Albert Street Food and wine
With new restaurants, I generally keep to a watch-and-wait for a couple of months before I dine policy, to let them iron out all the nooks and crannies, *ahem, unless of course I get invited to the launch in which case I brave it out. I failed to follow this policy on this occasion, as … Read more
Merricote – a French briefing
This is far from a real review, but rather a vague but very positive recollection of olfactory memories attached to these lick-a-licious photos… High street is jam packed with quirky little restaurants and cafe, and Merricote is certainly one of them. House made duck rillettes & crackers Triangle bites Mussels, anochovy, caperberry, brioche Tuna and … Read more
Breakfast roundup #3 – Babka bakery cafe
As you might have noticed this is one of several occasions where I have ventured out on breakfast excursions solo. It is strange to say, quite relaxing and facilitating for my food-photography practices. Today (*ahem, I mean in November) I head down to this little café-bakery on Brunswick St, long since etched in the heart … Read more
Breakfast roundup #1 – De Clieu
Sleek, with polished concrete, and yet mildly botanical. Menu is rather hip, presented on a clipboard with items you just want to grab off the page and eat. De Clieu offers a selection from Mark Dundon’s seven seeds range, coffee here is always a reliable choice. The latte is velvety and mellow with a waft … Read more
Matteo’s – dinner in Fitzroy North
It has been more than 6 months since I first set foot “through the unassuming glass doors” of Matteo’s. This time I return as part of a sponsored 3 course work dinner, which I may add come few-and-far-between. *cough *cough. I was hopeful that I would be able to experience a little more of the … Read more
eating vegetarian @ Vegie Bar
I am generally not the biggest enthusiast for civilised vegetarian dining alternatives when more primeval carnivorous options are available. It is therefore not surprising I rarely visit solely vegetarian spots on my own accord. In most cases, it would be a futile mission to try to persuade me otherwise. I actually baulked when someone from work … Read more
The Estelle – Scott Pickett’s newest venture
Ever since I heard news that Scott Pickett had left The Point at Albert Park to run his own restaurant alongside Ryan Flaherty in a little shop front on High Street I had been eagerly at the edge of my seat to try it out. The Estelle, a name only two years old in Northcote, … Read more
Brunetti – Food trail
Truth be told, I never thought I would visit Brunetti again, in part due to my dislike of Lygon Street, but also in part due to previous experiences. But being easily swayed to anything that comes without a price tag, I thought I would give this place another go when Ashley from Food Pampering suggested … Read more
L’atelier – the new Monsieur Truffe
Look for the ‘red-door’, I was advised. Sure enough the bright red aberrancy against the muted cement walls was the only thing that shouts: I am here. There was no signage and no we’re-open chalkboard when we arrived. Talk about being obscure… One of the first things you’ll notice when you push the door ajar, … Read more
Anada – half a year later
197 Gertrude St Fitzroy, 3065 03 9415 6101 Following a tragic stumble across Melbourne for well over an hour for a lunch spot, we ended up on Gertrude Street. It seems like a day for second visits, first Auction Rooms, now Anada – a place with positively memories attached to it, partly in its dining … Read more
Auction Room – sold again in Nth Melbourne
107 Errol St Melbourne, 3051 03 9326 7749 It is very rare for me to return to any place these days within a short stretch of time, and is thus very unusual – having only visited a couple of weeks earlier – to now return for a second serving. If you missed my first trip, … Read more
Auction Rooms
107 Errol St North Melbourne, 3051 03 9326 7749 Located in the old WB Ellis Auction house, this is another new addition (though not so new anymore – est 2008) to the Melbourne’s warehouse style roastery-café scene. The distressed bricks, cylindrical lights made from industrial piping, fruit and veggie crates, was accurately analogised in The … Read more
Universal Restaurant
I am back! Given this short hiatus, I am officially miles behind in posting. However, I look forward to sharing with everyone all the food I’ve engorged and delicious photos from China amongst my many catch-up posts! Yours hungrily, AAR 139-141 Lygon Street Carlton, VIC 3053 03 9347 4393 Thanks to Ashley from Food Pampering and … Read more
French Lettuce Patisserie & Bakery
237 Nicholson St Carlton, 3053 03 9347 7311 What better place to get a birthday cake than from this 30 year old patisserie out on Nicholson St just a short walk off Alexandra parade. Though fairly remote (far from most other shops), despite nearing closing time there were still diners about and a small queue … Read more
Dench Bakers – best bread in Melbourne?
109 Scotchmer St Fitzroy North, 3068 03 9486 3554 On the way back from the city after a mid morning appointment, I deliberately planned in a small detour up Brunswick street to have a quick lunch at a bakery. This Brunswick institution has been raved for several years now as one of the best organic … Read more
Seven Seeds – sister of BBB and DeClieu
114 Berkeley St Carlton, 3053 03 9347 8664 Just a quick stop after dropping Ms JH off at Uni… I seriously don’t understand this trend for café obscurity – what happened to big fluoro signage that was easy to spot? Thank God for iPhone GPS, for the front entrance is so hidden away you could … Read more
Charcoal Lane, then Cutler & Co
136 Gertrude St Fitzroy, 3065 03 9418 3400 This post has been overdue to be written for such a long time that I can barely remember what things I ate and what things tasted like. I must say I have an incredibly poor memory for someone who needs his memory all the time. Luckily I … Read more
Matteo’s – another day, another dessert
Another day, another dessert for the palate … the sweet life! 533 Brunswick St Nth Fitzroy 03 9481 1177 As you walk through the unassuming glass doors, you enter a space filled with a supple bronze hue which bounces a warm glow off the floral designs against the walls. It is a quiet Sunday night, … Read more
Anada
197 Gertrude St Fitzroy, 3065 9415 6101 Following a sweltering day of tortuous lingering at Wilson Hall for our official graduation ceremony, we headed down to a suburb previously known for its notorious public housing flats for some Spanish fare. Walking along the now-hip-modern-and-almost-unrecognisable Gertrude Street actually had my dad reminisce about the early post-migration … Read more
Yume
367 Brunswick St Fitzroy, 3065 9415 6099 It was a Sunday evening – with the parents absent, the house was void of homely food and full to the brim with amotivation to cook. We flipped through the cheap eats book landing us on a two star Japanese restaurant – Yume, which was coincidentally also in … Read more
