Sushi Boy, Fairfield by Obelix

Kiddo and I have been doing what we've called Random Urban Trails or RUTs.  We would pick an urban strip which we are unfamiliar with eg on the other side of town and explore it's main strip which more often than not be close to the railway station.  On a recent RUT, we explored Fairfield. After Kiddo had blown all her pocket money on the op shop by the station, we came across Sushi Boy for a bite of lunch.

Sushi Boy is a pocket sized establishment along High St, Fairfield.  It seemed popular with the locals and it offered a wide selection of hand roll fillings.


I was feeling a bit ravenous and ordered a sashimi platter.  It had a fair amount of salmon and was fresh.

Petit Cafe, Kuranda (QLD) by Bureaucrat

We fell in love with Kuranda despite the near constant monsoonal-like rain that followed us during our visit there. It's a town north east of Cairns and it's home to many a hippie who've embraced the lush, verdant rain forest surrounds. Apart from the many art and craft stores that make up the Kuranda Market, there are quite a few eateries to tempt your taste buds. While we had allowed ourselves a few hours to visit the Market, in hindsight, we should have allowed a whole day there - there's just so many things to see and (more importantly) we could have eaten more meals there. Some of the food there looked truly tempting and incredibly well-priced. Mother Hen and I both really regret being too full (and also not having enough time to linger at the Market for longer) to have lunch at this tiny eatery that was dishing out some amazing and enticing Indonesian hawker-style food.

Despite still being a bit full from breakfast, I made sure that I had at least had one meal at the Market, and I chose the Petit Cafe - a creperie.  My pan-fried banana crepe came with lots of toasted flaked almonds, vanilla ice cream and warm homemade dark Belgian chocolate sauce ($14.50).  

Meatball and Wine Bar, Melbourne CBD (by invitation) by Benny

The Meatball and Wine Bar has raised a classic of home cooking (and one of my favourite comfort foods) to a new level of culinary delight – the ‘artisan meatball’. By all accounts the punters are loving it, and the blogosphere and mainstream critics alike are abuzz.

Having triumphed at lunch and dinner, it now promises to ‘grab breakfast by the balls’. Does it live up its promise? Big flavours and big serves answer a resounding ‘yes’, and surprisingly, the eponymous meatball plays only a minor (but very tasty) role.

Stepping into the Meatball and Wine Bar is like entering a long, dimly lit cave – the narrow shopfront extends a long way back and lighting is deliberately low. In the distance the ‘Meat Dept’ is proclaimed in Broadway-style lights over a display cabinet – bright in the gloom but still only dimly lit. Your eyes take a moment to adapt, slowly discerning bare brickwork, a bar extending down one side, lots of wooden tables, bentwood chairs and bar stools. The tables for two are very compact, and coupled with the low lighting, they are ideal for a discrete assignation.

Bilby Blue and I have been invited to review the recently launched breakfast menu, and only knowing the Meatball and Wine Bar by reputation, we eagerly scan the menu for meatball options – and get all the way to the end before finding the Grilled Breakfast Balls, almost an afterthought in the Sides. Since this is an invitation we want to ensure we sample a good range of what is on offer, so we ask Rhys, the manager, bartender and barista, for his recommendations.

Mother's Day dining at Southgate Melbourne

Mother's Day is coming up (Sunday, 8 May) and our restaurant friends at Southgate Melbourne have put together some delicious dining deals to spoil your mum.


Bruschetta with Adelaide tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella on toasted house-baked sourdough rye at Tutto Bene

‘Grazie Mamma’ at Tutto Bene
Say 'thank you' to your mum with gorgeous Italian food at Tutto Bene (see Bilby Blue's review of their breakfast menu). Two and three course menus are on offer for lunch and dinner, ranging from $60-$75 per person.  Bookings required 03 9696 3334.

Gelato Messina, Pyrmont (NSW) by Bilby Blue

Since setting ourselves the challenge to sample the best gelato in Melbourne, we have visited some amazing gelato establishments, but so far we have overlooked the rock star of the gelato world, Gelato Messina.

On a recent business trip to Sydney I found myself opposite The Star complex – a great opportunity to sample more gelato from one of Gelato Messina’s Sydney outlets. Right next to the Sydney Lyric Theatre, and close to the Pirrama Road entrance to The Star.

On the evening I visited, there were far fewer customers than when Bureaucrat reviewed the outlet back in 2013. No queues and no pressure. Tastings were offered.


The Boss’s Wife and macadamia crunch gelati

The menu lists 25 regular flavours and 10 sorbets (dairy free) plus five blackboard specials. Every weekday a new special is introduced, staying in the cabinet only for the next seven days. All flavours – both regulars and specials – are made from natural ingredients, and Gelato Messina states that only natural plant-based stabilisers are used.

Tank Fish and Chips, Carlton (by invitation) by Obelix

Bluesy jazz spilling onto the pavement welcomed Kiddo and I into Tank Fish and Chips on Lygon Street.  Tank is what I would describe as a top-shelf fish and chippery.  Brothers and owners Sam and Bill herald from a fine dining background.  They lured their Head Chef Joey to their current venture, Tank, at both Lygon Street and in the Emporium.

The point of difference between Tank and say your average fish and chip shop is that they use market fresh fish.  It's also the little niceties such as a superb housemade tartare and chips with twist.  There's the line up of the usual suspects:  flake, Atlantic salmon, barramundi, flat head with the daily market special.  All are market fresh and all are sustainable sourced.  At the Emporium Tank, one could also get their fish steamed in addition to the grilled and battered treatment.  Tank personnel are passionate about their fish and they take their time discussing your order with you, providing advice on the best method of cooking for the fish you ordered.

I like my fish grilled and Sam recommended I try their salmon grilled with seasoned brown rice.  The salmon was spot on.  Not a moment over or under done.  Frozen salmon fillets pales in comparison.  I chose a rocket, beetroot and almond salad which was crisp and zesty to go with the salmon.

Emeralds Restaurant, Green Island (QLD) by Bureaucrat

Travelling during the wet season in Far North Queensland is a gamble - it's only a matter of time before you get caught out in a tropical downpour.  And, boy, did we gamble!  Having survived a choppy 45 minute boat trip to Green Island, we were greeted with torrential rain on our arrival.  The minute walk from the jetty to the main entrance of the island left us totally drenched.  As the island is geared towards outdoor summer activities there's very little shelter.  We were left wondering "what on earth will we do until the rain subsides?!".

Fortunately, Mother Hen spotted Emeralds Restaurant - the most upmarket dining option on the island (most of the other places were more like kiosks).  The biggest appeal of the restaurant is that it was a dry and warm refuge from the tempest.  With the rest of the tourist crowd having disappeared to god knows where, we had the whole restaurant to ourselves.


The menu is fairly standard hotel fare - over-priced burgers, sangers, fish and chips.  However, despite the price premium, we were all impressed with the quality of the food.  Fresh, very tasty and the flavours were very nice.  I got a grilled chicken baguette - lovely chicken tenderloins with slices of brie on crusty bread.  For the price, I would have liked one or two more pieces of chicken.  The chips were morish.

Polish Rye Crust Bakery, Dandenong by Bureaucrat

Following lunch at Gibe African Restaurant, we all couldn't help but spot Polish Rye Crust Bakery which is located on the other side of the road (you just gotta love the ethnic melting pot that is Dandenong!).  As full as we were, there's always room for a little dessert.


For the four of us, we picked three slices of cheesecake to takeaway.  First up was the classic baked vanilla cheesecake.  Given that I prefer my cheesecakes to be the mousse-y, gelatin-based types, I'm not much of the connoisseur when it comes to the baked variety.  However, the texture here was typical of a baked cheesecake - that is, kinda dense, kinda claggy.  It wasn't too sweet and I liked the fact that the crumb crust was a thin layer.

Bar Zini, Pyrmont (NSW) by Bilby Blue

It was great to stretch my legs after sitting all day in a conference. I had three days in Sydney – the weather was warm and sticky and the air-conditioning in the conference venue was doing its best to simulate Antarctic conditions. The feeling in my fingers and toes was gradually returning to normal, and it was time to find some dinner before returning to my hotel and tackling all the work tasks that needed to be finished before the start of the following day.

I was staying in Pyrmont, but wasn’t in the mood for the various name venues at The Star. I wanted something intimate and comfortable, where I wouldn’t feel self-conscious by being a solo diner. Bar Zini ticked all the boxes.

In the evenings, Bar Zini transforms from a small neighbourhood breakfast/lunch café to an Italian-inspired bistro. While there is an a la carte menu on Thursday through Saturday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are special nights – “Pasta & Pinot” and “Roast & Vino” respectively. $25 gets you a main plus a glass of wine.

Ricotta ravioli with pumpkin puree and burnt sage butter

Davey Mac's, Black Rock by Bilby Blue

On the recommendation of one of our readers, we travelled down to Black Rock to check out Davey Mac’s Artisan Gelato. After our visit to Tutti Frutti in Mornington, Benny and I had set ourselves a challenge: to sample the best gelati Melbourne has to offer. Can we match the high profile Sydney outlets of Gelato Messina and Anita Gelato? Yes, absolutely!

It was a hot Saturday – perfect gelato weather. Not for us the distraction of the brilliant blue Bay waters just a few steps away. We were on a mission.

With pale pistachio green walls, Davey Mac’s décor is fairly stark, just a few bench seats and retro posters as decoration. Not really a spot for lingering. The focus is totally on the gelato.


Coconut and Ferrero gelato

All the gelati is made on the premises in small batches, with 20 flavours available at any time, both dairy and non-dairy options. This means that the selection will be constantly changing, and so there is no guarantee your favourite flavour will always be there.

Rob's Place, Daintree Village (QLD) by Bureaucrat

After a leisurely morning swim in the freshwater gorges at Mossman Gorge, we travelled into Daintree Village for lunch.  I was picturing the village to be more populated and touristy.  Instead, it's quite a small little village with only two or three places to eat.  Rob's Place is one of them.  It's a typical sort of regional town eatery - pies, burgers and sangers on offer.


The Lawyer ordered the fish and chips.  While the fish was a tad small he found it be sweet and tasty. It came with a rather odd but nice salad - sweet and savoury all at once!  Among the mixed lettuce leaves, there was a rambutan, a chunk of ripe papaya, pineapple, red onion, grated carrot and (most oddly) some scrambled eggs!

Greek Street Food by Kara's Kalamaki, by Obelix

The thing about Food Trucks is that for the really good popular ones, one need to cultivate a bit of patience and persistence.  In this vein, when I spied that Greek Street Food by Kara's Kalamaki being besieged by a long queue, I figured it was fairly decent and prepared myself for the wait.

After a long 30 min wait (queue to order and wait time), I received my bounty.  With the order, I tried their oregano and fetta chips, Greek salad and The Cluck souvlaki (which is their version of chicken).

The chips were da bomb. Crisp and crunchy without being dry.  The blanketing of soft feta and oregano was a flavourful seasoning, they were very moreish.

Gibe African Restaurant, Dandenong by Bureaucrat

Prior to dining at Gibe African Restaurant, I think I've only ever been to one African restaurant and that's the Horn Cafe in Fitzroy. I loved the food, especially the complex savoury flavours (nowadays, for every spice shop that I come across, I make a point to search out berbere to buy.  So far, Gewürzhaus does the best blend, in my opinion; second is Herbies, and third is Oasis Bakery in Murrumbeena) and that chewy, sour, plasticky bread that's called injera. Despite my fondness of African cuisine, my experiences with it have been few and far in between.

I made a point to rectify this culinary deficiency of mine and decided to try Gibe African Restaurant in Dandenong.  I picked Gibe because it had great reviews and had the benefit of being closer to home than heading out to Fitzroy.

Morris Jones & Co, Windsor (by invitation) by Benny

Champagne goes straight to my head. Even half a glass can leave me a bit tipsy. So for the official launch of Morris Jones & Co’s champagne lunch menu I do the right thing and take the tram. It is quite appropriate.


Nitro Violet Crumble resting on a pile of chocolate soil drenched in liquid nitrogen

Champagne lunches emerged as extravagant social events in the mid to late 1800s. The magnificent heritage building that houses Morris Jones & Co was built in 1887 in what was, at the time, the pre-eminent shopping district in Melbourne. With the cable tram service down Chapel Street commencing in 1888, it is easy to picture businessmen or society ladies travelling to champagne lunches down Chapel Street by tram.

Lil Nom Noms, by Obelix

Lil Nom Noms food truck does Vietnamese inspired street food very expediently (which is important when one is hangry!). The two options we had were:

• pork belly bao with salad and Vietnamese vegetarian spring rolls
• either chicken or vegetarian spring rolls with rice noodle salad.

Their baos are popular with the requisite slick of sweet hoisin and chilli sauce with the pork.  F ordered that and she reported it was OK.  A bit too much bao and not enough pork was the feedback.

T2 Mother's Day range (by invitation)

T2 is helping you get into your mum's good books by launching a special range of teas in time for Mother's Day this year (on Sunday, 8 May 2016... put it in your diary!).  To get into my mum's good books, I brought her along to T2's showcase tasting of the special teas and to check out its latest range of tea accessories at its headquarters in Collingwood.


Petal Power range, which comes with cute pom poms and tassels

Damon Bradley, Southbank (by invitation) by Bureaucrat

When is the best time of day to eat desserts?  Anytime!  Over the Easter long weekend, the Lawyer and I were more than delighted to be invited to review Damon Bradley - one of the newer restaurants in Southgate Melbourne.  As a restaurant that specialises in decadent desserts it proved mighty difficult to decide what we wanted to try - we were the proverbial children in a candy shop!

The Lawyer was torn between ordering the Chocolate Fudge Ferrero Waffle, the Flourless Chocolate Cake (which is served with chocolate gelato) and the Bradley Bear sundae.  He ended up choosing the sundae which was absolutely divine - I know this because, well you know, I just had to try some for myself!  It came with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of honeycomb ice cream, chocolate brownies, warm chocolate fudge sauce, caramel sauce, crushed honeycomb pieces and topped with whipped cream.  What we both loved the best was the honeycomb - this was the proper stuff (and not some mass produced choc-honeycomb confectionery bar, if you know what I mean).  The ice cream was creamy and full of dairy goodness... lovely! 

City Sightseeing Chocolate Walking Tour (by invitation) by Benny

Chocolate is my Achilles heel. But not just any chocolate. No longer does the milk chocolate family block satisfy my cravings, not since Bilby Blue introduced me to the joys of Swiss and Belgian fine dark chocolate. The difference, as Amanda explains so succinctly, is that the Europeans make their fine dark chocolate with real cocoa butter, and the cheaper supermarket brands do not.

Salted caramel chocolates from Koko Black

Who is Amanda? She is our delightful guide for the City Sightseeing Chocolate Walking Tour – a most enjoyable two-hour chocolate-themed escapade through some of Melbourne’s famous laneways and historic shopping arcades. And being just a week before Easter, it is a great time to take a chocolate tour – Easter specials such as hot cross bun chocolates, Easter eggs and Chocolate Bilbies (the Australian version of the Easter Bunny) are everywhere. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the discounts offered to tour participants by most of the highlighted venues. Amanda has been a guide for this tour for two years and her obvious enjoyment is infectious.