Birthday dinner @ Aria

Last Sunday was Tao 's birthday and we decided to celebrate it at Aria Restaurant in Brisbane. It is one of the best Australian restaurant that we wanted to try for long.

We ordered the tasting menu which comes with a 7 courses.

TUNA
seared loin and tartare of tuna with pear and daikon salad and ponzu dressing
2009 Logan M Cuvee Brut Sparkling Rosé, Central Ranges, New South Wales

JAMON
with tomato, dried olives, shaved jamón ibérico and toasted brioche
2010 Albariño De Fefiñanes, Rias Baixas, Spain

SCALLOPS
seared and served with merguez sausage, mint, chilli and rice crisp
2007 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia

CONSOMME
Peking duck consommé with duck dumpling and Asian mushrooms
Henriques & Henriques Verdelho Madeira 15 Y.O., Madeira Island, Portugal

PORK BELLY
twice cooked Bangalow Sweet Pork belly with Asian spiced black bean sauce
and an apple, radish and crackling salad
2008 Babo Sangiovese, Tuscany, Italy

RABBIT
assiette of rabbit, corn purée, mushrooms, baby corn and a hazelnut jus
2007 S.C. Pannell Nebbiolo, Adelaide Hills, South Australia

CAKE
pistachio cake with yoghurt panna cotta and pistachio ice cream
2003 Isole e Olena Vin Santo, Tuscany, Italy

I especially like the scallop, Jamon, pork belly and the dessert. The scallop is fresh and nicely cooked. The Jamon is very soft but not too salty. The toasted brioche is a bit sweet and it served as the great combination with the tomatoes and the Jamon.(Highly recommend). Another signature dish is the pork belly. Crunchy skin and tasty meat..nothing much you can ask for.
I do not really like the duck dumplings but it is because I dislike duck ...so I am not objective enough to judge this one.

The dessert is nicely presented. I especially like the panna cotta inside the egg shell..love the idea..love the texture ..love the taste.