EAT: IL CAMINETTO, MOONEE PONDS
Once upon a time, local pizza dining entailed a run to one of the chains (you know which ones) or the local takeaway store for a family-sized, greasy pizza. Pineapples and all. The food scene around Melbourne suburbia has since evolved quite a bit, and there are now several eateries which offer quality wood fired pizzas. I’ve always been a fan of the chewy bites and the gorgeous char imparted from a wood fired oven since my first bite at +39 Pizzeria however many years ago, so I’m quite stoked that I can now get my hands on a wood fired pizza without a trek into the city or beyond. Enter Il Caminetto in Moonee Ponds, a mere ten minutes drive from home. Cutting to the chase, the doughy textures and the cooking of their pizzas were spot on; their bases shine alongside their quality toppings as evident but the oozy, cheesy Margherita and Bianca gamberi (prawns, pancetta and fragrant parsley) pizzas we selected. Also on the menu for our visit were some appetisers to whet our palates before the main event. We particularly enjoyed the fresh, zesty and silky light flavour profile of the Hiramasa king fish tartare; could not have selected a better dish for the 35C weather on the day of our visit.
Given my immense liking for wood fired pizzas and plenty more pizzas, alongside other menu items, to try (will have to remember to leave room for dessert next time), a return visit to Il Caminetto is not a question of if, but rather when… soon I suspect…
Crochette di baccala - cod and potato croquettes served with leek sauce.
Prosciutto e burrata - parma prosciutto aged 18 months, served with burrata cheese.
Hiramasa King fish tartare (part of special menu).
Margherita pizza - with pomodoro, mozzarella and basilico.
Bianca gamberi pizza - with Stracciatella cheese, prawns, pancetta and parsley.
Il Caminetto
114 Pascoe Vale Rd,
Moonee Ponds, Victoria, 3039.
Disclosure: I dined as a guest of Il Caminetto. All opinions expressed in this post are based entirely on my experience and observations made during the time of my visit.