Idea Fine Food & Wine – CBD Melbourne

Date: Monday 14th December 2009

Restaurant: Idea Fine Food & Wine

Address: 146 – 148 Little Bourke Street

Phone: 03 9663 8829

Commentary : Sarah Andrew

It is no coincidence that wine industry professionals (whether they be winemakers, wine consultants and other restaurateurs) are regularly seen in this venue. The food is excellent and the wine list very affordable and very interesting.

I took part in a pre-Christmas gathering with several other contacts in the wine industry, whereby we settled into Idea Fine Food & Wine at 1pm on a Monday afternoon and did not leave until after 5pm.

William Lee is one of the owners and considered the face of the venue, whilst Paul Chan is chef and very much behind the scenes. Our lunchtime brief was very clear, to have the Chinese menu chosen for us covering seafood, meat and vegetables with one or two signature dishes as part of the mix. The selection consisted of:

Szechuan dumplings

Pumpkin prawn dumplings

Batung scallops

Peking duck

Black pepper lamb loin

Black cod

Broccoli & snowpeas

Steamed rice

The food was presented over a period of time, with each dish given the appropriate amount of time to be enjoyed. The portions were generous and the selection of food perfect for the occasion.

For those in the know it will come as no surprise that the wine list is unusually extensive, balanced and very well priced. We had great fun working our way through a Gruner Veltliner (Austria); Freycinet Chardonnay (Tasmania), Willow Creek Benedictus Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula) and YarraLoch Cabernets (Yarra Valley). All delightful and all so affordable.

The venue is open Mon – Thurs noon – 10:30pm, Fri – Sun 11:30am – 11:00pm.

For those of you who would like this experience but not wish to visit the city, try China Max @ 6 Keilor Rd Essendon North (9374 1988) as this is another venture of William Lee’s, and they offer take away too.