PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAStepping into the dining room at Blancmange invokes memories of going to grandma’s house for tea, but oh how I wish my own grandma had a wine cellar and collection of art on par with what you’ll find at Blancmange. Plush chocolate carpet and rough hewn white walls contrast sweetly with vibrant original artworks, while gauzy curtains afford a view of Petersham Park through the picture windows. With all the comfort of a neighbourhood bistro dressed up with touches of quirky glamour, Blancmange is the sort of local you’d love to have.
The menu is an ever-changing affair of modern European dishes with a British influence. Each day brings a fresh menu of inspired comfort food, with four entrees and mains to choose from along with two specials. Expect to see a souffle among the entrees, such as the twice-baked cheese and spinach dish, or a rustically chunky terrine of pork or veal. Mains could include char-grilled sirloin with Cafe de Paris butter and hand-cut shoestring fries, and there is always an offering for vegetarians. Desserts such as white chocolate ice-cream parfait with berries make an appearance on the menu, but unfortunately Blancmange’s namesake (an old fashioned milk jelly dessert) remains absent. The menu is accompanied by a wine list with a lovely blend of old and new world drops and unlike grandma’s house, not a nip of sweet sherry to be seen.
Amy Looker, November 2007
