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Cumulus Inc.
Add: 45 Flinders Lane Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: (03) 9650 1445
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 7am~11pm [Sat-Sun] 8am~11pm
Website: cumulusinc.com.au
Price: 50+AUD/person
Visited on: 2012-04
There are a number of good reasons as to why Cumulus Inc. is packed everyday. The decor is stylish, the atmosphere is abuzz, and the service is smooth, yes yes yes, but it’s mainly the food that keeps patrons hooked. It’s a place you wouldn’t want to miss when you are in Melbourne.
To start.
For something light, a plate of smoked mussels with escabeche (9 AUD).
Then, a tin of Ortiz anchovies (22 AUD) served with chargrilled sourdough. To eat this, lay an anchovy fillet on a piece of grilled bread, squeeze a few drops of lemon juice, then dust with pounded red chilli. It stirs up a mesmerizing fire in the mouth.
Tuna tartare with crushed green pea salad (32 AUD). An anchovy-soy sauce-vinegar marinate was used to bring out the best of the fish, which, when accompanied by a refreshing green pea salad (with shallot and mint, mixed with olive oil and lemon juice) and creamy smoothened goat’s curd, is just about the most delightful tuna tartare I’ve ever encountered.
More intense in flavor was the wagyu bresaola (40g) with truffle cream and artichoke (19 AUD). Bresaola is an Italian-style air-dried beef, and the particular type used at Cumulus is bresaola made from wagyu beef. Its thin slices, beautiful in marbling and luxurious in texture, are presented just as they are, with not much more than a few dots of truffle cream and fried artichoke. Simple, beautiful.
Spiced cauliflower with goats curd (15 AUD) was another addicting dish. At the very bottom is a bed of smooth goat’s curd, on top of it are cauliflower florets sauteed to an almost burnt stage, spiced with an incredibly fragrant mix of toasted coriander, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and peppercorns. Then, add a bit of spring onion, lemon juice, green chilli, parsley, and mint…not to forget a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds. And you say cauliflowers are boring?
For a sweet ending, malt parfait, spelt crumbs, soft chocolate & PX raisins (17 AUD).
lastly, a few freshly baked lemon curd-filled madeleines (2.5 AUD/each).
And what’s in the name? Cumulus is a “puffy” or “cotton-like” cloud with clearly defined edges, as depicted on this wine glass. Lovely :)
