December 16, 2007: Blue Corn

Update 18/06/2023: Blue Corn is now closed.

Cindy and I had good intentions for dinner on Sunday night following our gluttonous Saturday, but they were thrown out the window by a spur of the moment invitation to join Mike and Jo at Blue Corn in St Kilda. Jo had told us previously of her fondness for Blue Corn, and the menu seemed to cater fairly well for vegos, so we were keen to give it a try. We wandered in at about 7:00 and had no problems getting a table - there was even a spare place for us in their lovely courtyard, which was the perfect place to dine on one of Melbourne's pleasant summer evenings.

Things started out with a shared platter: Bluecorn's dips & cornbread with spicy chickpea, mushroom & blackbean dip, pipian rojo, guacamole, tomato salsa, mixed chile olives & fresh corn chips. It was as impressive as it sounds - dense cornbread and an unbelievably flavoursome array of things to spread on it. The blackbean and mushroom dip was a particular standout, but everything on the platter was wonderful.

For the main course, Cindy picked out the Blue Masa goat's cheese quesadilla with black beans, tomato rice, tortillas, guacamole and sour cream. I assumed I'd get a taste at some stage, but Cindy wiped her plate clean. A rare endorsement indeed. She did find it all a little bit too cheesy (with the goat's cheese filling and the generous smother of melted cheese on top), but the fresh guacamole and light sour-cream sauce helped her through it all.

I went for the other main-sized vego option (although there was at least one more on the specials board): the vegetarian burrito on corn tortilla with spinach, rice, peppers, corn, black beans, iceberg, guacamole and salsa. It was one of the best burritos I've ever tried: a crispy tortilla stuffed with delicious mexi-mush and covered in perfectly melted cheese. A dash of hot sauce and I was in heaven.

So Blue Corn was a winner - everything was incredibly fresh and flavoursome, the service was friendly and the courtyard had a lovely relaxing summer afternoon atmosphere. The prices aren't particularly cheap, but it's good value for money and a worthy competitor for Los Amates.

Address: 205 Barkly Street, St Kilda
Ph: 9534 5996
Licensed
Price: vego platters and mains - $19.50 - $21.50