Tien Dat, Box Hill by Bureaucrat

Although we were all at Tien Dat to throw a surprise birthday party for Big Fil, it turned out that we were the ones that were given the surprise.  Having thought that Big Fil was reaching a milestone birthday, we all felt a bit silly when Big Fil explained to us that his milestone birthday was still one year away (d'oh!).  In any case, it's the thought that counts and we told Big Fil to remember to look surprised next year.

As there were quite a few of us, I was only able to take photos of the dishes that were close to me. Ms No Meat had ordered the vegetarian Vietnamese salad, which looked good to me but she said it was okay.

The Lawyer and I shared an entree of the steamed rice noodle pancakes. It was served on a bed of beanshoots and topped with slices of this porky pate and dried shrimps. A delicate but distinctly porky and shrimpy flavour, with a pleasantly chewyish texture - I quite liked this.

My grilled lemongrass pork vermicelli salad was okay.  I've definitely have had better.  Lots of noodles but the pork wasn't juicy and overly lean and it had rather minimal amounts of salad ingredients (shredded carrots, cukes, lettuce and herbs).

The Lawyer's mixed tripe and beef pho was also okay.

And he also got an iced coffee for drinks.

Verdict: we liked it.

Overall
The consensus among all of us was that Tien Dat was okay but it used to be much, much better.  It is undeniably popular as the place was packed out - both upstairs and downstairs.  However, for those of us who had been loyal Tien Dat diners, they felt that Tien Dat is resting on its laurels.  As this was my first visit, I thought it was okay but nothing exceptional about the food.

The service was a bit slow and erratic.  The drinks and dishes came out at different times, which didn't necessarily reflect when they were ordered, and we had to follow up with the staff a few times to check where our orders were at.

 

Comptoir des Archives, Paris by Bureaucrat

Having wandered around the artsy Le Marais region in the 3rd arrondissement, we were needing sustenance and a place to rest our feet for a while (plus, I had to consult our map to figure out how to get back to the hotel).

One thing that I love about France is the plat du jour.  You can eat so well on a budget if you pick the dish of the day.  Lucky lucky me, today was duck breast with Lyonnaise potatoes. This amazing serve of delicious duck was 11 euros.  Gorgeously plump slices of duck breast, smothered in gravy, served with lots of pan-fried potatoes. Miam miam! The dish came with some bread.

We also shared an entree of onion soup.  This was pretty good but we've had better for sure.  A nice deep savoury broth which was loaded with finely sliced onions and topped with melted cheese on slices of baguette. 

Needing a caffeine hit, the Lawyer also got a coffee, which was rather weak.

Verdict: we liked it a lot

Overall
A nice spot for a meal.  Friendly and quick service.

Address
41 Rue de Archives
75004 Paris
Telephone: 01 4272 1356

Rae's Restaurant at Balgownie Estate (by invitation), by Obelix

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to drive up to beautiful Balgownie Estate to sample their Winter menu.  Bureaucrat was there previously and loved it.  Rae's Restaurant is located within the Balgownie Estate, one of the reknown vineyards and spas in the Yarra Valley.  The focus at Rae's has always been on using fresh seasonal local produce and they did not disappoint with their Winter menu.  The menu was well thought out with a show case of Yarra Valley's finest.  The dinner offerings were more extensive compared with the lunch with the option for dinner to have two courses for $60 or three courses for $75 plus drinks.

We so happened to both select seafood options for entrees.

C had the half dozen oyster au naturale and I had the seafood chowder with herb oil.

My chowder had succulent pieces scallops, prawns and a variety of fish within.

The table was abundant with good food.

Our mains were the Tasmanian Atlantic salmon with an Asian twist  of curry marinade, roasted cashews, coriander and Vietnamese mint.  This was what C ordered and not a grain of rice was left on the plate.  Licked clean.

I went the carnivorous route and ordered the vine smoked char grilled boneless rib eye.  Say no more, they had me at vine smoked and char grilled.  It was perfectly medium and the smokiness had me smacking my maw.  The problem sometimes with steak is that they are not so photogenic but trust me, it was a magnificent piece of meat.

C wisely choose a side of button mushrooms crumbed and deep fried with herb pesto.  These were so moreish we happily scoffed down the whole lot.

My side was the broccolini with soy ginger honey glaze and fried shallots.

The staff were so friendly and affable and they offered all sorts of suggestions for desserts and although we were getting quite full, we could not say no to these delectable sweets.

Chef Sunil suggested the ginger and yoghurt pannacotta with Szechuan pepper infused pineapple and blood orange syrup.  C dutifully ordered this and loved it.  I stole a spoonful and it was so smooth on the palate, I would have happily eaten her's and mine.

One of the other staff recommended the warm red wine cake made with Balgownie shiraz served with cinnamon ice cream, sultana compote.  It was divine.  I highly recommend this.  The cake was more like a warm pudding and the cinnamon ice cream went so well with it.

Whether your table faced outwards to the expansive rolling hills or towards the warm hearth of Rae's, it's a beautiful ambiance either way.  The staff are attentive without being intrusive and friendly.

Verdict:  We loved it.

Overall
Rae's Restaurant Winter menu has a wonderful selection to please all palates showcasing fresh seasonal local produce.  I would highly recommend a visit to Balgownie, check out their cellar door and duck in for a feast.

Aunt Billie's, Blackburn by Obelix

It was a month of birthdays in our family and to celebrate collectively, we brunched at Aunt Billie's one fine Sunday morn.  Aunt Billie's was chosen by one of the birthday peeps as she often drove past this airy cafe with its al fresco seating and had been curious.  I should say up front that the birthday peeps footed the bill for this one so I don't know the exact cost of the meal suffice to say it fell within the mid range cost bracket. 


The menu was a mix of burgers and breakfast affairs.  P saw the beef burger and chips and went straight for it.  He reported it was on a brioche bun and his only reported regret was that he wished he could have had two or perhaps a larger diameter burger.  I don't believe he even got to try the French fries as Kiddo snaffled it all. 

I on the otherhand had spotted the soft shell crab burger which could not go untested.  It too came on a brioche bun with fresh slaw.  There were three generous bits of crab within.  It was naughtily greasy. 

My mum enjoyed the Aunt Billie's version of an eggs Benedict.  It came with ham hock, smashed peas, poached eggs and hollandaise.

Birthday boy had the Aunt Billie's version of a big breakfast.  Toast, eggs, a wodge of beans and mushrooms.

Birthday girl had a veggie fritter which came with poached eggs and haloumi on top.  It was very substantially sized.

Kiddo is going through a no-egg phase.  Whilst Aunt Billie's had kid's options, most of them featured eggs as afterall, we were in an all day breakfast place.  So instead, Kiddo had the soup of the day.  It was a ham hock with veggies and it came with two slices of bread.  She ate it all so I guess that's testimony enough. 

My dad had the healthiest option out of us all, a breakfast dish with mushrooms, kale and eggs.

A few of us enjoyed soy chai lattes with the lunch. 

The lovely staff at Aunt Billie's figured we were celebrating birthdays and we received two sweet offerings for each of the birthday peeps on the house.  We took these home to share along with the birthday cake.  The little cakes were divine.  One was a pistachio flavoured cupcake and the other a hazelnut meringuey type cake with chunks of caramel.  It was a kind and thoughtful gesture. 

Verdict:  We loved it. 

Overall

Aunt Billie's is pleasant cafe serving all day breakfast and other cafe type items.  It is kid friendly and service is warm and inviting with plenty of al fresco space and off street parking. 

 

Smith & Deli (by invitation), Fitzroy by Bureaucrat

Following the success of Smith & Daughters, it's clear that vegans are conquering the foodie world! With the launch of its vegan deli, Smith & Deli, co-owners Mo Wyse and Shannon Martinez (who's also the head chef) are intent on converting unsuspecting meat-a-holics into the tasty pleasure of plant-based cuisine.

Smith & Deli is modelled after its mothership, Smith & Daughters. However, instead of being a dine-in affair, the Deli is focused on take-away food, fresh produce and home-cooked meals.  Despite the presence of very meaty ingredients in the shop (think: pastrami, meat pies, chicken and cheeses) be assured that everything has been made from plants... and I mean everything.  If I had to sum up the food at Smith & Deli it would be "I can't believe that's not meat!".

We were treated to a build-your-own lunchbox.  There's an impressive range of made-to-order sangers and bagels at the Deli, which are inspired from the silver screen and old Hollywood, including the The Godfather (hot chilli salami, pepperoni, mozzerella, roasted peppers and basil), Foghorn Legless (chicken schnitzel, bacon, lettuce, tomato, ranch dressing and celery salt) and Little Havana (pressed Cuban ham, roast turkey, mozzerella, pickles, cheddar and mojo dressing).  And yes, all of the ingredients are plant-based.

For my sandwich, I think this was the Reubenstein - pastrami, sauerkraut, pickles, Russian dressing on rye. I loved the finely shredded sauerkraut and the pickles - they were nicely tart without being too sour or sweet.  The bright pink thing in the middle was the pastrami.  This nice but was a bit mushier than I thought it would be (it looked like a solid tube of meat in the Deli).  Nonetheless, it was a tasty sandwich.

The delicious pot of salad was incredibly fresh.  Lovely waxy Anya potatoes and lightly spiced chickpea and red onions on a bed of squeaky fresh spinach.  

A lunchbox isn't complete without some treats. The apple pie bars were wonderfully apple-y and light, the Snickerdoodle was my favourite as it tasted like buttered popcorn, and the chocolate biscuit was loaded with chocolate chips.

Shannon Martinez and Mo Wyse

Verdict: we loved it

Overall

If dining at a vegan restaurant is too over-whelming for you, then check out Smith & Deli.  It's such a great way to introduce yourself to vegan cuisine (and not feel like you're missing out on meat).  Grab a coffee and bagel for breakfast, matzoh ball soup for lunch, or a selection of home-made dips and a slice of lasagne for dinner.  

 

Lunch with Poh Ling Yeow at Pappa Rich (by invitation)

Okay, confession time.  Ever since Poh* appeared on MasterChef I have had a girl crush on her. (*Poh, who's full name is Poh Ling Yeow, is like Madonna, Beyonce and Cher - you know who she is just by her first name).  We were invited by Pappa Rich to have lunch with Poh as she is now the official ambassador for the popular Malaysian franchise.


We got to try a number of famous Malaysian dishes. I wasn't able to take photos of all the dishes (ther just that many!).  However, here are some of the dishes, including pork and prawn rice noodle soup...

Le Grenier de Notre-Dame, Paris by Bureaucrat

I used to worry about dining solo.  But ever since I've gotten past my misplaced social anxieties, I've found I enjoy making a dining experience all about me (or, as The Age calls it... ugh... masturdating). With another night alone in the city of lights, I googled a place to eat and found Le Grenier de Notre-Dame.  LGdeND is renowned as the first vegan macrobiotic restaurant in Paris. It's been around for almost 40 years now, and as the name suggests, it's located near the Notre Dame.

Everything on the menu is vegetarian/vegan.  While there are certainly lots of options, I confess, it all sort of looked the same to me.  In making my choices for dinner, I excluded anything that had too much wheat (seitan), soy (tofu) or lentils.  The trials of travelling meant I was bloated and I wanted something that was in line with the saying "my body is a temple" (or rather, "my body is the Notre Dame").


Going for a three course meal, I chose the vegetarian pate for an entree.  This was a chickpea based pate and while it had a creamy-ish texture I'd say it was more of a firm paste.  It was seasoned with onions, mushrooms, garlic and cumin.  It came with salad that had a vegan mayo dressing and bread.


I forget what my main dish was called.  But whatever it was I regretted choosing it when I saw the other dishes the diners around me had ordered.  Going clockwise and starting from the bottom of the plate, there was a pile of black eyed beans that were cooked in stock, braised root veg (zucchini, carrots, cabbage and tomatoes), a few slices of tofu, a pile of salad (which was the same salad that was in my entree) and a mound of rice which had a tomato based sauce.  The food was okay but it was nothing like the vegan food of Smith & Daughters back in Melbourne.  The food filled me up and it was a hot meal but I couldn't get past how almost each component of the dish sort of tasted the same; plus, everything was kinda squishy or sloppy in texture.

I also ordered a slice of apple pie for dessert (which I forgot to take a photo off).  That was fine but nothing exceptional. It was the best dish out of the three course meal.

The restaurant is deceptively small.  The ground floor is tiny - very cosy.  However, upstairs it's much more spacious and there is a magnificent plant (a crawling ivy?) that meanders along the length of the corkscrew stairs.





Verdict: we liked it

Overall
I'm glad I tried LGdeND however it's not for me.  At least I got more than a few serves of veggies that day!

Address
18 Rue de la Bûcherie
75005 Paris
Telephone: +33 1 43 29 98 29

Winter Nights at The Piggery (by invitation), Sherbrooke by Bureaucrat

Feeling kinda like a duo of vampires (Bella and Edward?), the Lawyer and I made our way into the moody darkness that is Mt Dandenong at sunset.  It was icy cold, pitch black and full of shadows, and we had one thing on our minds: blood lust.  Every fortnight throughout winter The Piggery is hosting Winter Nights.  Where for $32 per person you can have a special dinner with a glass of wine.  Each fortnight a different dish is featured, and on the night we went, a juicy rare steak was on the menu.

Served medium rare, steak frites is a classic French dish.  The gorgeous piece of steak which had smoky grill marks came with the best frites ever.  Twice-cooked, the frites were ever so morish and had that soft carby inner that made me thankful for the cold weather as it was a perfect excuse to wolf them down.  

The bearnaise sauce was creamy and had its characteristic tanginess.

The steak was served with a green salad to share.  The salad had rocket, parsley, shaved carrot and what I think was shaved parsnip and pomegranate seeds. There other types of green leaves in the salad but I wasn't sure what they were. I liked the very forage-y/rustic feel to the it.

While the meal comes with a glass of wine, we opted instead for a freshly squeezed orange juice and soda.

The Piggery is quite easy to get to as you don't have to travel too far into Mt Dandenong to get there. Definitely make a booking for a Winter Nights dinner as it's a great way to ward off the cold nights and to indulge in a delicious meal. The upcoming Winter Nights are as follows:

• 26 June - truffle mushroom risotto w green salad
• 10 July - whole Mark Eather fish
• 24 July - chicken tonight
• 7 August - mixed grill
• 21 August - Blackmore's cottage pie

Verdict: we loved it

Overall

There's wonderful service and a really down-to-earth vibe at The Piggery.  We sat next to a couple who live in the area and consider The Piggery as their local cafe.  They love the sourdough bread (there's a bakery on site) which is supplied to many restaurants around town, including (naturally) Vue de Monde. There is also an a la carte menu.

Also have a gander at Obelix's review during her visit on a sunny weekend.