Melbourne's Ides Restaurant Is Currently Delivering That Black Box Dessert from 'MasterChef'
But, some assembly is required...
Those who tuned into MasterChef last night, Tuesday, May 19, would've watched with bated breath as contestants attempted to construct a wildly difficult dessert. Those who didn't should maybe stop here — and go watch it — as there will be, yes, spoilers. You have been warned.
The aforementioned dessert is called The Black Box and is a fixture on the menu at Peter Gunn's Collingwood restaurant Ides. While the restaurant is currently closed to dine-in customers — like the rest of Melbourne's hospitality businesses — it is offering takeaway and delivery. And on that to-go menu? The Black Box.
It might look unassuming, but this small dessert is actually made from 11 different elements, which include a black box of tempered white chocolate, yoghurt pearls, gingerbread biscuits, chocolate soil, grilled mandarin custard, isomalt wafer, chocolate-dipped mandarin, honeycomb and sherbet. Unless you want to spend 45 minutes attempting to temper said chocolate — and have a dry ice guy handy — we don't suggest you try and make this one at home. Well, not from scratch, anyway.
When you order the $25 dessert from Ides, you are warned that 'assembly is required' — hopefully not so much to induce a Sarah Tiong-like panic, but just enough to make you feel like the MasterChef champion you could be.
If you'd like to get fancy, the restaurant also offers a paired cocktail with the dessert for $17, which is called Vines in the Orchard and is made with umeshu, calvados and topaque. Elsewhere on the to-go menu: oysters, mandarin cake, baby cos salad and a four-course set menu for $65, which changes weekly but currently includes The Black Box. All of the dishes need some level of preparation, including cooking, reheating and plating.
With the recent announcement that Melbourne's restaurants, cafes and pubs are allowed to reopen their doors for up to 20 customers from June 1, Ides is planning to reopen from Thursday, June 4. You can make a reservation over here.
To order takeaway from Ides, head over to the website. The restaurant is offering same-day delivery within 10 kilometres of Collingwood for orders placed before 12pm.
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