OUR FAVOURITE PLATES OF THE MONTH

ABALONE SPRING ROLLS

Our mission: to see off the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in style the morning after the big party. Our plan: to ask Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants to turn their hands to yum cha with a luxe Australian twist. The result: among other things, spring rolls stuffed with braised abalone and shiitake mushrooms. Mission accomplished. QT Melbourne, 133 Russell St, Melbourne, Vic, (03) 8636 8800 PAT NOURSE

TOMMY RUFF, SPICED CARROT AND PICKLED ZUCCHINI

Like the just-caught kingfish served as ceviche, these robustly flavoured tommy ruffs are caught off Kangaroo Island. Two pan-roasted fillets sit atop spiced carrot “linguine”, with the tang of pickled yellow zucchini and the crunch of toasted almond flakes. Southern Ocean Lodge, Hanson Bay Rd, Kangaroo Island, SA, (08) 8559 7347 HELEN ANDERSON

POACHED SNAPPER, SMOKED ZUCCHINI AND GREEN MASALA

Say hello to an ultra-fresh fillet of goldband snapper served with a scatter of local rice and lightly smoked zucchini. Submerged in a poaching liquor, its flavour is boosted by green masala and whey. Crisped snapper skin adds crunch and fresh curry leaves keep things aromatic and vibrant. Nu Nu, 1 Veivers Rd, Palm Cove, Qld, (07) 4059 1880 FIONA DONNELLY