David's Country Shanghai

Melbourne is a great city to live, and one of the things I love the most is the diversity in our food and restaurant scene. Before we had kids, my husband and I dined out often and were never short of new restaurants and cuisines to try.

I've eaten at many Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, from quick and cheap noodle bars to Sunday morning Yum Cha, to fine dining at a restaurant with a history of awards. But I've never eaten traditional Shanghai cuisine, until last Thursday night.

Image courtesy of Marnie

I was very lucky to be invited to the relaunch of the iconic David's Restaurant in Prahran. I dressed up, jumped in the car and crossed town in peak hour traffic, a little nervous of what awaited - it isn't often you accept an invitation to dine with a table of strangers. I needn't have worried. Within five minutes it was like a catch up with old friends. I love that fellow bloggers are like that!

Image courtesy of Melody

From left - Vu from Very Vu, Melody from Melludee, me, Marnie from 3 Pickles, David, Owner and Head Chef of David's, and Kyrstie from A Fresh Legacy.

And then the food came. So much food.

Drunk chicken, green 'n red soy beans, bok choy and chilli, spicy beef with radish and cucumber, shredded duck wraps and spiced oolong tea quail eggs and bean curd.

That was just entree.

Main course included 'one bite' soft shell river prawns, eye fillet with sweet potato, ginger and soy, tofu and field mushrooms, pork belly and whole chat potatoes, and my favourites, Peasant's Crab, which was a simple but delicious mix of scallops, fish and eggs, and Grandma's 8, a rich and flavoursome medley of scallops, prawns, pork, chicken, chestnuts, cashews, bamboo and shitake mushrooms.

Me digging into some delicious duck and veggie wraps (image courtesy of Marnie)

Between courses David spoke about his philosophy on food and his vision for the restaurant. Some major themes were really noticeable to me - David is passionate about authenticity. His desire to share the true cuisine he grew up with was central to his vision for the restaurant relaunch. Also his strong ties to his family. The restaurant is very family focused - many of his family members were there, and have worked along side him since he opened David's over a decade ago. It was also evident in the food - generous serves designed to be shared as if you were eating with your own family.

And you thought that was it for the food? Nope - dessert too! Traditional Chinese Almond Pudding and Osmanthus & Red Bean Black Sticky Rice Pudding.

Image courtesy of Marnie

Thanks so much to David, Grace and the wonderful team for a fantastic evening, see you again soon!

If you'd like to know more, you can find David's on their website, facebook and twitter.

*Disclosure - I was a guest of David's for their relaunch dinner last Thursday night.