Zia Teresa

It took a while to persuade Nick to walk into Zia Teresa as I think he was a little turned off by the Botticelli-esque artwork and the white table cloths that we could see through the windows.  We expected that the meal would be too expensive for a Tuesday night as it all looked a bit Toorak.  My gut feeling however was: ‘We must take the plunge and walk through those wooden doors’ and I am very glad that we did.

When you walk into Zia Teresa’s you immediately feel warm and welcome.  There is a cute wooden bar in the main room and many happy people guzzling wine and eating steaming plates of seafood and pasta.  You will be greeted with a smile and an explanation of the day’s specials, which are written on the board in Italian. 

The restaurant is fully licensed and BYO so Nick decided to run across the road the bottle shop and grab a bottle of Shiraz to wash down our meals whilst I perused the menu.

I really felt like eating pasta but couldn’t take my eyes of the meals the gentlemen at the table next to me where eating.  I asked the waiter what that meal was as I couldn’t find it on the menu and he exclaimed that it was the fish of the day.  Rockling served on fine slices of potato with a mussel, prawn and tomato sugo.  Awesome! That is me done, but I will definitely be sharing a plate of that bruschetta first!  Nick ordered a main size of the penne with lamb ragu.

The wine was poured and the bruschetta presented and we were starving…. Two minutes later:  The first glass of wine had been drunk and not a morsel of bruschetta remained it was delicious, a variety of 2 pieces of your traditional tomato bruschetta along with one roasted eggplant and one wood roasted capsicum bruschetta.

Bring on the mains.  For some reason tonight Nick and I were two very hungry little foodies.

The food here is good, very good!  I know it is rude to reach across the table and eat other people’s food but Nick and I were putting on a very good show slurping and reaching and devouring.

I know I live in the centre of the main Italian district of Melbourne but I would be hard pressed to find a better traditional Italian Ristorante than Zia Teresa.

Address:  90 Lygon Street (corner Weston Street)
East Brunswick Victoria 3057
Hours: Dinner: 6.00pm - 11:30pm Mon-Sat
Sundays by appointment (30 guests or more).
Licensed and BYO: Corkage $8
Bookings: Yes
Phone:  03) 9380 1218

Parque Mexico - Noosa

Laura, one of my closest friends and the reason for this latest trip to Noosa.  Laura had been working at Parque for the last 5 months and upon being picked up from the airport I found myself being transported immediately to Parque for her leaving drinks as she was about to depart one paradise for another.  Yes, Laura was moving to Mexico. Forever. I'm not jealous at all. Really!

Parque Mexico was previously a restaurant called Park serving Mediterranean food but one day following another trip to Mexico the owner decided that what Noosa really needed was something new and having a similar climate to Mexico what better than a Mexican restaurant.  In Australia unfortunately we are sometimes cursed with having preconceptions of what a cuisine is, based on what has been sold to us as 'authentic' or 'traditional', this would definitely be the case with Mexican as the majority of people associate Mexican food with cheese and crispy taco's. This is Tex Mex (a la Taco Bill)  not Mexican!

In Mexico you will eat an abundance of fresh fish, ceviche of prawns, lime and coriander, soft tacos small enough to fit in the palm of your hand topped with slow cooked shredded pork with chipotle salsa, chicken mole and huevos rancheros to name a few dishes.  Now doesn't that sound more appetising?

The crew at Parque, though not Mexican have travelled extensively throughout Mexico and are inspired by the street vendors, taqueria's and the chilled out, friendly party vibe of the Mexican people.

At Parque you can sit down to a delicious meal of char-grilled chipotle tiger prawns served on an avocado, tomato and coriander salad and soft fish taco's with a jug of Sangria or simply perch yourself on one of the cow hide Ottomans outside by the river with a Margarita and some deep fried jalapeno's stuffed with queso (so good!) and perhaps a bowl of tortilla chips with home-made salsa.

Parque will often have live music on a Saturday and Sunday and run a variety of events from their riverside location including a boat cruise with South American barbecue and drinks package with Latino DJ's which is a great opportunity to explore a different aspect of Noosa when you have had enough of sun-baking.

Now I am off to find Laura and remind her that she still owes me three months of free accommodation from the time she dossed with me in London. Mexico here I come!

Address:  Parque Mexico, Quamby Place, Noosa Sound, QLD
Phone:  (07) 5474 8785
Bookings:  Yes
Licensed: Yes

Wasabi Restaurant - Noosa

You will have to excuse my absence from Food Fable over the last few weeks I have been busy eating my way around Noosa the Foodie Capital of Queensland.  Be prepared my next few reviews are all Noosa based.

When I  first saw the original restaurant in Sunshine beach a few years ago I thought, ‘I really must eat there’  but it was completely booked for the next three days which is always a good sign though unfortunate for me who had to leave the next day.  This time I was prepared and made a reservation well in advance. Wasabi was such a hit with the residents and visitors to the Sunshine Coast that they had to close up shop in Sunshine and move to larger premises next door to Ricky’s in Noosa Sound.

Upon arrival we were welcomed by our host and asked to take off our shoes as we would be sitting in the Tatami area, which was a beautiful space with a hollow under the table for your feet which is a great alternative to sitting cross legged (especially if you are travelling with my husband who keeps reminding me that he is 6 foot 3 and it hurts his knees, poor baby!). 

As it was my birthday and I was celebrating it with Dad and Nick I was ready to be spoilt so we ordered the seven course degustation with matching Saki to each course.  I have drunk a fair share of Sake in my time but never as a pairing with food and never seven in one night!  Some were hot and some were chilled others were room temperature and most were served in different shaped glasses.

We started with a white miso and crab soup. The flavours in the soup were very delicate so as not to take away from the crab. Following this we received a sashimi tasting plate served with chilled sake which was a perfect accompaniment.  Hand rolled pork gyoza served with ponzo sauce and warm saki was delicious (not quite as good as the one I make). The finale of Aburi Wagyu ($17.00 supplement) came out lightly seared and served with a Japanese mountain vegetable salad.  This dish was a definite hit with the boys and a perfect ending to yet another great evening dining in Noosa.

The cost of our meals was $86 per head plus $17 supplement for Wagyu beef in place of teriyaki chicken.  The Sake matching with each course was an additional $35 and we also drank a few beers.  I would recommend Wasabi as a great restaurant for a special occasion or for that date when you want to finally clinch fourth base!

Address:  2 Quamby Place, Noosa Sound, Noosa Qld

Phone:  (07) 5449 2443

Bookings:  Essential

Licensed:  Yes