Monday 30 April 2012

Pho Chu The

270 Victoria St
Richmond, VIC 3121


I’m confused. I was told by Jeff a while back to eat at Pho Chu The, except according to my blog, I already have. Not at THE Pho Chu The though, but at I Love Pho 264 a couple of doors down, which is where Pho Chu The had relocated to the prior September. But the old Pho Chu The is still there, except it’s not the old Pho Chu The, which has relocated, but a new Pho Chu The run by different people in the same location as the old Pho Chu The. Like I said, it’s confusing. In a nutshell, we’re eating at the new Pho Chu The in the old location, not the old Pho Chu The relocated and renamed I Love Pho 264. I think. 



This place is rather pleasant; full of natural light with none of that fluorescent lighting and grubby floors business. Nice and quiet too, but not because there are no patrons; rather, it’s because everyone is too busy bent over their bowls of pho, which must be a good sign.



Because pho is the only thing on their menu, aside from the requisite spring rolls, rice paper rolls, and colourful drinks, each table automatically gets given a plate of sprouts, basil, and lemon. I was impressed with how clean and fresh the vegetables were; they’re possibly the best I’ve seen. Also on each table is a wide selection of sauces and condiments to season your pho with. A little jar of red onion is a welcome addition to the standard chillies and sauces.

Small Chicken Fillet Pho ($8)
 
Devastated that there weren’t any non-pho mains, Chris had to make do with a bowl of Small Chicken Fillet Pho ($8). The chicken soup is clear and delicate, flavoured with lemongrass and ginger. Slivers of chicken fillet tastes like they’ve been poaching for hours and hours. Sure, nothing beats the intense fragrance of a good beef stock, but this is certainly not a poor substitute.

Small Special Beef Pho ($8)
Small Special Beef Pho ($8)
 
It finally happened. I finally found the perfect bowl of Small Special Beef Pho ($8). The flavours of the soup were deep and rich, the generous serving of rare beef and offal were lean and flawless, the noodles were slippery soft with the perfect amount of bite, and even the thinly sliced onions and herbs on top were crisp and fragrant. There was absolutely nothing negative I could say about it. I might even ignore common sense next time and order a medium sized bowl.


 
Pho Chu The really is a cut above every pho place I’ve been to so far, in every aspect – cleanliness, service, and of course the food. The staff even had these adorable shirts that say ‘What the Pho?’ on the back. I’ll be returning for a plate of their supposedly amazing spring rolls and three coloured drinks. 

Rating: 15/20 – what the pho?

Thursday 26 April 2012

Gingerboy

29 Crossley St
Melbourne, VIC
3000


I am super duper excited. Not only am I eating at Gingerboy for the first time ever, but I am also doing so armed with a brand new second hand DSLR!I was also going to go see the Hunger Games before our booking at 6, but didn’t end up making it due to rogue session times. Phooey. 


I’m about to openly admit to poor food blogger form, and say the reason that I’ve avoided the much-lauded Gingerboy for so long is due to nothing other than my own apprehensions towards westernised hawker food. Well, apprehension and forty dollar mains. But after being told countless times by Ali that Gingerboy is the most amazing restaurant in Melbourne, I finally caved in and made a booking for Friday night dinner.


We were walked past the bar area and seated in the dining area, which was decorated cleverly to resemble a cave with star-studded walls and ceiling. It was a lot smaller than I had expected it to be, but that’s probably a good thing – it prevented the decor from being tacky, and the plastic stools from making it feel like a canteen. Hawker-styled food they may be, but they’re gunning for gourmet here.



As soon as I whipped my camera out, a waiter was next to me asking if I were going to be doing some food photography tonight. He proceeded to take very good care of us for the rest of the evening, including showing me the nicest angle to photograph the dishes from, and patiently answering all my questions about the food, despite how busy it was. Shame the evening still turned out to be very stressful, between working out the intricacies in my new-old camera and trying to get decent photos in the semi-demi-light. Not good first-time conditions for photography, though excellent for a first date.   

Son in Law Eggs ($13.5 for 3)
 
We started out with a pair of Gingerboy’s signature Son in Law Eggs ($13.5 for 3), which we were supposed to pop into our mouths in its entirety, chew, and hope for the best. Having heard nightmarish tales about yolk getting up sinuses, I opted to carefully bite into it instead. And proceeded to get half of the runny yolk onto my shirt. Flavour-wise, the eggs were lusciously creamy under a slightly chewy exterior, but it’s the chilli jam and really makes them come alive. Spoon it on, slather it on top, just don’t skimp on the sweet and spicy sauce that makes your palate dance.

Crispy Chilli Salt Cuttlefish ($15)

Crispy Chilli Salt Cuttlefish ($15)

Crispy Chilli Salt Cuttlefish ($15) is a surprisingly easy dish to get wrong. Too much batter, too little squid, flavourless seasoning, way too greasy, and so forth. But this red-headed bloke manages to get them just right. A piece of cuttlefish so fresh that really, it would be a sin to have it any way other than sashimi, was lightly encased in batter that rivals tempura for lightness. A deceptively simple looking spice mix got our lips tingling with heat and flavour. A quick squeeze of the lemon, ingeniously wrapped in a little square of mesh, is all that’s needed to cut through the decadence.

Red Duck Leg Curry ($38.5)
Red Duck Leg Curry ($38.5)
 
For mains, we shared another one of Gingerboy’s signature dishes, the Red Duck Leg Curry ($38.5). Four whole legs of duck reclined in a pool of saffron sauce, drizzled with coconut and topped with Thai basil. This curry was a winning concoction of robust yet delicate flavours, and the sweet and creamy sauce hid a slow-building heat. The duck was a bit dry towards the outside, but the center was pink and juicy. This was a very rich dish that’s best had with some rice, and a lot of greenery on the side.

To finish up our meal, we couldn’t go past the Dessert Share Plate ($39.5), which included a smaller serve of every single dessert on the menu. And because the field of view of my lens was, by that point, infuriatingly narrow, I had to take a picture of the desserts one by one. And four out of the five desserts had melting components, which did nothing for my stress levels. The desserts however, did.

Aloe Vera and Young Coconut Tapioca with Pineapple Sorbet

Aloe Vera and Young Coconut Tapioca with Pineapple Sorbet

The first dessert was a refreshing Aloe Vera and Young Coconut Tapioca with Pineapple Sorbet. One taste of this and I am immediately glad that we ordered the share plate. Normally I wouldn’t even consider this dessert, but it actually turned out to be my favourite. Little pearls of tapioca cooked to a perfect al dente and aloe vera seeds floated in a light and fruity syrup that’s reminiscent of those drinks you find at Asian grocers, in the best way possible. The sour pineapple sorbet and shard of dehydrated pineapple lent dimension to the mouthful of sweetness.

Banana Fritters, Yellow Rock Sugar, and Pandan Ice Cream

And it just goes to show, never judge a dish by its name. If we had ordered the individual desserts, I probably would have decided on the Banana Fritters, Yellow Rock Sugar, and Pandan Ice Cream and missed out on the amazing tapioca. This was possibly the only disappointing dish of the night, with bananas that are much too ripe, and pandan ice cream lacking the intense fragrance you would normally associate with the plant.

Espresso Tofu Cheesecake, Milk Jelly and Chocolate Coffee Beans

The Espresso Tofu Cheesecake, Milk Jelly and Chocolate Coffee Beans was a perfect and intriguing little cylinder. My spoon was confused as it cut into the cheesecake – the wobble said tofu, but the airy softness said cheesecake. My taste buds settled the argument, and decided on cheesecake, even though we were informed that there’s actually no cheese in it whatsoever. This was a creamy treat, with just enough coffee for Chris to not mind it, and for me to not wish for a bigger caffeine hit.  

Coconut and Chilli Chocolate Splice, Candied Chilli and Lotus Root

The fancy sounding Coconut and Chilli Chocolate Splice, Candied Chilli and Lotus Root was a gourmet take on the Splice ice creams sitting in supermarket freezers. The wedge of ice cream was creamy with coconut, but disappointingly light on the chocolate, and non-existent on the chilli. The fresh coconut slivers however were a welcome taste of the long-gone summer, and the bright green dehydrated lotus root was an adventure in itself.

Spiced Apple and Rhubarb Cashew Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream

At the other end of the plate is the Spiced Apple and Rhubarb Cashew Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream. Sitting in a cute little clay bowl with a pinch of fairy floss (DIBS) and a stick of dehydrated rhubarb (someone in the kitchen clearly loves dehydrating), this was an excellent segue from the summery flavours of the splice into the wholesome harvest flavours of autumn. Tangy baked rhubarb topped with a sweet, nutty crumble and scoop of ice cream, what’s not to love? 

I’m quite disappointed to say that I wasn’t blown away by Gingerboy – it has the essence of south-east Asian food, but it lacks the raw guttural punch that’s characteristic of it. The sharp and tangy flavours have been moulded and reshaped into something more subtle and suiting to western palates. However, it would also be entirely wrong of me to not acknowledge Gingerboy as a good restaurant. The food is tasty, the vibe is hip and happening, and the waiters managed to check up on us throughout the night despite being rushed off their feet. I know it’s a bit of a strange thing to say but, I think Gingerboy would be much more enjoyable for someone who isn’t so set in their ways about what Asian cuisine should and shouldn’t be.

Rating: 14/20 – gourmet hawker by the red-head


Gingerboy on Urbanspoon

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Cacao Green (Bourke Street)

235 Bourke St
Melbourne, VIC 3000 


I’d catch a pomegranate for ya! After a greasy meal at Huxtaburger, Chris and I are at Cacao Green to try out their new frozen yoghurt flavour. Three guesses what it is.



We caught the new Bourke Street Cacao Green on its opening day, but unfortunately we missed the actual opening, so no free yoghurt for us. Boo.


There was however an abundance of balloons. And people.






The interior feels sort of like a love-child of a chain-cafe, and the tree-house I’ve always wanted as a kid, but never had. And also kind of like the library I want in the future, minus the squishy chairs and millions of books.

Junior Pomengranate Frozen Yoghurt ($4.7) with Mochi ($1)

The Junior Pomegranate Frozen Yoghurt ($4.7) with Mochi ($1) tasted kind of like strawberry, but tarter, and more berry-like, if that makes sense. The mochi is unfortunately not as plump or chewy as I’ve had in the past, but hey, all mochi is good mochi!
They also serve St Ali Coffee. Now if that’s not a reason to pick Cacao Green over the Starbucks situated across from it, I don’t know what is. 

Rating: 13/20 – eat more yoghurt. drink better coffee.

 
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EVERYONE!! Note the switch to my SEXY NEW CAMERA! Anyway.

A few weeks after the grand opening, I was fortunate enough to find myself at Cacao Green along with three other bloggers. Organised by the lovely Ashley at FoodPampering, we were treated to a delicious array of their new products, and we got to speak to some of the owners about what goes on behind the scenes.




On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Cacao Green is a place to slow down and relax, aided by a delicious treat or two. We were greeted by Josh and later on, Jesse, two passionate young men with a shared vision of healthy, sustainable deliciousness.

Tropical Parfait ($6.9)
Mixed Berry Parfait ($6.9)
 
Our sweet afternoon began with two of their Parfaits ($6.9), one Tropical, and one Mixed Berry. House-made compote and juicy pieces of fruit were layered with lashings of their famous frozen yoghurt, topped with a moreish crumble of almond and granola. This was a delicious and healthy alternative to a fatty, sugary ice cream sundae. 

And from here on, the food just kept on coming. By the time we put away our cameras, our parfaits have all but melted.

Fruit'n Crunch Organic Yoghurt ($6)
Fruit'n Crunch Organic Yoghurt ($6)
Apple'n Passion Organic Yoghurt ($6)
Orange'n Honey Organic Yoghurt ($6)
Orange'n Honey Organic Yoghurt ($6)
 
Served in beautiful glass bowls, the Organic Yoghurt ($6) came in three different flavours – Apple ‘n Passionfruit, Orange’n Honey, and Fruit’n Crunch. And whilst they all tasted different, with the apple and passionfruit being the tartest of them all, the orange and honey sweet and refreshing, and the fruit and crunch full of syrupy berries, they have a few things in common – Thick yoghurt (not frozen this time), crunchy granola, and a whole lot of awesomeness. This is a dessert that you wouldn’t feel guilty having for breakfast, no joke.

Mixed Berry Bircher Muesli ($8)
Mixed Berry Bircher Muesli ($8)
Tropical Bircher Muesli ($8)
 
Steering the boat into breakfast territory, the Tropical and Mixed Berry Bircher Muesli ($8) were pure rib-sticking goodness served in custom made, hand-crafted bowls. An absolute powerhouse, the organic bircher soaked in orange (and a hint of lemon) juice was topped with chia seeds, dried fruit and nuts, and some of the most nutritious fruits available. It’s creamy, delicious, and oh-so-good for you.

Blueberry Honey Bread ($8)
Blueberry Honey Bread ($8)
 
The healthiness was given a break for a moment with the Blueberry Honey Bread ($8). A thick slab of buttery, crispy toast topped with blueberries, almond slivers, and a healthy dollop of cream cheese is decadent but not over the top. This disappeared in record time; everyone went back for seconds.

Grapefruit Fruit-Aide ($4.8)
 
The Grapefruit and LimeFruit Aides ($4.8) were tart and refreshing with freshly squeezed juice, ice shards and sparkling water. But what we found most interesting was the use of Agave Syrup, a low-GI, diabetic-friendly substitute to sugar. Respect.

Gourmet Blueberry Almond Waffle ($9)
Gourmet Blueberry Almond Waffle ($9)
 
The Gourmet Blueberry Almond Waffle ($9) was my favourite for the day. Yes the outside could’ve been a bit crispier, but I’m pretty sure it started off crispy (I could heard the crunch of it being cut into), and I just spent too long taking photos. The texture of it was light and eggy, and just that little bit chewy. Drizzled with crispy nuts and juicy blueberries, it was everything a gourmet waffle should be.

Quinoa Pudding ($7.5)
Quinoa Pudding ($7.5)
Quinoa Pudding ($7.5)
 
The last thing we were served was a hearty and warm Quinoa Pudding ($7.5). This dessert had a much wilder taste to it, thanks to the generous usage of palm sugar and coconut milk. The fragrant oriental flavours were, unsurprisingly, a hit with the Asian palates around the table. It might be a bit confronting for the uninitiated, but it’s an absolute dream for those familiar and in love with the flavour combination.

Organic Berry Banana Yoghurt Smoothie ($5.8)
 
We were so stuffed by this point and we hadn’t even finished half the food, but upon much insisting, we relented and tried a half-serve of the Organic Berry Banana Yoghurt Smoothie ($5.8). A thick and luscious drink; only the best and most seasonal fruits are used, ensuring that the flavours are as fresh and true as possible.




The carnage.

Josh
 
Josh and Jesse were fantastic hosts, answering all our questions about the food and telling us their story. Some of it was educational, some was funny, some was thought-provoking, but all of it was passionate and inspiring. We were all very impressed by the effort they went to, to ensure that all their products were healthy, high quality, and delicious. Cacao Green may be a chain, but behind the clever advertising and slick interiors, there is a whole lot of heart.  



Cacao Green Bourke Street on Urbanspoon