Kenji, Camberwell by Bureaucrat

My two favourite places for Japanese food are Gypsy & Pig (for its absolutely delicious and masterful ways of preparing pork-based bentos) and the Rice Workshop inside Emporium (for its decent, good value everyday-sort-of-meal).  However, as I no longer work in the city, it seems an awfully long way to go for a meal.

Feeling the urge for some good sushi and a bento box, we headed to the closest Japanese restaurant that wasn't a sushi franchise or exorbitantly expensive joint.  Destination: Kenji.  The last time I had Kenji was several years ago, and I was impressed with the quality and the quantity of food that I got for my dollars.


I got the special bento box.  A generous box filled with perfectly golden crumbed prawn, potato croquette and squidy sort of thing on a stick.  Also in the box were fried chicken piece, gyoza, edame beans, salad and rice.  A serve of miso soup came with it.

Ambrosia Food For Gods, Mitcham by Obelix

I was dragged into Ambrosia with the charming by-line of 'Food For Gods' by Kiddo who spied a casserole of lima beans by the window. A strange food obsession for a kid but I guess slow cooked beans have rustic appeal. I allowed myself to be dragged as I fancied myself as a Greek demi-God *wink*

After convincing Kiddo that to eat a bowl of beans on its own is a bit unusual and that we needed some other supplementation, we agreed to a mezze plate for two to go with.

Pizzaiolo Micheluccio, Camberwell by Benny

Creating great pizzas requires passion, and the eponymous Micheluccio is very passionate about creating an authentic Neapolitan pizza experience. But he is not doing it all by himself – back in 1982, his nonna created a unique sourdough starter (incorporating grapes and beer) that Micheluccio continues to nurture, creating fantastic bases for his pizzas.

After hearing impressive reports about Pizzaiolo Micheluccio, Bilby Blue and I decided to try it ourselves – over two lunches, because the pizzas were so good we came back for more. We are in very good company – the world champion margarita pizza maker from Zero95 has also dined here.


Diavola pizza

Pizzaiolo Micheluccio is a simple, modern café in the increasingly food-focussed Burwood Village shopping strip. The smallish interior seats only 20 or so diners, with a few extra tables outside, both front and back. A table just inside the back door gives a good view of Micheluccio performing his culinary magic at the large, domed wood-fired pizza oven. Prominently displayed is a certificate from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana – the international organisation promoting and protecting the true Neapolitan Pizza – attesting to Micheluccio’s expertise and dedication to authentic techniques and ingredients. On each table is a wooden canteen containing Sicilian sea salt, serviettes, cutlery and, curiously, a pizza cutter (more on this later).

Bonjour de France, Blackburn by Bureaucrat

I was rather excited to spot Bonjour de France - a French bakery that's situated opposite Blackburn train station.  With is respectable blue and white exterior and a steady stream of locals sitting down for un café, un sandwich et une tranche de gâteau, all signs were point to a good quick lunch.


We ordered three items - the best one being the lemon cheesecake slice.  This was magnifique! A lovely silky, lemony custardy wobbly filling that had the most wonderful brulee-like crust on top.  It was sweet but not too much, rich but not too rich. If it wasn't for the fact that that was the last piece they had left we would have gotten one for Ron.

No 35, Melbourne CBD by Obelix

If you want your breakfast with a view, No 35 situated on the 35th floor of the Sofitel would definitely fit the bill with its panoramic views of Melbourne.  It's times like these when I look down from the giddy heights of heaven that I swell with pride at my home town.  Ah, Melbourne!  We love ya!  

Breakfast buffet

Zero Gradi, Brunswick East by Bilby Blue

Our expectations for Zero Gradi were high. Opening earlier this year, it is an offshoot of the 400 Gradi pizza empire. 400 Gradi prides itself on its traditional Neapolitan style of pizza, so we were anticipating an equally authentic experience for Zero Gradi’s gelato.

The gelateria is a few doors away from the flagship 400 Gradi restaurant (which is also on our list to check out!). The space is large and modern, cool pale grey with green accents and blonde timber. A ceiling-mounted mirror over the gelato cabinet displays all the flavours – so even if Zero Gradi is crowded you will have a good view of what is on offer. The gelato is stored in round pozzetti, but covered with sliding cabinet doors rather than individual lids. Artisanal gelato – made without preservatives – needs to be stored in closed containers to maintain freshness.

Chocolate sorbet and hazelnut

Tutto Bene, Southbank (by invitation) by Foghorn Leghorn

Everything's well at Tutto Bene.  The people at Tutto Bene really know their food, so when they come up with a new idea, it’s worth taking notice. Recently the restaurant branched out into snacks and cocktails on the summer terrace. It’s a great place to sit back and enjoy the city views across the river.

To kick the whole thing off, Tutto Bene set up a special event for food bloggers, offering a set menu of five cocktails and six cicchetti, or grazing snacks. Mrs Leghorn and I turned up to give it a try. We’re not really cocktail people, but the snacks would be worth a try.


First to arrive were crostini with a mixture of eggplant, buffalo cheese, and other bits and pieces. Very well assembled, but not really my sort of thing.

Elephant Corridor, Glen Waverley by Obelix

Elephant Corridor does a combination of Sri Lankan and North Indian cuisines. I had a lovely anniversary dinner there and I picked the location purely based on the warm ambiance and the evocative name which made me think of Rudyard Kipling. Elephant Corridor was decorated in muted earth tones with cosy flickering candlelight. It was perfect for date night even though we had the third wheel that was Kiddo in tow. 

 Vegetarian platter

1000 Wat, Melbourne CBD by Bureaucrat

1000 Wat is a Thai eatery inside Emporium.  Located a bit away from the main food court area on level 3 (e.g., Charlie & Co, Thr1ve, Rice Workshop and Chinta Ria Soul), 1000 Wat offers a slightly more restaurant vibe to its offerings.  Having said that, you still need to place your order at the counter, but at least they bring the food to your table.


Ms B and both went for the chicken pad Thai.  It was alright - nothing exceptional about it.  It was a reasonable-ish serving size, the sauce was a nicely balanced savoury-sour.  However, I would have liked a bit more egg and chicken pieces tossed through it, and it was lacking a good wallop of wok hei  - I was missing the aromatic eggy-charred flavour that comes with a properly stir fried noodle dish.  Most telling, was that what I liked the most about the dish was the (faux) golden cutlery it was served with.

Susie Wong, Windsor (by invitation) by Bilby Blue

Located way down at the Dandenong Road end of Chapel Street, Susie Wong is a mod-Asian fusion restaurant and bar. It’s a warm and welcoming space – ideal for meeting up with friends, popping in for a pre-theatre meal (the Red Stitch Theatre is close by) or drinks and nibbles after catching a movie at the Astor cinema. Indeed, many of the other patrons were clearly regulars.

The original Suzie (with a “z”) Wong is an iconic fictional character from the 1957 novel The World of Suzie Wong, set in Hong Kong. It was subsequently made into a film in 1960 (in the process transforming the original British hero into an American, but that is another story). With a change in spelling, Susie is the inspiration behind the restaurant.


Chicken, prawn and sweetcorn wontons

The original timber-lined ceiling is stunning – the building interior has been stripped back and festooned with an eclectic range of items sourced by Peter (the owner) from his travels through Asia. Large red lanterns and timber birdcages hang from the rafters. Wooden masks and graphic posters line the walls.

Tender Trap, Doncaster East by Obelix

The Tender Trap is an old Frank Sinatra movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood and I was expecting some sort of cinematic reference at the Tender Trap but it turned out to be modern contemporary dining.  It was a cozy intimate space and K, P and I had a wonderful time snaffling down fine food and a drink or two over a long overdue catch up.

The service was impeccable and some of our picks were under guidance by our friendly wait staff.

 

With a few drinkie-poos under my belt I tucked into my char-grilled octopus entree with kumara, crumbled feta and smoked citrus and capers.  The salty capers and feta combined beautifully with the sweetness of the kumara.  The char-grilled octopus joined smokey-flavoured forces with the smoked citrus.  Yum!

Gelato Messina, Richmond by Bilby Blue

Gelato Messina aims to set the benchmark for gelato in Australia – a bold statement, considering some of the amazing artisan gelato we have been sampling over the past year. While we had previously visited its Pyrmont store in Sydney, a trip to one of its Melbourne outlets was long overdue.

Gianduia and Nonno Carlo gelato

So early one Sunday afternoon – Benny and I avoided the crowds by arriving just after Gelato Messina opened for the day – we found ourselves being swamped for flavour choice. With no other customers (really!), we were able to chat with our friendly server and find out more about the Gelato Messina experience.

Damon Bradley, Southbank (by invitation) by Bureaucrat

Damon Bradley is, quite simply, affordable luxury for any occasion.  The Eat and Be Merry Crew was invited to try out Damon Bradley's spring/summer menu. It's easily one of the more popular eateries located inside Southgate Melbourne.  With hues of purple and crisp white, and the most friendly service you'll ever come across, it's a fabulous place to treat yourself to a little sweet delicacy or something more substantial.  While we were there, the place was filled with what appeared to be an elegant hen's party (where the women were all wearing floral wreaths and having high tea), groups of baby boomers, young families and couples - it seems like no one can resist the lure of gorgeous cakes, desserts and light savoury meals that are on offer.


One of the showpiece spring/summer items is called Perfectly Purple.  It's an absolutely pretty dessert, that's reminiscent of a deconstructed black currant cheesecake.  This was sumptuous, divine, delicious!  As the Lawyer declared, "it's berry, berry nice!".

Served in a glass, it has layers of white Belgium chocolate, fresh blueberries and raspberries, passionfruit macarons, vanilla custard and double cream. It's garnished with edible flowers and a macaron shell.  With the generous amount of fresh plump berries in there (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, to name a few), you could easily convince yourself that this can go towards your five-a-day (as Homer Simpson says, "it has purple in it - purple is a fruit").

Zero95, Doncaster East by Benny

There was once a time when the only place to get good Italian food in Melbourne was in Lygon Street, Carlton (unless you were personally acquainted with an Italian Nonna). But now Italian excellence has well and truly spread beyond Carlton, and Bilby Blue and I have been fortunate to have dined at no less than five great Italian restaurants this year (Trattoria Emilia, Eat’aliano, Italian Chef, Tutto Bene and Il Melograno). As we near the end of the year, I’d like to add a sixth to the list.

Zero95 first came to our attention only a couple of months ago when one of its chefs, Andrea Cozzolino, defeated more than 600 other chefs in an international competition in Naples, Italy, seeking the maker of the best margarita pizza. So exactly how good are Zero95’s pizzas? Bilby and I resolved to check it out for ourselves.


Cannoli Siciliani 

Mum's Dumplings, Balwyn by Obelix

Having a reliable dumpling source is a necessity for when those hankerings hit and one is far from the Madding dumpling crowd of Box Hill, CBD, etc. In my mission to establish such source, I tried out Mum's Dumplings in Balwyn. 

Mum's Dumplings offer Shanghainese fare. The dumplings are made on premises and whilst they also do claypot dishes and stock standard Chinese dishes, it would be remiss to go to a dumpling house and not have dumplings.


So dumplings we had. Kiddo and I ordered between us a serve of the vegetarian pan fried dumplings and the steamed version.

Archie's Fish and Chips, Mount Waverley by Bureaucrat

Following an arvo of driving around and looking at properties (and getting queasy sitting in a seven seater people mover), we decided that an impromptu dinner was in order.  Obelix has waxed lyrical about the fish and chips at Archie's, so we thought this was a good opportunity to try it out for ourselves.

Fish, fish and more fish!

Frequented by dedicated locals, Archie's does a very brisk trade.  With a crowd to feed, we got a range of tasty fried things to share.  The resounding feedback from all was that the seafood was very tasty and fresh; shellfish was plump and juicy; everything was nicely seasoned; and for fish and chips standards, it wasn't greasy.  

Miinot Gelato, Pascoe Vale South by Bilby Blue

In the middle of a small group of run-down shops on Melville Road is a slice of gelato heaven – Miinot Gelato. Benny was indulging in a nostalgia trip – he was originally a West Coburg boy – and what a good opportunity to check if Miinot Gelato lived up to the enthusiastic reports found in the media.


Amaretto and raspberry gelato

The tiny all-white shop is a stylish mix of ultra-modern and vintage. A magnificent old cash register graces the counter, behind which a huge antique-framed mirror reflects a neon “Mmmmmm” sign on the opposite wall. But our focus was on the contents of the counter cabinet.

Crepes Village, Burwood East by Obelix

I love street food, particularly of the Asian variety. One of my favourites would be the Dan Bing, which are Taiwanese egg crepes often eaten for breakfast. In it's simplest form, these are crepes thin like the French galletes but with a whole egg cracked on top during the griddling process so that the egg is embedded into the crepe itself. Savoury seasoning such as shallots are added. I am quite partial to a loaded egg crepe filled with other delectables which is what was on offer at Crepe Village for $7.50 inclusive of the ubiquitous Taiwanese beverage of soya milk. Bargain!


Looking down the barrel of the crepe with a Chinese doughnut

Baker D Chirico, Carlton by Benny

A few years ago, fate dealt me a very kind and tasty hand – once a week I had to be within walking distance of the newly opened Baker D Chirico’s Carlton store. It was early morning, and I’d generally indulge in a freshly baked croissant or similar breakfast pastry before happily heading off to work, sometimes clasping a sourdough loaf studded with olives to enjoy later at home. Those days are long gone and apart from annual Easter pilgrimages seeking some of the best hot cross buns in Melbourne, visits to Baker D Chirico have been quite rare.


On this particular Saturday, Bilby Blue and I had spent the morning at the Royal Exhibition Building, admiring the creative skills on display at the Finders Keepers Market, before wandering over to Baker D Chirico for an al fresco lunch.

Basilico, Glen Waverley by Bureaucrat

Basilico is an Italian pizza restaurant located along near Syndal station.  With its verdant branding and decor that's much more nicer than the local La Porchetta, Basilico seems popular every time that I've walked past it.


With not much in the fridge, except enough to make some mushroom soup, we supplemented our dinner with a supreme pizza from Basilico.  The ingredients were of a better quality and there was quite a generous amount of it when compared to a pizza from La Porchetta.  Taste-wise, it was fine but there was nothing exceptional about it except that it was a very healthy pizza.  The ham was lean, there was very little grease on the box.  This, in theory, is a good thing.  But I like my pizzas to have some grease - after all, what's the point of pigging out with a takeaway pizza?

Hip Fish, Surrey Hills by Obelix

Fish and chips for me fall into two camps - posh fish & chips eg Tank and Peter's Fish Market with its market fresh fish; then there's weeknight standard fish and chips such as Hip Fish. All have a place and a niche.

Hip Fish is place you would go to feed yourself fast and cheaply. Kiddo and I came up to under $20 between the two of us and we had plenty of leftovers. We ordered one of their meal packs which came with four calamari rings; four pieces of fish; four potato cakes and an avalanche pile of chips. Quite frankly we were being greedy. It could have fed a family of four. So technically speaking, it could work out to be $5 per person.


Family pack

Oasis Bakery, Murrumbeena by Bureaucrat

You know a place has something going for it if more than one Eat and Be Merry Crew member has blogged about it.  The most reviewed restaurant on the blog is Hutong Dumpling Bar (with Obelix chowing down in 2015, yours truly in 2014, Big Fil chomping away in 2011, and Snooze leading the charge back in 2010).  With this current review by moi, probably the next most reviewed place is Oasis Bakery (with Obelix and Big Fil noshing it up in 2014 and 2010, respectively).

Left to right: Middle Eastern sausage roll, chips and lamb souvlaki

So does Oasis Bakery live up to its institutional status?  Indeed it does.  I've been there a few times now and each time I look forward to having some good eats.  Each time, I've had the souvlaki, and despite this, I don't have a photo to show for it (after all, a rolled up bit of bread with my teeth marks doesn't make for the prettiest pic). What I can tell you is that I loved it - the lamb is tender and not fatty nor greasy like most souvlaki joints - this ain't the grease roll that you normally get around town.  These ones are absolutely loaded with lamb, pickled veg, salad ingredients and sauce.  Yummo! Better yet, you don't feel like you've downed a quart of grease after you've finished it.

Casa del Gelato, Carlton by Bilby Blue

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Benny and I found ourselves in Carlton, in search of a gelato treat. It was about time we checked out Casa del Gelato, last reviewed by Bureaucrat four years ago.

Casa del Gelato has been in Lygon Street for a long time – over 35 years. Bright and cheery, the large store has quite a retro feel.

All the gelato is made on the premises fresh each morning, using all natural ingredients. There were over 50 flavours, with dairy, sorbet and even soy milk options. The long counters with so many tubs of gelato were quite daunting when it came to selecting flavours – so much choice! Fortunately our friendly server offered tastings.

Coconut, baci and banana gelato

Il Melograno, Northcote by Bilby Blue

Our ongoing quest for gelato excellence brought us to Il Melograno in Westgarth Village, across the road from the Westgarth cinema. In contrast to most of the other artisan gelaterie we have visited, Il Melograno also operates as a café offering breakfast and lunch. So Benny and I planned to grab a meal before we embarked upon our gelato tasting.  

In fact, Il Melograno (translation: the pomegranate tree) is open until 10:30pm every night. After the finish of the brekkie and lunch menus at 3pm, a range of “small bites”, both savoury and sweet, is available to accompany coffee or bar drinks. It is serious about coffee – Il Melograno roasts its own coffee beans using the wood-fired Ricci method. The bar offers a number of aperitifs and cocktails, many of which involve gelato – we are talking alcoholic granitas (non-alcoholic versions are also available).


Ragu bianco di agnello

Despite the industrial-style décor – polished concrete, rough timber, retro incandescent light globes, dark cavernous interior (not ideal for photographs) – it is a welcoming space, due to the cheerful staff and the enticing aroma of Italian food. There is also plenty of space between tables, which makes for a comfortable environment and keeps the noise levels manageable.

Chef's Tandoor, Surrey Hills by Obelix

I am what's to the subcontinent as a Francophile is to France.  I love the rich culture, the cuisine and the people.  As a result, I seem to consume an inordinate amount of Indian, especially takeaway, see Saffron House; Jaimin house; Dosa Plaza.  The aromas are absolutely enticing especially when takeaway is being ferried home in the confines of my car.  The only problem with Indian takeaway is that it does not particularly photograph well in the sense that many of the dishes end up looking very indistinct.  Curry in a plastic takeaway container may not be crowned Miss Photogenic, but the following dishes from Chef's Tandoor would win Miss Congeniality, for sure.

Tandoori mushrooms

The Turkish Tea House, Balwyn by Obelix

When it comes to food presentation, the Turks and the Japanese have got this in the bag.  I find the food just taste so much better when presented on the most liveliest plates and platters and exquisite metal ware.


Kiddo and I took her grandparents out for brunch at The Turkish Tea House and there was something for everyone there.

Flake Attack, Mount Waverley by Bureaucrat

I always find it's like a game of Russian roulette when it comes to fish and chip shops... you walk into a chippy and you never know whether the fare will be as good as there were back in them good ol' days: fresh fish with a golden, crispy batter; chips done to perfection; and above all else, despite both the fish and chips being cooked in vats of boiling oil, they mustn't be greasy.  What puts me off getting f&c more often is that I get served defrosted fish fillets that are encased in a thick, greasy batter that's been cooked in not-too-fresh oil.


A recent craving for f&c led me to try out Flake Attack.  I believe this is a chain of fish and chipperies.  The online reviews for the place seemed okay and not overly negative.  

Son of Tucci, Mount Waverley by Bureaucrat

Mr and Mrs Tucci must be proud - their son knows how to revamp a sleepy suburban shopfront into a buzzing, contemporary cafe that serves great food and coffee.  It's easily the most popular cafe in the Mt Waverley shopping village and a trailblazer for the area when it comes to upping the ante on the cafe offerings in the area.

Feeling ever so hungry, the Lawyer and I both went for the burger option.  It was a gorgeously thick, homemade beef patty that was loaded with chopped onions in the mince.  It was pan fried to perfection - the middle was still juicy and the outside had all them lovely crusty bits.  Combined with lots of oozy melted cheese, fresh salad this was a finger-licking good burger.  Plus, the chunky wedges were some of the best I've had - thick, waxy on the inside and with a lovely crispness.  Yum, yum, yum - our compliments to the chef!

Castello Burger Blue Launch (by invitation), by Obelix

I love a good burger and the makers of Castello Blue have come up with the ultimate of bringing the umani flavours of blue cheese to a burger. Castello Burger Blue is a pre-sliced blue cheese with a slightly different formulation to the regular Castello Blue. The net effect? A slice of blue cheese which is not a crumbly mess designed to drape lovingly on a pattie and with an adjusted mellower flavour which wont overpower the rest of the burger. Brilliant.

We were lucky to be invited to the launch held at Easey's Burgers. A apt location for the #builtwithblue burger night. We got to build our own burgers with ingredients which complemented blue cheese.


The burger I built was filled with of course, #castelloburgerblue and Waldorf salad and sauteed mushrooms.

Dolce House Gelato, McKinnon by Bilby Blue

Who would have thought we would find a gelato gem in a tiny McKinnon shopping strip? Not just a gelato gem but a great dessert café! Our original plan was just to try the gelato, but once we saw the range of gelato-inspired desserts on the menu we knew we had to return for a second visit.

Said yummy desserts - Belgian waffle

Meatworks Steak Out, Brighton by Bureaucrat

It's a real pity that there aren't many proper bookstores around anymore.  So I found myself in Brighton again - this time I was on the hunt to add to my collection of Peanuts books.  While I wasn't able to locate my beloved comics, I did, however, zero in on a very delicious lunch.  You're spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options in the Brighton shopping precinct.  There are very smart cafes and very la-di-dah (yet not overly stuffy) restaurants abound. However, I eschewed all of them fancy eateries for Meatworks Steak Out - a butcher's shop cum takeaway outlet.  I couldn't ignore the incredibly delicious aroma of grilled meats and onions wafting down the street.  Better yet was the fact that because Meatworks is an upmarket butcher's shop that the meat on offer included gourmet offerings, such as wagyu mince and grain-fed beef.  Best of all, you could get a substantial, fresh lunch for $10... score!


I chose the pepper steak roll.  A delicious soft roll that was stuffed with lots of tender beef and caramelised onions.  What I also liked was that the meat was cooked-to-order, so it was nice and fresh and piping hot. Add fresh salad to it, and you've got a meal! I wolfed this down plenty quick. The price also comes with your choice of drink (can of soda or water).

Sunday Hawker Feast at Okra (by invitation), Hawthorn East by Bilby Blue

I love Malaysian food. Over many, many visits to Kuala Lumpur I have eaten a goodly amount of the local specialities, in particular the hawker-style dishes that are available everywhere, from the swankiest hotels to the humblest of street vendors. So Benny and I were very excited when we were invited to the Malaysian hawker feast at Okra (available only on Sundays, for both lunch and dinner).

The epitome of hawker food...the satay...

Leroy's Cafe, Newport (by invitation) by Foghorn Leghorn

Running a cafe must be a headache. Some customers like dogs, others don't. Some customers have noisy young children, other customers want peace and quiet. How do you satisfy everyone?

Leroy's Cafe in Newport does a good job of catering to different groups. Indoors has a pleasant buzz and is relatively peaceful. Outdoors (under a roof and securely enclosed) is noisy and child-friendly.

The menu is a similar balancing act to satisfy different customer needs. There are menu items with granola, kale and smashed avocado - if that's your thing. There are also some meaty offerings, which were of much more interest to me and Zed, my lunch companion. We discussed who would have the Weekend Warrior, and who would select the McLeroy Burger.


Zed started with a soup of the day - zucchini and blue cheese. Quite good, he said, but I was saving my appetite for the main course.

Big Mummas Pizza, Surrey Hills by Obelix

Fusion cuisine is so common place in the fine dining area that it considered de rigueur. I must admit my curiosity was piqued when I stumbled across Big Mummas Pizza which served home styled Moroccan cuisine alongside regular suburban styled pizzas. 

Big Mummas is owned by a Moroccan husband and wife team who merged Moroccan flavours into their pizzas alongside delicious traditional Moroccan tagines.


Case in point was their Chicken Safi pizza. This was a chicken pizza but instead of the regular passata sauce, it had a Moroccan flavoured sauce with chermoula and topped with yoghurt. It was a twist on the familiar. Very popular with Kiddo who declared it tasted better the next day. We have had it many times since.

Italian Chef, South Yarra (by invitation) by Benny

It’s a cool Friday evening in South Yarra, and we are in the very capable and friendly hands of our waiter Giuseppe. Giuseppe is not just a good waiter; he is a great waiter. He knows each of the dishes on the menu intimately – how it is cooked, its key ingredients and flavours. Most importantly, he passionately engages with diners to discern their tastes and culinary desires to make perfect recommendations. Bilby Blue and I are here by invitation and our fascinating discussion ranges widely over traditional Italian cuisine, the corruption of those traditions (think pineapple on pizza and parmesan on seafood pasta), and that innovation need not corrupt a cuisine, but can honour tradition.

Slow cooked pork belly with truffle and mash

Chopstick Delight, Mulgrave by Obelix

I put great stock into the restaurant recommendations by retirees. Why? Because they usually have more time to explore and quite often than not, their finds are along the lines of cheap and cheerful, which is right up my alley. Chopstick Delight is one of those recommendations from my mother-in-law and partner. This was a case of not judging a book by its cover. It looks straight out of a 1970s movie set of what Hollywood thinks a Chinese restaurant should look like. You get my drift? (scroll down for last pic to see how the image you have conjured in your mind's eye stacks up). With a facade like that, I was half expecting the place to exist on a slow trade of Chop Suey. 

The biggest scallops I have ever seen...

JD's Burgers, Mont Albert by Benny

A feeling of déjà vu envelops us as we eagerly munch into these absolutely fantastic burgers. Although none of us have ever eaten at JD’s before (in its former premises in Kew, or here, right next to the Mont Albert railway station), we have certainly sampled these wonderful ‘Asian fusion’ flavours before; but where?

Broadhands, Bilby Blue and I are on a mission – to explore one of the worst kept secrets in Melbourne’s elite burger scene: the connection between JD’s Burgers in Mont Albert and Burger Block in Kew. Both have excellent reputations and both proudly promote their ‘unique Asian fusion’ flavours. Indeed, they are owned and operated by a brother (Daniel, the ‘D’ in JD’s) and sister (Brenda of Burger Block) and there are many similarities in their menus and flavours, but whatever the family dynamics, the winners are Melbourne’s connoisseurs of fine burgers.

Lickings Fine Ice Cream, Brighton by Bureaucrat

The Lawyer have taken to wandering around the nicer suburban high streets/shopping precincts as part of our ongoing search for our next property acquisition (this sentence makes us sound much more prosperous than we're really are! :P ).  So one early evening we were wandering around upmarket Church Street, Brighton, whereupon we spotted Lickings Fine Ice Cream.


It's a rather big hole-in-the-wall sort of place with very tempting ice cream and sorbet flavours on offer.  Although I was still full from dinner, I had to try it out.  I just had to try the salted caramel ice cream and the white peach sorbet.  The salted caramel had a nice strong salty kick, while the white peach (my favourite of the two) was refreshing and aromatically peachy.

The Bakery, Warrandyte by Bureaucrat

A sunny weekend saw us exploring the main shopping precinct in Warrandyte.  Picture plentiful foilage, the Yarra River, artsy shops and galleries, and of course, eateries straddling both sides of the main street.

While there were many eateries tempting us, the Lawyer and I chose The Bakery for our pick-me-up.  Clearly, it's an institution in the area with many families coming in for their weekend baked goods and treats.  Further, as The Bakery is located along the banks of the Yarra River, it makes for a pretty and idyllic spot for a snack or lunch.

Fedele's, Glen Waverley by Obelix

A farewell lunch at work saw us descend en masse at Fedele's Ristorante Italiano.  They conveniently have a 2 courses + wine/beer for $40.  My only gripe about the lunch menu was that it didn't have any vegetarian options for mains.  The anti pasto for entree can be modified to suit vegetarians but that was about it.  I'm only mentioning this as it influenced my choices of two courses as I stuck to more of a pescatarian bent.  

Fried calamari salad...

Juno & May, Camberwell (by invitation) by Obelix

Juno & May provides an Asian inspired twist to Modern Australian cuisine.  Their food is centred around sharing plates combining great value with fulfilling meal and a slice of something new.  I also love the back story to Juno & May. The original Juno and May were dairy cows from owner/chef, Henry Honer's youth. Growing up in a large family on a cattle farm in the 1970s, Henry and his siblings sorely lacked a TV. His brother convinced his dad to buy two dairy cows which they would milk before and after school daily to save the family enough money in milk to afford a TV. Along came Juno and May.

In the spirit of sharing delicious food in convivial surrounds, M and I ordered a few dishes to share.  We started with two entrees from the specials...first, seared scallops in the shell on a base of pureed cauliflower and apple nam jim.  The contrasting flavours and textures were sublime.  The scallop was perfect with the creamy puree and the nam jim gave it a tangy finish.

Rustica Canteen, Melbourne CBD by Bureaucrat

There's quite a collection of yummy eateries around Lt Lonsdale Street/Guildford Lane - some of them have made it into my list of favourites eateries, including Gypsy & Pig (my fav non-sushi/sashimi Japanese restaurant), Krimper, Nieuw Amsterdam and Raw Trader.

Another eatery in that immediate area is Rustica Canteen, which popped up when the long-term road and building works in that area had finally finished up.  Rustica is a bakery and specialises in sourdough breads and pastries, which are made on-site.  It also dishes up some delish sangers and other bread-related fare.

My memory's a tad hazy as to what Ms B and I ate.  But I do remember eating a fish schnitzel that had a delightful panko-crusted exterior.  The schnitzel was golden, crisp, not oily and didn't have a fishy aroma.  It was wodged in with lots of fresh stuff - coriander, red onions and a generous smush of avo.  It came with a little side of a paprika-dusted, mayo-coated, cauliflower pickle-y/coleslaw-y sort of thing.  It was rich yet sharp enough to help cut through the heaviness of the bun.

Hue Kitchen, Springvale by Bureaucrat

I don't often head out to Springvale.  I associate it with crowds, parking road rage, poorly designed and maintained public areas, and that je ne sais quoi aroma.

In the last few months, I stumbled upon a Vietnamese eatery that has impressed me enough that I've got back a few times when I'm in the area.  Hue Kitchen is relatively new, clean and the food is definitely fresh and competitively priced.  Inside, it's bright, clean (did I mention that already?) and spacious - it's unlike the many pho shops nearby that are a bit grotty and cramped. It's owned/run by a Vietnamese family and you can often see their young kids playing around the place, and the owner is a nice guy that's happy to have a chat with you (which is also unlike the other pho shops where the service is often surly or nonexistent).


My usual go-to Vietnamese dish is the bun - a warm vermicelli salad with grilled meats.  This was a particularly nice and tasty one.  Generous in serve and I was very impressed with how much mint and basil there were in the salad (most places skimp on this).  The char-grilled pork was deliciously fatty and meaty - juicy!  It also came with lots of fresh salad leaves (none of the limp stuff or the stuff that's gone slightly brown), cucumber, grated carrot, bean shoots and lots of toasted peanuts on top.  I also was impressed with the properly al dente vermicelli.  Yum!

Flame Greek Tavern, Surrey Hills by Obelix

Take a evening stroll down the Surrey Hills section of Whitehorse Road on any given day around 6pm, your nostrils would be joyously inhaling the aromas of spit roast meats and grilled seafoods emanating from Flame Greek Tavern. The olfactory experience just gets my gastric juices on over drive and I'm sure I look like my dogs, unconsciously licking my lips as I saunter past. So after a few occasions of strolling past, Kiddo and I decided to stop there to grab some take away. 

The aroma of this lured me like a siren song... grilled calamari, scalloped potatoes, Greek styled slow cooked green beans and a veggie mornay

Yo My Goodness, Glen Waverley by Benny

The wattles are flowering, spring is just around the corner. We all know what this means – you can no longer put off all of those garden jobs that you have been ignoring all winter. And if you’re lucky, you might be able to co-opt a friendly helping hand (or two). Thus it is that Broadhands and I, fresh from a hard morning in the garden, join up with Bilby Blue and head off for a well-earned lunch.

L-R: The Black Pearl, 12th Hour and The Reaper burgers

With burgers on my mind (See Burger Project, Burger Block, Three One 2 One, billies) we are headed, somewhat surprisingly, for a frozen yoghurt parlour. Word on the street is that Yo My Goodness is offering some pretty good burgers from its Glen Waverley store (and at the time of writing, only the Glen Waverley store). Why would a frozen yoghurt place be offering burgers? I have no idea. But it takes just a glance at the large overhead menu to pique our interest – a good range of burgers with a tempting range of flavours and accompaniments. The beef is Angus, the chicken is ‘southern fried’, soft shell crab and pulled pork are rather interesting alternatives, and even vegetarians get choices.

Pho Minh Long, Ringwood by Obelix

I had waxed lyrical about Pho Minh Long Mitcham many moons ago.  Then I discovered there was a new Pho Minh Long a few kms further down Maroondah Highway.  Well, it would remiss of me to not check it out.  PML, Ringwood edition is a new establishment.  It's less crowded than its Mitcham counterpart and owned by the same people.  I am happy to report the quality and service was also on a par.

Kiddo stands by her 'usual'.  It is the Crispy Chicken with rice noodle soup.  It came also with its regular accoutrement of bean sprouts and herbs for dunking into the broth.  The chicken itself is a general crispy deep fried portion of Maryland accompanied with house pickled carrots (I usually knick these off her plate) and a chicken based pho.  It was simultaneously warming (pho) and naughtily delicious (fried chicken!).  The serve was more than plenty for a greedy 10 year old and we usually end up taking some of the chicken home for a snack afterwards.

Louis Sergeant, Wellington (New Zealand) by Bilby Blue

How can you describe utter perfection? Words and photos can only go so far. If I was marking Louis Sergeant out of 10, it would score about a 12. This is not food, it is high art that just happens to be absolutely delicious. And it is my benchmark against which all else is measured. While there are a few places back home in Melbourne offering fancy cakes, I have yet to find one that comes close to the experience of Louis Sergeant.

So when Rose Pink invited me to lunch on a recent visit to Wellington, I was eager to return. It had been around a year since my last fix of fine French patisserie with Benny.


Louis Sergeant is most famous for its patisserie, however the savoury lunch options are also excellent.

Saffron House, Blackburn South by Obelix

I love an honest to goodness authentic Indian feast.  The spices and flavours co-mingling in harmony, something I can never quite achieve the nuance of when I'm recreating curry at home.  As sublime as Indian cuisine smells and as much as my taste buds are awakened, Indian food in a takeaway container does not photograph well.  They invariably look like identical slops in a bucket but trust me, dear reader, they tasted waaaay better than they appeared.

We had an unexpected little Indian find in Blackburn South.  Our car broke down some months ago outside Saffron House and whilst waiting for the RACV, we inducted ourselves to Saffron House's menu.  So happy we were with the place, it ameliorated the pain of the broken down car.  However being in somewhat of a flap from the broken down car, I wasn't in the presence of mind to take photos to blog about it.  So a few weeks later, we ordered takeaway from Saffron House, in the name of blogging for you guys!  See how dedicated I am?!


Kiddo is not much of a meat eater however she makes an exception for Saffron House's tandoori chook.  To be honest, I forgot whether this was a half bird or a full one.  It doesn't have a pair of requisite parts so I'm hedging my bets it was a half bird yet it seemed like a really bit half bird...hmm...not sure.  Nevertheless, I'm not complaining.  It was wonderfully spiced with tandoor flavours and came with a mint and yoghurt raita.  

Enrik's, Blackburn by Obelix

A long over due catch up with a former work friend led me to Enrik's next to Blackburn station. Situated overlooking the trail line, it was a convenient meeting point. 

Enrik's is more of a bistro vs a cafe. It's offerings extend from breakfast to dinner. When we rolled up for brunch, it was quiet and I suspect the busy period is yet to commence.

I tucked into breakfast #2 for the morning. I've been trying to minimise bloating by avoiding wheat where possible however it was difficult to single out an item on the Enrik's menu which was gluten free. I eventually settled on sourdough with smashed avo, poached eggs and balsamic tomatoes. It was a bit light on with the avocado but the balsamic tomatoes gave a nice sweet tang to the creamy egg yolk and avo.

Reds Cafe, Wallan by Bureaucrat

Having heard Obelix rave about the Old Time Market in Wallan, the Lawyer and I decided to check it out ourselves.  And, as part of this, we naturally took the opportunity to have a bit of arvo tea to perk up the energy levels before our drive back home.

Reds Cafe is situated on the shopping strip that's opposite the market.  It's a cafe-gift shop.  We picked two sweet things to share.  The chocolate walnut brownie was nicely dense with a hint of fudgeyness.