Sunday 31 July 2011

Ed's Food Hut

399 Bourke St Shop 11 @ The Foundry Food Court
Melbourne, 3000


Food Court Blogging. As much as the food snob in me tries to deny it, there are actually some hidden gems scattered amongst the mediocrity of food courts. Previously when I have craved vegetarian food, I’ve always made a beeline for Gopals or Crossways. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard that Ed’s Food Hut does a fantastic vegetarian platter – the food snob in me can live with the food court location!

Vegetarian Platter ($8)

I love variety, and I think my heart literally skipped a beat when I saw what the vegetarian platter ($8) consisted of – 3 salads, 3 dips, a falafel, a vine leaf, pilaf rice (rice cooked in stock, wiki tells me), and Turkish bread. There were about 6 salads and 8 dips to choose from, and all of my salads (chick pea, potato, tabouli) were wonderfully fresh, especially the tabouli – vibrant and green with none of those brown wilty bits. The dips were equally as good. I chose hummus, eggplant, capsicum, and spinach (the nice lady offered me half-and-half when I couldn’t decide between the last two). They were all full of flavour, especially the capsicum, which offered a lovely burst of capsicum goodness, and the yoghurt-like eggplant was surprisingly good with tabouli. The falafel was moist and non greasy, and the vine leaf was also yummy. I was extremely impressed with the pilaf rice; gently flavoured, I’d be happy to have a bowl of it for dinner.

Turkish Bread (With Platter)

And Turkish bread! In a cute little basket!

Small Lamb Kebab ($6.5)

And because he has to have meat (sigh), Chris got a small lamb kebab ($6.5), which was definitely not small. A Turkish roll stuffed with shredded lamb, tomato, lettuce, onion, and garlic sauce, it filled him up nicely. And if you happen to have a bigger appetite, feel free to ask for the large kebab for just $2.5 extra.

Rating: 14.5/20 – best vegetarian platter



Ed's food HUT on Urbanspoon

Sunday 17 July 2011

Funky Curry

164 Bourke St
Melbourne, 3000
www.funkycurry.com.au


Large Combo (Lamb, Pumpkin, Raita, Saffron Rice, Papadams, $10)
 
Because sometimes you just need a good plate of curry.

Rating: 13/20 – it’s funky!


Funky Curry on Urbanspoon

Wednesday 13 July 2011

David and Camy's Dumplings

605 Station St
Box Hill, 3128


After every breakup, comes a rebound. Ever since Glen Waverley’s Bob’s Kitchen closed and re-opened as RaRamen, which unfortunately doesn’t have the same low price and huge portions as its predecessor did, I’ve been looking for a substitute to heal the dumpling-shaped hole in my heart. In the glory days of Bob’s Kitchen, David and Camy’s Dumplings has always been second place to them, mainly because Bob’s is closer to where I live, and just that tiny bit less grotty. But now that Bob’s Kitchen has been mourned, buried, and unsatisfactorily replaced, it’s time to re-visit David and Camy’s (Note: the food here is from two visits, as there is enough to feed 3 very hungry people, or 4 somewhat-hungry people)

Hot and Sour Soup ($4)

When the Hot and Sour Soup ($4) arrived, for a moment I wasn’t sure on what I wanted to do – do I take a spoon and start drinking it, or do I change into a swim suit and dive in? Seriously, there is enough soup in it to make a meal, and what it lacks in flavour (I would’ve liked it to be more spicy, and have a bit more tofu), it certainly makes up for in portion size.

Pork Buns ($4 for 3)

Pork Buns ($4 for 3) were big and fluffy, with a flavoursome mince

Pork and Spinach Boiled Dumplings ($8 for 15)

At David and Camy’s, dumplings are offered in every way you can possibly imagine – steamed, boiled, fried, pork, beef, chicken, prawn, vegetarian, in a house, with a mouse, I am Sam, Sam I am. But we decided to be boring and just order the pork and spinach boiled dumplings ($8 for 15). Liberally doused with sesame oil and tasting as fresh as can be, they go down a treat with a dash of black vinegar.

Braised Belly Pork on Rice ($8.5)
 
The braised belly pork on rice ($8.5) is a man’s meal through and through. Two thick slices of pork belly are slapped onto a huge pile of fluffy white rice, and there’s a small pile of pickled vegetables, and a hard-boiled egg in five-spice on the side. It’s almost as good as mum would make.

The service here is surprisingly polite for a cheap and cheerful, and eerily fast – I’ve never had to wait more than about 5 minutes for food. And the dumplings are more than worth venturing out to Box Hill for. I think I’m ready to love again.

Rating: 14.5/20 – cheap ‘n cheerful

David & Camy Noodle Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Saturday 9 July 2011

Cafe Vue

430 Little Collins St
Melbourne, 3000
www.vuedemonde.com.au/cafe-vue.aspx


The only thing I dislike about brunch is having to get up so very early in the morning, especially during uni holidays. So the brunch had better be pretty darned good for me to crawl out of bed at 8:30 in 4 degree weather. Thankfully, Cafe Vue delivers.

Cafe Vue occupies a small niche on the side of the Normandy Chambers, next to its famous 3 hatted big brother, Vue de Monde. Cafe Vue is often known as ‘the people’s Vue’ due to its affordable prices, without the compromise on quality. One read through the menu had me regretting that we weren’t here for lunch, but thankfully the brunch options looked equally mouth-watering.

Coat Rack, Water, Glass Cabinet of Goodies

There was plenty to catch the eye as we waited for our food to arrive. I’ve always liked the woven tree-like coat stand, but it was the first time I’ve seen the stools of giant corks (this is where I tried to convince Chris that they were magically enlarged corks from Hogwarts, but he didn’t buy it). I also passed some time looking at the flaky pastries sitting under the heat lamp, and the glass cabinet full of goodies, with the cakes and tarts being a very affordable $4.50.

croque-monsieur with Kurobuta ham hock ($8.50)

The first item on our food-radar today was the croque-monsieur with Kurobuta ham hock ($8.50). Whilst waiting for it, we heard the lady at the next table telling the waitress that the sandwich was delicious, but was really quite ugly. When our toasted sandwich arrived at the table, I had to agree with her. The sandwich looked almost burnt, and it was moderate in size at best. But tearing it open, I was surprised to find actual shaved ham hock, as opposed to sliced ham, and the cheese looked promisingly melty and golden. Biting into it revealed what’s possibly the most sophisticated ‘ham and cheese toasty’ I’ve ever had. The previously burnt looking bread turned out to be fantastically crunchy, and the ham had a real smoky, meaty taste to it. And the best part of all? There was no greasy residue after you finish it – I could easily eat two of these.

poached pear with yoghurt, dates and walnuts ($6.50)

I originally expected my poached pear with yoghurt, dates and walnuts ($6.50) to be warm, so I was quite surprised when I bit into a slice of cold pear. Regardless of that though, I really had nothing to complain about. The plating was careful and delicate, and the quality of the ingredients really shines through this simple dish. The pears were sweet and soft, yoghurt creamy, and combined with crunchy walnuts and sweet sticky dates makes a wonderful mouthful, perfect for a light breakfast.

We also tried a pistachio macaron ($2.50) to finish up our meal, but unfortunately, it was dense and flavourless, almost stale. I was surprised with that, as I’ve heard that Cafe Vue makes some of the best macarons around. Maybe I just went on a bad day.

The menu at Cafe Vue is fairly short, but there is plenty to tantalise the tastebuds, both for breakfast and lunch. They also have themed cocktail nights every Friday. Now if only I could hold my liquor...

Rating: 15/20 – quality food at quality prices


Café Vue on Urbanspoon

Thursday 7 July 2011

La Belle Miette

30 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Melbourne, 3000
www.labellemiette.com.au


Window Display
With a window display like this, how could I resist going in?

Macarons on Display
MACARONS! IN RAINBOW COLOURS!

Macarons ($2.5ea)

Chris and I nabbed 3 macarons to share - cherry blossom and sake, lemon, and caramel and sea salt ($2.5ea). The cherry blossom and sake unfortunately didn’t taste much of either, but the texture was perfect. The lemon macaron also had a perfect shape and texture, on top of a wonderful lemon flavour, though I would’ve preferred it to be more tart. As for the caramel and sea salt (the standard by which I judge all my macarons), it was surprisingly dense – maybe I just got a bad one? But the flavour was out of this world, and I loved how they used actual caramel in the middle.

I want more already.

Rating: 14/20 – RAINBOW COLOURS!


La Belle Miette on Urbanspoon

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Three Vegetarian Tastes Of The City

1) Gopals Vegetarian
139 Swanston St
Melbourne, 3000
www.iskcon.net.au/food/gopals/

Gopals is a favourite that I’ve eaten at countless times, but have never blogged. It’s a loft situated up a flight of stairs on Swanston Street, offering relief from the daily hustle and bustle of the city. On our most recent visit, we found that the entire space has been redecorated with lovingly hand-decorated walls, new paintings, and even new furniture and light fixtures, giving the place a fresh new look. 

Vegetarian Lasagne ($7)

If it’s there, Chris always has to get his vegetarian lasagne ($7). A generous slab of pasta is heaved onto the plate, and it tastes as good (?) as it looks – chewy cheesy top, and layers of slippery pasta sandwiching a mixture of vegetables, including mushroom, zucchini, and of course, eggplant. I think Chris summed this lasagne up perfectly – “you can almost forget that it has no meat in it, and once you remember, you don’t mind at all.”

Bean Salad ($3.8)

 Not only is Gopals a prime spot to get a hearty vegetarian feed, but it also has plenty of lighter options too, such as a choice of 3 or 4 salads each day. On the night we visited, I chose the bean salad ($3.80), which is probably the most filling of all the salads they make. It’s fresh, it’s zesty, and there are at least 4 types of beans in this salad, along with an array of herbs and vegetables. I have noticed that the serving size tends to vary depending on who’s serving but at this price, I can’t complain!

There are also several meal deals available that cater to practically every appetite, and none of them more than 14 dollars. I think the most exciting thing about eating at Gopals is the daily-changing menu; you never know what’s going to be on offer, but you can always be sure that it’s tasty.

Rating: 13.5/20 – best vegetarian in town?

Gopal's Vegetarian on Urbanspoon


2) Om Vegetarian
Level 1, 28 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne, 3000
www.omvegetarian.com

What do you do when Crossways is closed? Go to Om Vegetarian of course! The food is all you can eat, for $6.50 a person, but you have to pay extra if you want dessert. I’m going to have to admit right here that I don’t like Om nearly as much as Crossways but, it’s definitely not a bad substitute.

Soya nuggets, Kidney Beans, Rice, Naan, Pickles ($6.5)

The night we visited, the curries on offer were red kidney beans, and soya nuggets, served with fried rice, naan, and pickles. Admittedly the curries were a bit on the ordinary side, but they were definitely pleasant and something I would be happy to eat again. The naan was soft and warm, and a lovely lady walked around offering us more from a basket. And then there are the pickles. I don’t know if they’re meant to be that way but they were saltier than salt! Made me wish that I didn’t pick up a whole chunk and put it in my mouth. There’s a no refill policy on the pickles but I honestly doubt anyone minds.

Rating: 12/20 – open for dinner

Om Vegetarian on Urbanspoon


3) Sushi Monger
17/ 309 Bourke St
Melbourne, 3000

When did sushi get expensive? What used to be a cheap snack in my early high school days has turned into a meal that costs almost as much as eating at a restaurant. Thankfully, so many years later, the prices at Sushi Monger remain the same - $5 for two rolls and miso, or $6.8 for three rolls and miso. There’s of course a decently sized range of noodles and rice but most people come here for the sushi deals.

Teriyaki Chicken, Salmon, Spicy Tuna (3 rolls & miso for $6.5)

Ok, I lied. The sushi here (salmon and cucumber, teriyaki chicken, spicy tuna) isn’t actually vegetarian, but there are plenty of vegetarian options on offer (avocado, tofu, egg, seaweed, and so forth). The sushi here is fantastically fresh (due to its high turnover rate) and flavoursome, and the rice is vinegared perfectly, something you don’t see often enough at sushi shops.

Miso Soup (3 rolls & miso for $6.5)

No that isn’t dishwater. It’s actually a lovely, cloudy bowl of miso that comes with every sushi combo. I’m a little disappointed that this version of miso doesn’t contain seaweed or tofu, but the flavour is nice, and more importantly, not too salty!

Everyone knows that when it comes to keeping fantastic places like this a secret, Melbournians are about as bad as that gossipy girl in year 8. So even though it’s in a small alleyway, the lines are out the door from 12pm every day. Combined with the smallness of the shop, takeaway is definitely the better option.

Rating: 14/20 – because everyone loves sushi

Sushi Monger on Urbanspoon