Restaurant Review: Garamerica

Location: 230 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9696 2192
Cuisine: Indonesian
Overall Impression: 7/10

Garamerica dishes up authentic Indonesian cuisine with friendly service.

The food is tasty and the menu is incredibly well priced. This restaurant is a neighbourhood hidden gem and is well loved for good reason.

Gloria Swanston's Kitchen new menu launch @ Lounge

Location: 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 2916
Link: https://www.facebook.com/gloriaswanstonskitchen
Cuisine: American

Gastrology bloggers were privileged by an invitation to attend Gloria Swanston’s new menu launch. The restaurant is named after Gloria Swanston, an American model, actress, and dancer whose number one passion was food.

Embodying the vivacious Gloria Swanston, the menu is undeniably comfort food - hearty and tasty.

Our favourite items from the new menu include Gloria’s delightful mac & cheese balls with bacon & spicy aioli which are arguably the perfect cure for the strongest of hangovers, the deliciously tender Crispy Kentucky chicken bites with house-ranch dipping sauce and the beautiful slow roasted pulled Porky pig slider.

 

Dine Hear Cafe Review: Coin Laundry

Location: 61 Armadale Street, Armadale
Phone: 03 9500 1888
Link: http://www.coinlaundrycafe.com.au/
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch
Overall Impression: 7/10

Coin Laundry's name pays homage to the good old days of self-service laundries, where people met (and even fell in love) and life was a little simpler.

My mum, sister and I decided to brunch at this lovely Armadale cafe before going hunting for my wedding dress just around the corner on High Street. The café has a casual and contemporary interior, dominated by rustic-looking wooden furnishings and light surfaces.

Also lovely, were the wait staff who were warm, friendly and attentive. 

We were presented with beautiful food that was fresh, delicious and prepared with obvious love and attention. 

Overall, Coin Laundry delights with delicious, honest food, delightful staff and a modern, chic ambience. The three of us truly enjoyed our brunch and cannot wait to return. 

How does Coin Laundry sound? 

We visited Coin Laundry for brunch on a Saturday. Even though it was packed to the brim, the sound in the cafe could best be described as the relaxed hum of friends and family welcoming the weekend. The ever present hissing and tapping from the barista working his magic added energy to the ambience. 

How does your favourite restaurant sound? 

Dine Hear is calling all diners & restaurant lovers for a chance to win 1 of 3 iPad minis! 

Do you have a favourite restaurant that would be even better if only you could hear? If so… 

• Tell Dine Hear in 25 words or less why you love your restaurant 
• Rate your restaurant’s sound 

The three most creative answers will win an iPad mini! Entries close 11:59pm AEST on the 31st July 2013. Winners will be notified via phone and email on 1st and 2nd of August.

Dine Hear Restaurant Review: D.O.C. Pizza & Mozzarella

Location: 295 Drummond Street, Carlton
Phone: 03 9347 2998 , VIC 3053
Link: http://www.docgroup.net/
Cuisine:  Italian, Pizza
Overall Impression: 9/10

Named D.O.C. after ''denominazione di origine controllata'' (an identification given to food product meeting the requirements of production in a certain region of Italy), the pizzas at D.O.C are as authentic as you can get in Melbourne.

Pizza ai Porcini c/ wild mushrooms, truffle oil & mozzarella in bianco

As expected from a restaurant of this calibre, D.O.C is very popular. With their no bookings policy it can be a little painful securing a table, but once you are seated, the pain of queuing quickly subsides. D.O.C. is without doubt one of the best pizzerias in Melbourne. 

Pizza Salsiccia c/ Leo s sausage, crema di broccoli e mozzarella 

The delicately thin crusts have the perfect balance between crispiness and chewiness and the expertly judged toppings are always impeccable. The bases are never soggy – something which unfortunately cannot be said for many of the other gourmet pizzerias around Melbourne. 

Pizza Tiger Prawns c/ tomato, mozzarella, endive, fresh chilli 

Every pizza on the menu is delicious - a particular standout is the beautiful prawn and chilli pizza. 

Sweet pizza c/ Belgian white chocolate & fresh strawberries

For dessert, it is hard to go past D.O.C.'s white chocolate pizza, which is a level above the sweet pizzas on offer at other restaurants. Not only is it decadent, it is sophisticated.

D.O.C. continues to be a well-regarded Melbourne culinary institution. If you love pizzas, you’ll love D.O.C.

How does D.O.C. sound? 

D.O.C. is unashamedly Italian and proud. Echoing amongst the bustle of hungry diners is the sound of Italian wait staff chatting with patrons in strong Italian accents and calling out orders to each other in their sexy mother tongue. Expect the soundtrack from the D.O.C. dining room to take you on a wonderful journey to Italy, albeit just for the night. 

How does your favourite restaurant sound? 

Dine Hear is calling all diners & restaurant lovers for a chance to win 1 of 3 iPad minis! 

Do you have a favourite restaurant that would be even better if only you could hear? If so… 

• Tell Dine Hear in 25 words or less why you love your restaurant 
• Rate your restaurant’s sound 

The three most creative answers will win an iPad mini! Entries close 11:59pm AEST on the 31st July 2013. Winners will be notified via phone and email on 1st and 2nd of August.

Dine Hear Restaurant Review: Rose Garden BBQ

Location: 435 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9329 1560
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Barbecue
Overall Impression: 6.5/10

One of the most popular restaurants in Melbourne, Rose Garden BBQ is both cheap and cheerful. $10 goes a long way here and the service is friendly and prompt.

In terms of décor and ambience, it certainly favours functionality over aesthetics which goes hand in hand with  the honest and tasty offerings.

How does Rose Garden BBQ sound?

Despite being packed to the brim on a Friday night,  this bustling restaurant only had a moderate noise level in the dining room. There was a cacophony of voices chatting in the background and the occasional clashing of pots and pans coming from the kitchen. and of course, the sound of diners slurping their noodles. All in all, the noise level in Rose Garden BBQ adds to the energetic atmosphere and does not detract from conversations with your dining partners.

How does your favourite restaurant sound? 

Dine Hear is calling all diners & restaurant lovers for a chance to win 1 of 3 iPad minis! 

Do you have a favourite restaurant that would be even better if only you could hear? If so… 

• Tell Dine Hear in 25 words or less why you love your restaurant
• Rate your restaurant’s sound

The three most creative answers will win an iPad mini! Entries close 11:59pm AEST on the 31st July 2013. Winners will be notified via phone and email on 1st and 2nd of August.

Fire in the Bowl @ Oriental Tea House

Location: Gd 068/69 Melbourne Central Shopping Centre (Enter via Elizabeth St. entrance)
Phone: 03 9066 0207
Link: http://www.orientalteahouse.com.au/
Cuisine: Chinese

What has three serves of dumplings, sweet potato noodles, tofu skin, cabbage, pieces of chicken and fish and A TONNE of chilli and peppers…?

It’s Oriental Teahouse’s aptly named 'Fire in the Bowl’!

Peach Melba ice tea - to help us handle the heat

Calm & Concentration tea - to calm us down after the fiery experience

After the recent launch of Fire in the Bowl, Gastrology bloggers experienced the theatre of this truly hot pot and tested our spice tolerance a couple of days ago at Oriental Teahouse in Melbourne Central. 

Costing a mere $12.50 for a generous *hot* pot, you get to choose from three levels of heat – mild, medium or spicy! 

The hot pots are very tasty but be warned, the hua jiao (Szechuan Pepper) is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Fire in the Bowl is certainly all you would expect from an authentic Szechuan Hot Pot and we couldn’t help but go back for more!

 

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Oriental Tea House

Dine Hear Promotion

How does your favourite restaurant sound? Dine Hear is calling all diners & restaurant lovers for a chance to win 1 of 3 iPad minis!

Imagine proposing at a restaurant and she thought you said “Scary bee”.
Or yelling at your date because it’s the only way he can hear you.
Or ordering tofu and being served up beef.

Do you have a favourite restaurant that would be even better if only you could hear? If so…

• Tell Dine Hear in 25 words or less why you love your restaurant 
• Rate your restaurant’s sound 

The three most creative answers will win an iPad mini! Entries close 11:59pm AEST on the 31st July 2013. Winners will be notified via phone and email on 1st and 2nd of August.

Cafe Review: Bing Boy

Location: Melbourne Central
Phone: 03 9922 1100
Link: http://www.bingboy.com.au/stores/melbourne-central/
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Sandwiches/Subs

Bing Boy is a new urban Asian street food outlet which combines Asian and Western cuisines to create a new funky fresh style which is suitable for people of all ages.

Bing Boy serves wheat wraps with a distinctive Asian fusion flavour and has recently opened its second Melbourne store in Melbourne Central. The omelette wraps have a brilliantly distinctive soft texture are a great alternative to the traditional wraps that are commonly available.

Bing Boy is a great alternative to a fast food lunch, the exciting new food outlet provides a selection of “Bings” based on the traditional “Jian Bing” - a street food originating from China. The thin wheat omelette wraps are filled with a choice of fresh meat, fish, or vegetables – making them a healthy and an extremely tasty food choice.

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Bing Boy

Oyster Frenzy #7 @ Albert Park Hotel

Location: 83 Dundas Pace, Albert Park
Phone: 03 9690 5459
Link: http://www.thealbertpark.com.au/
Cuisine: Pub/Bar Food, Seafood, International

Gastrology bloggers joined Melbourne’s seafood enthusiasts at the Albert Park Hotel last Thursday to pay homage to Australia’s wonderful oysters in all of their briny glory at Oyster Frenzy #7.

Upon arrival, the mood was set by a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne provided to every guest. 

The Albert Park Hotel provided the perfect setting for this spectacularly indulgent, all you can eat celebration of the freshest mouth-watering molluscs from some of the best regions in Australia. 

Whilst every guest was there to slurp the freshly-shucked oysters, the event also showcased some of the finest and freshest produce the Albert Park Hotel has to offer. The seafood canapés were beautiful and complemented the oysters wonderfully. 

It was certainly a brilliant celebration of everything seafood. There was also a pop-up Cider Stall and James Squire Craft Beer Bar. 

The final number of oysters eaten on the night was a staggering 11,720! 

Get in before the frenzy's over! 

If you missed Oyster Frenzy this time, hope is not lost! The FINAL Oyster Frenzy at Albert Park Hotel is on Thursday the 22nd of August. Tickets cost $75 and include UNLIMITED oysters, Laurent Perrier on arrival, seafood canapés, unlimited Jansz wine and boutique beer. 

 

Images courtesy of Anthony Licuria of APL Photography.
Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of Albert Park Hotel. 

Restaurant Review: Nine Elephants

Location: 67 Village Street, Docklands
Phone: 03 9670 9909
Link: http://www.nineelephants.com.au/
Cuisine: Thai
Overall Impression: 6/10

Voted the #1 restaurant in Docklands on Urbanspoon (at the time of this blog post), Alanna and I were excited to dine at Nine Elephants. We both love Thai food and were keen to see if the restaurant would live up to its reputation.

One thing is for sure – a dining experience at Nine Elephants is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Our dishes were smacked full of spice. If you are not keen on spicy food, my advice is to let the chef know well in advance!

I was asked whether I would prefer my Tom Yum soup medium or spicy. When I chose “spicy”, I was warned that it would be “the real spicy”. Having asked for “extra spicy” at a lot of other Thai restaurants in Melbourne, I was confident I would be able to handle the spice just fine. I did not. It was a struggle albeit a tasty one. To be fair, I had been warned.

Apart from being the spiciest Tom Yum I have ever had, the noodles were tasty and full of flavour.

Alanna’s green curry had a nice balance of flavours and tasted very authentic.

We both thought the items on the lunch menu were very well priced. However, we both noticed that cheaper cuts of chicken meat that still had a lot of fat on them had been used in our dishes. 

Unfortunately, Nine Elephants did not live up to our high expectations. That is not to say that our experience of Nine Elephants was a negative one. 

The service was attentive and the ambience pleasant. Each dish was good, just not particularly special. The presentation of the dishes, much like the flavours, is conventional.

At the end of the day, it is the ambience and the service that impressed us the most at Nine Elephants.

Wine Baptism of Fire Launch

Gastrology bloggers attended the launch of The Wine Baptism of Fire last night. Wine Baptism of Fire is the first of its kind - a new winemaking competition for non-winemakers.

The competition gives wine lovers the chance to make wine from the best grapes and be mentored by the best, in a new city winery. 

From a list of over 50 applicants, five diverse finalists have been chosen to compete. The finalists now have the opportunity to make their own wine. The finished wines will be released through Vintage Cellars nationally in October, with the winner determined by the wine most popular with consumers. 

As expected from an event catered by the Melbourne Pub Group, the food was delicious. 

The wines at the launch were provided by the mentor wineries: Bannockburn, De bortoli, Mac Forbes, Port Phillip Estate, Save our souls, Shadowfax and Sutton Grange. 

Circa, The Prince and Young Guns of Wine are hosting a free public launch for The Wine Baptism on Saturday 29th June. Hosted in a pop up winery in the basement level carpark, the event will offer tasting glasses for $15 and Paul Wilson's Vietnamese sticky pork buns for $6. Tacos by Rafael Rashid from The Taco Truck and Beatbox Kitchen will also be available. DJ David Bowley, winemaker of Vinteloper and Young Guns of Wine finalist the past two years, will hit the decks.

What: Public launch of The Wine Baptism

Where: Prince of Wales, Carpark Basement 2 Acland St, St Kilda

When: Saturday 29th June, from 6pm

No bookings required.

Images courtesy of Anthony Licuria of APL Photography

Upcoming Event: Oyster Frenzy @ Albert Park Hotel

Melbourne’s seafood enthusiasts converge on the Albert Park Hotel to celebrate Australia’s best oyster varieties, in all their briny glory at Oyster Frenzy # 7.

Oyster Frenzy is a decadent celebration of the mouthwatering mollusc, where guests are invited – in fact encouraged – to slurp as many of the just-shucked delicacies as their deep sea heart’s desire!

Chef Paul Wilson and his team of shuckers are ready to break records, with 11, 670 the number to beat in 2013.

Get your shuck on with 2 events on Thursday 20 June and Thursday 22 August. Tickets cost $75 and include UNLIMITED oysters, Laurent Perrier on arrival, seafood canapés, unlimited Jansz, wine, and boutique beer.

 Price: $75.00
 Phone: (03) 9690 5459
 Book tickets!

Gastrology bloggers will be attending this exciting oyster celebration - stay tuned for our review of the event!

WTC Wharf - Progressive dinner

Located on Siddeley Street, nestled on the city-side banks of the Yarra River and adjacent to Crown Casino and South Wharf, WTC Wharf is fast becoming one of Melbourne's most exciting new precincts. We arrived at 6.30 pm for our progressive dinner - entree, main and dessert at 3 different restaurants!

The Yarra river waterfront provided a stylish backdrop for our foodie tour around 3 of WTC Wharf's restaurants - The Wharf Hotel, Byblos and Kobe Jones. The 3 restaurants are distinctly different - showcasing WTC Wharf's dining ability to tempt with a wide array of tastes.

The Wharf Hotel
Location: WTC Wharf, World Trade Centre 18-38 Siddeley Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 8680 6000
Link: http://www.wharfhotel.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Pub/Bar Food, Wine Bar

Our journey began at The Wharf Hotel. We were greeted warmly and seated at a cosy booth. 

The Wharf Hotel is a unique combination of a friendly local pub with a waterfront restaurant featuring stunning river views. Their wine list is a particular highlight, incorporating wines from 12 of Australia’s most famous wine producers. 

The interior draws influence from its maritime roots and the walls are adorned with images of early life in Melbourne and historical artefacts. The Wharf Hotel is a great dining (and drinking) destination that is infused with Melbourne history. 

Entree Platter

Five spice crispy calamari, chilli, coriander, shao tsing dressing Saganaki & carrot fritter, spicy yogurt Terrine of smoked pork hock & pistachio, rhubarb compote, pickles, house bread 

The entree platter at The Wharf Hotel was expertly crafted to celebrate the best of Victoria’s local and seasonal produce. There is a clear modern Australian influence on the food which is simple yet elegant.

Byblos
Location: WTC Wharf, World Trade Centre 18-32 Siddeley Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9614 6400
Link: http://www.byblosbar.com.au/melbourne/
Cuisine: Tapas, Wine Bar, Mediterranean

A short stroll along the boardwalk and we were at Byblos. 

Featuring modern Mediterranean meets Lebanese cuisine, Byblos Restaurant was a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. 

Mixed Grill Mains 

Your choice of four items from the Byblos Grill (we chose Lahim Meshwi, Shish Tawook, Kafta Meshwi and Samak Meshwi) served with hommos, tabouleh, vegetarian skewer and garlic sauce.  

Moghrabieh

A rustic staple of Lebanon, this combination of Lebanese style couscous and chick peas is slow cooked with onion and is mixed with pieces of lamb fillet and a tradition gravy, Finished with marinaded chicken tenderloin pieces. 

The Samak Harra, grilled fresh John Dory was a particular stand out. We loved the generous use of beautiful spices. Without exception, all of the meat in both dishes was cooked to absolute perfection.

Kobe Jones and Riverside Teppanyaki
Location: WTC Wharf, World Trade Centre G1638 Siddeley Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9329 9173
Link: http://www.kobejones.com.au/melbourne
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi, Vegetarian
  

Our final destination was Kobe Jones and Riverside Teppanyaki. 

We were seated at the teppanyaki dining area (which features the newest and largest teppanyaki table in Australia). 

Be warned, the cocktail menu is incredibly tempting. After much deliberation, we settled on the Kaitiki Dream and the Ko Ko Nut. 

Kaitiki Dream 

a HOT cocktail that is sure to warm you up on cold Melbourne nights – vanilla vodka, brandy, Frangellico and spiced coconut milk 

The Ko Ko Nut 

a coconut lover’s dream, with Malibu, ginger liqueur, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and a few other Kobe secrets 

Both cocktails were simply magnificent. We both agreed that he Ko Ko Nut was the best cocktail we have ever had. It was decadently creamy with an absolutely harmonious but complex blend of flavours - it was liquid indulgence at its best. 

Our progressive dinner ended on a fiery note with a delicious Crepe suzette which had been spectacularly flambéd with Grand Marnier in front of us. It was exciting to watch the chef’s cooking skills on display as he expertly prepared our dessert. 

Crepe Suzette 

Freshly made on the teppan, Sapporo beer crepe flambéed with Grand Marnier, then glazed with orange caramel sauce and served with French Vanilla bean ice cream

The crepes were beautifully thin and had the perfect level of sweetness, courtesy of the luxurious grand marnier sauce. 

Enjoy an assortment of international cuisines and delectable dishes with 3 courses from 3 different restaurants each Wednesday night at WTC Wharf for just $55 per diner. 

What: WTC Wharf Progressive Dinner 

When: every Wednesday night 

Time: 6.30pm and 7.30pm sittings 

Tickets: $55 per person 

Bookings: 03 9629 9228 or email laura@wtcmelbourne.com.au

Gastrology bloggers dined courtesy of WTC Wharf.

5 & Dime Bagels

Location: Varies
Phone: 0433 339 367
Link: http://www.5dimebagel.com.au/ and facebook
Cuisine: Bakery

Zev Forman, owner and baker of 5 & Dime, has set out to bring fresh New York style bagels to Melbourne.

His bagels are hand rolled and boiled which sets them apart from the regular Melbourne bagels that have been made by a machine and steamed to increase production. 

The resulting bagels have a fuller flavour and wonderful texture. While the bagels are not necessarily authentic and traditional, they most certainly are the real deal. 

The bagel types include sesame, poppy and cinnamon raisin, with the everything bagel (garlic, onion, sesame, poppy, sea salt and nigella) being our favourite! 

So far, these lovely bagels are sold at farmers' markets and to a few cafes. 

To find 5 and Dime Bagel's next location, check their website or Twitter feed. Private orders of over 12 bagels can also be arranged with 48 hours notice.

The bagels were delivered to Gastrology Bloggers courtesy of Zev Forman.

Cafe Review: Liar Liar

Location: 90 Kinkora Road, Hawthorn
Phone: 03 9818 8864
Link: http://www.liarliar.net.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch
Overall Impression: 7/10

G and I decided to catch up at Liar Liar, an extremely popular café just off Glenferrie Road. As it was late Sunday morning (the peak of brunch hour), there was a bearable 15 minute wait for a table. 

We loved the casual and relaxed ambience of the place. We each had coffees to start our morning and then again to finish our catch up – their house blend is fabulous!

The food served was of a good standard. I opted for an eggy breakfast that did not disappoint. 

Liar Liar serves (as its name suggests) deceptively simple food done well. The friendly staff and good coffee make it a perfect place for a casual brunch catch up. 

David's now delivering!

Location: 4 Cecil Pl, Prahran
Phone: 03 9529 5199
Link: davidsrestaurant.com.au
Cuisine: Chinese

As of the 5th of February, the iconic David’s restaurant does delivery. Whether you’re after a box of bao for the office, a snack of soft shell river prawns or a steaming bowl of sticky pork belly & chat potatoes for dinner, David’s delivers deliciousness to your door.

Gastrology bloggers recently received a delectable lunch delivery from David’s. It was exciting to receive what was a neatly packed parcel filled with delicious Chinese cuisine. 

Grandma’s 8: a spicy shanghai medley of scallop, shrimp, pork, chicken, chestnut, cashew, bamboo & shitake 

Mother-in-law’s fish stew of rockling in a spinach, ginger & garlic broth 

We loved that the delivery menu is the same as the restaurant’s a la carte menu (and also includes the chop chop menu). As big fans of David’s fantastic food and service, we were pleased to hear and taste that everything is cooked to order and promptly delivered. 

Osmanthus & red bean black sticky rice pudding

Currently delivering to Prahran, Windsor, South Yarra, Hawksburn, Armadale and Toorak with a 15% off restaurant prices, it is a wonderful and convenient way to experience David’s. The delivery is available for both lunch and dinner every day excluding Sunday lunch. 

Get David to bring Shanghai to your door this week with his delivery service! 

When: Monday to Sunday, lunch from 12pm, dinner from 6pm (Excludes Sunday lunch) 

Where: Prahran / Windsor / South Yarra / Hawksburn / Armadale / Toorak 

• 15% off takeaway
• $4 delivery fee 
• $25 minimum spend 
• For bookings please phone 03 9529 5199

Mexican Brunch @ ASC

Location: 2 Acland Street, St Kilda
Phone: (03) 9536 1175
Link: www.aclandstcantina.com.au
Cuisine: Mexican
Overall Impression: 9/10

Lovers of Mexican fare that are bored by regular brunch options will rejoice at the ability to enjoy brunch with a tasty Mexican twist.

As long term fans of Acland Street Cantina, we were delighted to discover that ASC's diner area is the perfect spot for a lazy brunch that is both tasty, satisfying and interesting. 

corn arepas rancheros style beans, pork belly, morcilla, chorizo poached or fried eggs 

The arepas were beautiful. Fluffy and moist on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside, they had a lovely grittiness from the ground corn. The egg whites were delicate and the yolk oozed out of the centre - perfect. The beans, pork belly and chorizo were delicious and worked beautifully together. 

milawa chook & corn quesadilla 

Described deceptively simply on the menu, this dish arrived with a vibrant quinoa and chickpea salad beside the wonderfully seasoned (including an ample dose of chilli!) chicken quesadilla. A very flavoursome dish. 

baja med bbq vegetable salad w. heirloom tomatoes, bbq vegetables, oregano, olives, cojita cheese lime & evoo dressing served w. grilled skirt steak 

The term "Baja Med" refers to the fusion of Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian flavours and accurately sums up this salad. It was fresh, interesting and bursting with flavour. 

spinach quesadilla, wild mushrooms, ezpazote & huitlacoche crema

A sophisticated take on the spinach and cheese quesa, this was wonderful. The deliciously grilled tortilla was a filled with a flavour explosion of wild mushrooms, spinach and a crema made from what has become one of our favourite ingredients, huitlachoche (Mexican truffle). 

café de olla 

We couldn't go pass the café de olla which is a traditional Mexican coffee. As expected, the coffee was sweet with a beautiful aromatic flavour courtesy of cinnamon and piloncillo - perfect for this winter weather! 

And even though it was just brunch, there was no way we were leaving without dessert! 

prickly pear, organic banana and salted caramel ice cream (also available to go) 

dulce de leche scrolls 

Whilst brunch venues in Melbourne are all the rage, most are serving the same tried and true dishes. For those seeking more interesting brunch options, ASC provides a compelling alternative. 

You might be interested in our Friday nights @ Acland Street Cantina post too.

Warm Up Winter campaign launched to support the 500,000 Victorians struggling to meet the cost of living

Foodbank Victoria has launched its Warm Up Winter campaign this month, aiming to raise $100,000 for the 500,000 Victorians struggling to meet the cost of living. 

Foodbank Victoria is the state’s oldest and largest food relief organisation that delivers nutritious, healthy food to people experiencing hardship. 

Foodbank estimates that 1,725,000 meals will be required to feed Victorians doing it tough this winter. 

Statistics   

• 526,700 Victorians are living below the poverty line 
• Approximately 90,000 of these people are children 
• 11.4% of people in Melbourne live below the poverty line 
• 12.9% of regional Victorians live below the poverty line 
• 29% of households in poverty had a wage earner as the main income 
• 25% of sole parent households are in poverty 

To help raise awareness of how urgently food is needed, Foodbank Victoria has partnered with JMC Academy to create a series of short films to launch the annual fundraising campaign. 

The short films, which can be viewed at Foodbank Victoria’s YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/FoodbankVictoria illustrate the individual stories of Victorian's living in crisis who rely on food relief for a regular meal, including single mothers, pensioners and individuals, who after paying the bills, may have less than $20 a week to feed themselves. The films also demonstrate how much work is involved to get food onto the plate, to highlight the growing need for financial assistance to continue to provide fresh produce to food agencies. 

Hollywood filmmaker and Producer of the upcoming Michael Hutchinson biopic Two World’s Colliding, Bobby Galinski, donated his wealth of experience to the students to capture the hardship experienced by so many Victorians on a daily basis. 

How the community can help

• Visit www.warmupwinter.org.au 
• Donate what you can to help feed Victorians living in crisis
• Share the short films via Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness of the work of Foodbank with the hashtag #warmupwinter

For more information, to donate and view the short films visit:

www.warmupwinter.org.au

Restaurant Review: Friends of mine

Location: 506 Swan Street, Richmond
Phone: 03 9428 7516
Link: http://www.friendsofmine.com.au/
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch, Coffee
Overall Impression: 6.5/10 

Friends of Mine is a popular eatery in Richmond. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, Friends of Mine is consistently packed with patrons.

The fittings and furnishings are modern and bright with white dominating, broken up by splashes of yellow and light wood. The café’s menu has a strong breakfast focus with a good range of lunch options (my favourite of these is the cauliflower, feta and chick pea salad). The food and coffee is of a good standard.

Restaurant Review: Crabapple Kitchen

Location: 659 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
Phone: 03 9078 5492
Link: http://www.crabapplekitchen.com.au/
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Mediterranean
Overall Impression: 7/10

I love lazy Sunday brunches. It's amazing what some good coffee and delicious breakkie can do.

Crabapple Kitchen can offer you exactly that. The service is prompt and friendly and the atmosphere is casual and relaxed.