By Veda Gilbert
1. Bomba
Bomba has three noteworthy croquettes on their menu, referred to as the Spanish croqueta. A creamy bechamel based leek and manchego croqueta ($3.50) is available on their $15 lunch menu; from the tapas menu is an oxtail croqueta ($3.50), a crispy-coated morsel reminiscent of a hearty stew. Leave room from the decadently rich chocolate croquetas ($10), three sweet bechamel and Spanish cocoa filled croquetas dusted with a roasted cocoa, butter, sugar and hazelnut crumble, resting on a vanilla bean creme patisserie.
East meets west: Tokyo Tina's tonkatsu croquettes.Credit:
103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 9077 0451, bombabar.com.au
2. Tokyo Tina
Sweet treats: Chocolate croquettes from Bomba.Credit:
Tokyo Tina is the latest addition to the Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally family, all based in postcode 3181. As the name suggests, Japanese influences abound on a menu filled with modern takes on classic favourites and street food-inspired dishes. The tonkatsu croquettes ($12) are a meal in themselves: embracing the "Western style" Japanese dish, braised ham hocks are shredded and packed solidly into ice-block sized panko crumbed croquettes, that are deep-fried and served on an American-style coleslaw, the fresh flavours balancing the heaviness of the pork, and drizzled with Japanese barbecue sauce.
66A Chapel Street, Windsor, 9525 2774, tokyotina.com.au
3. Huxtable
A lot of work goes into the jalapeno and cheddar croquettes ($3.50) the Huxtable kitchen team lovingly refers to as "the arm breakers". A full day in the making, these offerings involve a super thick cheddar cheese bechamel-based sauce with pickled jalapenos being rolled in day-old house-made breadcrumbs, then left to rest before being dropped into the fryer. A play on jalapeno poppers chef and owner Daniel Wilson enjoyed on a visit to the United States, the perfectly rounded bite-sized pieces have quite an after-bite as the jalapeno hits the back of the tongue.
131 Smith Street, Fitzroy, 9419 5101, huxtablerestaurant.com.au
4. Plough Hotel
Despite its worn exterior, the Plough Hotel houses a stunning bar, dining space and boutique hotel; the same can be said for its humble croquette. Resembling a Spanish-style croqueta, the bechamel-based chicken, charred corn, and jalapeno croquette is made from surplus ingredients used for other dishes, and is designed to accompany a crisp beer, such as Collingwood brewed Sample Brew Gold Ale ($5/$9.50). The generous serving of seven croquettes ($11) comes with a side of chipotle mayo, so you can add a little spice to the lingering pickled jalapeno heat.
333 Barkly Street, Geelong, 9687 2878, ploughhotel.com.au
5. Estelle Bistro
Part of the snacks menu at this neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant, a pair of salted cod croquettes ($4) are perfect for that in-between dining window together with a glass of wine, or as a starter to the main event. Crisp on the outside and creamy within, mashed royal blue potatoes cooked in milk with garlic and thyme balance out the salt cod nicely; the vibrant mustard coloured rouille garnish is so good you'd almost eat it on its own.
243 High Street, Northcote, 9489 4609, estellebistro.com