Okami Japanese Restaurant, Camberwell by Obelix

For several months now, I have been wanting to try out Okami's Japanese Restaurant's all you can eat.  I was curious about how the logistics of it will go.  Will it be smorgasbord style?  Would it involve just sushi?  As it turned out, it was per head cost ($29.80) and you order as you would normally do at an a la carte restaurant and the kitchen brings it to your table and you are welcome to continually order if you wish.

The selection were tapas sized offerings ranging from cold (e.g., sushi, seaweed salad, carpaccio style beef) to hot (e.g., tempura, grilled meats in various incarnations).

Here is a list of our selection:


Sushi and sashimi plate  

Tahini Lebanese Diner, Melbourne CBD by Rockstar

Friday, end of financial year... 11:30am and I needed something delicious and more-ish for lunch. Options down our end of town are multiplying and busy Tahini Lebanese Diner is a popular choice. It's best to book; as this was spontaneous we hadn't - so we got there right on 12pm. They had a table that was reserved from 1pm... perfect as we needed to get back to the office.


Yum!  

Le Petit Lapin, Elsternwick by Rockstar

I was hungry. So hungry. It was 2:00 pm on a Sunday and I needed, yes needed, lunch quickly as also had to get to a non-food catch-up.

So I looked close to home - there are lots of great options but often they are busy places. Le Petit Lapin is a little quieter, more cute than hipster trendy and has some easy options. I flicked past the specials, was tempted by the scones, jam and crime fraiche and the champignons omelette and saw the buckwheat galettes.

I loved the buckwheat galettes in France years ago with their thin crispy slightly nutty taste so I chose the Classique with ham, cheese, parsley and fried egg with a green side salad. The fried egg was perfection - a golden gooey oozy yolk that acted like a rich sauce for the galette. A less mild cheese would have added a little more flavour. The galette was crispy and thin, and I was left full and satisfied. The salad was lovely and cut through the cheesy eggy galette beautifully.

Madeline's at Jells, Wheelers Hill by Obelix

It was my nephew's first birthday and we congregated at Madeline's in Jells Park for brunch to celebrate.  It was a strategically selected venue.  Spacious enough inside with playground and walking circuit down to the lake outside.


Banana bread

Madeline's serves all day breakfast with lunch and afternoon offerings within set times.  As we gathered outside of lunch hours, we selected menu items from their breakfast menu.

Greenfields Albert Park, Albert Park by Rockstar

When the Eat and Be Merry Crew was offered the opportunity to eat at Greenfields Albert Park I was very, very keen. I heard lots about it and seen gorgeous photos on Instagram. To be honest I was a tiny bit confused about exactly where it was. And I'll admit I got a little bit lost getting there...as Lakeside Drive was closed off for an event. When I realised it was at the golf club, and where The Keg used to be...easy!!!!


Steak sandwich - surely the most delicious way to get some iron into my diet...and greens....and reds! 

Daniel's Donuts, Springvale by Bureaucrat

I love a good doughnut.  Custard filled ones are the best, then followed by jam doughnuts and then the good ol' cinnamon doughnuts.  So when I spotted a constant queue of people lining up outside into Daniel's Donuts (plus all the flotsam of used up doughnut packing in the nearby bin) I knew I had to check it out.  Daniel's Donuts appears to be a New Zealand franchise and is located in the midst of the sprawling set of shops and fast food outlets in Springvale (that headache inducing intersection of Springvale Road - Centre Road - Dandenong Road - Police Road).  The place is open 24 hours which gives you an idea of just how popular Daniel's Donuts is.

I got all caught up in the surrounding excitement of everyone buying doughnuts - it's hard not to. I liken it to being at Costco - you go there with the intention of buying one thing and you end up with a trolley full of stuff.  And in this case, I ended up with half a dozen of doughnuts and a pie.  

There's lots of doughnuts and they're very well priced ($3 each - regardless of whether it's a jam, custard or plain one - or you can get six for $15).  The proof is in the pudding, so how did they taste? 

Zumbo Patisserie, South Yarra by Rockstar

I remember leaving work early to get to a pop up shop before all the Zumbo chouxmacas sold out. That was before Zumbo opened in Melbourne. I remember convincing myself it was worth it... but I wasn't sure.

Zumbo has relaunched his chouxmacas, they're only available Thursday to Sunday and the snickers one is most definitely worth it - no convincing needed!

Kitchen Republik, Box Hill by Obelix

Kitchen Republik is the type of place where there's a queue of punters snaking and overlapping itself.  Being intrigued by its popularity, P and Kiddo and I decided to try it out for Sunday lunch.

It had something for everyone.  Essentially Kitchen Republik serves Pan Asian type cuisines.  Hankering for Hong Kong style street food? Here it is.  Craving Taiwanese fried chicken?  Here it is also.  What about Shanghainese dumplings?  No problems!  It also incorporates Dessert Story for those wanting more of a tong shui or iced kachang experience. Kitchen Republik is deceptively large.  It has a mezzanine dining area as well, tucked away.  We were radioed up.


I cannot go pass a menu item which states "Chef's specialty.  Must try!" so I ordered their Taiwanese Beef noodles.  It was in a sublime broth which had little bits of chopped preserved veggies, ginger, coriander and spring onions.  Very fragrant.  The beef itself was meltingly tender.  Yes, it was a 'must try!'.

Misty's Diner, Prahran by Rockstar

When the Eat and Be Merry Crew were offered the opportunity to try some new dishes at Misty's Diner I jumped at the chance. I shop at Prahran market regularly and have walked or driven past so many times but in all that time never ventured in.


Our thick shakes served by our friendly waitress!

It's a hot pink retro vibe inside with vinyl records and US number plates decorating the walls, and jukeboxes at all the tables!

Resto Bobo, Windsor by Log Lady

Last Thursday I went along to the launch of new restaurant in Windsor – Resto Bobo.  These guys specialise in French Tarte Flambé, which is something I had never heard of or tried before and the only thing that came to mind were the desserts that are set alight on a diner’s table. But no, French Tarte Flambé is kind of like a thin pizza; it’s made of a thin base, a white (cheese) sauce and matching topping. 

La Fermiere

Resto Bobo is situated within the trendy part of Chapel Street in Windsor, amongst other big name restaurants such as Hawker Hall (from the owners of Chin Chin) and Saigon Sally, but Resto Bobo stands out as the only French restaurant serving Alsatian food. The restaurant space was a previous Op-Shop on Chapel Street. It has had a stylish fit out with hard wood floors and an open kitchen, but the space still feels cosy and communal.

Interlude Patisserie, Mount Waverley by Bureaucrat

Maybe it's the cold weather, but lately, we've been on a cake-eating binge.  We struck gold at Nikos Cakes with its impressive range of Continental pastries and biscuits.  And now, we've found frankincense at Interlude Patisserie.


I eat all the pastries so that French women don't get fat

I spotted this delightful and oh-so-French patisserie when driving down Huntingdale Road.  There was a bicycle and a little sign pointing into Essex Street announcing that coffee and pastries were to be had.  This unassuming strip of shops is home to a a haven of all things delightfully French in pastry and bread form.  As with Nikos Cakes, since going there the first time, I was back there again within the week to support local small businesses indulge in my sweet tooth.

Next of Kin, Elsternwick by Rockstar

Sometimes it's hard being single....like when I feel like going out for a spontaneous weekend brunch but there's no one to go with. Next of Kin is walking distance from me, and doesn't flinch when a single person wants to take up the valuable weekend real estate of a two seater table!

Next of Kin has been around for a little while - it's got a nice clean lined aesthetic with a good mix of options. Sometimes I just want the basics. I've re-found my love for fried eggs after an overseas trip. Next of Kin's fried eggs were perfection - those yolks were runny rich bliss! The hash brown was caramelised and crunchy with the lovely soft give of well cooked potato inside. And hallelujah for bacon with a decent amount of fat left to render and go crisp! Food was great and I love that I was left to slowly eat my brunch and read my book in peace with no pressure!

Awesome Eats Along Dog Walking Trails by Obelix

Do your bliss.  I love that sentiment and for me, doing my bliss is spending time in nature, preferably with my dogs followed or preceded by sustenance.  Hence this post on eateries along or near dog parks or nature trails.  So get out there, folks!  Eat, drink and walk it off!

Igor and Bobby having a sniff around Back Creek Reserve

We would love to hear some of the lovely walks and eats you get up to.  Feel free to comment below or tag us on Instagram @eatandbemerrycrew.

El Churro Cafe, Hawthorn by Obelix

Seeking something to satisfy our sweet craving following our epic Peking duck banquet at Old Kingdom, we stumbled into El Churro Cafe on Glenferrie Road one Saturday night.


Churros with caramel and dark chocolate sauce

El Churro is a cafe that serves not only its namesake of Spanish doughnuts but also other typical Spanish fare such as paella.  But we weren't interested in the savoury, we wanted the deep fried comfort of churros dipped in chocolate.