Recorded Music Salon

11 Collins Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9650 3821

Waiting for public transport (which, by the way, is fast becoming a Melbournian pastime) is not such a bad thing occassionally.

I was catching up with some mates for a Laotian dinner over in Bridge Rd, and patiently waiting for my ride to arrive at the corner of Collins and Spring Street tram stop. My eyes wandered to the left. Urgh...cowhide cowboy boots are so not cool. My eyes wandered to the right. When is this bloody tram going to get here? My eyes wandered upwards. Hmm. Funky people drinking it up in a rather innocuous second story window, above which the sign, Recorded Music Salon, catches my eye. What the?

Okay, yeah. I may be a little slow on the uptake here, as apparently this one has been around for a wee while (see here and here). But it's newish to me, so I returned a few days later to sample their lunch.

It's one of those places that instantly feels "cool". I hate ascribing to that tenet, because such "feeling" is so overtly contrived. But the designers got it bang on - it is sophisticatedly retro in a seventies kind of way. Think polished timber, earthy walls, natural vinyls (no pun intended), bronze features, and the most kick-arse pottery light features (are they vases and plates?).

But on to the food. EG went the pizza with jamon and manchego. Just look at it. Does anything else need to be said how good those two ingredients on a pizza can be?

I went with a more sedate toasted ciabatta filled with chicken, rocket, roasted peppers and manchego cheese. It too was pretty good with solid ingredients, although at $12ish perhaps a little on the pricey side (for a regular weekday lunch anyway).

I'd like to come back and check this place out at night - but I fear I may be overrun with the-too-cool-for-school crowd; an unfortunate side-effect of such funky places.

Sette Bello

Corner Hardware Lane & Little Bourke Streets,
Phone not connected yet (I think)

Sette Bello, a rather funky mish mash of modern styling and retro cool, is an Italianesque cafe that is practically within throwing distance of where I live. I can't tell you how happy I am to have a decent cafe nearby. My only gripe - they're not open for Sunday breakfast! Ooh, what I'd give for a decent Sunday brekky joint in the CBD. And before you say it, no, Golden Tower is *not* an option.

Claire over at Melbourne Gastronome was the first to blow the lid on this little gem, and I certainly agree with her sentiments.

The first time we visited was for a post-shopping pick-me-up coffee and cannoli (we already know how much I love a good cannoli). The coffee provided the required hit of caffeine with a decent crema, and the cannoli, crunchy chocolate pastry piped full of citron studded ricotta was absolutely da business.

Impressed as we were with what we had experienced already, we decided to go back for breakfast on Saturday. The choice is small but sufficient - toasted brioche with marmalada (that being from the Italian meaning "jam" and not "marmalade"), tomato baked eggs in cazuela (terracotta dish) with spinach or prosciutto, or breakfast pizettes with egg and spinach or prosciutto. There is also a very good selection of will-power-weakening pastries, fruit brioche etc. to tempt those with a sweeter tooth (which is usually me, but on this occassion I needed eggs).

Our breakfast eggs were delightfully simple - two perfectly baked googies nestled deep into freshly wilted spinach and sweet tomato sugo (sauce). It arrived unseasoned - but it really only needed some cracked black pepper as the warm chunks of foccaccia were liberally sprinkled with flakes of sea salt. I really enjoyed this - more so because it wasn't crappy, greasy bacon and eggs.

So take that as a warning breakfast people. Don't go expecting a big menu with fry ups, french toast, pancake stacks, bircher museli or fruit salad. What you will get will be done well, and it may take just a little time to reach you (I don't quite think they've hit their food-serving mojo yet - but cut them a little slack, they're still new). But if you take a loved one and settle in for some good conversation, or mull over a newspaper with a coffee or two, it'll be just fine.

Don Bay Japanese Lunch Place

Shop 5, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne
(down Gurner's Lane)
Phone 03 9670 3456
Mon-Fri 11am - 3pm

Don Bay is an unassuming little Japanese cafe at the bottom of a stairway in a dingy laneway in downtown Melbourne. Most would probably walk right on by without even realising it was there. So you can imagine my surprise when I popped in and found the place full of hungry patrons.

The whole experience is decidely Japanese, from the friendly call of "irrashimase" when you step through the door, to choosing your food from a picture menu. The decor is functional and somewhat dated, and seats only a handful of people (note: you may have to wait in line if you want to eat in).

This is not your typical sushi sushi experience - it is authentic and retro Japanese diner fare. We're speaking lots of deep fried goodness tempered with a few Japanese curries/hash, bentos aplenty, sukiyaki, oyakodon, yakitoridon and other dons, teriyaki, gyoza, croquettes, soba/noodle salads, udon soup and a small selection of sushi. Japanese drinks such as Calpis and unsweetened green tea are also available.

The katsu curry don (one of my favourites) is a crumbed pork fillet on rice, doused in a Japanese curry beef sauce. It may not look pretty, but this is one of the best katsu curry dons in town. The sauce wasn't just a packet mix (well...it probably was well, but it had been pimped), and had real flecks of gravy beef and chunks of carrot. The pork fillet was tender and crumbed crunchily with a thick layer of panko. A small side of red pickled ginger sat to the side.

I'm just bummed this place is on the other side of the CBD from where I work, else I would probably venture there more often. Also note that it is only open for weekday lunches - another bummer.

Vora Cafe

120 Hardware Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9670 2008

Vora Cafe is an unusual little Korean place that sits quietly and without much fuss on Hardware Street. EG and I had walked past it many times but had never felt drawn in. To be honest, if often looked quite dead. From the street you look through the front door to a darkened kitchen, and to the right in even more subdued lighting was a dining area that occasionally supported a smattering of economising Korean students. Nonetheless, it was a place that intrigued us, and after many months, we decided to try it out.

We kicked off the meal with some passably good gyoza - pan fried dumplings filled with minced pork and vegetables that came with a lightish dipping sauce. They were a teeny bit on the oily side.

I chose the dolsot bibimbap - rice served in a hot stone bowl with a selection of vegeables and kim chi (pickles), topped with a sunny side up egg. All the ingredients were wonderfully fresh, and the kim chi straddled the sweet / sour / hot balance quite nicely.

EG chose the seafood kimchi soup - a hot pot of viciously red liquid packed full of cabbage chards of and seafood mix. It was not overly spicy, but still very flavoursome. The seafood was well cooked and the dish came with a bowl of steamed rice.

Service was friendly enough; you order at the counter before taking a seat and they bring out the food to you. The dining room too is not so bad when you sit down, although there is still something a little unsettling about the chi of the place. It more feels like a place to be fed (ie. an eat and run), as opposed to a place to kick back and relax for a good meal with mates. But it's cheap and offers passable Korean fare.

Espressino

Madame Brussells Lane
50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9662 3334

"Cibo con amore" or "food with love" is the mantra at Espressino, a sophisticated and funky pizzetta, piadina and wine bar that caters to dainty public servants and office workers near the corner of Lonsdale and Spring. Located in Madame Brussels lane, it is the shining light amongst a glut of $5-coffee-and-muffin-joints which are unfortunately the standard in the area.

Opening only a few months ago, this family run affair is both passionate and authentic. Hailing from Torrevecchia in Italy, there isn't a twee stereotype in sight - no checked tablecloths or bottles of chianti hanging from the ceiling, or stodgy cheese laden Italian fare. But what makes it special is that both the food and the service is done with love. And though I hate to fawn, I am absolutely smitten by it.

The protagonists at this culinary helm are Remo (as in the saint), a decidedly hunky Italian specimen with a look and an accent that can drop a girl at 20 paces (gee...lucky I am SO enamoured by EG!). He has a firm hospitality pedigree - operating cafes both here and in Italy, where he lived for 15 years. Deano, his godfather (...not to be confused with THE godfather), is a cheeky chap and one who is not adverse to a gossip and a bit of shtick. He started his trade in Queensland running a pizza joint with Remo's father, and has since run cafe's in Melbourne, taking a side step into ladies hairdressing (hence his excellent communication skills). Enis, Deano's wife, is the most gorgeous, welcoming lady, with the heart, passion and cooking skills of a good Italian mama (...although she is far from looking like one!). There are others - sisters helping out in the kitchen and front of house, and a Sicilian uncle who is the pastrychef, a man who takes sole responsibility for my daily afternoon jaunt to the cake display.

But lets get onto the food. Mmm...rigatoni con ragu. Doesn't this photo make you want to just dive in and eat - fork in one hand and hunk of bread in the other? Only recently has pasta made an appearance on the menu (thank god...those boxes of De Cecco pasta sitting on the counter have been taunting me for weeks!), and is served on Thursday and Friday. Enis takes responsibility for this bowl of goodness - firm aldente rigatoni, a tomato and beef ragu that has been cooked as all good sauces should be cooked - low and slooooow. And I don't even know where to begin with the meat - it was tender and just fell to bits under my fork. Oh yeah. My Nonna would be happy with this.

I just so love the details - for example, your pasta comes served with a plate of crusty white bread which is perfect for wiping clean your plate afterwards. There is a grater for your parmesan, and a little dish of fresh chopped deseeded chilli that has been mixed with cracked black pepper. It is these little extras that I find so delightful. The little demi carafe of vino didn't go astray either, making my Friday afternoon in the office a rather chirpy and relaxed affair.

For lunch one may also go the way of the pizza, which is made onsite daily, base and all. As you can see here, we are not talking your cheap meat lovers or Papa Gino's special. This is gooood - toppings are fresh and simple - broccolini with prosciutto and tallegio, roasted vegetable, or even a simple margarita. A couple of choices a day keep things interesting.

If you want to go simple, then the foccaccia caprese can't be beat (...I must confess to having this one quite regularly). Fior de latte mozzarella, tomato and basil. That's it. The holy trinity of colours, red, white and green, toasted together in an olive oil and oregano foccaccia bread.

Other lunchtime offerings include sour dough piadina, toasted and served hot on a wood bread board (ahh...details). Filling ingredients include salame (sic), rocket, tuna, egg, asparagus, provolone, asiago, prosciutto, parma, roasted peppers etc.

Breakfast too is excellent. Dench breads - fruit and sourdough, are a good way to wake up in the morning, as are the breakfast panino's with spinach, googy fried egg and provolone, or pancetta and googy egg. There is Misura Italian Cornflakes, Byron Bay Muesli, breakfast piadina with nutella and coconut (oh yeah). They also have a few specials, for instance the zabaglione with pavesini biscuits pictured above - a delicious silky marsala infused egg cream that is way too wicked to eat for breakfast. This evoked some very fond childhood memories, standing on a chair whisking egg yolks (I was about four or five years old) with my Nonna, pleading with her to put in another "cucchiaio di zucchero" (spoon of sugar). Ahh....I just love when food does this.

Oh...this is the "oops...was so hungry to take a photo before I ate it" warm breakfast panino with spinach, egg and cheese.

As I said earlier, the cake display is what calls to me each afternoon. It changes on a daily basis, keeping my pastry-inclined ways interested and enthused. The star of the show is the bombolone - yeasty Italian doughnuts pumped full of custard, raspberry or apricot jam. On certain days you can also get a very naughty nutella and custard combination. Other items include "probably the best lemon and blood orange tartlets", white chocolate tarts, an amazing gluten free chocolate cake, plum and almond friands - well, the list goes on. All of the cakes are nicely sized (ie not supersized), so you don't feel so bad eating them. Well, that is what I like to tell myself anyway.

The biscuits too are just amazing. Above is the napolitani - a pure work of pastrymaking art - a chocolatey nutty interior wrapped by sweet pastry, sprinkled with pistachios and drizzled with jam. Ooh...I just feel faint thinking about them. There are also garibaldi, mandarin amaretti, sour cherry amaretti, shortbread stuffed with figs...yes yes yes!

You know, I just love a place that greets me by name when I walk in, that is interested when they ask "And how are you today?", and gives me such wonderful food to swoon over. And the romcaffe coffee, sourced directly from Italy, can't be beat either.

Tsukiji - the one in Prahran and not in Japan

237 High Street, Prahran
Phone 03 9510 2318

Some may have noticed a certain affection for Japanese cuisine in our blog of late, but that is only because in 28 days, EG and I jet off for four weeks in Japan - not that I'm counting ;-) So it was no surprise when trundling down High Street, Prahran on the tram that I spotted a place that blipped on my Japan-radar.

Tsukiji is a small shop named after the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, which is the biggest wholesale fish market in the world. The market is renowned for moving approximately 2000 metric tonnes of fish and seafood per day, and whilst Tsukiji (Prahran) is not so prolific, it does provide a pleasing range of piscatorial products.

Tsukiji (Prahran) straddles a few different business fronts - it is part sashimi fishmonger, Japanese grocer and lunch spot. A custom made pine sushi-style counter seats ten in single file - a utilitarian spot to stop and eat and admire the black and white photos of the Tsukiji Market in Japan. The menu is small - you have a choice of a few handrolls of the day, curry don, miso, sashimi set, una don (eel on rice - which looked VERY good) or takoyaki (octopus balls). There are also a few sweets - Japanese ice-creams and taiyaki (red ben cakes).

We couldn't resist the $10 sashimi set or the opportunity to order in Japanese (we have been taking classes) - "Sashimi seto futatsu kudasai". They obviously understood as a few minutes later two trays arrived (above). The set included a rich miso broth that was studded with shards of spring onion and tofu, a small dish of seaweed salad and a warm bowl of Japanese pearl-like rice. The best bit was the plate of super fresh sashimi - tiles of firm red tuna, salmon, king dory and blue-eye. What I found most interesting was the two different cuts of blue-eye, which showed just how not all parts of the fish are equal. One part was tender and soft, whilst the other was firm and to the tooth. A good skill of the chef no doubt. The dish was absolutely delightful - it was pureness and simplicity on a plate.

As mentioned above, Tsukiji also operates as it's namesake, a market for fish and other seafood products. It is not like your regular monger though, as you won't find much in the way of whole fish etc. But you will find trays of ready cut chunks of fish, prepared for sashimi/sushi. There are your popular items such as tuna and salmon, but a few unusual ones pop up, such as whole small whiting, octopus, arc shell, clams, scallops etc.

Along with the cafe and fishmongery is the grocery part of the store, selling large bags of rice, an impressive array of sauces, seaweeds, noodles, and Japanese junk food. There is even a couple of hunks of frozen wagyu in the freezer. Tsukiji is a nicely set out store that has certainly added to our excitement for our forthcoming trip.

Hooked

172 Chapel Street, Windsor (near High Street)
Phone 03 9529 1075

Avast me hearties! Mel and I have been hooked by Prahran's Hooked. As far as fish and chippers go, it doesn't get any better than this. Located near the corner of High Street and Chapel, the first thing that draws your attention is the nautical decor of this neat little shopfront. Buoys, roped bollards, interesting wall stencils, and a shark-shaped fish aquarium provide a fun atmosphere without being over the top kitschy. Take-away is, of course, popular but you can also eat in at a long communal table with such weathered patina that it appears constructed from the hull of an old clipper. Interestingly, Hooked also allows BYO.

The menu includes a choice of flake, barramundi, snapper and salmon, filleted fresh on site and available beer battered or grilled in a range of special boxes and combinations. You can also get fish burgers, calamari (grilled or salt & pepper), scallops, octopus and king prawns, and there are daily blackboard specials. Chips are hand-cut, and tartare sauce, pesto and other sauces are hand-made. Healthy sides include a fabulous salad of mixed leaf, tomato, cucumber, bbq corn, ginger, bean sprouds and kumera crisps - good enough to order on its own, and will definitely rid you of scurvy. Arrrgh. You can also get tempura vegetables if you want to appear semi-healthy ;)

Packaging is very smart indeed - see above. I had the flake, whilst Mel had the barramundi in a light tempura batter with hand cut chips, home made tartare and lemon, and salad ($12.50).

What can I say - the flake was delicious. A fantastic beer batter ensured that the fish was oh so moist inside. The chips were hand hewn fritters of flavour that went a treat with good ol' Heinz ketchup. Mel's barra was also fantastic. What surprised us the most was the Hooked salad - not just the best salad that I've had in a gourmet fish and chipper but one of the best salads I've had ever! Crunchy, healthy and delicious, the Japanese-style pickled ginger and the BBQ'd corn added surprising yet tasty touches to the salad. I love the fact that Hooked tried to balance out the unhealthy with healthy options.

I know I've been waxing lyrical about what is essentially deep fried takeout, but Hooked is seriously good and highly recommended. It's not as cheap as your usual suburban fish and greasies but quality and flavour are high, and I love the thought that has gone into the place. You Prahran people are so lucky!

York Cafe

336-368 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9642 2882

Everyone needs a cheap and cheerful neighbourhood takeaway joint for when you can't be bothered cooking or when the pantry is stone motherless bare. Takeaway is sometimes lacking for us CBD residents, who miss out on the great suburban staples of quality pizza joints and fish and chippers. Thank god for gems like York Cafe to satisfy our take out cravings!

A bustling lunch spot, York Cafe is a haven at night for students, who converge on the place for a cheap feed during a break in studying, and also nearby apartment dwellers, who keep the delivery boy very busy indeed (minimum delivery order is $20). Rita, the pocket dynamo owner, ensures that everyone is well looked after.

A clean, bright and neat little space, York offers the gamut of Hong Kong-style fast food, from a range of soup and fried noodles, to various combinations of toppings on steaming plain rice. Nostalgia abounds, with spam and fried eggs on rice available, and the drinks menu listing Ovaltine and Horlicks. A separate a la carte menu is available, which comes with complimentary soup and rice, but is currently only written in Chinese so you may have to get Rita to translate. What I love about York is that the food is tasty but not too oily, and most dishes are usually loaded with vegies. Also, the owners go the extra mile by catering for those who are gluten intolerant.

I have tried almost everything on the menu and loved them all. Those on a budget usually go for the $6.50 beef or chicken on rice, which you can choose to have with a range of sauces, including black bean, garlic chilli, satay, curry, oyster, XO, szechuan and more. Let's see Subways match that! The York does a particularly good beef and bitter melon with black bean sauce (first pic), deliciously warming fish ball soup noodles (second pic), and one of the best examples of the Cantonese version of char kway teow ever - dry-fried beef with rice noodles that was smoky and ever so tastily licked by the breath of the wok. There's also a nice range of fried rice dishes and vego's are well catered for with seven vegetarian dishes. If you are game, request some fresh chopped chilli, which are sliced razor thin and come from Rita's home garden. They will blow your socks off.

Drinks are quirky and fun, with Hong Kong-style ice milk tea (ice tea with condensed milk) and a very nice ice lemon tea. Espresso and cafe latte's are also available. The York is not licensed but you can BYO.

I love this place! City life would have been unbearable without a great "neighbourhood" place like York Cafe.

Journal Canteen

1st floor, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Phone 03 9650 4399

We had an exquisite lunch yesterday at the newish Journal Canteen at the Centre for Adult Education (CAE). A member of the Con Christopoulos empire, which also includes the Melbourne Supper Club, European, City Wine Shop, Journal Cafe and Pelican, the Canteen is a more than worthy addition. Doubling as a catering school on weekend's, the Canteen's concrete bunker space is softened by smart use of colour - chalk coloured walls broken up by a green tongue and groove dado, black steel frames, gold mesh panels, honeywood laminate and lovely vases with a single pink tulip stem in each. Retro touches abounded, like a 50's looking floor fan, and a silver cake stand displaying the daily dessert.

Furniture is decidely old school, literally. Communal tables and steel legged chairs takes you back to school days, the retro aesthetic stemming from Christopoulos' love of using recycled furniture in all his places. A long bench along the entire north side of the space provides views of buzzy Flinders Lane, appreciated by patrons perched on steel-legged Happy Days style stools. The open kitchen tempts diners with fabulous smells, the sizzling of the grill and the glorious antipasti lined up at the pass.

The food experience simulates being invited to lunch at manager Rosa's house - homely food with a Sicillian bent. The menu is small and changes daily, but will always include an antipasto, soup, choice of two or three mains, one or two desserts, wines by the glass and beers; all have an Italian accent.

I had the squid ink spaghetti and Mellie chose the veal involtini with beans (both $18). We could also have chosen from pasta brodo (pasta in soup) or a bistecca (thinly sliced steak) and mash. The spaghetti was simply delicious; one of the best I've had this year. The squid ink imparted a beautiful sea flavour to the dish without being overly fishy or salty. The pasta was of excellent quality, and was deliciously studded with smoky pieces of squid. The involtini was magnificent, too; real melt-in-your-mouth stuff, with a very piquant and tasty sugo, and wonderfully garlicky beans. A complimentary lettuce and fennel salad was well-dressed and refreshing.

We couldn't go past the cannoli for dessert ($3.50), which was freshly filled on demand by the chef. A beautiful crunchy pastry lead to a tasty ricotta honey-scented filling that was simply divine. It went well with the strong complimentary stovetop espresso - no pithy caffe lattes here :)

Service was proficient and friendly, especially the vivacious Rosa, though orders were slow to come out of the kitchen once the place filled up. My advice would be to get there early.

All up, a more than satisfying lunch venue (it's not open for dinner or on weekends), with delicious food, quirky but cool decor, and a wonderful vibe. Another winner for Mr "Midas Touch" Christopoulos!

Pancake Village

Shop 45a in the Food Hall
Centro Box Hill

A piece of fruit is definitely healthier and cheaper than this little street snack, but how can one resist the lure of little savoury pancakes? Especially when you can watch them being prepared and fried right in front of your very own eyes.

The spring onion and carrot pancakes will set you back $1.20, the one with bacon $1.50. As far as taste is concerned, I vote the carrot the best of the three, followed by the bacon and then the spring onion (which was actually quite tasteless). They were a little on the greasy side as they were fried with a generous splodge of margarine, but heck, they were not too bad for the price.

Box Hill Central is quite the spot for a quick/cheap bite, and Pancake Village sits smack bang in the middle of your typical food court, which leans most definitely towards Asian cuisines. You can find some neat cakes / dumplings / pastries there as well, so it is certainly worth checking out.

Cafe Vue - July Lunch Box

430 Little Collins Street (at the front of the Normanby Chambers Building)
Phone 03 9691 3899

I'm a little late with this blog entry - too much work and not enough time makes Mellie a very untimely blogger. So you'll have to suffer through this particular entry as this lunch box is no longer available. But don't worry, you can check out the current Cafe Vue lunchbox menu here, which I figure will be just as mouth watering as previous boxes.

For the uninitiated, the lunch box, which comes in neat red packaging, changes on a monthly basis and will set you back $15.

The July starter consisted of a truffle and mushroom risotto cake with pipette of garlic mayonnaise. Unfortunately I think this would have benefited from some heat, as it was just a little on the cold side. Truffle responds ever so nicely to a bit of warmth in which to release the aroma/taste, and the chill just blunted the flavour somewhat. Otherwise, it was a nice puck of creamery rice.

The salad consisted of leafy rocket, shavings of courgette (zucchini) and parmesan, with a test-tube of lemony vinegarette on the side. It was a great combination, and the dressing was perfect in the balance of salt to lip puckering tartness.

Now to the best bit, the rabbit sausage roll. To start from the outside, the puff was an absolute study in the art of pastrymaking. Layered every so finely, the pastry was buttery, crisp and topped with a smattering of sesame seeds. The rabbit within was minced, seasoned and delicately gamey. I initially wondered where the sauce was (well hey...how can you have a sausage roll without sauce?!), but on second thought I'm glad the roll arrived nude, as the sweet pleasant earthiness would have been overwhelmed. Ooh...I could eat this again and again and again.

For sweets, a duo of Eccles cakes. Different to what I know Eccles to be, these cakes were round like a golf ball. Once again buttery pastry (though not as puffy as the sausage roll) encased plump currants. During the cooking process the juices had leaked out to create a treacle-like toffee topping, almost like the caramel coating on a croquembouche. Divine.

Copper Chimney

157 - 159 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9663 3006

Copper Chimney may not be the most atmospheric of venues, but what it does have is fabulously tasty food at damn cheap prices. The decor is functionally utilitarian - canteen style - with echo-y tiled floors, a long stainless steel bain marie, wood veneer tables and steel/ply chairs. Whilst it all sounds rather cold and serviceable, there is something inviting about the place; the smell of whole spices being tempered in hot oil and of curries simmering, and noodles and rices frying. Copper Chimney specialises in Indo-Asian food; that is, a mix of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian - Halal endorsed. It may seem an unusual mix for some, but it is not so unusual in many Asian countries where these cuisines tend to mesh in all manner of ways.

I have been for lunch a number of times, partaking in the $6.90 deal of two dishes (meat or veg) and rice. You get to choose from the extensive bain marie range, though this has a definite bias towards Indian cuisine (which I am certainly not complaining about!). But we decided to sample from the a la carte menu on a cold Sunday night, where the options expand to other cuisines.

Photographed above is a Hyderabadi chicken biryani ($6.90), which is an Indian form of the spicy Middle-Eastern / South Asian rice dish. It was served in cute copper pot with a side of cooling carrot raita. There was just a little bite of heat, but nothing too in your face. And the spice was just right.

EG went the chicken masala dosai, which is a huge South Indian rice pancake served with sambar and chutney. Dosai is usually made from fermented rice and/or lentil batter and is cooked with ghee, so it has a slight sourness about it (in a good way that is!). The chicken masala filling was tandoori style, with fried potato and onion. I have seen dosai at other restaurants that remain quite rigidly cylindrical. This version though came out a lil' flat, though it was still relatively crunchy. I'm not sure whether the rigidity of the dosai is indicative of its quality. Anyone?

We all shared in the mee goreng, a mamak version of the Malaysian favourite. The hokkien noodles were dry-fried with spices, chicken, egg, tofu and vegetables. It wasn't too oily either, which is the approach Copper Chimney appears to take with most of its dishes.

Lastly (well almost) was the Murtahaba Kambing - roti stuffed with minced lamb, onion, tomato, chilli, fresh egg and spices. It is fried on a hot plate and served as is, though we asked for an extra bowl of curry sauce on the side. The murtahaba was bloody fantastic, though having to wait close to forty minutes for it meant it bloody well should be. The roti was goood - flaky and buttery, with a generous filling.

Teh Tarik is a Malaysian tea made with condensed milk. But what sets it apart from regular tea is the preparation - the tea is poured from a container held high to container held low (and repeated ad infinitum) until it forms a frothy top, somewhat like a cappuccino. It is deliciously sweet and utterly drinkable.

It may not be somewhere you'd want to take a first date, but I'd happily eat here for a cheap and cheerful any day.

Walker's Doughnuts

Shop 9/2 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9662 2254

Here's another doughnut shop to add to the ever expanding (in more ways than one) doughtnut landscape in Melbourne.

Walker's Doughnuts have been around for a lil' while now, sharing corner space with the wonderfully named Lord of the Fries. The kitschy nostalgic U.S. themed signage is pretty much indicative of what you're going to find in this shop - doughnuts, hotdogs, American candy bars and soda pop. The signage also indicates that their classic glaze jelly doughnut is both original and famous. A quick search on the internet reveals the term "original glazed" is used pretty much exclusively by our mates over at KK, and as for famous, well, I ain't heard of them before.

But, to the donut. Surprisingly, the dough wasn't overly sweet (nice change), and was super soft in a very fresh kind of way. The original glaze, which had been somewhat disurbed by the packaging above, was the main source of sweetness on the first bite. The second bite yielded the other source, a generous pool of liquid raspberry jelly/jam that almost exploded out and down my skivvy (caught just in time!). I don't know if I would call the doughnut fantastic - as it just seemed just a little too processed. I much prefer the hand rolled sugar-coated jam-filled yeasty little beauties at Queen Vic. But if you're after that oh-so-bad-for-you hit of carbs, this will certainly satisfy.

EG, who has a more savoury bent, tried the hot dog. Unfortunately the first choice of 'dog, the New Yorker, was unavailable due to a lack of onion relish. So he settled for the Dodger Dog, a footlong steamed frankfurter slathered in tomato ketchup, mustard, onions and cheese. Thumbs up to the bun, the dog and the ketchup. Thumbs down to the mustard, onion and the cheap arse shredded cheese.

Laksa Me, second time around

Shop 1, Liverpool Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9639 9885

Laksa Me has been getting a fair bit of attention of late, including reviews by EG, Eating with Jack, Sweet Cherrie Pie, A Few of My Favourite Things and Mr.Lethlean. It seems to be leaving a rather good impression, so I had to return for a reprise (..and besides, it was cold and pissing down with rain and it is oh-so-close to my work), this time dragging along my friend Anna.

We shared the entree of vegetarian triangles, pan-fried white pastry parcels stuffed with daikon, chives, yam beans, chilli and spices. They sat on a pile of pink pickled cabbage and were drizzled with caramalised dark soy, making them lip smackingly good. Anna confessed she'd be happy to chow down on a plate of these for lunch.

But we were here for more than nibbles. I needed laksa (again), so I went with the laksa lemak ($10). More brothy and coconutty than My Mum's laksa from our first visit, this version was chockers with slices of poached chicken breast, deep fried crunchy tofu puffs, fish cake, fish dumplings, prawns and half a hard boiled egg. Shredded cucumber, mint leaves and spring onion added fragrance and freshness, and a generous scoop of nutty sambal waited to be stirred into the broth in which fine rice vermicelli and bean shoots soaked up the flavoursome goodness. This is tissue and bib food - tissue to blow the nose (from the chilli), and bib to protect one's clothing from slurping the noodles.

Anna went the Vegetarian Skinny Laksa ($9), which from both the looks and the taste, wasn't that skinny (check out the slick of oil on top!). But despite that lil' quirk, it was damn tasty and packed full of amazing enoki and oyster mushrooms (the fresh kind), and crisp tofu puffs. It did veer from the menu description as she could not find the baby spinach or the deep fried eggplant, but it was still kick-in-the-pants tasty.

The place was a little busier than on our first visit, and I'm sure it will only get busier now that Mr.Lethlean has written about it. It will be interesting to see how it develops - but as long as they continue to provide a imaginative, flavoursome and fresh food for a great price, they'll do just fine.

InfoBooth Cafe & Tea

Floor 1 / 108 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 8008

I have developed a bit of an addiction to bubble tea of late. And this particular version at InfoBooth has my vote as one of my favourites. Not only is it smooth, creamy, full bodied and amazingly flavoursome (the black tea flavour anyway), the best selling point for me is that it isn't too sweet. And the chewy pearls - oh, how I love these. It gives the drink bite ;-)

This delicious and divinely named snack is the Crunchy Milk Toast, which is a Hong Kong style french toast. It is simply a thick slab of white bread that is buttered and smeared with condensed milk (uh huh). It is then thrown under the grill for colour, texture and taste. Apparently it is quite a popular treat overseas that comes in a staggering array of variations.

Info Booth itself is a rather unusual little place. It is a Chinese bookstore / newsagency / cafe staffed by a fairly young crew, and has a staggering assortment of magazines, newspapers (which are eagerly lined up for by half the Chinese population at Friday lunctime) and cutesy hello kitty-esque type nicknacks. The surprising thing about InfoBooth is the cafe. It just doesn't gel with the rest of the business and the atmosphere doesn't feel cafe-like at all. Yet in a bizarre way, I like it. One can grab a bubble tea or snack and sit back in a comfy vinyl lounge in your own little alcove for a chat/read. That fact that I don't read Chinese might be problematic here, unless I bring my own book/paper. So I just have to satisfy myself with the range of teas, french toasts, cheap sandwiches and dim summy type snacks.

Laksa Me

Shop 1, Liverpool Street, Melbourne
Phone 03 9639 9885

Penang goes industrial. That's the vibe at the concrete bunker that is Allen Woo's new venture, Laksa Me (pun intended), newly opened today. It's an unlikely space for Malaysian/South East Asian cuisine - all exposed pipes, aubergine brick wall, chrome seats, red columns and a slate concrete floor streaked with paint spots and Chinese calligraphy. But the place has pedigree, run by the team who brought us the popular but defunct Ah Mu, and who are now making a welcome return to the CBD. The small lunch menu takes a trip through Malaysia, Singapore and Thai hawker fare. Three laksa's are offered - "skinny" veg laksa, assam (tamarind) laksa and the whimsically named Mum's Laksa. A small drinks list boldly offers only beers, as the proprietors claim that beer suits this type of food far better than wine. Who can argue with that? If you must, however, BYO wine is an option.

A tofu starter ($7.50) was beautifully presented, arriving as two deep-fried tofu parcels reminiscent of beggars' purse, neatly tied off at the top and prettily arranged on a bed of hot pink cabbage. The inside of the parcels were filled with a lovely combination of shredded marinated glass noodles, Chinese mushrooms and gingko nut. It was gorgeous to look at and absolutely delicious.

My main of Hainanese Chicken rice ($9) was a reverent and respectful treatment of this classic. White rice that had been delicately flavoured with chicken stock was accompanied by a gingery chicken broth and sublime stock-poached chicken that glistened with the light and was ever so tender in taste. Matched to this was one of the best chilli sauces that I've ever tasted, homemade with just the right amount of chopped ginger, black beans and chilli.

However, the winner was Mellie's "My Mum's Laksa" ($9.50) - a bowl of thin rice noodles (as per Allen Woo's mother's receipe), swimming in a fiery red broth, and studded with barbequed pork, tender chicken, prawns, bean sprouts and sliced chilli. I would have to say that the broth was one of the best that I've tasted - deliciously rich and coconutty, and further augmented by a small bowl of sambal that is served separately. Our only complaint was that there was not enough of the tasty broth! :)

Dinner has a more expanded menu that offers the unique option of entrees by the piece, that is, pay for one fish cake and that's what you'll get. Also included are Ah Mu's specialities of red duck curry and Thai yam oysters.

Service was friendly and pleasant. It's early days still but Laksa Me is very promising indeed. Exceptional flavours combine with eye candy presentation and great prices to provide a fantastic South East Asian option in the city.

Tropicana Juice / Food Bar

213 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Phone (03) 9670 3568

"So are you hungry, thirsty, or both?" is the first thing you hear when you step into Tropicana Juice / Food Bar. And before you have even drawn breath to reply, you are interrupted by a "Well can I make a recommendation then?"

It is actually an interesting study in marketing to watch Giles, owner of Tropicana, sell his product. He is bold, brassy, obnoxious and so totally in your face - but, I just love it. And if his energy and enthusiasm is any marker for the healthful properties of his product, well I gotta get me some!

He does a couple of yummy blends, in particular the Giles Special (above), and a unique special brew called the South American Delight, which includes a "secret" ingredient guaranteed to put an 'ole in your step. You can mix your own or choose from an extensive range of juices and smoothies. But be warned, you will get advice on your choice whether you like it or not ;-)

Food is available, but it is your standard cafe fare. Bacon and eggs and all the bits in between, waffles, sanga's and soups. The place will not win awards for food, but it will fill a hungry void.

And if you're planning on ordering take-away, be prepared for the debate on "...well you'll actually get more if you sit down and drink" to "...life is too rushed these days, sit down and enjoy" to "...and think of the environment - you won't be throwing away a plastic cup!". All good points. And life IS too rushed. So sit in and watch the amazing Giles spruik his stuff.

Sydney: Happy Chef

Sussex Centre, Shop F3, 401 Sussex Street, Chinatown (Sydney)
Phone: 02 9281 5832

People interested in food often have a sixth sense when it comes to finding good tucker. Wandering around Sydney Chinatown my eye was drawn to a second storey window and an inconspicuous sign denoting "food court". I pointed up, EG grinned and said "Let's go".

The Sussex Centre food court is a buzzy little place (at all hours) serving up a variety of cuisines such as Japanese katsu, Korean BBQ, Chinese BBQ, Chinese noodles, Vietnamese Noodles, Malay Noodles, Japanese ramen, Thai...well, you get the drift. We wandered around each stall, salivating at menus and spying what the locals were eating. After noticing that many were elbow deep in a bowl of laksa, and seeing a rabble of people milling around one particular store, we made our way over to Happy Chef.

One can not help but notice that this esteemed venue comes recommended by Luke Mangan and Martin Yan - or so the dirty big sign (pictured above) says. Despite the blatant attempt at marketing, it did appear to be a popular joint. Perhaps they were right?

Anyway, most restaurants who offer laksa do so with one house special. Happy Chef on the other hand is all about the laksa (and the noodle), and you can choose from a staggering range of additions and omissions - pretty much custom making your own noodles. Speaking of which, you'll also get to choose what type of noodle you want, though our choice of laksa noodle didn't eventuate - we got a thin vermicelli style.

I went with the fish ball/cake/slice with tofu and pork dumplings laksa. It was a sweet heady brew, chock full of spices and nicely coconutty/creamy (though somewhat thin). It was missing a vital element - that of some fiery chilli. I know it is safe practice to dumb down the heat for an untrained palate, but I think one should hold firm to the tradition of a dish, and at least ramp it up just a little bit.

The fish ball/cake/slice was all pre-packaged stuff, but decent. The deep fried tofu puffs, after having sucked up all the spicy broth, were divine. And the pork dumplings were just a little too gamey. Though it was not the best I've had, it was still a well satisfying bowl of laksa.

EG went with Luke Mangan's recommended dish - the number 56 - BBQ pork, chicken, beef laksa. The base was the same, though his was punctuated with slices of rare beef and shreds of chicken and BBQ pork. Garnished with spring onions and crispy shallots, he drained it to the last drop.

On coming back to Melbourne and doing a bit of internet research, we found that this little place already had a bit of a name for itself. Grab Your Fork rates the rice noodle soup, and delaksa, of course, went a combination laksa. noodleoodle also recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Sussex Centre food court too.

I just wish I had a food court like this close to work ;-)

Pushka

20 Presgrave Place, Melbourne
get there from Howie Place running between Little Collins and Collins street
Phone 0408 173 892

Pushka is a mouse hole of a place off a lane that's off a lane (although it does runneth over into the lane). It has all the hallmarks of somewhere cool and funky - it is slightly grungy, a little bit arty, it serves excellent coffee with kitschy teaspoons (Lady Diana from the royal family series is particularly popular), does good bagels and select range of patisserie, and it has crazy toast. It functions as part cafe, part bar (cheap beer!) and part art space. And it has fish. Yeah. Funky.

Half consumed excellent coffee with kitschy spoon. Actually, has anyone else noticed the number of places that are doing kitschy spoons at the moment? It seems to offer a bit of street cred these days ;-)

This is one of the toasted bagels - from memory called the King. Whilst they don't use the traditional dense New York style boiled bagels, these ones are good. And their fillings are top notch - a sprinkle of maldon salt for the tomatoes, good prosciutto, fried egg, excellent cheese.

They also serve a range of baguettes, and as mentioned previously, crazy toast. Actually, I have quite fallen in love with crazy toast, and am now doing crazy toast at work for lunch on my days in. It is a split bagel (or Burgen is a good choice too), smeared thickly with vegemite and avocado. Mmm. Whilst it won't have the men in white coats knocking at your door, it is a slightly ingenious take on adding salt to your avo's. I love it.

And this is how Pushka spilleth over into the lane. Don't be scared by the guy who looks so pointedly at you from the window directly ahead. It is a cardboard cut out, and it has freaked me on a number of occasions ;-)

Tabet's Bakery

607 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Phone 03 9387 3461

A leisurely walk from the CBD to Sydney Road, Brunswick is certainly deserved of a spinach and cheese pie at A1 Bakery, one of my all time favourite snack stops. Alas when EG and I arrived there (it was Easter Monday), we found it was closed. Arghh. I had been looking forward to a pie for every step of our just completed 6km journey.

Luckily not too far away we spotted a rather busy little shop, Tabet's Bakery. I had never been there before, but yeah...I think this would probably satisfy my craving ;-)

This is the spinach and cheese pie - a lovely little triangle of yeasty bread, filled with cooked spinach and salty curd cheese. It was very moist, but having just come out of the gas pizza/bread oven, was still firm (they can tend towards sogginess once the juice starts to flow and they cool down). Mmm....it was goood.

EG and I also shared the oregano pizza with salad, a doughy base generously slathered with an oregano overdosed olive oil, stuffed with fresh tomato, green peppers, onions and large salty black olives. This too was also very good - fresh and tasty, and cheap at only a few dollars.

Speaking of which, I was amused to see the most expensive item on the menu (which runs with traditional Lebanaese meat/sausage pizzas, oregano pizzas, cheese pies, untraditional hamburgers, chips etc.) was the fruit juice cocktail. Uh huh, it was $6.50.

Beetroot for breakfast

123 Hardware Street, Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9600 0695

Okay, this post is going to reveal how dedicated I am to this all this food blogging business. See, I have developed a fascination with a certain cafe that has a fabulous autumn breakfast menu. And I have made it my mission to work my way through it - to have everything at least once (...or twice, in some cases ;-), before they move to their winter menu. And goddangit if I ain't gonna do it too!

So why do I keep returning? Could it be for the absolutely amazing spanish milk rice with cinnamon and orange infused raisins? Go on, look, it is pictured above. When I get this I feel like I am having dessert for breakfast :-) And see the cute little bottle of warm milk you get on the side? I could almost coo in delight.

Beetroot is only open Monday to Friday (damn them - I want a good weekend breakfast!), and only then for breakfast and lunch. But this has its benefits. The same staff are able to work, day in day out. There is continuity. There is developing customer relationships. There is the fact that half their patrons are on a name by name basis. I like that. I hate being lost in the experience. I like to be welcomed and enveloped by one instead.

And this is what Beetroot does so well. It is the little details that make it for me. The fact that my coffee comes with a chocolate freckle or a muffinette, or that after our third visit, they know exactly what coffee EG and I order (and that I have a particular sweet tooth when it comes to breakfast). I love their faintly square coffee cups (the espresso cup is just adorable), their little jars of sugar cubes and crushed pepper. Home made jams lining the walls. Personal postcards and photos pinned up on the other. The banter is friendly, and I feel like I am in someone's home.

The bircher muesli is one of the better ones I've had in this town. Rolled oats and plump raisins are made tender by yoghurt, and it is sweetened naturally with house-made poached fruits, a berry compote and whole pistachios. The actual components of the bircher changes on occasion - I guess utilising whatever is best in season. Peaches, plums, nectarines and blackberries have all had their go at playing protagonist. The pistachio nuts seem to be a regular player though, which is fine by me considering I love pistachios.

The scrambles, infused nicely with pesto, are wickedly good. I know some think it sacrilegious, but I kind of think it has become a bit of a Beetroot signature. The bacon, as you can see, was perfectly cooked - not underdone (eww), but not charcoaled to crispness either. And it was all served on a hunk of barely toasted turkish bread, which again, is up for some discussion. But I like it.

Now this is a breakfast that is up there with the best (...and leaves bills hotcakes for dead). French toast with banana, dark chocolate and vanilla mascarpone. This is the play by play. Turkish bread halved and stuffed full of banana. Dip in egg and fry in butter. Drizzle with a dark chocolate sauce. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Top with a generous dollop of sweetened vanilla mascarpone. Oh. my. god.

Okay, I've had this twice now. I couldn't resist. It is THAT good (...and if I wasn't so keen on completing the Mission: Autumn menu, I would have had it again, and again, and again...)

Now if you are wanting a healthy option - and yes, even I am prone to bouts of altruism, one can go the porridge. The toppings change regularly, in this instance it was stewed rhubarb - a nice tart accompaniment to the rib sticking oats.

And this is the baked beans infused with maple syrup and bacon. The beans are firm and bitey in the way that only good home made baked beans can get. And the infusion of maple syrup is no lie - it is quite discernable and goes so well with the bacon (yes, I did spend a little time in Canada developing a penchant for bacon and maple syrup).

You can also get plain toast (well...turkish bread or a gluten free option bread) with your choice of spreads, or the wonderful Flinders fruit loaf. They also do a range of fresh baked muffins if nothing else on the menu excites (which I assure you, won't be a problem here).

Between EG and I we only have two more menu items to try. We've got this one licked...although the Winter breakfast meny is only around the corner ;-)

Sydney: bills - Darlinghurst

433 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW
Phone 02 9360 9631

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," penned Charles Dickens.

"It was the best of breakfasts, it was the worst of breakfasts," penned me