Mason Dixon American Sandwich Bar, Melbourne CBD by Rockstar

When I'm good I'm very very good at taking  my lunch to work. When I'm not sometimes I struggle to decide what to have. To decide what will satisfy me, get me through the work day and make me happy- not asking much!

Often I meet Ms Goodheart for lunch and it's a good day when we go halves on a Mason Dixon meatball hoagie! It's a long roll filled with a warming tomatoey, onion and capsicum ragu with meatballs, moazzarella and Parmesan. I get them to hold the olives… I'm one of those people, the ones that don't tolerate olives. I imagine the olives would add an additional hit of salty flavour. It's a substantial sandwich so perfect shared- that way I can also force the pickle and pretzel onto Ms Goodheart without feeling guilty about waste! Sometime we add in the crunchy salty fries…

Miss Katie's Crab Shack, Melbourne CBD by Rockstar

Another unplanned Friday night dinner in Melbourne city. Ms Fancy Pants and I met after work, while Ms Green and Ms Black were travelling in from the burbs and weren't going to arrive til 6:30pm at the earliest. Ms Fancy Pants and I walked past our planned destination and wondered whether we could queue for the next hour for a table….  But it was cold and wet. We went to the food court and sat and googled places close by. Miss Katie's Crab Shack was just around the corner and I'd been keen to try since they used to be in Fitzroy.

Crab boil

They're located at Ding Dong Lounge - so it was up the stairs to a quirky, funky nautically themed bar. We easily got a table at 5:30pm and ordered ourselves a 2 for 1 cocktail!  

Hawthorn Common, Hawthorn by Bureaucrat

Brunch with the Log Lady at Hawthorn Common was deliciously gossipy and deliciously yummy. Next door to Hawthorn Common is Axil Coffee Roasters which seems perpetually packed.  We arrived at Hawthorn Common 10am-ish on a Sunday and I was expecting the need to queue up for a table (*groan*) like my previous experience at Axil's.  However, with the place less than half full, we scored a table straightaway.

The Log Lady ordered the baked eggs which looked pretty tasty.   

Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio, South Yarra by Rockstar

If you love sweet stuff and you live in Melbourne and you haven't been to Burch & Purchese, well I'd say you don't really like sweet goodness. Burch & Purchese is a delightful pink shopfront - if you go on a weekend, you'll often get given a sample of whatever goodies might be available. I've been visiting them as long as they've been there. Sometimes I just go in the inhale the sugary buttery scent!

Pastry perfection!

Darren and Cathy and all the staff are just lovely and friendly, even when the same questions are asked, or there's an urgent last minute request for a cake. Oh the cakes… I dreamed that one day someone would love me enough to buy me a B & P cake….   And for my 40th birthday my friends did! That's friendship - and the cake lived up to my dream!!! Oh and Darren may still have been polite when I turned into a blubbering idiot when I got him to sign the cookbook I'd purchased!

Nuts Chan, Mt Waverley by Bureaucrat

Despite a very curious name, Nuts Chan is fairly nondescript Japanese restaurant ensconced in the Mt Waverley shopping village. A post-lunch Google search told me that Nuts-Chan is actually the name of the owner's name. The restaurant is modest and a bit run down but has a very homey feel to the place.  We enjoyed our meal there and we rather regretted that we hadn't dined here sooner as we found out that come next month, Nuts Chan is moving to Camberwell (and will be known as Iroiro).  So while you have the chance, check out Nuts Chan or alternatively you can wait until 4 September when it takes up business in 371 Camberwell Road, Camberwell.

The Lawyer and I shared two entrees.  First up, an entree of sashimi and sushi.  I'm not the biggest raw seafood fan but even I liked this.  The Lawyer loved the fresh seafood and wolfed this up.

Boosa, Bentleigh East by Rockstar

I've been seeing Boosa pics showing up all over my Instagram feed. It looked like perfect Insta food-pretty and funky with some smoke and mirrors, and a middle Eastern twist.

I was catching up with an old work friend who is now retired. We like to try a new local-ish place each time. She suggested Boosa and I was pleased to accept! Of course it was a cold wet grey miserable Melbourne day; luckily there were car parks available on Centre Road.


Kids' bacon and egg bun smiley face

It's a lovely lovely space - quite intimate and warm. Lots of light, and greenery and copper and blush. I'd be very happy if my lounge looked anything like that! We were lucky enough to be seated just near the heavenly heating!

CH James, Fairfield by Foghorn Leghorn

Recently I joined a group of food bloggers for brunch at CH James in Fairfield. It’s an airy space with plenty of natural light, and a buzz of activity. When we arrived, the music was blasting at a volume that made conversation impossible, but that was rectified quickly. We slowly settled in to a big table and discussed what we should all order.


Corn and haloumi fritters

The menu has an interesting assortment of both sweet and savoury dishes, so there was quite a bit of discussion. The offering includes all sorts of unusual combinations (like pea panna cotta), but I was in the mood for something simple, so I ordered a brekky burger.

The Bean Thief, East Kew by Rockstar

East Kew has changed a lot since I was a kid; there now seems to be a cafe on every street.

The Bean Thief is a busy happy place! A little local oasis.


I used to love a sweet breakfast, but nowadays I rarely indulge as I usually find after a few bites I'm over it and need something more refreshing, less cloying. However I couldn't resist ordering the ricotta and cinnamon doughnuts, with vanilla custard, salted caramel, chocolate sauce and pistachio soil. Sometimes I make really good solid decisions. This was one of those times!!! While I'm not a ricotta fan the doughnuts were light and fluffy and a perfect vehicle for the decadent chocolate sauce and salted caramel. The pistachio soil added a nice textural crunch contrast. I will not publicly admit to using my finger to try and scoop out every drop of the chocolate sauce. I did offer the Butterfly one... but I only had one left and I think she could see I wanted her to say no!

Cru, Kew by Rockstar

A friend was visiting from NZ and we needed somewhere with good food, where we could comfortably chat and chat, somewhere central and where we could book. Cru went above and beyond that; without showing any frustration that a few members of the party arrived at different times. Including 2 hours after the booking!

Crispy polenta and that heavenly mushroomy truffly scent....

Cru is nicely designed - there's an outdoor area out the back, however given the Melbourne weather I was pleased to be inside on the comfy bench seat. It's got a lovely European classic feel with cream walls, dark wooden chairs and stools, and cheerful tiles and glass.

The Butler's Pantry, Rowville by Bureaucrat

Rowville is a bit of a 'meh' suburb for me.  There is nothing there that appeals to me and for the people that I know that live out there, it seems to be a world away.  However, The Butler's Pantry is located out there.  There's a dining offer for it in the Entertainment Book (which we're encouraging our dear readers to purchase a 2017-18 membership in order to fundraise for on behalf of Second Bite) and I've been seeing lots of pretty photos of The Butler's Pantry's Instagram account.  With those two reasons, we set off towards Rowville in search for good grub.


Yuuuuum!  

Caulfield Glasshouse, East Caulfield by Rockstar

I tend to try and avoid clubs and local pubs unless necessary; such as when traveling for work or trying to find something half way between my house and someone in the outer burbs...yes I know I'm a semi inner city snob! I'll do anything for the birthday of a little person I love so dinner at the Glasshouse for my nephew's 8th birthday it was. 

Vegetarian nasi goreng

I've lived in the area for ages and had no idea this was here! Apparently it was run down and has undergone a significant renovation. It's attached to Caulfield racecourse and the entry is near the club entry and the pokies. It's a spacious area, light and bright and on this Sunday night also filled with lots of older people taking advantage of the seniors meals I suspect.