I really have to let you in on a little secret. My week touring Queensland with the Queensland Writer’s Centre allowed me to indulge in one of my favourite past times, one that I rarely get to do. That is, order room service! Each night, tired from presenting writing workshops and driving long distances, we each retired to our hotel rooms. As soon as I got in I ordered room service, had shower and watch The Big Bang theory while my room service meal. I realise that there is a perverse pleasure in it, after all, I eat out for a living but when presented with an option for the reverse, I can enjoy that just as much.
However, after five days of doing this, I started to look forward to the eating out dance at a restaurant. And when I landed in Brisbane I was meeting the lovely Claire, a Brisbane local. She had booked us into Tartufo at Fortitude Valley.
Tartufo is an Italian restaurant although the bones of a French brasserie still remain and although the wait staff are mostly Italian, the feel of the restaurant is still French with dark wood panelled sections and booths, large mirrors, Venus lights and intriguing paintings. The restaurant is large and busy this Friday evening even though we are dining relatively late at 9pm (their last sitting). Chef Tony Percuoco emerges from the kitchen to talk to customers throughout the evening.
Service from the maitre’d is very friendly and enthusiastic whilst our Italian waiter is sober, unamused and unsmiling (whatever happened to that Italian charm?). “Should we share?” I ask Claire and then we burst into laughter. Of course, dining with a food blogging pal, it is a given.
We start with a slender shot of pea and pancetta soup, smooth in texture and sweet from the peas with seasoning and flavour from the pancetta.
Vitello tonnato – braised gippsland (vic) veal served cold, thinly sliced, topped with a tuna mayonnaise of capers, anchovies and served with cornichons $24
Bread is offered but we decline as we have a hearty meal ahead of us. We start with the vitello tonnato and it is Claire’s first time trying this dish. It is thin slices of veal topped with a tuna mayonnaise, served cold with baby capers and cornichons. I usually like a bit more lemon in this dish and my favourite is really at Honeycomb or Cafe Sopra.
Capesante di bosco – pan seared scallops with pea puree, broad beans, chorizo and watercress $23.50
The sea scallops perplexed us at first.”Is there a scallop missing?” Claire says as the dish actually appears to have had a scallop swiped from it. There is even a little smooshed up (that’s a technical term 
) squirt of pea puree that looks as if it had a scallop on it and a gap where one would have been. We’re not sure and our attempts to find our waiter prove fruitless so not letting it cold, we try it. The pea puree is sweet and there are squirts of a grainy light brown emulsion that tastes like a gravy. This isn’t mentioned on the menu and we weren’t able to ask our elusive waiter so we weren’t quite sure what that was. The scallops, four to this serve are fat and juicy and combine nicely with the slices of very smokey chorizo.
Cotoletta alla valdostana – gippsland (vic) veal rack served rare, filled with fontina cheese, sage and prosciutto, coated in an almond and breadcrumb crust, pan fried and served with rocket and fresh lemon $39.50
Mains come out shortly later – I guess that’s the advantage of dining later as the kitchen is less stressed and busy. Our first main is a beauty. An enormous Flintstones sized veal chop it comes lightly breaded in a flaked almond coating and pan fried. Served rare, the veal is tender and filled in the centre with pancetta, sage and fontina cheese that just oozes out like lava. Served beside it is a rocket salad. Sadly both of us, try as we might, have trouble finishing this enormous serve.
Pappardelle al sugo di coniglio - hand made pappardelle, served with a rabbit ragù, finished with pecorino romano and freshly cracked black pepper $25
Our second main was a dish that Claire had tried before, pappardelle with rabbit ragu in white sauce studded with carrots. The rabbit meat is cut into small cubes and is flavoursome and tender and the white sauce with herbs is a good complement to the flavour although I was expecting a tomato based sauce for the ragu. The house made pappardelle is thin but gathers in mounds although this doesn’t stop me from fishing the last bits of this dish out.
Funghi trifolati- sautéed mushrooms in garlic, extra virgin olive oil and parsley $9.50
The mushrooms come thinly slices and simply cooked with garlic and parsley and was something we both really enjoyed.
“Should we just share a dessert?” I asked Claire giving her the option of backing out of the food madness. “I think we should get one each” she says. We ask for recommendations and the chocolate fondant is their signature dessert. For good measure the jelly ravioli intrigues us so we order that.
Raviolini transparenti cioccolato – sweet jelly ravioli filled with a chocolate amaretto mousse, served with hazelnut nougat and a strawberry consume $17
The jelly ravioli is just that – two layers of clear ridged jelly encasing a chocolate mousse centre. It is paired with little pieces of crunchy nougat, raspberries and blueberries and a strawberry sauce. It’s a creative dessert and one that we hadn’t seen before so we enjoyed the novelty of this.
Fondente al cioccolato – soft centred chocolate fondant with mascarpone cream, fresh blueberries and an redcurrant sauce $17
However, the dessert that had us scraping the plate for every last bit was the chocolate fondant which I took to with a fork to cut in half. As soon as my fork hit it, a dam of liquid chocolate burst forth from the chocolate cake outer and oozed out onto the plate. “It has to be at least a 70% liquid to 30% solid ratio” I say admiringly and I can immediately see why it is their signature dish. The only thing better than chocolate cake is liquid chocolate cake and we scrape every single drop off the plate along with a quenelle of ricotta cream.
Surprisingly, we’re not the last table to leave and it is almost midnight when we leave and that night, I dream of swimming in a liquid chocolate river and never wanting to get out.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like ordering room service when you’re staying at a hotel? And when you eat out,do you always finish your meals or do you leave some on your plate?
Tartufo
1000 Ann Street Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Tel: +61 (07)3852 1500
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41 Comments | Add your own
It’s too bad the waiter was elusive to find out what happened to your scallop dish; I would say that the veal was overdressed for such delicate flavours.
When I travelled for business I almost always ate in my room with room service; I felt awkward dining alone in a restaurant!
I think it depends on whether I’m travelling alone or not. If not, I think I’ll always make the effort to dine out. If it’s late and I’m on my own I do take pleasure in indulging in a bit of room service. Having said that, all my past experiences have resulted in a pile of dirty dishes being uncomfortably close to my bed!
I’ve not really ordered room service too often because the times that I have done, it hasn’t been very good. Something seems to happen to the food en route to the room. It gets cold and congealed and not very nice.
As to your second question, me, leave something on a plate? Rarely. You know if I have, the food hasn’t been very good.
I recognised the interior of Belle Epoque that previously occupied the space. I’m glad you enjoyed your supper time meal. So much has changed in Brisbane since I lived there four years ago!
*** As soon as my fork hit it, a dam of liquid chocolate burst forth from the chocolate cake outer and oozed out onto the plate**
Ooo, I love when you talk dirty, Lorraine!
That dessert looks Too DEeeeeVINE.
I love room service, but rarely get it. Such a luxury, isn’t it? I love the idea of it…it’s romantic.
Yes. I eat. EVERYTHING. on my plate.
If not, I bring it home. I am known for bringing home ONE chicken wing if it’s left over. No. Seriously.
Xxx
You look to be so tiny in your photos–why are you not FAT? This food looks amazing (especially the rabbit ragu}, but rich and full of calories.
Occasionally I like to order room service (especially for breakfast), but not often. But it does have a decadent feel to it when I do.
We once lived in a swanky hotel for 3 months while waiting for a house vacancy and almost OD’d on room service! Actually, perhaps it was just the room?
That jelly ravioli intrigues me, I love the concept. I might make it for my next party
I LOVE Room service. Oh! That’s the BEST when you live in a hotel….I live for it. Problem is,the food that’s served in Room service often sucks. Unless you stay at a place like the Taj in India…..*heaves a wistful sigh!*
I love the scallops and the mushroom dish….and the desserts…are they real?! They are so pretty it would feel like a crime eating them.
That chocolate fondant looks incredible – I am a big sucker for chocolate fondant! Strangely, though, I won’t eat cake mix out of a bowl…
I have never actually got to order room service! The one time we were going to, our phone was broken and we ended up just going downstairs to the restaurant, so disappointing =(
I love reading NQN each day. It makes me smile.
As I am from Brisbane I would love more about my area. What about Flute in Coorparoo.
oooooh, that chocolate fondant has me drooling! It depends on how I feel whether I order room service or not – if I am exhausted, like you, I don’t want to have to make the effort to forage outside. When I eat out, I usually finish it off, but in the US, this was impossible because their servings are so large.
You make me look like a dessert pig! Probably because I am! Oh that chocolate pudding was delicious. I was salivating writing about it and seeing the photo again.
Having just been away for the weekend and choosing to stay in Sat night with Hunger Games and room service I would say yes, I love room service!
the scallops look lovely! even if there was one mysteriously missing!
mmm i love mushrooms that are thinly sliced with flavour! looks like its cooked perfectly
Love the pappardelle with coniglio and those mushrooms are just like my mum makes. If I ever get to Fortitude Valley, I know where I’ll be taking my husband and kids.
I always leave some on my plate except for desserts hehe because If i don’t leave some…I’d be a size of an elephant…and that wouldn’t be very nice hehe but even then I probably indulge and eat too much too often
I try not to order room service hehe because I want to go out there and eat the food the locals do
This looks like a great authentic Italian restaurant ~
As I have difficulty getting decent milkfed veal here in the country really envy you your two veal dishes. And as I have mentioned before, vitello tonnato has always been one of my signature dishes and looks absolutely perfect here
! I LOVE room service: breakfast always – in over 30 years of constant travel I must have ‘gone downstairs’ less than half-dozen times and hated it. And if it had been a busy day full of meetings/conferences etc we loved nothing more than getting stuck into a room service menu. Admittedly we avoided ‘American style’ modern hotels like the plague and smaller private establishments usually fed one in one’s room quite exquisitely 
!
That veal rack looks divine! And I love room service, especially a REALLY GOOD room service breakfast. It can be hard to get though, amazing how many times you get sent cool, rubbery eggs and the like. There have been places that have had an awesome room service breakfast though, and I’d go there again to thoroughly enjoy it once more.
I have never had room service in my life! I also hate food waste so yes I clear my plate or take some home. There is no way you could eat all the food you showcase, although all of it looks so yummy.
I travel to Sydney a lot for work but prefer to stay in an apartment than a hotel. Sydney has great produce so when I arrive Monday I stock up on all the fruit, cheese, bread and treats I can’t get in NZ and look forward to coming back to them every evening! Planning to catch up with some bloggers on my next trip so will venture out for dinner.
Definitely, one of those scallops was stolen. Was there a dog in the kitchen? I’m pretty sure I could give that veal chop a great go. That transparent ravioli dessert looks stunning but I’m pretty sure I would have to order the chocolate fondant as well. I think after a long day, ordering room service is a great choice xx
If I leave any on my plate, which happens often, I bring it home to eat later or tomorrow.
♥♥♥
Sue
I wouldn’t know how to dig into that ravioli dessert; it looks like a rare and valuable painting!
You must have a really good life Lorraine as a full time food blogger!!!
Me too, I always get a bit naughty with room service ‘DESSERTS’.
The meal looks so fresh and delicious, I especially liked the look of the scallops but its a bummer they left off one! Either that or the plating was lopsided :0
I do like room service in winter if the menu is nice but usually it is better to go to the Hotel restaurant.
As you know, portions in US are huge. We use to eat just half of what we ordered but now when we go to eat out, we order less and share.
As kids, we were NEVER allowed to leave anything on our plates and it is a habit that has stuck (probably a bad habit judging by how my bathroom scales have started to complain lately) but now I try not to eat it all in one sitting and LOVE to take the rest home if they have the provision for it….now where did hide my chocolate fondant “lava cake” recipe…..
You watch The Big Bang theory too? I love that show!
What a great restaurant. I’ve never seen mushrooms that look so appetizing and the pan seared scallops look beautiful too! Sounds like you two had a great time!
I don’t normally order room service, (the Asian in me couldn’t spend so much money, hahaha), but I must say I love the idea of coming back to a hotel at the end of a long day, having a shower and watching Big Bang Theory with food being brought to me. Heaven!
PS Sheldon is awesome!
I can never finish my meal and long ago I stopped worrying about it. It is what it is.
Tartufo sounds really good. So glad you two got to connect — you’re both such lovely women.
Ooh, I dined at Tartufo a few weekends ago and am actually half-done with my entry. I think you might have ordered better dishes than we did for we didn’t enjoy it as much as you did!
I’m not a fan of ordering room service as I like to explore the city I’m in, which includes going out there and exploring bars and restaurants. That said, if you’re feeling extremely tired, especially on work trips, then room service is pretty much the best thing ever!
PS. I think we might have had the same Italian waiter too!
I can see a big meal with beautiful and elegant flavours and a divine dessert to end it my friend
For me, room service is a must do (especially if ice cream sundaes are involved
My parents have to drag me out of the room to get restaurant food but I promise you it neve goes to waste
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Jelly raviolo! How exquisitely fun! Fondant is always a great classic though. Isn’t tartufo an Italian dessert, yes?
As a kid, room service was something I always begged mum and dad to let me get. Nowadays, when travelling, I like hitting up wacky gourmet stores or foreign supermarkets and buying myself a feast to eat while watching tv in the room. Entire pint of coconut milk ice cream because there’s no freezer? Why no!
P.S. That jelly ravioli is gorgeous!
These photos are making me so hungry!
I love room service, too. I admit I’d rather go out, but there is something so cozy and pampering about picking up a phone, then opening the door a few minutes later to find a rolling table making its way into your room that’s set with china, real silverware, a small vase of flowers and a complete meal. Best yet, you don’t have to do the dishes afterward, either.
I never leave food on a plate, when we were growing up we always got the “there are starving children in the world” lecture so had to finish all our food. I guess it’s carried through as an adult….
Hey Lorraine…..wanted to give a quite shout out and say – Thank you for being – you. An inspiration you are, yet so down to earth, and so very thoughtful.
I have awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award.
http://www.thelady8home.com/2012/06/23/my-first-blogging-award/
Another great post!
Yes, I like ordering room service on occasion, especially on those days when you’re just too tired to go out after a busy day in a foreign country.
I try not to leave anything on my plate when I eat. If I can’t finish it, I bring the food home and polish it off later. My mom always told us it was wasteful to throw food away, and if you did, you’d never prosper.
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