Almost 10 years ago, when I worked with my father, we would travel extensively throughout Asia. Fortunately for us, my father had many friends who love good food and would travel any distance to eat it. Usama-San in Nagoya, Japan was one of them.
One evening, while we were in Osaka, he had dinner plans for us two hours away in a nearby town called Ueno (There are many towns called Ueno in Japan, this one was between Osaka and Kyoto). We drove from light to night. When we arrived we were standing in front of a small hut. We walked into the small hut, there was a wooden counter. A middle-age lady greeted us and led us to our private dining area. It was simple and bare, save for the bench chairs and a large charcoal grill in the middle. There they cooked their award-winning wagyu beef individually for us. Sides were grilled vegetables.
That was the best steak I have ever had and I still feel that today. In fact, it was so good that when asked whether we would like another piece of steak each, all of us violently nodded our heads. Even at 10,000 yen a piece we did not hesitate. This was once in a life time experience. Even now my father and I still dream of going there one day before we die...
My love of wagyu or even great steaks started then... and every wagyu is compared to that unforgettable steak. How fortunate Melbourne is to have Rockpool's Blackmore wagyu, which I believe is a closest contender to that steak so far.
I've heard rumours of its greatness... and eagerly waited to try it myself. As I write this I am still digesting it... thinking about how tender and buttery it was.
It was a special occasion, my Aunty Grace's birthday. I've never taken her out for her birthday. I couldn't afford it before. She has know me since I was 10 years old. Now that I can afford, she deserves the best.
Before our wagyu (yes all three of us ordered wagyu) we shared the Grilled King Prawns, Split and Marinated, which was cooked just right with a lot of juices. After 15 minutes, the 1cm by 20cm 200g medium wagyu rib-eye was served. They were served with a wedge of lemon only.
In individual containers, there were horseradish cream and béarnaise sauce. Condiments service included mustards, barbecue sauce and harissa wrea. But before you let any sauce touch the beef, have it with just the lemon juice first.... you will realise that you don't need sauce at all.
To go with the juicy steaks, we order the deliciously fresh Radicchio, Cos and Endive Salad with Palm Sugar Vinaigrette and moist Wood Fire Grilled Mushrooms as well. Both made for refreshing sides for the buttery steaks.
I struggled to finish my wagyu rib-eye, not because I didn't want to finish it, but it was quite substantial. A wholesome glass of Gilles Robin Crozes Hermitage Shiraz 2004 (from the Rhone Valley) would help to digest the fat.
It was a full house at around 8pm when we were having our desserts. We ordered a Passionfruit Pavlova and Apple Custard Tartlette with Ice-Cream - simple and light, this does the trick of balancing out the oiliness (is that the type of adjective you want to describe an enjoyable meal?) of our meal.
We were beaming by the end of the night, completely satisfied with our meal. The waitress were kind enough to give us menus so that I could get a copy of a few of the cattle paintings that decorated the restaurant. We were very grateful and it gave my Aunty a souvenior for her birthday. (I dared not ask her age :P )
We left Rockpool, arm in arm, eagerly planning when we would return to have the wagyu again...
Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne
Crown Complex
Southbank 3006
03 8648 1900
Ratings
Food: Fantastic sustainable seafood and meat cuisine
Top Dish: Wagyu Rib-Eye 200g
Atmosphere: Comfy and elegant
Service: Attentative, friendly and knowledgable staff
Booking: Recommended
