Cucinetta
Shop 4, 3 Murphy Street, South Yarra
03 8657 8592
Italian
$$$$
Food
- Bruschetta del Giorno
- Vialone Nano Risotto alla Norma
- Homemade Pappardelle with Swordfish, Broccoli & Cherry Tomatoes
- Tagliata di Manzo with Crushed Potatoes & Cauliflower
- Cucinetta’s Little Garden Tiramisu
The Good
We started off our Italian feast with the Bruschetta del Giorno. The rather simple yet elegant presentation made way for some of the most scrumptious bruschetta we’ve come across. The crunchy bread was loaded with an incredibly smooth and pillowy soft carrot puree, with a hint of creaminess. This was well accompanied by an amazing sweet, lightly caramelised onion that offered up incredible flavour.
Our Vialone Nano Risotto alla Norma certainly didn’t disappoint either. Sporting perfectly cooked and pillowy soft Aborio rice originating from Verona in Italy, the gentle texture gave way to a full-bodied flavour that was made whole by the tomato sugo and eggplant puree. Dotted with the occasional mozzarella, the cheese provided a sense of rich creaminess to the otherwise light dish, though this entree certainly delivered on flavour.
The Swordfish Papardelle was another highlight of our meal. The housemade egg pasta was cooked to perfection, with just the right softness and cut nice and thick to soak up the sauces. The broccoli puree sauce was tasty and refreshing, slightly creamy without being overly rich. This was well accompanied by juicy, cherry tomatoes that simply burst in your mouth with its incredible sweetness, and chunks of tender and textured swordfish with a beautiful sea flavour.
We also enjoyed the Tagliata di Manzo. Stunningly presented, the rib-eye cut was sous vide and then seared to a perfect medium. The still-pink inner ensured a succulent and juicy experience, while the charred outer provided a hint of crispness and a stunning, meaty aroma. This was well accompanied by a potato and cauliflower mash, which was creamy, smooth yet textured thanks to the occasional chunk of cauliflower embedded within. The light sprinkles of chilli flakes and salt did wonders in enhancing the flavours of the already appetising steak, and made for an incredibly satisfying meal.
We concluded with Cucinetta’s Little Garden Tiramisu. The cute, novel presentation looked just like a flower pot filled with soil, with a little green leaf poking out in the middle. Underneath the chocolate ‘soil’ crumble was a fluffy and creamy bed of sponge layered with cream, with a beautiful coffee aroma permeating throughout. Well-balanced in both sweetness and texture, this adorable Tiramisu was the perfect conclusion to our meal.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Translated directly as “Little Kitchen”, Cucinetta holds true to both their name and their Italian heritage.
Dishing up some authentic and rustic Italian dishes that were executed impeccably, combined with a weekly refresh of their carefully-designed, hand-written menu, Cucinetta magically transports a small piece of Italy to anybody who ventures into this charming little 12-seater.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
This was undoubtedly one of THE best and most authentic Italian experiences in Melbourne, and we certainly won’t hesitate to return for another piece of little Italy in our bellies.
Penguineats would like to thank Cucinetta for inviting us.
This blog post is published in conjunction with AGFG.