So I was super lucky enough to be able to head over for four days of handing out flyers at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and whilst I was there I embarked on a mission to eat as much amazing food as possible between working, socialising and sleeping. After pursuing Urbanspoon and seeking some recommendations I headed out to the following places, all of which were absolutely great in there own right. Melbourne treated me far too well food-wise I almost didn't want to come back!
Paco's Tacos
An afternoon flight and work that night meant my first night in Melbourne required something quick and close to the venue I was working at. Paco's Taco's seemed to fit the bill and were a must eat on a few other food bloggers bucket lists so I organised to meet the comedian I was working with for dinner here. The feel is very similar to Little Miss Mexico in Adelaide, a great relaxed vibe, funky decor and the perfect space for after work drinks. I had checked out their website and lucky enough for me as I'm a Uni student I was able to flash my card and get two tacos and a Moritz beer for $15.. steal! My co-diner ordered two tacos and we split a large serve of nachos.
The first dish out were the nachos, these had a slightly different take to your typical Mexican diner fare as they had fetta cheese! Now I know Nacho fanatics may disagree but I think this took this dish to a whole other level, the salty crumbly cheese really complemented the fresh tomato salsa which had a good kick, the creamy guacamole and the generous serve of sour ream. The nacho chips themselves were super crunchy and minimal sogginess had occurred by the time we got to the bottom of the basket...which often happens with nachos.
Taco's wise I ordered the Carne Asada (Braised Beef, Chipotle, Pickled Cactus and Pico de Gallo) and Pollo (BBQ Chicken with Lettuce, Pickled Onion and Tamatillo and Jalapeno Chutney) and my friend had the Pollo and Pescado (Semolina Coated Fish, Chipotle Mayonnaise, Radish and Pickled Zucchini). All were your typical medium to small sized tacos that are quite 'in' at the moment but still generously filled and with good ratios of fillings. The chicken was fantastic, smokey, juicy chicken complemented by a perfectly balanced spicy dressing. My favourite of the two however was the beef. The meat was so tender, full of flavour and it literally melted in your mouth, the flavour combination was also spot on. The fish was reported as being great as well. The tortillas were soft and fresh and the salad was still crunchy.
I really loved Paco's! It was a great place to start my trip. The food was delicious, excellent value for money and the service was quick, friendly and attentive. The vibe is here was awesome...if I didn't have to work I could have stayed for ages just chatting and drinking the night away. If you like your Mexican this is certainly a must visit in Melbourne.
Max Brenner
After work I raced off to grab dessert at Max Brenner's 1) before meeting up with Adelaide friend's for late night chats and drinks 2) before they closed! Max Brenner's has been on my must try list for a very long time... I am constantly in food envy because of instagram every-time I see a Max Brenner's photo. Plus Max Brenner's is home of the Hug Mug! the best kind of mug going around, I was lucky enough to be gifted one for my birthday which I adore for hot chocolate at home :) Luckily they were still open (best thing about Melbourne...everything is open!) and that they weren't ridiculously busy. The set up here is your typical chain chocolate-dessert venue, very similar to San Churro's with a slightly more American feel. The space was quite large with indoor and outdoor setting, and a retail area.
I had already checked out the menu online (let's be honest I've checked out the menu multiple times) and was totally torn about what to order to get the full Max Brenner 'experience'. I queued up at the counter (no table service) and when it was my turn I asked the young lady serving what she would recommend to a food blogger to try for the most over the top indulgent late night dessert, Her recommendation was an American hot chocolate and the 'spectacular choc fudge brownie sundae'....and so that's what I ordered :)
HUG MUG! yes it was exciting enough to justify capitals. This was a dark hot chocolate with marshmallows. It was very rich, not overly sweet (I would say just right for a dark hot chocolate) and had a smooth finish. The foam on the top was amazing, it was gooey with marshmallows, it was like they had added them to the foam itself. Topped with extra marshmallows this was a great hot chocolate. For a large chain restaurant this was surprisingly luxurious I would say noticeably better then those I've had at San Churros.
So, this was my dessert. It was epic, it was decadent and it put me in a sugar coma. I have had several moments where I have craved this dessert so bad since I've been tempted to fly back. Three huge scoops of chocolate ice-cream, a ridiculously large amount of walnut chocolate brownie, crunchy-sticky pecan nuts, dark chocolate crunchy waffle balls, a whole dish of melted milk chocolate and a side of whipped cream (I added this at the waitress's recommendation- glad I did! I needed it to cut through the chocolate!) This was chocolate heaven... the ice-cream was so smooth, velvety and rich whilst the brownie was chewy yet crunchy..just how the perfect brownie should be..it was so very moreish!
The chocolate was smooth, warm and had a good milky-sweet taste and great mouth feel whilst the waffle balls were so unique.. the perfect textural addition to the dish.
To sum up... I want a Max Brenner's in Adelaide... and I want it yesterday! I loved this place..again for a chain restaurant everything was way above what I expected... so much richness, fantastic high quality chocolate and super generous serves. It was a little on the pricier side, but in all honesty you got what you paid for (including chocolate induced sugar coma!)
Proud Mary's
Second day in Melbourne and after a much needed sleep in I headed off for a late breakfast. Proud Mary's was a recommendation from a few of the well known coffee places in Adelaide who stock their coffee, so I had high hopes the cafe food/coffee would be just as just as great as here.
When I arrived it was super busy, and I mean people queueing up outside busy. Luckily enough in Melbourne the share table culture is booming and being on my own I was able to be seated at one of these share tables within five minutes. I was given a menu to look at, a bottle of water and told that another waiter would come by and take my order. After a quick browse.. and eyeing off everyone else food being brought out a young man with a fantastic smile came and took my order. I explained to him I had been told to come try out the restaurant and asked him what coffee to order (like Please say Please/Bar 9 etc they have different blends or roasts on rotation). I was lucky enough they had some very limited American blends available and the one he recommended wasn't on the board. He asked how I liked my coffee and I responded however you think will showcase the blend the best (given how highly recommended this place was, and my limited coffee knowledge I figured I'd leave it up to the experts). Foodwise I was really torn, the menu had so many unique breakfast dishes, but in the end I went with the potato hash with charred kale, double smoked bacon, organic poached egg and bagna cauda.
The coffee arrived not long after I placed my order, and it was one of the best coffees I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. The flavour was so complex, a rich and robust coffee with a notable sweet undertone. It was made to perfection, ideal drinking temperature, just the smallest amount of milk/froth so that the coffee itself was the star of the show and there was not a hint of bitterness. After having this coffee it was understandable why the queue was so long, why so many people were coming in for take away coffee and why this place had such rave reviews. Drinking this was pure bliss, if you are a coffee addict I highly recommend ordering some of their beans/purchasing from one of the Adelaide suppliers because they are just that good.
My meal was served within the perfect time frame for my coffee to still be hot (big tick... I hate when meals are served with a huge delay after drinks). Stunningly yet simply presented the dish looked almost too good to eat. The potato hash itself was really well portioned, it was obviously the main element of the dish. The outside of the ribbony hash/cake was crunchy and the inside light and pillowy. The bacon was perfectly cooked with no excess fat and a deep smoky flavour that complemented the potato. The kale was a great addition, and it was nice to have something other then the usual spinach. When I cut into the egg it was perfectly poached, an oozy, gooey golden centre that was divine when mixed with the bagna cauda (an Italian sauce of anchovies, garlic and cream). The sauce itself was also a real standout, such robust and strong flavours but in no way overpowering the rest of the dish and it's not something I've had in a breakfast meal before.
Proud Mary's was fantastic all round, from the friendly staff who were more than happy to chat to me despite being busy, to the fit out which had a funky urban feel everything just 'felt' lovely. The coffee was perfection and the food was simply delicious. Of my all time favourite breakfasts (and that includes my travels to London) this place has to be in the top three and will most certainly be a MUST visit every time I head to Melbourne.
The Vegie Bar
Lunch on day two saw me head out to the Vegie Bar, a vegetarian restaurant that serves an extensive range of food from light cafe options to complete evening meals. This place was highly recommended by fellow Crossfitters and I had seen some amazing food pics on instagram which looked delicious AND healthy (and I knew I was going to need some kind of healthy food replenishment during this trip!) Upon arriving I was seated at a share table, which allowed me to have some great conversation with fellow regular diners about the restaurant and other fun things to do whilst I was in town :)
The restaurant space was huge! A lot bigger then I expected with multiple levels and a real open barn/warehouse kind of feel. The vibe was what I would describe as organic and laid back, despite the place being really busy. My order was taken at the table by a magnificent man named Henry? (I think... I feel so bad that I'm not 100% on his name). Not only was his service top notch but he was extremely friendly and made the time to chat to me about the restaurant, the food and events on in Melbourne. I was torn about what to order and of my choices his recommendation was the curry of the day, so I ordered that plus a juice.
The juice was a combination of watermelon, cranberry and strawberry (I think!), it was brought to me not long after I ordered and was really delightful! Sweet with a good balance of flavours, a good juice-ice ratio and a slightly frothy top.
My meal arrived shortly after, and it smelt amazing! The curry was a thai green vegetable curry with rice and roti. The serving size was perfect and it was really filling! The curry had a good kick, enough to clear the sinuses but not eye watering. All of the vegetables still had a great texture to them, so hadn't been cooked to a soggy mess, but cooked sufficiently to be soft and tender. The eggplant gave this dish its 'meat' feel and in all honesty meat was not needed in the dish, the chunks of lime cooked in with the other vegetables also added a great tart flavour every couple of mouthfuls. The rice was cooked well, soft with a slight textural bite, nicely separated fluffy grains and a subtle savoury undertone. The roti was my favourite part of the dish though! It was perfect dipped into the curry sauce, fresh, warm, soft and chewy it was the best roti type bread I've had in months! I could have eaten more of this easily, it was delicious, filling and gave me that 'healthy nutritious food' feeling.
The Vegie Bar had an amazing range of cake and dessert as well (Henry? highly recommended the chocolate cake) but I already had dessert plans elsewhere sadly. I was really keen to get back here but ran out of time. Adelaide has some good vegetarian eateries but The Vegie Bar is just another level. The range, quality and deliciousness make it feel like any main stream restaurant rather than a vegetarian or health food focused venue and they have a large range of vegan and gluten free as well (all very clearly labelled). The service here was excellent, the staff really knew the menu, everyone was friendly and I actually sat around for nearly two hours just absorbing the feel of the place and working on Uni stuff. If you are looking for healthy, tasty eats in Melbourne I wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend stopping in for amazing food at the Vegie Bar.
Gelato Messina
After lunch I wandered down to Gelato Messina on my way back to get ready for work. I had walked past here twice already and each time a line was coming out of the door! This time was no different but I was served really quickly, kudos to the staff who were super efficient and managing the crowd well.
Just a picture to show the stunning gelato based cakes this place makes, these are a set range but each one was so beautiful and the flavour combinations sounded amazing! The mushroom one for example is described on their flyer as 'The top dome of this cake is filled with Dr Evil gelato (dark chocolate gelato, peanut cookies and dulce de leche) and is topped with layers of vanilla cream, chocolate sponge, a red ganache, and white chocolate buttons to finish. The stalk is filled with dulce de leche caramel surrounded by dark chocolate gelato. The whole mushroom sits upon ‘grass’ made from popping candy and crushed biscuit'.
This place had a huge range of premium gelato flavours, and make everything from scratch on site. The range has amazing options to tempt your tastebuds including apple pie, coconut and lychee and tiramisu. On this occasion I couldn't say no to two of the weeks specials, the vovovroom (coconut gelato with raspberry jam, shortbread and marshmallows) and the romanikerer (peanut butter cheesecake gelato with peanut butter brownie chunks).
Both flavours were velvety, creamy and had a fantastic mouth feel, texture and taste wise this gelato was unbeatable. Now, if you are a follower of my blog or instagram you probably know I am peanut butter mad, but believe me cheesecake is something I could live off...hence the romanikerer was an obvious choice. This flavour was exactly as described, with huge chewy chunks of peanut butter chocolate brownie that didn't go hard in the cold gelato and soft creamy chunks of cheesecake that were still definable from the rest of the gelato. However, unexpectedly it was the vavavroom that blew me away! This flavour was one of the best ice-cream/gelato combinations I've ever had. The coconut flavour was intense but perfectly balanced by the jam. The shortbread pieces were sweet, buttery and crunchy whilst the marshmallow..oh my the marshmallow. It was swirled right through and was gooey and chewy and just mind blowing!
A photo of the staff making the gelato! It was really interesting to watch, not to mention it was clearly obvious that everything was made from scratch, fresh and with quality ingredients. I loved Gelato Messina, probably way to much. If you in Melbourne and love your ice cream this is one of the must eats on my list!
Shandong Mama
When in Melbourne I always do dumplings because well, in all honesty they do them better than in Adelaide. I have my favourite go to spots but wanted to try somewhere new this trip and Urbanspoon exploring lead me to Shandong Mama. This restaurant is owned by a 'mama' from the Shandong province and her daughter who are obviously passionate about making fresh, quality food with contemporary twists. When I arrived it was super busy with a queue of groups but I was able to be given a table straight away because I was on my own.
I was given a menu and a bit of time to ponder my choices. I decided to go with something I love and something I hadn't had before...so a spring onion egg pancake (a favourite) and the boiled Melbourne dumplings it was. Someone came and took my order and I was given water and cutlery.
My pancake came out first, it was huge...more than enough for two or three people (However...volume eater here ate the whole thing). The bottom was slightly crispy, the top still soft, it wasn't greasy and there were plenty of spring onions. The chilli sauce was a great addition, and not something I'd had anywhere else. An excellent rendition of this dish I was really impressed with it's flavour and texture.
The Melbourne dumpling was a new flavour combination for me, usually when I order dumplings I stick to the pork but the filling of diced seafood (prawn, calamari, mussels and fish), chicken mince, lemon, olive oil, parsley and garlic was too unique not to try. I ordered these boiled and they came out hot and fresh from the kitchen. They were a good size, plenty to share between two and the skins were just the right amount of chewy/tender and held the filling well. The filling itself was plentiful and had a fantastic flavour, you could taste the different ingredients and they certainly were the most unique, fresh and tasty dumplings I've had in a while. The only downside to these was they were a little watery, other than that they were delicious.
Overall a great dinner at Shandong Mama and I would certainly revisit to try out the fried versions of the dumplings. There are also some other unique combinations (Lamb dumplings anyone?) and the prices are fantastic. The vibe here is busy but fun and the decor and cleanliness is much nicer than some of the other dumpling places... it's definitely got a more restaurant feel. Perfect for a casual catch up with a group of friends, or a great value quick dinner for one :)
Breakfast Thieves
So here we are at Sunday's eats, and I'll be honest I started Sunday morning on the slightly less chirpy side due to one too many wines and swigs of whiskey after work (HiFi Bar in Melbourne is awesome, worth checking out if your looking for somewhere to party away the night hours). My plan for the day started with a late brunch and much needed coffee with an old friend from Adelaide who now lives in Melbourne and Breakfast Thieves was my pick for a nearby 'hangover cure' kind of breakfast.
We had to wait maybe five minutes for a table which went really quickly as we chatted away. We were taken inside and given seats at a high share table along with water and menus. The cafe remind me very much of the Loose Kaboose or Bar 9 in Adelaide, modern, spacious, causal but classy. Shortly after a waitress came and asked if we were ready to order but we were so busy chatting we hadn't even looked at the menus! After another 5 minutes or so we ordered coffees... the waitress came back to take food orders and we were still too busy chatting! She was really patient and didn't rush us which was great! We eventually ordered our food and continued our gossipping :).
For my much, much needed coffee I ordered a cappuccino. Not only was it very pretty but it was a robust, well made coffee. A good strong flavour with a pleasant lingering aftertaste that wasn't bitter and a good balance of milk/foam and coffee.
Our food arrived not long after our drinks (bonus marks..again I hate a huge wait time between food and drinks..plus I was starving by this point!) My meal was called 'The Legend' and was Spicy baked eggs with spanish chorizo, mushrooms, green peas, fetta, served with herbed garlic toast. The meal was nicely presented in an earthenware dish and on a wooden chopping board, it was a large portion with plenty of all the listed ingredients. The eggs were cooked just right, not rubbery and not too gooey, the yolk still were slightly oozy and mixed nicely with the rich tomato sauce. The chorizo had a good kick and the fetta was salty and creamy, the perfect complement to the meal and a nice change from the usual mozzarella or Parmesan topping on baked eggs. The garlic bread was perfectly toasted with a great flavour that wasn't t buttery or overpowering, the dish was also served with two pieces which was great..often baked eggs only come with a single slice and it's never enough to soak up all the sauce! Overall a really delicious, filling and well executed dish with high quality and well balanced ingredients.
My friend had the 'Spanish Gypsy Dance' Crisp-polenta crusted poached eggs, Spanish morcilla (black pudding), peperonata, wild rocket on toasted multigrain. This dish was fantastic, such a unique combination! The bread was perfectly crunchy, the peperonata full of flavour, the eggs poached just right with oozy golden yolks and the crispy polenta coating was a delicious and stand out difference to other breakfast dishes. For me though the most divine aspect of this meal was the blood sausage, it had a total in your face flavour punch and was cooked just right.. tender but with a good hearty texture, often blood sausage is overcooked or too strong which puts people off, this was exactly how it should be done!
A very awesome breakfast at Breakfast Thieves, I would definitely eat here again, they have such a unique range of breakfast and lunch dishes I don't think you could ever not find something new and delicious to try! Friendly, patient staff, quirky, hipster vibe and the kind of place I'd happily sit drinking coffee and reading for hours on end.
N2 Extreme Gelato
After wandering around doing some window shopping I headed over to N2 Extreme Gelato. Again this was a must visit place from my food bucket list after seeing the amazing gelato creations on my instagram feed. This place makes gelato as you order using nitrogen, have a changing weekly menu and some pretty crazy combinations.
On this visit I couldn't resist the 'Licka my Snicka' (head out of the gutter people!) a combination of milk chocolate gelato, peanut nougat, salted caramel cream and a peanut butter filled syringe. The place was absolutely heaving with people, and the workers were all very efficient and friendly despite the crazy crowd. I did have to wait a little while for my gelato, understandably as it's all made on the spot and it was just so busy! No where to be in a hurry it gave me time to watch them at work, which was really interesting.. they would put the liquid base into these huge mixers and add in the 'add ins' then pour in the nitrogen which would release a cloud of 'steam' and solidify the mix.
When my name was called I headed to the back of the store to enjoy my sugary afternoon pick me up. The seating was all wooden crates and artificial turf which was fun, the store had a funky decor and chilled feel to it. Now the gelato itself... super creamy and smooth very soft compared to other gelatos I've had but not in a negative way. The texture was really unique... kind of moussey but not a melty mess. The nougat pieces were a-plenty and added a great chewy factor, whilst the salted caramel swirled through the cream was noticeable but not sickeningly so. The peanut butter was obviously my favourite part (peanut butter addicts anonymous anyone?), salty and thick it combined with the other flavours perfectly when squeezed through the gelato! Another awesome food experience on my trip, I only wish we had one in Adelaide because it was delicious, unique and the weekly updates on Facebook always sound so amazing!
Ricepaper Vietnamese
Last dinner with the comedian I was working with and we met up for cheap eats down the road from the show's venue at Ricepaper Vietnamese. This was a random whats around choice, and was definitely a decent find. It had your usual cheap, Asian eatery feel, a hustle bustle kind of atmosphere and quick brisk service, however the food was great value for money and was pretty tasty as well.
My friend ordered the chicken and rice, and said it was a good version of this dish. I didn't try any but the portion was generous and everything looked fresh and appetising.
I ordered the combination Pho, I had been craving something warm and comforting for dinner and this certainly hit the mark. Slightly different to other Phos I've had as it was shredded chicken breast and rare and cooked thinly sliced beef, I usually go the beef combination. There was a good meat-noodle balance and the serve was very big for the $10ish it cost me. The broth was a little on the bland side, but wasn't too salty or spicy. All the meat was tender and plenty of the usual sides were provided (coriander etc).
We ordered an entree to share which included vermicelli noodles, lettuce, Vietnamese sausage, spring rolls, and some other items I can't remember the names of. This was perfect for two people, and everything was really tasty, not greasy and with good flavours. Only downside is this didn't come out until after our mains, but nothing unusual at a diner like this one. Definitely a good option for some cheap, filling and tasty Vietnamese food in the Melbourne CBD, but if your looking for something with a little more wow factor there are plenty of other places to try out around the corner in Chinatown.
Bowery to Williamsburg
Last day in Melbourne I headed out to grab a late brunch at an American influenced cafe called Bowery to Williamsburg. This place is known for its Reuben and I had all intentions of eating this with a side of Mac and Cheese, unfortunately for me they don't start serving these until 11am and this was going to be too late for me to get my bus to the airport! So I ordered from the breakfast menu... settling on a cappuccino and a bagel. This place had a really nice atmosphere to it, modern, hip and spacious with a slightly old school deli kind of feel.
The wait staff were a little impatient with me I think, I took a while pondering the breakfast menu (because I wasn't prepared I wasn't sure what I felt like, I just assumed I was going to have a Reuben) and they kept coming back to see if I was ready to order. They weren't busy so I'm not sure why in such a rush to take my order, but a minor criticism really.
When I did order I didn't wait too long for my meal and my coffee and bagel were brought out pretty much at the same time which is great, as it allowed me to enjoy a hot coffee while I ate. The coffee was well made, great froth, a good strong flavour and not overly milky. A Hershey's chocolate kiss on the side made this that little bit special as well.
This place has a decent range of bagels to choose from, and for $5 you get to pick one with a 'schmear' of your choice (and there are a lot to choose from) damn good value for a light breakfast! The bagels are made by 5 and dime, a Melbourne bagel company and are hand crafted boiled and baked. I went with a sour cherry bagel and a lemon cheesecake schmear. The bagel itself was perfectly toasted, nice golden outside, soft and slightly chewy texture and plenty of juicy cherry pieces throughout. I very rarely eat bagels, but I've been converted to finding something just as amazing in Adelaide, as this bagel was just so delicious. The cheesecake schmear, well I scraped the board clean. It was sweet with a slightly tart taste, a really distinct lemon flavour and a creamy smooth texture. The cherry and lemon was seriously a great combination. There was also way more than enough for spreading on the bagel (I actually ate half with my spoon!). Even though this wasn't what I was hoping to try here it was a really quality, light and tasty breakfast. If I lived in Melbourne I'd eat this on a regular basis. Overall I really liked this cafe, next time I'm in Melbourne I will be making sure I head in for lunch as I am desperate to try out the Rueben, if it's anywhere near as good as the bagel (which despite it's simplicity was executed extremely well) I think I may never leave!
Starbucks
A review of Starbucks.. yes this is happening. I know they are a huge coffee chain and I know it isn't the most amazing life changing unique coffee going around but we don't have one in Adelaide. (To be honest I had NEVER had a Starbucks in my life.. despite my travels in the UK and America). So while I waited for my bus to the airport I grabbed myself one of their limited edition frappes.. a mocha cookie crumble with whipped cream. When I was at my largest I had a huge soft spot for Gloria Jeans cookies and cream and tim tam frappes (I actually can't recall the last time I had one...it would have had to have been right back in 2011 when I had just started my weight loss journey), but this...well this was 100X better. It was super thick with cookie pieces, a really strong mocha hit and so much whipped cream! It was calorific, sugary, caffeine perfection. I'm glad I finally tried this place out, not only so I can say I have had a Starbucks but because I actually really enjoyed this drink/snack, it was much tastier then I expected.
Healthy Habits
Last Melbourne eats consisted of airport food, however this airport food was pretty delicious. I wandered around looking for something filling but 'healthier' after my frappe at Starbucks and found Healthy Habits, a sandwich and salad chain restaurant that do a range of 'set' options and allow you to 'design your own'. I decided to design my own toasted sandwich which was made of wholemeal bread, mayonnaise, swiss cheese, lettuce, cucumber, capsicum, onion and roast beef. The small dining area was clean and tidy, the service was super quick and the lady at the counter was friendly.
My sandwich was delightful, I really can't complain for a takeaway kind of meal. The meat was really delicious, tender and juicy. They actually cut it from a large beef roast sitting in a warmer, and weren't stingy with the amount as you can see! Your typical salad options, however the sandwich was generously filled and all the ingredients were fresh and crisp. If your looking for a quick healthy option with a decent price tag at Melbourne airport this is my pick of the bunch.
So, that was my Melbourne food adventure, a weekend of memories and fun times that won't be forgotten anytime soon. I was so sad to leave for so many reasons, the people, the Comedy Festival, the new friends and Melbourne city living were all just amazing. Melbourne has to be one of my favourite cities and I cant wait to go back and try out some of the places I just couldn't get to this time around!
