Damn! Caught in the glass again!
For someone that hasn’t visited Melbourne for a good five years, I seem to be visiting it a lot lately. Five times in the last few months to be exact. This story is a bit of a blast from the past as it is from a few months ago and it was the first time I was visiting to meet with my book publisher Penguin Books. They suggested lunch at Movida Aqui on Bourke Street which had me clapping like a seal.
I cab it to Movida where I meet my literary agent Miss S. I’m a touch confused as there are three Movidas but then again I could get lost in a square room. We walk up the stairs and take a seat in the spacious, glass walled room. We’re awaiting Miss K, Miss L and Miss A and when they arrive Miss K just asks the staff to bring us food but with a special instruction that we would all like the calamari sandwich and the anchovy with tomato sorbet. I adore her already.
Anchoa $4.50 each
The Anchoa are hand filleted Cantabrian artisan anchovies on croutons with a smoked tomato sorbet. The anchovies are brown anchovies and give it a salty kick on the fragile, lacey crackers. We spread the sorbet across it and pop the morsel in our mouths and at once I feel a slightly startling crunchy, salty and frosty sensation. It is like the food equivalent of throwing back a shot.
Bocadillo de calamares $6.50 each
The calamari sandwich is filled with lightly floured deep fried calamari with Basque guindilla (slightly spicy green chilli) and mayonnaise. The bread is spongy and thick and despite it looking like there is too much bread, the ratio of filling to bread does work well.
Choco $15.50
One of my favourite dishes was the cuttlefish on the plancha with onion and squid ink sauce accented with deep fried pieces of seaweed. The squid is lovely and tender and the squid ink sauce lends it a mysteriousness beyond a traditional pairing of say lemon and salt with squid.
Codorniz $16.50
The Codorniz or quail is charcoal grilled with housemade morcilla (black or blood pudding) and chickpeas. It is a nice dish although I’m not in love with the quail as it has a strongly gamey tasting almost kidney-ish.
Ensalade de Tomate Heirloom tomato salad $16
We love the simple heirloom tomato salad with a cheese that tastes similar to buffalo mozarella.
Special dish of the day
A special dish of the day was a watercress and coriander salad topped with sardines and smoked fish with a creamy sauce underneath. Despite how strange that sounds, it’s absolutely delicious.
Piminetos $12
I always get excited when I see a crumbed golden ball (don’t read anything into that please 
) and the piminetos are crumbed piquilo peppers stuffed with confit potato and spanner crab served with coriander aioli. When I cut into it the filling is so soft with the crunchy outer so thin which I marvel at as it is always so difficult to do.
We complete the afternoon with a cup of tea in a gorgeous tea cup. Is there no better way to end a meal?
I also had the chance to catch up with Ed at St. ALi , a coffee purveyor that specialises in Syphon coffee. And what is Syphon coffee you may ask (as I did)? It’s coffee that is brewed in a syphon filter (see above) and is said to be ideal for single origin beans as it preserves the flavour without giving it a bitterness. It also looks a bit like a science experiment which is rather cool. Said to be weaker than a coffee, the colour is more like a tea.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like tapas?
Movida Aqui
Level 1/500 Bourke Street, Melbourne (entry via Little Bourke Street)
Tel: +61 (03) 9663 3038
St. ALi
12 – 18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne
Tel: +61 (03) 9686.2990
Outside St. ALi
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60 Comments | Add your own
It is too funny that you blogged your book publishing lunch meeting
I’m sure I would be to nervous to think about photographs! Well done again!
Tapas is a great way to eat, you get to try everything. Whenever we eat out I always try and lead hubby into ordering my second preference meal, so I can at least try my first two choices off a menu.;) Tapas solves that problem
The foods look great, especially the Piminentos…!
I do like tapas but I LOVE that tea cup! I’m going to Melbourne in a couple of weeks and am going to do a chocolate walking tour. So exciting
Every single dish looks delicious! The calamari sandwiches are intriguing..
I need to eat more seafood!
For me, tapas can go a few ways, it’s not good in too large a group thoh
How come you did not try their paella?!
Oooh Movida Aqui – would love to go there. Everything looks divine.
As for St Ali – that is one of our regular weekend haunts. Either that or Dead Man Espresso which is just a block over. Love syphon coffee – so tasty and sweet.
LOVE tapas and I LOVE Movida in any shape of form (Movida, next door, Aqui, etc!) I do however, hate the bastardisation of tapas i.e. just crappy little frozen things on a plate called tapas.
Movida is different though- in a league of it’s own. Also- Frank did a demo that I attended and we made the calamari sandwiches and tomato sorbet with anchovies- they were indeed delicious.
I love tapas- perfect for sharing with friends.
ooooh I love tapas! We have a favourite tapas bar in Canberra from which I never leave hungry!
You could do worse than visit Melbourne often – I have adopted it as my home. What gorgeous food – I adore tapas, though it’s been a while since I have indulged. That cup is delgithful – defintiely a perfect way to end a meal.
Movida Aqui is on my list of places I must eat. We were supposed to go in June but Mr Kitty had a migrane and we had to cancel… I adore Tapas – my favourite memory of Barcelona is siting at a tiny restaurant/bar at La Boqueria and eating the most fabulous freshly cooked morsels of wonderful. Bliss.
If you are back in Melbourne at any point in the future (which no doubt you will be) make sure you have time to visit Red Spice Road. It’s one of my favourite restaurants of all time…
oh wow i’ve heard so much about movida everything looks great especially the golden deep fried balls? haha
I’m off to Melbourne this weekend! I’ve hit up the original Movida many times and the anchovy with sorbet has to be the star of the menu. Going to try to get into Cutler & Co in this visit, but a cheeky dip into Movida definitely isn’t off the cards. Mmmmmm, chocolate fondant with nougat
Do I like Tapas? Is the Pope a Catholic? Tapas is my favourite way to eat as I get to try a bit of so many things. We tried to go to Movida in Melbourne in July, but they were all so busy…all of the time.
I looove Tapas. When I visited Spain for the first time all my postcards home were about the food, not the Gaudi, sightseeing and skiing I had taken in. It was a culinary awakening! That all looks spectacular – definitely on my bucket list! x
I LOVE tapas. Despite having to share food (Loll doesn’t share food), it is a fab way to enjoy a dinner with friends. Movida was booked out when we went *sob*, it looks amazing!
I love tapas! I must go here. For shame, my Melbourne restaurant ‘must visit’ list is very long! Beautiful tea cup
Heidi xo
Tapas is wonderful because you get to try so many different dishes – I have very easily bored taste buds!
I love tapas because I love variety! I have even made tapas just for my husband and myself – it’s more interesting than roast chook & veg for dinner!
i adore tapas! the Anchoa’s are so good
i don’t usually like anchovies but boy paired with the tomato sorbet ~ heaven!
Tapas are the best, love ‘em. Movida Aqui sounds wonderful.., I’ve popped it on my Melbourne list of must eat at, this is my type food
I was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago and managed to go to Movida and St Ali. I really loved Movida – they did an amazing beef cheeck with a cauliflower puree. Really reminded me of being in Seville. Calamari rolls are all the rage in Spain. YUM.
Will definitely love to try Movida Aqui – I love the light of the room and the fact there seems to be a lot more dishes to try.
Awesome.
I’ve never really had tapas… but that choco looks amazing! Squid ink and seaweed = I’m in!
I don’t mind tapas, but I think it is becoming a bit overdone in restaurants in Australia. Movida looks fabulous and is on my lisy for my next trip to Melbourne.
Movida is my idea of food heaven! Any excuse for the 1.5 hr plane ride and I am there!
I haven’t been to Aqui but there isnt a dish you listed that I wouldnt order, thanks for the hunger pains Lorriane
Movida is pretty special in all its forms – worth the trip to the Southern Capital in itself. Their food is sublime, and not expensive – the servings are a perfect size to allow many different dishes.
I love the idea of calamari on bread. Just when you thought it couldn’t get better! The pimentos sound very moreish.
I love MoVida, it’s one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. If you like those tea cups I actually have a set, they are from T2 Turkish Delight Collection (http://t2tea.com/tea-ware/). Whenever I have guests over for tea, I bring out different coloured/shaped cups for each guest. Certainly is a great talking point and they look fab!
Ooh, I just lurvvve tapas! Most of our recent Melbourne meals were small ‘plates’ rather than 3 course sitdown affairs.
The Movidas are brilliant, aren’t they? Hopefully you’ll get many more visits (just keep asking for meetings with your publisher!)
What exciting and innovative dishes. Definitely a must-do restaurant.
Tapas is absolutely my favourite way to eat, that way you get try lots of different things. I would love to try that first one, with the anchovy and tomato sorbet. Perhaps I will have to come to Australia. Great pictures
Everything looks Delish! When confronted with a table groaning with food , it’s a hard task to make your way through it, that’s why I love the idea of Tapas, you have the opportunity to try a little of everything.
And what better way to convene for your book deal than over lunch.
I just found Gastronomy Gals recipes for Frank Camorras calamari sandwiches and tomato sorbet with anchovies.
http://gastronomy-gal.blogspot.com/2010/07/frank-camorras-recipes-anchoa-and.html
MOvida is great. Have not been for awhile though but food is always great. I love tapas and also those golden crumbed balls. Delightful
Hah! Good to know I’m not the only one who has problems photographing buildings with windows in them without getting reflected back into the frame. I wish they made a camera that could automatically compensate for that.
*Wipes drool away from mouth* Hehe aww I adore tapas but havn’t had it that many times. Only because tapas is better when eating with more than 2 people! Mmm hungry now.
I adore piquillos and more so when they’re prepared as piminetos! Those squid-filled sandwiches look quite scrumptious, too.
you have such a way! it’s been so long since I’ve been out…i have to go there!!!! cheers kari
I love the anchoa at MoVida — each bite is an explosion of texture and flavour. Aqui has so much more space over the tiny Hosier Lane place…can’t wait to go back this summer for tapas and sangria at the Terazza!
Wonderful post as usual! And timely! Hubby and I are heading here next week on holidays!
i do like tapas but sometimes feel that there’s not quite enough food in the one dish; it sorta leaves you hanging a bit! couple of friends have recommended movida also, can’t wait to plan my next trip to melbourne and come here for a meal!
Do I like tapas? I always think of it as Spanish yum cha so I it’s every foodie’s excuse to try everything on the menu!
The Anchoas look delicious and a perfect accompaniment to beer! Come to think of it every dish here does
The crackers with anchovies and sorbet sounds delicious, Miss K clearly knew what she was doing!
The calamari sandwich sounds so simple but delicious! Why have I never seen calamari in a SANDWICH before? Amazing
Lucky you going to Melbourne so often.. I love bumming around Melbourne exploring all its little cafes and restaurants!
I love tapas! Getting a little taste of everything is perfect for me, since I frequently have a case of “order envy”, lol! Gorgeous meal, Lorraine. Your description of the eating the Anchoas was phenomenal!
I love “little food” so tapas has got to be one of my favourite ways of eating. You get to have a bit of everything.
The food looks great, but I especially love those cute tea cups and saucers
I want that teacup!
And the food looks rather delish too
Tapas are brilliant, love them!
We Melburnians are very proud of places like MoVida so it’s nice to see you enjoyed it.
And combined with a syphon from St.Ali? That’s just heaven.
Most look at a syphon and think it’ll be far stronger than your average milk based coffee but it’s actually not, it’s just a far more subtle, delicate flavour.
oh flashbacks to that delish ‘bocadillos de calamare’ and ‘La Bomba’ mmmm. Movida Aqui what an experience! mucho mucho delicioso
Oh I love Tapas. Those Pimentos and Calamari sandwiches look fantastic as well. I have the Movida cookbook, but am still yet to make anything from it.
Ooh I’m glad you blogged about these places. I’ve wanted to go to Movida for a while now! I’ve tried their breakfast restaurant (it’s right next to Aqui) but not the others.
I love St Ali too, although I’ve only been there once. Great cafe, coffee and atmosphere!
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