Two taste sensations I feel compelled to share with you

Exhibit A is a Ruby Blood Navel, a hybrid piece of fruit that combines ruby grapefruit, blood orange and navel orange in a delicious, bitter/sweet, citrusy ménage à trois. It looks gorgeous, the juicy orange flesh taking on a very faint purple hue, and it tastes... amazing.


Cam at Damian Pike's figured I might like it so he sold me one last Saturday. I went back this Saturday and bought four more. I intend to go back next Saturday to buy several more. They're only going to be in season for a few weeks, so hurry on down if you're keen (and tell 'em Claire sent you)... :)


Exhibit B is the chocolate spiced pudding ($15) at Portello Rosso. Went to Portello Rosso on Friday with Miss T for lunch pizze (I can recommend the pizza called The Shizzle: pear, jamón, blue-veined queso de valdeón and roquette), and on a whim we decided to share the chocolate pudding.


For the first six or so seconds after eating a mouthful it was just lovely hot gooey saucy chocolate pudding, and then OH MY GOD THE SPICES: cinnamon, sweet paprika, cayenne pepper and a hint of smoked paprika. Extraordinarily good.

King / Bourke Quest Part 20: Portello Rosso

Portello Rosso
15 Warburton Lane, Melbourne (map)
9602 2273


A Melbourne Gastronome reader suggested I check out newish (5 weeks) city pizzeria and jamón bar, Portello Rosso (thanks Andrew... oh, and everyone should check out Portello Rosso's very nifty website).


Portello Rosso is tucked away in Warburton Lane, just below one of my favourite CBD cocktail bars, Murmur. The restaurant was airy and light-filled during a sunny lunchtime when CJ and I visited last week, and I think it'll prove to be a great evening venue too.


The centrepiece on the downstairs communal table was a huge bouquet of flat leaf parsley. The two women who served us (one dreadlocked, one tattooed, both lovely and friendly) suggested CJ and I sit upstairs on the mezzanine level.


We were just nipping in for lunchtime express pizze, but had we had more time I would've loved to try out some of the tapas and jamón/prosciutto on offer - they slice up Jamón Serrano, Jamón Ibérico Joselito, Paleta Joselito and 24 month Fratelli gold prosciutto.


Drawing attention to Portello Rosso's laneway location, almost all of the pizze are rather cutely named after Melbourne laneways (eg Meyers, Crombie, Bennetts) - but alas there is no ACDC pizza. :)

I had the Highlander pizza ($10 for the lunchtime sized version, and it costs $14.90 for a bigger size). It featured jamón, manchego, rocket and olive oil, and had a wonderfully thin crust. I loved it.


CJ had the Waratah pizza ($9/$14) with leg ham, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, anchovy and fior di latte. I had a taste, and it was also very good. As CJ says: "Yeah, I love anchovy. And I don't care WHO knows it!"


I reckon Portello Rosso is a most worthy addition to the CBD pizzeria scene, and I predict many a future lunch down there...