Cumulus Inc is one of Melbourne's must-do's for breakfast. But I slept in and missed it by ten minutes. Our plans for breakfast quickly turned into an extravagant long lunch.
The restaurant is in the middle of preparing for the switchover between
breakfast and lunch so we're directed to the wait at the bar.
We have our coffees while waiting and (due to a combination of impatience and laziness) decide to stay seated at the bar for our meal.
Soon after picking our selection of share plates, a small cast iron plate of housemade bread is served. It is light and fluffy with a cheesy crust. With a generous smear of butter, it is just irresistibly divine. So much so, that when offered a top-up, I don't hesitate to say yes.
Our first plate is the soft shell mud crab ($22). It's a tad too salty but the batter is brilliantly crunchy and the robustness of the crab makes this dish such a treat.
Next we move onto the 'fish' section and have the tuna tartare with crushed green pea salad ($35.20). Cubes of glistening tuna are lightly dressed and sit on top of a refreshing bed of mashed peas and mint. The flavours are light, delicate and perfect.
There are about ten items on the charcuterie menu but seeing it's only my first time dining here, I go for the kitchen selection ($28.60) for a bit of everything. We get some wagyu bresaola with beetroot and almond, hand cut Sicilian salami, rabbit terrine with prune and caper relish and prosciutto di Parma.
Also from the fish selections is the John Dory with miso buttered leeks and diamond clams ($39.60). I love the nutty overtones of the miso butter. It goes really well with the firm but flaky fish. It's such a seductive dish overall.
Lastly, from the salads and comestibles, we have the organic carrots with almond cream and harissa ($18.70). You'd think for almost twenty bucks, they'd better be extraordinary... And they are. The carrots are so fresh and full of flavour, they stand on its own as a dish, not a side.
I think this dish sums up Cumulus Inc quite well. Everything on the menu is simple but spectacular; on their own, they're all fabulous snacks, but together, it's a symphony for my tastebuds.
Highly worth the damage it made to my credit card :)
Cumulus Inc
45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC
Phone: (03) 9650 1445
Web: www.cumulusinc.com.au
Looks like an awesome meal. Those carrots are quite pricey but sound totally worth it :)