Something spicy this way comes - Spice Bar, Mooloolaba (QLD)

(degusted 10/8/11)

Spice Bar –  Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast, QLD)

Edamame

Just a block back from the Mooloolaba esplanade, you really could be in any town, anywhere. First avenue runs behind some of the bigger apartment complexes that shoot tourist accommodation skyward in this little part of paradise. As a result, there is a distinct lack of views - or even perspective – when afoot on this little thoroughfare. For tourists looking for something hip and happening with views to that magnificent Mooloolaba beach, Spice bar's location, therefore, might be a bit of a buzz kill. Not that it's a bad location per se; it's just not in the best location for capitalising on the beach that is less than 100 metres away. If you’re disappointed that you can’t dine with a view – then the good news is, that's where the disappointment stops.

As many of our regular readers will know, shared plates of Asian food is something we love to degust, and Spice Bar provides just the perfect degustation. We thought the best approach was to go for the nine-course degustation to get a good taste of everything they have on offer.  Our dinner was a catch-up with an old friend with whom one of the degusters had studied at University. The shared plates throughout the degustation were the perfect way of involving everyone, and this ensures everyone stays in the conversation – and the conversation keeps flowing. There's nothing worse than going out on a catch-up (or a date) and you're all staring silently into your individual bowls of chow.

Rather than give a blow-by blow description of each morsel, we figure we'll let the images do the talking, suffice to say the likes of the tataki, the scallops, salad and the dumplings were all delicious, to be sure. Looking at their ‘large’ meal menu (if you opt for the individual plates) there looked to be some hum-dingers there that we would have loved to try – like the Honey Truffle King Prawns and the Sizzling Sichuan pork belly - the latter was too good to pass up on, so we ordered that meal to supplement the set menu – and we were VERY glad we did! (sorry - no pic - we ate before the snackarazzi phones came out)..

Takoyaki

Ocean Trout

Beef Tataki

Chicken and Crab salad

Prawn Toast

Pork dumplings

Did someone say mojito?!

Dessert with the degustation was the “chocolate three ways” – and with us being suckers for something different (and bright coloured, flashy advertising in general) we just had to try the "smoking mohito". This was an unusual dessert, and would have had OH&S types at the University tut-tutting in disapproval of the lack of safe work procedures... The kitchen makes up a Mojito mix, and then snap-freezes it with liquid nitrogen (note that alchol has a much lower freezing point than water, and so requires very low temperatures to solidify – bring on the N₂(liq)). Looking like a dry, grainy pile of fluffy white ice, the glass was presented at the table and then – sans any form of protective wear, the waitress poured more liquid nitrogen over the top, to impart upon it the 'smoking' appearance. A novelty to be sure, and plenty to “ooh and ahh” over.. The flavours were just like a Mojito (no surprise there), but to be honest, I prefer to drink them rather than eat them.

Chocolate 3 ways

Smokin' Mojito

After a Jug of a sweet alco-drink, all the food and those two desserts, we were all laughing like hyenas (and drawing glances from other diners)... The company was lovely, our bellies full, and the sugar rush promised to keep us all awake until long after a sensible bed-time: consider it a "dinner success", then.

 

A great place to dine, and an asset to the Mooloolaba food scene. No, it’s not up on the esplanade, but that step back from the hustle-and-bustle makes it a bit more laid back, and contributes a bit to the charm.

Post here Rating:  Nom (x2)

Meh                      It’ll Do                   Nom(x3)                              Must go back!
 

Done and Degusted @ LOCATION…

- The 9-course degustation, supplemented with:
- Sizzling Sichuan pork belly
- Smoking Mojito