FOOD / MELBOURNE : OPERATOR 25

OPERATOR 25.... I'VE DIED AND GONE TO FOOD HEAVEN!

PLEASE DIAL 000!

The inner OCD in me was put at ease as each dish from Operator 25 came out from the kitchen. The Matcha Crumpets, the Cured Ocean Trout and even the Deconstructed Lime Cheesecake was absolutely symmetrical and perfectly balanced. All three plates could easily be split in two, with each person being content in the knowledge that they have exactly what the other one has.

As my parents would know, I am not the biggest fan of fish. They are fully aware of this fact and even armed with this knowledge there is always salmon, trout, or something along those lines waiting for me as soon as I pull up in their driveway. Saying this, I must admit the ginger and coriander Cured Ocean Trout with fried duck egg, Pepe Saya crème fraiche, avocado mousse and sea spray was an absolute delight to have for breakfast. Every element of this dish was paired in total harmony with each other and it left me wanting to come back tomorrow for more, knowing that I could leave with a healthy clear conscience.

I've recently been hooked on everything Matcha; Starbucks Matcha Frappucino, Matcha Chia Seed Pudding, Matcha cookies and the list goes on and on. Ordering matcha crumpets with a matching matcha latte seemed like a total no-brainer. The dish looked too beautiful to eat. It was like comparing a beautifully decorated xmas tree (the matcha crumpets) next to a weedy shrub in the garden, with the shrub being my normal "takes me 5 minutes to prepare" breakfast I make for myself in the crazy rush to work in the morning. The matcha crumpets were vividly green and came with poached pears, macerated berries, kaya sauce and mango and lychee pearls which made the dish deliciously refreshing for the summer months ahead.

After a scrumptious breakfast, my mind could not focus properly as the only thought that kept crossing my mind was cheesecake, cheesecake, cheesecake. There is a saying that people who don't like cheesecake are not to be trusted. Anyone on a date should take note and bring their potential suitor to Operator 52. If they fail the cheesecake test you know you need to scream, NEXT, and not to hold the line. A good cheesecake is very hard to find, so when you find that special one, you have to never let it out of your sight. The deconstructed lime cheesecake with Goat cheese, lime zest , cashew crust, mango puree, pomegranate reduction, pistachio biscotti and vanilla ice cream was one of the best I've ever had and was the cherry on top of what was one of the most wonderful breakfast's I've had this year.

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