Cumulus Inc

5th January 2011

Having an extra couple of days off as annual leave, decided to use part of one of the afternoons to complete another off my list . As i had to go into the city, i decided on Cumulus Inc. This was eagerly anticipated having heard great things about the place. An added bonus was as i was busy to most of the day i had a very late lunch about 330 pm when most other restaurants would have closed.

As i entered i was greeted by a cheery welcomer who despite appearances was without pretension but spohisticated. I was also greeted with a funky and casual dining area with upbeat and playful music being played telling you this was no ordinary fine dining area.

Starting with some bread that was light and doughy in the middle but had a crisp and cruchy crust that was a simple but great way to start the meal.

Having not had anything to eat since breakfast i went for the whole feast with a starter of tiny medallions of octopus topped with a creamy aioli and tomato and basil on top of a mix of dehydrated olive and olive oil. A good start and a interesting and pleasant mix of textures but possibly could have benefitted from an additional punch of flavour.

I followed this with the kitchen's selection charcuterie with a great selection of meats and accompanment and a phesant terrine experterly match with a prune relish. Good sourcing of produce and well matched.

On to the main course and a selection seared scallops, bacon, sorrel and pearl barley. Perfectly cured bacon offered a strong punch and was complimented by the exceptionally cooked scallops. The other items balanced out the flavours and lead to a thoroughly enjoyable, light and tasty main course.

To round out the meal i decided on the rum baba. A crisp outside brioche cake opened up with soft moist cake inside. Accompanied with a nice creme custard and a bottle of aged rum that was left on the table to allow you to choose how much rum you wished to accompany the desert. And what a desert, truly beautifully cooked and amazing tasting everything about this dish was amazing. The only drawback was the pouring of the aged rum. Never having had the desert before it was difficult to know how much rum was an appropriate amount and my alcohol free pouring skills need some work.

Some great flavours and combinations of dishes that have been thoughtfully put together and work to create wonderful dishes and a very enjoyable meal. The quality of the food made me excited about the future trip to Cutler & Co.