Restaurant Review: Afghan Masala

Location: 247 Thomas Street, Dandenong
Phone: 03 9791 2226
Link: http://www.afghanmasala.com.au/
Cuisine: Afghan
Overall Impression: 6/10

I recently had a conversation with a taxi driver who informed me that Dandenong has amazing Afghani food. According to him, all I had to do was visit “any” Afghan restaurant in Dandenong and it would be great. So, when J and I found ourselves in Dandenong on our drive back from Mount Martha, we knew we had to stop by for some Afghan cuisine.

We walked along Thomas Street, stumbled upon Afghan Masala and decided to venture in. 

The restaurant menu is divided into Indian and Afghan cuisine. We ordered a few things to share from the Afghan cuisine section and were both very pleased with the food we received. 

Of particular note was our eggplant with minced beef dish. It was an explosion of delectable flavours. The eggplant was succulent and delicious. 

Our meal ended on a sweet note with a selection of desserts from the counter. These were by far the best Indian/Afghan sweets we have ever had. Everything tasted incredibly fresh.

Afghan Masala is a lovely Afghan/Indian restaurant that serves honest food – simple and to the point. The service is warm and friendly and the menu is very reasonably priced.

Restaurant Review: Beasley's Tea House

Location: 196 Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte
Phone: 03 9844 1777
Link: http://www.beasleysteahouse.com.au/ 
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch, Modern Australian, Coffee
Overall Impression: 7/10 

Set within a nursery in leafy Warrandyte, Beasley's Tea House is a welcoming restaurant that exudes an air of calm and tranquillity.

The dining area is furnished tastefully in a casual and simple style, with wooden furniture and a view of the beautiful nursery fostering a feeling of warmth and cosiness. 

This is further reinforced by the friendly and courteous service.

The menu comprises many breakfast favourites and delicious lunch options, along with Merle Beasley's famous scones. 

The steak was excellent. It was perfectly cooked (medium) and was paired with a delicious red wine jus and lovely wilted spinach. This was a simple dish that was perfectly executed - delicious. 

The fish tasted incredibly fresh and was again cooked to perfection – tender, juicy and full of flavour. Each element on the dish complemented the other. It was lovely. 

The desserts from the counter were of a similar high standard.   

The carrot cake was a particular standout. The cake was moreish, moist, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured as a result of the ground walnuts. 

The flourless orange cake had a delightful tartness and was again, very moist. 

Beasley's Tea House over delivers in every respect. The ambience is relaxed, the service courteous and the food is simple, very well priced and perfectly executed.

 

Restaurant Review: Fu Long

Location: 942 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Phone: 03 9890 7388
Cuisine: Chinese
Overall Impression: 5/10 

Fu Long continues to draw in the crowds because of its value for money proposition. The yumcha carts are filled with generous serves of dumplings and other deep-fried favourites that are all very well priced. 

Both the food and the service is of a relatively good standard. 

In their a la carte menu section, is their lobster noodles that are served with plump lobsters and more than enough noodles. Again, at lower than average Chinese restaurant prices.

So, if you feel like getting bang for your buck, Fu Long might just hit the spot!

The Wise Tapas Bar & Restaurant Launch

Location: 173 High Street, Prahan
Phone: 03 9533 7791  
Link: http://thewise.com.au/ 
Cuisine: Spanish, Breakfast, Coffee, Tapas 

Located just off iconic Chapel Street, The Wise is Prahran’s newest tapas bar and café. 

Gastrology bloggers were privileged to attend the launch of The Wise last night.

The venue resembles an old study, a professor’s office if you like, with walls endowed with posters of academic greats like Albert Einstein and Leonardo DaVinci. 

Old newspapers, typewriters and academic memorabilia dispersed throughout add to the vibe of the place. 

The painted ceiling is littered with famous scholastic quotes from philosophers and poets of yester year. 

During the day, The Wise is the perfect scene for interesting conversation over organic fair trade coffee (made by the Barista, Bobby) or a relaxing Sunday brunch with the family. 

At night, the mood lighting creates a funky vibe and The Wise transforms into a sexy bar with a cocktail menu that will tempt any scholar, philosopher or poet. 

The Wise’s tapas menu is delightful and allows you to select dishes from around the globe. 

The tapas menu ranges from Andalusian Pescado, Pollo al Chilindron to traditional Spanish Paella. 

Jessica Dalziell and Gregory Young

Owners Jessica Dalziell and Gregory Young are clearly passionate about the business and source products of the finest quality for use in their kitchen. 

The Wise is certainly an exciting new addition to Prahran’s culinary scene.

Images courtesy of Anthony Licuria of APL Photography 

 

Cafe Review: 2Pocket Fairtrade Espresso Bar

Location: 277 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Link: http://www.twopocket.com.au/
Cuisine: Coffee, Bakery, Organic
Overall Impression: 6/10

2Pocket Fairtrade Espresso Bar and Store is one of Melbourne’s most exciting new cafes. With the aim of supporting disadvantaged producers improve their lives through business and commerce, this cosy little café has an ambience as lovely as its purpose.

The signature coffee blend is velvety and nutty with a brilliant aroma. I highly recommend their long macchiato. However, if you like your coffees milkier, you will find that they do an excellent cappuccino as well.

Cappuccino

Hot Chocolate

Certainly worth a visit!

Cafe Review: Snow Pony

Location: 95 Whitehorse Road,  Deepdene (Balwyn)
Phone: 03 9816 8911
Link: http://www.snowpony.com.au/
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch, Modern Australian, Organic
Overall Impression: 5.5/10

Snow Pony is a trendy little café in Balwyn.

The menu features brunch and lunch items alongside a few sweets (of particular note is their famous banana bread with coffee mascarpone and crushed pistachios).

Spiced roasted cauliflower, chickpeas and organic quinoa salad with almonds and feta

Slow cooked shoulder of lamb with carrot and mint salad, harissa dressing, grilled flatbread

While the food is generally of a good standard, the service can range from friendly to downright rude which is a real pity. 

Review: Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat & The Argus Dining Room

Location: 124 Main Road, Hepburn Springs
Phone: 03 5348 4199
Link: http://www.theargusdiningroom.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian

Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat is located in and amongst scenic Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges.

The surroundings are serene, making it the perfect venue for a relaxing weekend away. 

In terms of foodie delights, the Argus Dining Room which is located within the grounds of Peppers Mineral Springs retreat boasts delicious Modern Australian fare with a focus on freshly sourced regional produce. 

I was fortunate enough to enjoy a lovely dinner catered by The Argus Dining Room at the Conservatory. 

Tartar of salmon, with olive and green apple 

Istra smoked ham hock, 63 degree egg and pea soup 

Wild Barramundi fillet, black bean, asparagus and hollandaise 

Birch Estate Lamb 2 ways, heirloom carrots, salted lemon and garlic 

Buttermilk, rhubarb, strawberries, cracked pepper

Honey poached pears, ginger bread, pollen, royal jelly and honeycomb 

The dining experience was very pleasant. Each dish showcased local produce that was executed very well. We were impressed by the good balance of flavours and nicely added textures that came with every course.

Restaurant Review: Gekkazan @ GPO

Location: 28g Postal Lane, 350 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 7767
Cuisine: Japanese, Vegetarian, Sushi
Overall Impression: 8/10

From the people that brought you Kenzan on Flinders Lane, Gekkazan @ GPO is a delight.

The menu features the most authentic and fresh tasting Japanese food which justifies the slightly dearer prices.

I can never go past the spider sushi – the crispy morsels of tempura soft shell crab are to die for. 

The only downfall is its popularity. It is almost impossible to get a seat during the weekday lunch hour rush but if you don’t mind takeaway, Gekkazan certainly delivers. 

WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO 'AROUND AUSTRALIA IN SIX WINES' AT CHADSTONE!

To celebrate Chadstone running Masterclasses from February 15 – 17, 2013, Gastrology and Chadstone are giving away one double pass to AROUND AUSTRALIA IN SIX WINES which will be presented By Ben Knight of benandwine & Boutique Le Vin. 

This Masterclass will allow you to taste your way around Australia. Take your senses from the Limestone Coast to the Barossa, the Yarra Valley to Margaret River and many more wine regions!

As part of this giveaway, you will receive  x1 double pass to attend AROUND AUSTRALIA IN SIX WINES on Friday the 15th of February 2013 from 6-7pm at Chadstone (Lower Level, Outside Lindt, Chadstone The Fashion Capital). 

For your chance to win the two tickets, email us at gastronomicalgastrology@gmail.com by 1pm Wednesday the 13th of February 2013 with your name, preferred email and your favourite wine variety!

Restaurant Review: Chin Chin

Location: 125 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Phone: 03 8663 2000
Link: http://www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au/ 
Cuisine: South East Asian, Thai
Overall Impression: 6/10

Chin Chin Restaurant needs no introduction. Its increasing popularity is clear for all to see. With their no booking policy (all groups of less than 10 people are on a walk in basis), avid fans are willing to wait for up to 2 hours to indulge in their delicious South-East Asian fare. 

Alice, KM and I headed down to Chin Chin for dinner on a Sunday night where the wait wasn’t at all reduced. After an hour, we received a text message saying our table was ready. 

The menu encourages sharing and features a variety of South East Asian hawker food. As expected, the food was a delight to indulge in. 

Chin Chin pork “roll ups” Red braised suckling pig with pancakes, slaw and sour herbs

Spicy hot green papaya salad with chargrilled red chilli, prawn floss and peanuts

Green curry of grilled chicken with salted duck eggs and Thai basil

Everything tasted fresh and had beautiful flavours. Despite the menu items having been tweaked and modernised in comparison to their original counterparts, the dishes retained authentic South East Asian characteristics. 

Crispy skinned duck, pickled cucumber & ginger salad with sesame salt and fresh lemon

Grilled banana roti bread with sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon sugar

GoGo bar

Leading the way for Modern South East Asian cuisine, Chin Chin Restaurant satisfies Melbourne’s lust for spicy and flavoursome street food. While the value for money proposition is questionable, my dining experience was thoroughly enjoyable. However, the no booking policy and resultant queues mean, unfortunately, I will have to think twice before returning.

Foodie Masterclasses at Chadstone

Chadstone is running Masterclasses from February 15 – 17, 2013. This series of hands-on cooking classes allows participants to learn how to create restaurant quality dishes at home thanks to the help of Celebrity Chef Martin Boetz of Longrain, Chris Badenoch from Masterchef and Chadstone Fresh Food and Dining Chefs.

Chadstone has invited Gastrology to attend one of these Masterclasses and we will be blogging about that class very soon!

For more information visit http://www.chadstoneshopping.com.au/febmasterclasses/

Restaurant Review: Noodle Kingdom

Swanston Street Noodle Kingdom 
Location: 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9650 1818
Cuisine: Chinese, Noodle Shop, Vegetarian
Overall Impression: 6/10 

Russell Street Noodle Kingdom
Location: 175 Russell Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9654 2828
Cuisine: Chinese, Noodle Shop, Vegetarian
Overall Impression: 4/10

I’ve had unpleasant experiences at the Russell Street Noodle Kingdom. Simply put, the staff were miserable, the food was below average and I remember waiting unreasonably long for my food to arrive. As a result, I was particularly sceptical when my friends told me that the Swanston Street Noodle Kingdom is one of their favourite lunch time spots. 

I’m happy to say that my fears (while reasonably grounded, given the Russell Street Noodle Kingdom) were alleviated very quickly by my visit to Swanston Street Noodle Kingdom. 

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The service was prompt. The noodle dishes tasted fresh and the dumplings were of a reasonably good standard. 

The menu provides the soundest bang for your buck – the servings are generous and every dish is around the $10 mark. While this is also true of the Russell Street restaurant, the Swanston Street Noodle Kingdom is miles ahead. So, don’t let a bad experience from the Russell Street restaurant deter you from visiting the one on Swanston Street!

Cafe Review: Giddiup

Location: 269 Coventry Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9682 8820
Link: http://giddiupcafe.com/
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch
Overall Impression: 6/10

Giddiup is an excellent little cafe that manages its tiny space very well. With an ambience of a modern art gallery, the space is comfortable and relaxed. The coffee is lovely and the staff members are friendly.

Recipes: Australia Day-inspired High Tea

J and I were recently at Highpoint’s fresh food market to get ingredients for an Aussie High Tea with friends. Instead of the traditional three tiers, silver cutlery and delicate china, our version of an Aussie High Tea was made up of lamb (which we bought from Highpoint’s Melbourne Fresh Meats), chocolate scones, carrot cake and most importantly, we replaced tea with beer.

The chocolate scones in particular were a massive hit. The following are the recipes from our pre-Australia Day Aussie High Tea.

Recipe: Chocolate Scones

Ingredients

• 150 ml cream (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
• 200g good quality dark chocolate, chopped
• 20g butter 
• 1 organic egg (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
• 1 3/4 cups self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
• Pinch of salt

Makes 8 scones.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Line a tray with baking paper. Spray some olive oil on the baking paper and dust it with regular flour.

In a small bowl whisk the cream, egg, and vanilla extract together.

In a large bowl, mix the flour, melted chocolate, sugar and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is crumbly. Mix all the ingredients together until a dough forms.

Shape the dough into balls. You should be able to make about 8 balls. Place these balls on the baking tray. Dust flour on top of all the scones.

Bake for about 20 minutes or until they are firm on the outside but soft in the centre. A toothpick inserted into the centre will come out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Recipe: Carrot cake 

Ingredients

• 125g self-raising flour 
• 3/4 cup brown sugar 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten (from Yes It's Fresh Deli)
• 2 cups grated carrot (from the Highpoint Fruit and Vegetable Market)
• 60g roughly chopped walnuts (from John's Nuts)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and grease an 18cm spring form tin.

Mix flour, sugar and spice. Ad oil and eggs and mix just until combined.

Stir in carrot and walnuts. Spoon into prepared tin and bake for 40 to 60 minutes.

Cool in tin before turning out.

Recipe: Australia Day Marinated Lamb

This recipe came to us courtesy of Highpoint’s Melbourne Fresh Meats.

This BBQ marinade works with everything from lamb chops, to lamb roasts, lamb kebabs and tender lamb back-straps.

Marinade Base

To make the marinade base finely chop an onion and mix with 1/4 of a cup of white vinegar,2 teaspoons of salt and a splash of olive oil

For best results marinate overnight but at a minimum an hour or two will be fine.

Marinade Options

Then add your favourite combination of herbs and spices. The following are some of our favourites:

• the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 2 sprigs of rosemary and 1 clove of crushed garlic (we used this for our lamb roast which is pictured below!)
• 1/2 cup of chopped parsley and a teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of ground coriander and 1 small chopped finely fresh chill (optional)

(Note: all these measurements are for 1 kg of lamb so for more lamb just multiply the amount you have!)

Highpoint tip! 

Do your Australia Day shopping this Friday at Highpoint! Highpoint will be running Australia Day cooking demonstrations in the Fresh Food Market with Rob Monteau on Friday 25 January at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. Rob will be cooking up an Aussie-inspired feast including BBQ prawns, lamb kebabs, porterhouse steak salad and BBQ chicken ideas.

Gastrology received a $50 voucher to spend at the new Fresh Food Market 

to create our Australia Day recipes

Restaurant Review: Darac Bar and Grill

Location: 51 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9662 2441
Cuisine: Korean, Japanese
Overall Impression: 6.5/10 

Hidden along A’Beckett Street in what appears to be an old warehouse, lies Darac - a trendy little eatery serving Modern Korean cuisine.

The décor at Darac is eclectic and quirky. The environment is relaxed and the service is prompt and friendly.

Chicken Bibimbab 

Beef Bulgoki 

Teriyaki Chicken 

Unagi Don 

The Darac menu is well-priced with most dishes under the $15 mark and the servings are generous. We found the food of a good standard – simple and packed with flavour.

Yakult Soju

The bar serves delicious soju-based cocktails which are a delight. I ordered a Yakult soju cocktail which was lovely with its milky undertone and slight twang.

 

Restaurant Review: Sails on the bay

Location: 15 Elwood Foreshore, Elwood
Phone: 03 9525 6933
Link: http://www.sailsonthebay.com.au/ 
Cuisine: Seafood, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 8/10

Sails on the bay is quite the function venue. Mere minutes from Melbourne CBD, the venue is situated upon beautiful Elwood beach and Foreshore Reserve. 

Ravioli of blue eye, crab and ginger, wakame, lemongrass and mirin

Crispy pork belly, sweet potato mash, baby spinach, caramelised soy and ginger dressing 

Mustard and herb crusted sirloin of beef (med-rare), red wine sauce and boulangere potatoes

Grilled Snapper fillet, shiitake and ginger soy broth, bok choy and green beans, crushed potato with soft herbs

Baked lemon tart, fruit compote and cream

The food served at the function was of a great standard. Each dish was executed very well and the service was faultless.

J and I were at Sails on the bay recently and enjoyed how the large glass walls allowed us to bask in the beautiful summer sunset. 

Sails on the bay is certainly one of the best function venues we’ve experienced in a long time!

Restaurant Review: Sezanas Coffee Shop

Locations: 247 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne and 428 Toorak Road, Toorak
Phone: 03 9699 5775
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Desserts, Burgers
Overall Impression: 6/10

Sezana’s has the best Mini Dutch pancakes (poffertjes) in town. Served piping hot with vanilla ice cream and drizzled generously with Maple syrup, these little morsels of heaven were to die for.

What a lovely cafe for coffee and sweet treats!

Restaurant Review: Shanghai Master Dumpling

Location: 173 King Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9077 0919
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Overall Impression: 6/10

Even though Shanghai Master Dumpling is more "amateur" than "master", it is still a dumpling eatery that is worth a visit.

The dumplings and noodles are of a good standard and quite tasty. All in all, this is a pretty good dumpling and noodle restaurant with menu prices that will not break the bank. 

Eat the Australian Coat of Arms for Australia Day!

R and I tasted the most Australian of all burgers today at Grill’d...

To celebrate Australia Day, Grill’d has created the world’s first ‘Coat of Arms’ burger (that we know of) allowing hungry Australians to eat their national emblem.

The unique burger features a delicious blend of lean kangaroo and emu, along with a host of other premium Australian-sourced ingredients - including award-winning Meredith Dairy goats cheese, bush tomato relish, quandongs (which are a unique native Australian fruit) and native thyme mayo. 

As is the norm at Grill’d, the Coat of Arms burger is created using the best quality ingredients and we are glad to report that it tastes spectacular! 

The burger has well balanced flavours. The kangaroo and emu pattie is tender and juicy (and only contains 1% fat). The goats cheese is luxurious and decadent. The tartness from the fresh beetroot brings about the perfect hint of acidity. And then there are the quandongs – what a lovely addition! The quandongs are uniquely sweet with distinct herbal flavours that complement the creamy thyme mayo. This is certainly a burger that celebrates Australia.

To try the new ‘Coat of Arms’ burger you’ll need to get down to Grill’d on Little Bourke Street (as it is the only Grill’d restaurant in Victoria serving this new Aussie burger) between the 19th to the 31st of January and be one of the first 50 people to order it on any one of those days! For more information check out: http://www.grilld.com.au/coa.

Special thanks to Paul from Grill’d for his hospitality, and for enthusiastically explaining the interesting concept behind the burger. 

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Grill’d.

Cafe Review: Silo by Joost

Location: 123 Hardware St Melbourne
Phone: 03 9600 0588
Link: http://byjoost.com/silo/
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 8.5/10

Tucked away on Hardware Street, directly opposite The Hardware Societe, Silo by Joost is quickly becoming one of J and I’s favourite Melbourne cafes. 

Silo by Joost is a project by eco-friendly entrepreneur Joost Bakker. Whilst very cosy, Silo by Joost makes excellent use of the available space and does not waste an inch. Plant branches dangle from the ceiling and there is a clear focus on the use of wooden furnishings. 

The kitchen is entirely open to the dining area, enabling you to watch the chef work his magic in great detail. The result is a wonderful space that feels intimate but not cramped. 

In keeping with the theme of minimising wastage, the menu has been designed to utilise every part of the ingredients used. 

We love when simple food is cooked perfectly with great care and attention, and this is exactly what we experienced at Silo by Joost. The beef was cooked to perfection – amply charred on the outside and pink on the inside. The beetroot salad was moreish and balanced. Both dishes had expertly judged textural elements lending greater complexity. 

Silo by Joost is a wonderful new cafe that over delivers on all fronts. The love and attention that has gone into everything, from the food to the decor, is readily apparent. We can't wait to return and enjoy another lazy afternoon here.