Friday 17 December 2010

Ivory Cafe


Forget the three Gourmet Farmer amigos (Matt, Nick and Ross) – tonight the three amigo bloggers dining out at Ivory Café in Elizabeth Street were Reb, Victor and Rita.

Following up on Victor’s extremely sad meal at Thai Gardens last week, Rita emailed him and suggested he try Ivory, so tonight was the culmination of that discussion, with all three of us hoping like hell that the meal at Ivory would be better than TG.

And it was. It was fabulous – and I guarantee this place will be well patronized from now on when Victor and Reb feel like eating a decent Thai meal on their way home from work.

We cracked up when the waitress came to our table and asked me if I was Rita. Then when I mentioned that Victor too had a blog, she asked if his was Food Trail! Talk about trying to go there quietly so we could blog about it – that blew that particular brainwave right out of the water!

But we were absolutely bowled over by the food. It’s a small café, and easily managed by the one floor staff (Donna, pictured below with partner, chef Gummy), and two in the kitchen. The attention to Thai food credibility was there, with amendments made for the local taste buds.


Finding out that chef was the ex-cook at Darjohs in Bellerive, I relaxed, as I then knew exactly what direction the food would come from, and was pretty sure I would love it.

We started out with Curry Puffs ($1.50 each) and dipping sauce, and a shared Entrée Platter ($9 per person, minimum for two) which contained some warm beef salad, sticky rice, carrot salad, three spring rolls, beef jerky and salad greens. Chef also sent out some pork jerky for us to try. Now the words I have written here listing what was on the platter are boring and mundane – and the exact opposite of what the dish actually tasted like. It was breathtaking – everything on it.


You’ve all had curry puffs before. They are usually standard, and not very exciting. These were the genuine article, with the accompanying dipping sauce being perfect.
Both the beef and pork jerky sounded to me like they might be shit – but were superlative. I can’t speak too highly of them. The carrot salad left the one I make (and take great pride in) for dead, as did the beef salad.


We then mained on a beef massaman ($12.50), a prawn pad thai ($15) and a stir fry pork with thai garlic paste and ginger ($13). All were stunning.



I recommend this café 100%. They are open:
lunch: Mon to Sat 11.30 – 3.00
dinner: Tues to Sat 5.00 – 9.00

Ivory Café
112 Elizabeth Street
Hobart
Phone: 6231 6808

Victor rated it 8.5 (out of 10), as did I. Reb was 8/10. I think that says it all really, don't you?
Posted on by Rita
27 comments

27 comments:

Cartouche said...

I love the concept of the micro cafe/restaurant. One chef, one FOH. Its been doing the rounds in Europe for a long time. When you think about it many highly talented people just don't have the funds to set up a large enterprise. The love and talent you get at this end is suprising and the patronage given has a direct effect.
Consider the large well funded enterprise, run by the financiers, hiring talent they often don't understand, copying a model that we have already seen and suffocating genuine fresh talent. Seems to me this is the kind of establishment that we most whinge about.
I say that the micro businesses deserve a chance, and that those who are critical or fed up should try seeking them out, never know, it might be what you were looking for in the first place, and if they grow, then its what everybody could be looking for.

Cartouche

Anonymous said...

hi Rita Bite readers-Rita's back in hospital again-wish her a speedy recovery, I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Steve

Victor said...

Oh no! Is this true, Steve?
Get well soon, Rita.

Cartouche said...

Chook, the foods not that good in the RHH to wnt to go back, sure its value for money as its free but come on.Actually, if your on the cardiac ward, do me a favour and ask the next doctor doing the rounds if he knows the fat content and MSG rating of the food, could be a giggle.

Get well

love cartouche xoxoxx

sir grumpy said...

Get well quickly, Rita, that's an order.
By the way I have had good puffs (!) at Dom's of course.

Anonymous said...

hi Rita hope your better soon... When you are back on your feet you should try the newish malay place next to chicken feed same sort of deal as ivory but its malay food.. best laksa in town

Christina said...

Get well soon my friend.
Home in time for Chtistmas I hope!
Much love to you and a Merrier Christmas to come. xxxxx

sir grumpy said...

How's our wee girl? Anyone know?

Rita said...

Thanks again all for your concern. Heart failure was diagnosed on Monday, and I have been in hospital since. Fingers crossed I will be allowed home for Xmas tomorrow, and it will be a very grumpy Rita in RHH Cardio ward on Xmas Day if that is indeed the case!
I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. Eat well, drink well and be very merry in the nicest sense of the word!
May next year bring happiness, joy and good fortune to all.
And extreme thanks to my wonderful son in law who dropped off his iPad this afternoon so I could check my blog!

sir grumpy said...

Take it easy Rita. Hope you get home for Christmas and are well ASAP.
All the best from the Grumpy clan.

Rita said...

Thanks Sir G, Christina, Cartouche, Anons, Victor, and Steve - for caring.

simon cordwell said...

Hello Rita. I hope you do escape for Christmas, if not just call and Christmas lunch will be delivered. get well soon we need lots more chats over a cup of tea.

Michelle said...

Dear Rita

Wishing you a speedy recovery and that you can go home for Christmas.

Much love

Michellexx


PS love your use of the word s**t in this review!

Anonymous said...

Get Well Soon Rita from all us anons!!

Anon2 said...

Ran into Pip in town who told me you were still in hospital. I'm thinking of you and wishing you a restful and comfortable Xmas and a full recovery into 2011

Cartouche said...

Christmas for me is three days off with the family, "huzzah". Christmas is family. So where ever you are I hope you are with yours. In any case, on behalf of your cyber family I raise a glass of Port, wine, egg flip and the like to your health. Happy Christmas luv.

Cartouche.

Anonymous said...

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive, gender neutral celebration of the summer solstice holiday practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/ secular persuasions and/ or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendar of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that Australia is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms:

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/ him or others and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. The wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.


Best Regards (without prejudice)


Name withheld (Privacy Act).

Anonymous said...

But, seriously...

Get well soon, Rita.

Your blog has provided many with a great deal of enjoyment, many laughs and you clearly have a good sense of humour (just look at the hopsital food reveiew!!!)

All the best for 2011, and we look forward to seeing much more blogging from you!

Anonymous said...

Get well soon Rita.

I love this little cafe delicious food and fabulous service!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rita, Cate and I made it today after yours and Victors recommendations. It was really delicious food and sparkled with freshness. It deserves to do well as the owners are trying hard.
On the way to the lav(you walk through the kitchen)I noticed how clean and orderly it was which is always an encouraging sign.
Also Roger McShane, one half of foodtourist.com was equally impressed commenting on his way out how fresh the food tasted.
Another Hobart gem

Rita said...

Glad you and Cate made it there for lunch today Steve, and relieved you enjoyed their food, and also that Roger appreciated it too.
Strangely enough, with my current medication making me feel totally nauseous (and vomiting if I eat anything), the only thing I have had a craving for is a serving of Ivory's Prawn Dumplings, so some friends are there as we speak, picking me up a take-away serve of same, in the vain hope that it might stay down. I have been to the toilet there (as you said, through the kitchen), and also noted the cleanliness and orderliness of it, so know with certainty that they will provide me with as hygienic a serving as possible, if you get what I am struggling to say!

reb said...

I went back recently for a takeaway and had the curry puffs, massaman curry and chicken basil stir fry again!

Wasn't disappointed. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Rita, Cate took our daughters there yesterday and they all reported that the food was fabulous, especially the chicken satay. They all said it was the best satay they have ever had!

Anonymous said...

Ivory is a winner, everything on the menu is amazing, we have become regulars (and have noticed that we aren’t the only ones there once a week for their fix!) great prices, perfect service and love BYO. You won’t be disappointed.

Anonymous said...

Once a week! Doesn't sound like often enough for me.
Had a superb meal there last night and am already planning to go again!
Best food and service in town!

P

Anonymous said...

Ivory Cafe is back open after a well earned couple of weeks off!
Those famous curry puffs now have a vegetarian version!
And everything else is still fabulous!
To be honest it looks a little quiet so get back in there!

Anonymous said...

Been to ivory numerous times with family, now heading back with a couple of girlfriends! Great sevice and food. Switched on, happy, amazing curry puffs, and pork buns. Cute little place for a quick dinner, hope it stays!

M