Matterhorn
Where? Matterhorn (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Wednesday June 17, 2015
Who? Dale and the PikPok Crew
Food Style? Contemporary European
The Matterhorn has been an iconic Wellington institution since 1963, when it was opened as a coffee shop. 52 years later, and after various changes of owner, style and menus, Matterhorn is under the guidance of Mark Keddell and executive chef Sean Marshall. They've recently opened up a branch in Freemans Bay Auckland, by Victoria Park Market, but let's face it - the standard in Wellington will always be better!
The interior is dimly lit, but cosy, and quite smokey - expect to come out smelling delicious after your meal! I'm here for Dale's birthday with a bunch of colleagues, both current and ex-employees. I was very impressed by their Wellington on a Plate menu last year - they presented a three course meal with conflicting and complementary flavours that really challenged my perceptions of flavour combinations, so I was expecting good things tonight. Since there was such a large group of us, they had to split us over two tables and offer us a reduced menu. I went for a full three courses, with a few sides for the table to share.
Entree: Tuna Sashimi
With wasabi, hijiki, radish and yuzu
Fantastic texture with a strong taste of freshness and a lovely hint of wasabi to really open the nostrils. There was a good balance between the natural saltiness of the tuna and the bittersweet citrus flavours of the yuzu. The seaweed had crunch and the fish had bite, but was still silky smooth as you'd expect fine sashimi to be. Great start to the night, and loved the elegant artistic brush of squid ink on the plate.
Mains: Grain-fed Beef Rump
With glazed cheek, arugula, red wine onions, potato fondant and garlic caramel
So good that all fourteen of us ordered it! Masterfully cooked - you can see how perfectly pink the beef slices are in the photo. The gravy was deliciously rich with just the right amount of saltiness to really enhance the flavour of the meat. I loved the smoothness of the potato fondant and the sharpness of the pickled onions, and the crispy deep-fried rosette of butter sitting atop the meal was just divine.
Side: Smashed Potatoes
With preserved lemon and smoked garlic
The potatoes were light and fluffy yet had a crispy skin. The seasoning was super tasty, and the preserved lemon was quite noticeable.
Side: Green Beans
With sun-dried tomato, lemon, garlic and sauce choron
The beans were wonderful and crunchy with a deliciously rich and creamy sauce that had quite an intense tomato flavour that complemented the greens.
Dessert: Caramelised Pear
With apple sorbet, calvados custard and croustillant
Beautifully smooth like a brulee. The flavours were so light and refreshing that I could have easily had three of these. The nuts provided some great crunch and it's not overly sweet, just the way I like it.
A thoroughly enjoyable dinner that definitely lived up to expectation! The food here exudes elegance and style, with top quality ingredients and an emphasis on local and seasonal. It's no wonder that the place is so popular for its food and drink, and I'm looking forward to trying their Wellington on a Plate menu for this year.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:26am on Thursday July 2, 2015 :: 0 comments :: 