vibe is very inner city but locals of the western suburbs don’t have to cross the bridge for it – I have no doubt Bruin is going to be embraced with vigour by the good people of Williamstown, and rightly so.

3AW Food Directory

3AW is Food: Melburnians love to eat so it's fortunate we live in the culinary capital of Australia. On this dedicated food page you will find the latest recipes by Bob Hart as well as Tony Leonard's Pub of the Week reviews. La Luna head chef Adrian Richardson also serves up a dish from his own cook book and food reviewer Ela Carte visits one of Melbourne's hottest eateries weekly.

Le Flaneur

Finally got around to checking out this very French café on Church St in Hawthorn, which sits fittingly along side renowned eateries Ocha and Barkers Wine Bar. It’s bright and airy, with quirky artwork and plenty of unusual coffee paraphernalia. The coffee’s from Collingwood’s Proud Mary, and there are siphon, pour over and cold-dripped varieties available (I’m yet to work out exactly what some of those actually mean!).

The food is café fare, but there are some fabulous inclusions including the (ode to Golden Fields lobster roll) “Prawn Mille Feuille, a sweet brioche bun filled with a generous amount of prawns, shredded iceberg lettuce, lemon mayo, tomato and smashed avocado with fat hand cut chips on the side. E

I’m loathe to admit it, but I’ll also be heading back one breakfast time to try the “French Toast” – thick cut brioche bread with spice-poached pear, honey glazed bacon, candied walnut, organic peninsula honey and fresh strawberries.

http://www.facebook.com/CafeLeFlaneur

Summer on the Wharf

It’s taken a little while, but Melburnians are finally discovering the Wharf Hotel at WTC. We headed along on a recent Friday for some after work drinks, and the place was absolutely pumping. Perfect for a warm summer’s night, there are outdoor tables, benches and even couches, and some fabulous happy hour specials (think jugs of Pimms or mojitos).

As well as snacks, mains and some great cheap pizzas, daily specials include Mussel Mondays – a bowl of mussels, chips, aioli and a James Squire Beer for $20.

www.wharfhotel.com.au

Spud-tastic

Got a special delivery from Spudbar this week, Matt Wilkinson has turned his golden touch to the menu for summer and has come up with two potatos and three salads that now constitute their “Chef’s Seasonal Specials”. The stuffed Chook and Avo Spud literally tastes like roast chook and stuffing, but it’s actually paired with a sweet potato and comes topped with mashed avocado. From the salads, the Ancient Grains and Feta Salad sounds most interesting, a mixed grain tabouli of quinoa and bourghal, with almonds, sultanas, mint, tomato, feta and rocket.

www.spudbar.com.au

3AW Food Directory

3AW is Food: Melburnians love to eat so it's fortunate we live in the culinary capital of Australia. On this dedicated food page you will find the latest recipes by Bob Hart as well as Tony Leonard's Pub of the Week reviews. La Luna head chef Adrian Richardson also serves up a dish from his own cook book and food reviewer Ela Carte visits one of Melbourne's hottest eateries weekly.

Ela Carte’s morsels …

High Tech Burrito

Really just wanted to give a plug to this Tex-Mex outlet in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn – their dishes are far more authentic than some more established Mexican chains, they make all sauces and salsas on site, use super fresh vegetables, real corn tortillas, and they’re just a very friendly bunch.
Hi Tech Burrito - 838 Glenferrie Road  Hawthorn VIC 3122 – www.hightechburrito.com.au

Papa Goose Bloody Sundays

Was sent the menu for Papa Goose’s new “Bloody Sunday” roasts, and have been salivating ever since. The idea is to get a table of at least six together and enjoy a $50 feast which starts with a “hamper” consisting of smoked fish, terrine, pickled vegies, cheese and the like.
Mains are a choice between six different heavenly roasts including Ranger’s Valley porterhouse with bone marrow Yorkshire pud or Glenloth free range chicken with sage and onion stuffing and bacon jam – don’t even get me started on the duck fat potato side.

Papa Goose – 91 – 93 Flinders Lane, Melbourne www.papagoose.com.au

Heston Live

Continuing the tradition of chefs treading the boards, Heston Blumenthal has just announced a tour of “one night only events” in the capital cities, he’ll be at the Regent Theatre on the 8th May next year.
The night will see Heston doing live “scientific experiments on stage”, and re-create his classics like “Sound of the Sea”, “Snail Porridge” and “Mock Turtle Soup”.

Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au or see www.hestonlive.com.au 

3AW Food Directory

3AW is Food: Melburnians love to eat so it's fortunate we live in the culinary capital of Australia. On this dedicated food page you will find the latest recipes by Bob Hart as well as Tony Leonard's Pub of the Week reviews. La Luna head chef Adrian Richardson also serves up a dish from his own cook book and food reviewer Ela Carte visits one of Melbourne's hottest eateries weekly.

Ela Carte’s morsels …

Preston’s Pomona goes gluten-free

Good news for the wheat intolerant and coeliacs of Melbourne, Preston is home to a brand new gluten free café in Preston. No more feeling like a leper, Pomona boasts an entirely gluten free menu with offerings for breakfast and lunch, organic spelt bread baked on the premises and multigrain brought in from Silly Yaks. Can’t wait to head in for the Fox in Socks – beans and chorizo in a tomato sauce with 2 poached eggs, goats cheese, paprika and toast.
Pomona, 474B Murray Rd Preston

Fiesta Espanola at the Robert Burns

Haven’t had a chance yet to check out the refurbed Robbie Burns? What better time than during Fitzroy’s famous Johnson St Fiesta, which sees Fitzroy’s latin precinct transformed into a mammoth Hispanic party!
Spanish guitarists and dancers will transport party-goers to coastal San Sebastian, and $4 tapas and half price jugs of sangria will complete the experience.

All the fun happens on Saturday 19th November. 

www.robertburnshotel.com.au

Outdoor dining with a difference

It’s no ham and cheese roll with Passion Pop, Fitzrovia is taking advantage of their impressive location by offering those who’d rather enjoy their wares in nearby Albert Park Lake or St Kilda beach the opportunity to take away a luxury picnic basket rather than dine in. We’re talking entrée, main, sides, cheese, grazing sweets and non-alcoholic drinks (BYO bubbly) including scotch quail eggs, BLTs, roast vegetable salad, strawberries and clotted cream. No limits on where you decide to enjoy it (pleasure ride on the bay, anyone?) but you’re looking at $150 for two people, and you’ll need to leave a decent deposit.

Fitzrovia - 155 Fitzroy Street St Kilda 9537 0001

3AW Food Directory

3AW is Food: Melburnians love to eat so it's fortunate we live in the culinary capital of Australia. On this dedicated food page you will find the latest recipes by Bob Hart as well as Tony Leonard's Pub of the Week reviews. La Luna head chef Adrian Richardson also serves up a dish from his own cook book and food reviewer Ela Carte visits one of Melbourne's hottest eateries weekly