Monday, January 15, 2007

Flower Drum

17 Market Lane Melbourne

How does one approach dining at Melbourne's renowned Flower Drum restaurant? Ideally with a bulging wallet and an empty stomach. I'd heard a lot of things about Flower Drum. Mostly, people coo about the service, and then hurry to add that the food is great too. This sits uncomfortably with the scourers of the Cheap Eat, the denizens of Victoria Street, the late afternoon market shopper. Why would you want to be waited on hand and foot? Doesn't it just get awkward? Especially when you're barely out of the Dishwasher Years yourself.

The first thing that happened, after being seated in the waiting area so our table could be adjusted from Table of five to Table of four when we had an unfortunate late cancellation, was that we were all seated at our table simultaneously. Four seats, four staff, holding four chairs and placing four bottoms on them with the grace of a square dance. Drink orders were taken. So far so good.

There was an awareness of hovering wait staff. Not weightless wait staff mind you, just wait staff who discreetly waited for a break in the conversation or an glass to be emptied and placed on the table to give way for a natural opening to approach the table. I can't decide whether this is too fussy or not. I must say I enjoy familiar and sassy wait staff too - like the waitress at Borsch, Vodka and Tears who took our order by straddling the back of a chair and downing several shots of vodka with us over the course of the evening's indulgences.

The light in the large divided room is quite subdued, and decorated with Chinese prints on the walls and the most immense and elaborate flower arrangement ever in the centre. Tables were placed far enough apart to not be party to neighbouring conversations.

After looking over the extensive menu (which had no marked prices) helplessly for some minutes the waiter suggested the set banquet. For the princely sum of $150 per head one could enjoy three set entrees followed by three set mains, fruit and tea. We negotiated a substitution (steamed dumplings for snapper) and we were off.

After enjoying a fantastic Pinot Gris, first up were the dumplings. Our table had a little side trolley which served as a workstation for our waiter, who assembled much of the food before serving. At the trolley our steamed dumplings were taken from their bamboo steamers and plated. As one would expect, they were translucent and perfect. I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten one of our entrees. But the last was definitely the quail san choi bao, which was perfect but probably out of all our dishes the one I would rate most easily found on par with "lesser" restaurants.

The mains started with the duck. And please indulge me here; after 37 years of eating quite well, and not being a crazed fan of duck, I have never tasted anything like it. If I go back (if I can ever afford to go back) to Flower Drum it will be for the duck. It was assembled side of stage: a soft floury crepe, smeared with a streak of plum hoisin was topped with spring onion, a strip of cucumber and a few pieces of deep crimson lacquered, crispy skinned Peking duck. We were told to "eat it like a sandwich", meaning fingers were allowed. It was heaven. The crepe itself was almost skin like in texture - not at all cold and rubbery, and there was a certain magic in the flavours. I used to dream of dumplings. I will now be dreaming of these little parcels of deliciousness.

By now, after two rounds of duck pancakes, I was beginning to feel quite full. Which was a great pity, as our lobster had just arrived. I turned down lobster. Do you see? I turned it down! I pushed it round my plate like a sulky 10 year old with a plate full of brussel sprouts. This was getting tricky. There was another course to go and I had no idea what it was going to be.

Off to our side of stage I saw our waiter slicing some steaks. Good gravy, surely we couldn't be expected to eat a steak at this late juncture? But indeed we were. Eye fillet, as tender as tofu, seared only enough to brown the outer, was sliced into fat strips and served. I've certainly never tasted anything like it, and it will be the second thing I go back to Flower Drum for. I'm not sure if it was wagyu beef, but it was impossibly succulent. My only regret is that I had eaten too much already and had to leave a portion of it uneaten. Wah!

One of the perks of the intense silver service was the warm damp towels served with each course. Much nicer than say, a shiny paper napkin of dubious absorbency.

If you want to eat at Flower Drum remember that bookings have to be made about three months in advance, which is about how long you should be saving your pennies for. And maybe cut down on the cream cakes for a while as well.

12 comments:

sublime-ation said...

A beautiful review as always Fluffy, brought back a lot of memories. For a brief time in my childhood years I had a Chineophile step father, who would take me to the Flower Drum weekly.
I must remember to try and earn some real money so that I can do this again as an adult.

Mel said...

Excellent review Fluffy, I love FD - People always knock it the same way they knock Ramsey's Royal Hospital Road with it's flawless service and perfect excecution of dishes - always knock the standard setters...
But yes, I concur that FD's duck is swoon-worthy, as is the wagyu beef - sublime. The price is astronomical but then you're paying for service, reputation and first class food -
Nicely done.

Cloudy said...

Yeah, great review but, but...doggy bag?

Fluffy said...

I'm sure they would make the most elegant doggy bag in the country if only someone would be gauche enough to ask.

Chai said...

Beautiful. Went there once last millenium (work paid). Your lusciously salivatory description of the place makes me want to save (and save) for a trip there.
I'd bought my annual lotto ticket last week. If I win, I'll take ALL of you there (*).

(*) promises not enforceable.

Anonymous said...

Flowerdrum is da' business as far as I'm concerned. When you next go back (..and yes, you will) - definately go the oysters (done Flowerdrum 3 ways style) and the drunken squab. Along with the duck and the steak, they are stand out dishes.

Anna said...

A great review, and I'm sure I'll get to Flower Drum one day, but I know where I'll be going this weekend - Borsch Vodka and Tears! Never heard of it, don't live anywhere near it, but after checking out the link you gave, I'm there.

Susanne said...

Good to hear it lived up to expectations.

thanh7580 said...

Flower Drum has definitely set the standards for many years. I would love to go and see what the fuss is about.

Turning down lobster and wagyu beef is definitely a sin. As for the best duck ever, I reckon the roast goose (better than duck) that I had in Hong Kong was so good that I still remember it. I've done Peking duck at home myself and it makes the duck taste so much better. The secret is to buy the correct flour pancake. There are many brands at the Chinese take away and they all taste very different. You just have to do trials on all and see which you like best.

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