Bao and Bun, Camberwell by Obelix

Authentic Vietnamese cuisine is hard to come by in this neck of the woods in Camberwell.  So I was excited to see that Bao and Bun had taken over a former cafe along the Middle Camberwell strip.  Kiddo being an avid lover all things noodley in soupy and we went for lunch one Saturday to check it out.  

We settled with a serve of spring rolls to begin with.  These were the longest Vietnamese spring rolls I have encountered.  No complaints there.  Spring rolls are hard to get wrong and very easy to love.  

Chocolate Chilli Mango, by Rockstar

We’re all different. Some of us have excellent taste and love salted caramel. Then there are those that don't. Equally there are those of us can recall their first food experience - the first time they tried salted caramel. Maison Laduree at Harrods in 2000… My first salted caramel macaron… Probably my first ever macaron but I fell in love with salted caramel, my first understanding of that delight of sweet and salty before it was everywhere.

So when I see salted caramel, I am quite discerning. Some might say picky.

I found Chocolate Chilli Mango on Facebook and saw its salted caramel chocolate and it was at a market near me. What did I have to lose except stomach and calorie space? I think I bought two salted caramel chocolates and walked away to taste them on my own. The caramel had been taken to a point of darkness so the complexity was beautifully deep and rich; it was well cut through by the salt and the dark chocolate. I'd rate it as one of the best salted caramel chocolates I'd had...  And believe me, in the last 17 years since I began my salted caramel journey I've tried a lot to compare!

Secret Kitchen Express, Doncaster by Obelix

Secret Kitchen Express is an off shoot of Secret Kitchen, the yum cha place situated on the top floor of the renovated Westfield Doncaster.  It is literally adjacent to the more formal Secret Kitchen.  The yum cha offerings are exactly the same, the only difference being is that no booking is required and the decor is more low key.  This works for people like me who on a whim on a Sunday decide I must have yum cha now!  Usually without a booking, that is near on impossible to execute with the exception of Secret Kitchen Express.


Scallop dumplings

The service was rapid.  In fact almost too rapid.  As soon as we were seated, two trolleys laden with dumplings simultaneously arrived at our table and we were struggling to hear the two waiters talk over each other listing their wares.  At the time, I was in my element, ordering up a storm.  Something about yum cha brings out my competitiveness and dare I say animalian instinct to claim all the resources.  It was later when I reflected (feeling bloated and gluttonous) that perhaps a more staggered measured approach would have been better so that I can best monitor my fullness, savour the dumplings and map out what we were ordering rather than have a crazy amount of food arrive all at the same time.

ShanDong MaMa, Melbourne CBD by Rockstar

I love dumplings. I like cheap and cheerful dumplings. I like more refined dumplings. I just like dumplings - Chinese dumplings, Polish ones, Lebanese ones… I'm not picky! 

When a fellow dumpling lover from interstate comes to visit, I felt it was time to visit ShanDong MaMa!

Ms Dumpling and I arrived just before 6pm; just before it got busy. And busy it did get, quickly.  We chose some of their specialities. The fish dumplings (mackerel) boiled were a bit different - a soft tasty fishy mousse inside soft thin skinned dumplings. I quite enjoyed them but think they would have been better fried to create some textural contrast.

All People Chinese Restaurant, Burwood East by Obelix

I've always had a chuckle with the name of All People Chinese Restaurant.  It sounds simultaneously all-inclusive and propaganda-ish.  Would a patron there be swallowed up in a group hug or asked to recite from Mao's Little Red Book?


Chinese greens with tofu and mushroom

P has been to dine in at All People a few times with his friends and recommended we order take away from there one night when we were both too disorganised to cook anything.

The Grand Richmond’s Italian Yum Cha, Richmond by Ruby Grapefruit

The Italian yum cha lunch event was created by the Grand Richmond for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and has been such a success that it is now held on the first weekend of every month. We were very intrigued by the concept and were pleased to discover that we would be having a range of Italian sharing plates. If you’re worried that it will be some sort of weird fusion cuisine, don’t be. 

Squid ink risotto

In fact the dishes are classic Italian with some modern flourishes. Some of the items are available on their regular menu, although these are in smaller servings, so you get to taste a larger range of dishes. These events are held in the dining room so expect to have the full luxe experience of fine tableware and linen.

Miznon Melbourne, Melbourne CBD by Rockstar

I'd read the raving reviews and seen the social media hype, but wasn't quite sure what to expect from Miznon Melbourne when I convinced the Cultured Couple to have lunch with me there before we headed to the National Gallery of Victoria. I knew that this was the sixth Miznon worldwide after the original one in Tel Aviv. I knew that here in Melbourne they've partnered with a local middle eastern restaurant to make their pita bread that's the star of their street food; a great example of a multi faith collaboration. 

Calamari pita and ocean trout pita

It's a funky two storey place in busy Hardware Lane - unlike others in the street there's no spruiking for business. I entered and knew I'd arrived as all I could smell was their famed cauliflower - not great considering half of the Cultured Couple and I aren't cauliflower fans - a rarity in this world I think! I quickly forgot the smell in amidst the slightly chaotic but fabulously fun energy. The staff are just fantastic and we were offered free strawberry drink and samples of the fillings that were currently cooking. Sitting downstairs with a view of the kitchen and the staff is like the prime seat at the theatre!

The Girl and the Goat, Surrey Hills by Obelix

I love a place with a whimsical story attached.  The story behind The Girl And The Goat is that a young girl found a stray goat and adopted it leading to many-a-goats in the family in the years to come.  The Girl And The Goat features Caribbean fare in the unlikely place of Union Road, Surrey Hills.  It was once the Watt's Cooking cafe and I was delighted when it opened as it made for a diverse change from the usual cafe dominant scene in this neck of the woods.

West Indian goat curry... maybe with some goat head?

I was excited to see West Indian Goat Curry on the menu because when in Rome, or rather when in the Caribbean, one must goat.  I recall reading an amusing anecdote by David Goodman, author of Compost Everything - The Extreme Guide To Composting who wrote of driving to Amish country to procure a goat head with the sole purpose of cooking up a pot of curry goat.  After being shown how to bludgeon the goat head by a forthright Jamaican mama, he chickened out of the prep process and ended up composting the goat head instead.  Despite the lack of curry goat, David gained a beautiful productive garden.  Okay, that was a long aside.  But it explained my excitement at meeting my plate of food.  Will it be a plate of broken skull pieces floating in curry?  Or will be it a comforting plate of slow cooked meat?  

Huxtaburger, Collingwood by Rockstar

I like a good burger. There's something satisfying about a soft bun, a good bite, some crunch, and just enough sauce. I've been a fan of Huxtaburger since they opened; to me it's how a burger should be. That includes a good balance of fat to add taste and moisture.

I found myself free and easy, with no commitments, and an all day car park on Smith Street. I like meat. But… I love fried chicken. Crunchy coating and tender tasty chicken.

So when I saw the Britney, I couldn't resist… southern fried chicken, avocado, bacon, aioli, cheese, lettuce and tomato... yeahhhhhh!!! It's a perfect partnership like 90’s Britney and Justin… Baby, one more time... yes, please!!

Two Birds One Stone, South Yarra by Rockstar

An overdue catch up with the West Aussie on a hot windy Melbourne spring day. After a tough week at work my brain  could not work out where to go other than South Yarra/Toorak, which was our half way point.

Salmon croquettes

The West Aussie managed to score a table as soon as she arrived…. Which made up for my lateness! I'll admit I'm a much happier bruncher when I don't have to queue for a table.