Yum takes a new level of meaning

Some may think that Pizza is all about the double cheese thick oily base, and that the best time to enjoy it is lounged back at home in front of the T.V.  However it has not always been the case.

For years we have continued to change the recipes and given us the perception that this is how it should be. This perception is wrong. I was shown today the true balance that should be recaptured to each of you to how a true Pizza should be.

Naples, Italy invented the pizza 200 years ago where it was to be a nutritious and healthy meal. That's right I said Healthy. Now when you think about all your places where you eat pizza I am fairly certain you can not place a healthy label on them.

Melt, located in Windsor has brought us an outstanding Wood fire pizzeria. Everything is made to order in a walk the line environment where you can happily choose a Classic pizza variety or go crazy and design your own.

Dough that is no oil, fat or sugar is made on site from a recipe that was taught to owners Dan and Elise whilst in Naples. I can not describe how amazing this recipe is, but to say perfection is not even enough how truly amazing this is.

We asked Dan today to give us a classic and what he would love to create, and by golly gee both were as good as each other.

The Classic of Hot salami which sits on top of a delicate tomato base finished off with caramelised onion, black olives, fresh chilli and a touch of Mozzarella.

For the free styler we got to devour a delicious Pesto base covered in sausage, red onion, roasted pumpkin, mozzarella and a touch of oregano.

The great thing about Melt is the process of the creation. Watch the dough be rolled, choose from the locally sourced, fresh and perfectly presented produce that are displayed in front of you for your choice, chat with the staff and watch the art of your pizza come together.

By the time you have got to the end and selected a drink at the bar, your pizza is ready and possibly at the table before you. That's right it's that quick.

Here you all are sitting at home waiting for your delivery that takes approximately 30 minutes and be just warm. But here I am driven out for 20 minutes and got my pizza in 2 (decision making not included in this time frame - that would clearly vary. It's almost like a kid in a lolly shop for me).

The saying 'Less is more' truly comes to play to make the perfect pizza and as you can see, it may not look like the pizza you're used to but it is truly going to change your mind as to how pizza should be.

It's so light that it's almost like the base disappears as you enjoy the surrounding flavours of your toppings.  The hits of spice in the Salmi pizza is softened by the caramelised onion and smoothed out by the touches of mozzarella.

The creation of the sausage pizza is bliss as soon as you take your first bite. Sweet pumpkin flavours, balance between the pesto base pork sausage. This one became the hit list of recreation for next time.

The enjoyment had eating pizza was remarkably strange, in a great way. Usually you eat pizza and straight away you feet fat, bloated and under satisfied. But here I felt great. I felt I had eaten healthy and their was not anxiousness or internal voices saying 'umm you shouldn't have eaten that'.

Melt is a great place for those who want to get together for a casual catch up with friends, have a drink and eat pizza. It's perfect. Tables for 4, areas for date night and an area for a gathering of 8 where you can have your own secluded room so you don't annoy the remaining diners with being too loud.

During Summer you should catch some raise in the outside court yard that engages warmth and bright colours.

The interior is warm and homey, with touches of Edison and hanging terrariums. Casual dining at it's best, and there is only welcome feelings whilst dining.

Owners Dan and Elise have put their hearts into every part of Melt and you can see it when they smile. They are proud in what they deliver and hats off to them for the hard work they have put in to showcase nothing but amazing pizza, that is nothing but enjoyable.

It's great to see people so proud of what they showcasing, and continue to extend their service from the moment of walking through the door to the moment they say farewell as you leave.

FLAWLESS!

Melt

171 Chapel Street

9533 7110

The Italian Mama's have Competition

When you think of Italian cuisine your mind instantly says pizza and pasta, theres no denying it really. It's full of rich bold flavours and is destined to make you feel the Love of which the Italians add in as that special ingredient.

Recently a new landmark has joined Frankston's development under the Quest building, 'Bar Napoli'. With it's chique and clean set up, you enter and are welcomed by each and everyone of the team members. Friends that were joining me this evening were so surprised that the kitchen team even lifted their heads to greet us. A comment was said that it's often you don't get that any more, well thank's to the Mathis group and team it's happening.

After such a delightful greeting and a run down of the menu and suggestions flying left right and centre we begin our evening with a Romana Pizza; Fresh ricotta cheese, spinach, pancetta, pine nuts and a delicate sprig of orange zest. A refreshing delicate beginner that wasn't going to over power the upcoming richness of our pastas and risottos. It was also a great match to our moscato we were enjoying.

A thin crust pizza and a perfect spread of everything was really pleasant  It was nice to see the toppings weren't towering on the pizza causing difficulties to eat. A perfect balance of flavour where the saltiness of the pancetta balanced into the fresh ricotta and hints of orange zest.

Mains were destined to be rich full flavoured dishes, knowing that the pasta is made fresh and being told that the gnocchi are soft silky pillows only made each of us more excited about what was coming or way.

I enjoyed the Duck and Mushroom risotto, perfectly cooked rice delicate balance of tender duck pieces and rich mushroom flavours was enjoyable. A large potion size I have to admit but it was to deliciously tasty for me to waste any. I did weigh this up in the beginning by making sure I paced myself through the beginners so that I could eat my main.

Around the rest of the table there was the Gluten free penne pasta with chunky lamb ragu, which was light and tasty and filled with lamb pieces that just melted in your mouth. To bigger portion to be finished so it was packed in a traveller to be enjoyed later.

An interesting Quaderetti bolognese rose was a light version of the normal rich intense napoli based bolognese. At least this way you don't have to worry about those tomato stains on your shirts or on the corner of your lips.

It was a nice surprise to have this option on the menu as you do sometimes wish for a lighter less acidic based sauce on your pasta, and it was said to be very enjoyable with the change.

Now of course the Gnocchi had to be ordered seeing the selling point from the staff were that they were soft silky pillows of enjoyment, and that they were. They don't lie. A rich napoletana with parmigiano and basil was perfect in flavours and hand made gnocchi was a great dish to enjoy.

Now if you want to try something different at Bar Napoli there are things to check out. Kimon who was having the pleasure of looking after us insisted to try the Battlocchio; a classic Napoletana fried calzone filled with hot salami, spinach, napoli and ricotta. I have to admit each of us couldn't believe this golden large sized hot pocket was bought to our table and it was really enjoyable.

Think of a hot jam donut, minus the jam and filled with italian inspired ingredients to add to your enjoyment. It is a dish that should be tried. It was said to be an accident of a creation, but sometimes accidents are the best creations especially when your working with food.

Desserts were spruiked to us which was great and made for conversations with our waiter. A delicious Panna cotta of mixed berries and house made honeycomb was explained that it would make you happy and the classic tirramisu was also a given of choice.

Silky soft vanilla panna cotta served in a jar and finished with a layer of mixed berried and grand chunks of golden honeycomb does make you happy all the way down to your toes. A fight over the honeycomb pieces though as we shared but this classic dish was one of the best I have had.

The tirramisu served in a tall jar layered with delicate tones of coffee and cream with hints of chocolate was also a fine finish to the traditional Italian meal.

We are so pleased to have Bar Napoli serving such good exquisit food, putting in the efforts to deliver hand made pastas and ensuring that it's quality in every product is maintained to the highest.

Service standards are impecable and was fantastic to see such attention to detail in both front and back of house. Smiling faces who enjoy talking and get even more excited as they talk to you about the menu is something that is rare, and am privileged to see it amongst the team.

Bar Napoli is a new baby on the scene of Frankston and will only grow as people discover it.

Bar Napoli

319/ 435-437 Nepean Hwy

Frankston

8765 - 2499

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I ate to much pizza and I think I'm about to explode!

Word has spread around Melbourne rather quickly about a place that serves divine thin crust pizza with fresh and delicious toppings. In fact it was said to be a must have pizza! To good for my ears to be hearing such things, I must find this place 

Firechief Pizzeria is celebrating their first birthday and what a great opportunity to seize this moment and get my own taste. 

With high ceilings and simple yet perfect outlay had a fantastic family, friendly feel. As the walk way takes you to the top of their dining area the enchanting chandelier hangs low setting a somewhat rustic feel. Tables overflowed with diners gorging in pizza and pasta and having a great time.

An evening with friends and the beginning to the weekend the unwind began with a cocktail in hand. A fresh and berrylicious Little red ridding hood - strawberry liquor, blackcurrant and vodka was a delightful relaxant.

Scanning the menu I am blown away with the ever so large options of pizza. Just reading the menu my tummy grumbles for food and my mouth waters, my mind is so confused on what to order....... Can't I just order them all? 

Alas this would mean the emergency services would need to come to my rescue if I ate the entire menu, so a decision had to be made, but it was a definite tuff one.

On special this week we had the Celebrational pizza "the Brew Smith" designed by followers of Firecheif through social media as an entry into a pizza topping competition. The "Brew Smith" made by Brew Smith - home made brews enchanted Firechiefs taste buds with a Gorgonzola, Chicken, Roasted Artichoke and shallots. A gourmet master piece at that.

We start with a traditional Garlic and cheese pizza, cause you can't not have one when you're out eating at pizza restaurants. It's just the thing to do. Thin crust doused in garlic and finished with olive oil and fior di latte cheese, this pizza was enriched with the essence of everything that was needed. Garlic burst in each bite, it's everything that you would expect.  Now I know you are saying, well it's a garlic and cheese pizza. But I have to say this it was pretty damn good.

This evening 3 choices were made, the Friarielli, Prawn & Pancetta and the Meaty. It was a pizza each, but an arrange slice for slice trade off.

First let's start with the Friarielli. Luscious fior di latte, pork, rape`, parmigiana, fresh basil and finished with chilli and olive oil. Now if you mouth is watering now their is something wrong with you. This was the first thing that caught my eye but not my final choice, but am glad it was decided to be ordered. 

The delicate flavours of the fior di late was a fine choice of cheese for this pizza, it's creaminess matched perfectly with the pork which hasn't got a strong flavour itself. Fresh basil and chilli enhanced the rape`, where I have found that the rape` has a quiet strong bitter flavour, on this pizza it doesn't over power or take you away from that pork flavour.  

The Meaty was enriched with ground beef, salami, bacon, red onion & jalapenos on a crushed tomato base with mozzarella. An extraordinary combination of rich meats nestle on the tomato base pizza, and the smell is Divine. While you eat you are met with salty goodness while fresh meat juices soak into the base and small amounts run down your fingers. Leaves for even more tastiness as you like your fingers after. It was great to see nothing but fresh meats to grab those strong flavours.

Now hopefully you are reading this now and am tantalising you bit by bit and that you have started your cravings for pizza, because the next will do nothing but make you put your shoes on, jump in your cars and drive distances to grab a pizza.

Here it comes.........

The Prawn and Pancetta was my choice of indulgence tonight. A base of fior di latt topped with garlic marinated prawns matched with crisp pancetta and finished with mojo dressing and fresh roquette leaves.

Is it wrong that I say OMG? 

Heaven sent flavours is all that I can say, and the best pizza I have possibly ever had or can remember. On the table it was voted the best of the 3 and was glad it was all mine, well apart from my trade off slices. 

The mild cheese base captures the crushed garlic flavours from the perfectly cooked juicy prawns. Crisp pancetta draped over the pizza adds the perfect amount of salt which only enhances the flavours. Although not a true fan of the peppery leaf of roquette it went down a treat and may have found a new love. Advised to spread the roquette across the pizza it brought a depth of flavour to each bite.  The mojo dressing is a great additive to finish off this dish. A touch of citrus and what I have researched could have been lime, added with garlic, oil and I want to say parsley as it had a green tint but wasn't an over powering flavour such as basil but I could be wrong. Yum yum yum is all I can say.

Although I burst at the seams, filled with such delicious pizza I had to top my night with dessert.

I figure I'm eating Italian, may as well stick to it an go for their Firecheif Tiramisu. A modern spin on the original with layer upon layer of coffee jelly, genois sponge, kahlua, vanilla bean custard, creamed ricotta and finished with toasted almonds.

Now you need to grab your spoon dig all the way down and catch each layer on the way up. Perfection of flavours not to be eaten by single layers, you have to grab all flavours together. The finish of almonds was beautiful and tasty. Unfortunately I was going to explode so I had to say goodbye to my dessert as the rest of the table devoured it. It is not to be wasted.

The Flourless chocolate and hazelnut torta is another fine choice to finish a meal. Rich but light torta finished with a cornell marscapone cream was delicious. Although only getting a mouthful to try it was very scrumptious and a great dessert for those chocolate lovers.

If you were to full but know you want dessert but don't want explode with all this good eating then perhaps just finish off your evening with a tiny sweet treat of their Conolli. Filled with mixed berry cream and crushed pistachios it's a perfect treat for you. It's a perfect 2 bite dessert and won't add to much to your waist line either.

An amazing evening, chilled casual atmosphere and has everything that you would expect from a busy Pizzaria. Firecheif has established the perfect MUST HAVE pizza and to believe they have only been open for a year is astronomical. 

Most establishments have to develop such great combinations over time, but here they have clearly worked hard to deliver such perfection in a pizza.

You need to check Firecheif out. Even if you want to get take away, you have to get there.

If you are wondering, no emergency services were called to my rescue, however I was grateful their entrance was a ramp as it made it easier to walk down hill on the way out cause I could hardly move with eating so much food. 

I am sitting here writing this with a somewhat food hangover you could say, but is it wrong that I want pizza for breakfast too?

FireCheif

169 Camberwell Rd,

Hawthorn East

9831 1700