Admittedly we are latecomers to Dinner by Heston; maybe it's the grudge I hold for not being able to secure places at the Fat Duck when it was in town! That's not true by the way; the grudge that is not the fact we weren't able to make it Fat Duck. The lack of Fat Duck in my life is very true and then there are those that made it more than once...the unfairness of life prevails...

Where was I? Yes, so I did have a reservation earlier in the year and it was going to be for my birthday lunch but it clashed with our tickets for the Aus Open so I postponed and so we ended up here on Saturday.

It's a bit strange as it's located next to the Crown Spa so as I enter I see people padding around in towels and bath robes but as we walk down the darkened corridor towards a light display, the white terry towelling we've just witnessed melts away. There's a moment of confusion as the automatic door slides open as there's the reality of the door but also its reflection. We find the right entrance as opposed to walking into the mirror and enter a light, bright, dining room that is elegant yet approachable. There appears to be a lot of wait staff but they're all ever so obliging. We're early but our table is ready and we're shown to seats with a window view of the city landscape.

The charcoal and teal uniforms with other variations are classy; there's a quiet calm about the place and it's all very understated but at the same time impressive.

There is a set lunch menu which we thought was well priced but it didn't have a lot of the things we wanted to try so we went a la carte. We also had to order the acclaimed Tipsy Cake then as it takes an hour for it to be ready.

• Meat Fruit (c.1500) | Mandarin, chicken liver parfait & grilled bread
• Savoury Porridge (c.1660) | Garlic & parsley butter, grilled abalone, picked beetroot & fennel

We start off in the same way as nearly all the other tables with that ubiquitous Meat Fruit. Endless wooden board after wooden board with perfect mandarins parade out of the kitchen with single slices of toast all with perfect char marks. The taster I had as it was Steve's Meat Fruit, which he made very clear, was creamy and dreamy, rich and without a glitch. The need for extra toast was anticipated before he was done with the first slice and more appeared. I don't think many decline extra bread as the mandarin is pretty hefty. I thought it might be too much, too rich but Steve declared he could do another so I guess not!

My Savoury Porridge was like a garden on a plate - so pretty, so fresh and green. I loved the fragrant garlic and herb notes and I don't like fennel but the curls of fresh fennel added crunch and sweetness contrasting the pickled tang of the beetroot. The abalone didn't add so much in flavour, more an additional chewy texture. I liked the lightness and brightness of this pretty plate.

Our main courses were:

• Lamb & Cucumber (c.1830) | Roast best end of lamb with cucumber heart, sweetbreads, broad beans, barilla & mint
• Black Angus Ribeye (c.1830) | Mushroom ketchup & fries

I was dubious whether there was enough lamb for Steve as the two pieces didn't look that big especially when the thick layer of fat was stripped off but he assured me there was thickness to the meat. I tried a bit and it was soft and sweet with great lamb flavours contrasted by the slightly tangy cucumber and a fresh minty gel. The sweetbreads were crumbed into two small balls of savoury crunchiness. This was like Spring on a plate.

The steak was so flavoursome but also tender not far off from a filet so best of both in terms of flavour and texture. The mushroom ketchup was HP sauce like in appearance with morsels of mushroom and I expected it to be spicy and tangy but it was actually just like ketchup. And when I was running low, I was offered more. The waitstaff are so observant and responsive! 

Triple cooked chips are actually a little wrinkly looking and not as appealing as they could be. They look a bit stale but they are super crunchy and moreish. Just not as pretty as everything else. The smaller ones are pure crunch with little filling but the bigger ones manage crispiness and potatoeyness much better.

Two little jugs of jus accompanied our plates of meat and boy that jus was good. Savoury and reminiscent of what gravy should be like; all we needed was Yorkshire pudding! We had side dishes of mash and cabbage with onion. The mash was perfect ripples of snowy silkiness hefty with cream and butter. Pure decadence, pure joy.

At this stage, once we'd enjoyed our main courses Steve and I had a quick reflection on our meal so far. Definitely a lot more restrained, understated and classical than we expected. Traditional and homely flavours but refined and made elegant. It's comfort without being rustic. Fine dining that is made familiar and oh so approachable.

At this stage we contemplate what happens after mains but upon the advice of our waitress we decide to indulge in the Tipsy Cake before plotting another path. And along said path we discover our bottle of wine is empty so we go for a half bottle. A weekend boozy lunch is such a good thing.

• Tipsy Cake (c.1810) | Spit roast pineapple
• The Cheese Board | British and Australian cheeses, pear chutney, oat cakes & seeded crackers
• Nitro Ice Cream Served Tableside

The Tipsy Cake arrives in all its fragrant glory - vanilla, butter, sugar and a touch of citrus with a hint of grown up booze. It's golden, it's beautiful. As the spoon squishes the soft brioche, golden rivers of speckled custard ooze out. It's sweet without being cloying, buttery without being heavy. And the piece of golden, roasted caramelised pineapple adds a tropical tang. I hadn't notice the roasting pineapples when we entered but Steve pointed out the medieval looking contraption and I could see the chain going round with the hand crank on the outside. Very cool!

On a sugar high we decide we can take on the cheese so we opt for a small serve and choose 4 out of about 8 different British and Aussie cheeses. The cheese is good and served with some tasty crackers.

And in a nod to the origins of molecular gastronomy of course we have to indulge in some nitrogen effects. A trolley with what looks like a cross between a Kitchen Aid and a Singer sewing machine arrives and our waiter cranks the churn to create two ice cream cones for us. The cones are made of fragile brik pasty (think one sheet of filo) rolled in fine sugar crystals and there's some strawberry compote spooned in to make the final mouthful a sweet treat. The ice cream is speckled with vanilla and so smooth and the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. We don't need it to be overly rich after the meal we've had so this light ice cream is the cloud like solution we need. And we get to choose two out of three intriguing toppings. I go with freeze dried raspberries and some apple popping candy. 

We've had a wonderful afternoon - window seats, deliciously well executed food and service that is exemplary. It's a true treat. It's expensive but I don't begrudge the bill - it's worth it. We're worth it!
​

Food order is taken efficiently and we find the service personable but not intrusive. It's pretty busy with lots of activity and a couple of tables close by are pretty loud. What is it with the need to screech and shout? Whilst it's a cosy and almost romantic setting, the noise levels this Saturday night and the fact that most tables were groups of four or more pretty much would eliminate this place as a great date venue. Maybe it's better when it's quieter so mid week might be more intimate.

Steve and I share:

• Sticky lamb ribs (unpictured)
• Sheep’s haloumi with peppered wild figs

Tim has the:

• Octopus, chick pea puree, chorizo, wild oregano

I think this dish is attractively presented which is hard to do with octopus.

The food is quite classic really but executed well. The haloumi and figs combo is as tasty as expected - salty, chewy cheese and then sweet, sticky fig and warming pepper notes. The lamb ribs were less sticky and more well roasted but tasty enough. I had lamb ribs on Thursday night at MeatMaiden and found them to be a little more generous is size and a touch tastier but this was still good.

Others round the table had steak tartare which was a generous portion and enough for two to share and some oysters appeared too.

The entrees did their job of gently expanding the tummies and whetting the appetite so we were ready for main courses which took a little time to come out but the chit chat and wine helped us while away the time.

Steve and I shared our main courses so we could get a taste of both:

• Lamb loin with eggplant puree and roasted tomato
• John Dee Flat rump cap, garlic puree, charred cucumber, café de Paris butter

Both cuts of meat were perfectly pink and blushing. The lamb was flavoursome and I thought the eggplant and tomato would make it a bit Mediterraneany but it didn't quite have that summery feel. It wasn't quite what I thought it would be and was more classical French than passionate Italian but still very enjoyable.

The steak was tender and I did enjoy the rareness of it although that did mean it wasn't quite warm enough to melt the butter into liquid droplets of gold and instead it remained thick and spread like.

We share all the side dishes on offer and particularly enjoyed the chargrilled zucchini. Not quite enough chips for the six of us and I think I ended up with one so might have been nice for the waiter to recommend another serve. But I made up for the lack of chips with dessert!

We hung out with Hank on Saturday afternoon with a bunch of friends for a birthday celebration. It's a good place for casual coming and going and people ordered food and drink as and when they wanted to. It's very self service; order at the bar, pick up food at the counter, help yourself to cutlery and condiments...

It's a fun environment; there's the smell of smoky BBQ in the air and the feel of good cheer. Steve and I shared a selection of food:

• Texan beef brisket
• Carolina chopped pork
• Kansas City pork ribs
• Pork sausage link
• Hot buffalo wings
• Macaroni cheese
• Home fries
• Brisket gravy

It all came on plastic tray ready for us to roll our sleeves up and dig in. The meat came in 100g serves at $10.50 each and there were 3 wings. Sides are $9 and big enough for 2 to share. The waitress implied that we might need more meat in spite of all that! And she wanted us to buy the special mash and gravy and she said it was amazingly good. Turns out there's a competition to see who could sell the most so I was kind of glad I didn't order it. I'm sure it would have been tasty but couldn't help but feel we were being sold to.

I enjoyed the wings and the brisket was tender and smoky. Steve found the chopped pork dry; I thought it was bland. Pork ribs was flavoursome but the meat had to be gnawed off the bone as it wasn't fall off the bone tender. Sausage was ok; the outer skin was tough. Macaroni cheese was a success and a pretty generous serve made all the more apparent after the tiny version I'd had on Thursday night at MeatMaiden. Highlight was the brisket gravy which is a thick white herby sauce with chunks of smoky brisket served in a tin beaker. Totally satisfyingly savoury with the fries.

Hank is a little exxy for a casual self service place but it's pretty tasty and a fun place to spend an afternoon. I'm open to an ongoing friendship with Hank.

• Spaghettini al Granchio - Spaghettini with spanner crab meat, garlic, chilli zucchini, cherry tomatoes, white wine and lobster bisque
• Lattuga e avocado - Iceberg salad, avocado, aioli, grated salted ricotta

Pizza was great; fresh tangy tomatoes, nice pizza base - doughy and chewy but not heavily so and the peppery rocket was a great accompaniment.

The spaghettini was al dente, just as I like it and the crab meat was sweet and there was a hint of warm chilli. Not sure where the bisque came in - perhaps it was a few tablespoons that kept it all juicy but not sloppy.

Salad was fresh and green with a hint of creaminess from the avocado and aioli. At least the top layers were fresh. The bottom layers were steeped in oil; too much oil, unpleasantly oily which was a shame as it showed much promise.

I enjoyed the food. I felt it was a touch over priced but then we were in Crown Casino so there's always a bit of a premium. I think it's a good option if at Crown for other reasons and a feed is required which was our situation. It's not so amazingly good that I'd visit just to dine here. There is good pizza and pasta elsewhere that is better value.

https://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/

I popped into Mile End after a barre class as I've been curious ever since reading about this last year. I'm a bagel lover; to me it's like a savoury doughnut and I'm all for that. Steve is less of a fan. Now my suspicion is that Steve hasn't had a good bagel. He also doesn't like smoked salmon so he feels there's nothing there for him hence I decided to go it alone as I'd likely not convince him to come along anyway although I knew deep in my heart, he'd find something to like!

I knew Mile End was opposite the Spanish shop but I still had to stop and look around before spying it across the road. The lack of signage was the problem.

Upon entering I liked the white walls, high ceillings and industrious work going on in the back. The rack of bagels was enticing and I had to take a few moments to decide what to order. I wanted to try so much - salt beef, maple bacon, bacon and egg...

I ended up going traditional and ordered:

• Smoked salmon, dill and caper cream cheese, tomato and red onion - #2
• BLAT - #9

And a takeaway coffee which I supped whilst I waited. The space allowed for peaceful waiting rather than uncomfortable crammedness that can happen in Melbourne. I enjoyed the calm and the server was friendly and personable. I enjoyed watching the activity of bagel making. The coffee grew on me. At first it was bit too roasted for me but then it turned a corner and I really liked it.

I took my goodies home. I went for sesame bagels for us both because poppy seeds get in my teeth. I loved the toastiness of the sesame and the golden sheen of the bagel. The dill and caper cream cheese with the onion and smoked salmon and tomato was delicious. I could taste every element and then altogether it was just sublimely yummy. The bagel itself was a perfect balance of doughy chewiness and lightness.

And what about Steve's verdict. As suspected, he loved it. And it changed his mind about bagels. We both agreed we could eat another one immediately after the first. But at $31 for the two bagels and a coffee it's not a budget option. Although a way to make it cheaper would be to just buy plain bagels and make them up at home but where's the Sunday pleasure in that?

Loved the bagels and the coffee...this is why I love to live in Fitzroy!

Learn. Make. Eat. Drink. Shop.

That's The Craft & Co. mantra. Recently opened at the end of our street we decided to pop in for lunch. And I love all those things so to find them all under one roof, well it should be Heaven!

It's a huge space with an upstairs retail outlet full of gourmet goodies as well as space to make cheese, charcuterie pizza. And then downstairs is the microbrewery, deli counter and I think even a distillery as well as coffee outlet. There are tables scattered throughout as well as a covered courtyard and some street tables too. Phew - there's definitely a lot going on!

After a browse round, we sat at a table and decided to have some lunch.

Our drinks took a while to arrive and we had to chase them up. I ordered a lemonade that was on the juice menu and I specified that but instead I got the organic Hepburn Springs lemonade so I think the wait staff need to know what's on the vast menu a bit better. Steve enjoyed his beer though even though it was late and there was no apology.

My pet hate with service is when the diner asks a member of the wait staff to look into the delay and off they happily go but then they never report back. I think it's important to provide an update even if the dishes are seconds away. And yes my pet hate happened here...

Anyway onto the food:

• Moreton Bay School Prawns - Fried Crispy, Sumac Salt, Aioli
• The Craft & Co Chorizo - Served Soft, Fired on Grappa, Paprika

The school prawns were plump and delicious - seafood sweet, well seasoned offset by a squeeze of the lemon and a mustardy, garlicky mayo. The chorizo was also delicious; flavoursome, meaty not as soft as the description suggested. It came on a hotplate with still aflame from the grappa so a bit of dramatic theatre too.

And then our next courses arrived:

• Free Range Chicken - Brined in Whey, Fire Roasted, Pearl Barley Salad
• Steak Sandwich - Robbins Island 9+ Wagyu, Fermented Beetroot, Onions, Cheddar, Stone Cooked Ciabatta

Another pet hate sadly occurred; the menu didn't say the steak sandwich came with chips and so we ordered a side of chips so then we were overwhelmed by chips. And it wasn't as if the chips were that great either. Just normal chips - some crispy, some soggy, just frozen chips fried but we had a glut of them! And because we weren't asked at any point if everything was ok, I felt the need to provide the feedback to our waitress who conceded she should have mentioned it when we ordered. Let's hope she does it moving forward but again no outright apology, just verbal acknowledgement.

Onto happier matters; the chicken was delicious and a good serving size. The barley salad was also tasty with a sharp vinaigrette and the grains also soaked up the chicken juices. This is up there in the ranks of good roast chicken.

The steak sandwich looked good. Steve enjoyed it enough but it was heavy on the mustard and the whole thing was a bit sloppy with lots of beetroot and other filling which stopped the steak flavours coming out.

It seems a good place to drop in for a coffee and there's food for all budgets from a $7 panino chosen from the enticing items at the deli to the 30 something dollar chicken.

It wasn't an immediate hit for for me because of the hiccups in service and although it all looks shiny and new, it felt a bit flat. Almost too relaxing; no buzz and that might be because it's so big so although there were customers and diners floating about, it still felt a bit empty.

Definitely an interesting place but it hasn't triggered the love in me yet. I still need to be wooed and courted to come to the party!

An unexpected email arrived around 3pm on Friday from my beloved Steve which informed me dinner was booked at Merricote for 8pm that night. No flowery language, no romantic words, no emotional sentiment but I could feel the love!

The Merricote dining room is a charming space lovingly adorned with a stag's head, giant bronze pig and the odd piggie touch here and there - napkin rings, bookends. It's that combination of shabby homely kitsch with elegant high ceilings and trendy single lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling.

We deliberated a long time whether to go tasting menu or make our own choices and in the end decided to go with tasting as they were kind enough to organise a change for Steve who doesn't particularly like trout.

First up was:

• ​Veal ’Bitterballen’, Dijon 

Now I'm not a huge mustard fan but I think the milder stuff is beginning to grow on me. And the slightly sharp tang and warm heat really offset the meaty flavours of this little croquette. Not too dense but satisfyingly comforting this was quite delicious.

The follow up was:

• Port Arlington Mussels and Chorizo Piperade

Delicately presented in a bowl with reds,yellows and greens it was a vibrant dish and I enjoyed the smoky chorizo, fruity tomato and salty sea mussels with the crunchy croutons adding texture and soaking up the juices. Steve wanted more oomph and spice from the chorizo but I liked the gentleness of the dish and the fact the mussels weren't overpowered.

• Garlic Custard, Heirloom Tomatoes, Laver 

I was intrigued by this dish when I saw it on the menu. Silken like tofu and more solid than a chawan mushi but still far from dense the garlic and tomatoes were a great combo. Light and bright, this was creative and unusual but still very enjoyable.

• Glazed Eggplant, Freekah, Lime, Zucchini ​

Steve was treated to this dish as a replacement to the trout which I had. Asian inspired it looked like a piece of lacquered pork belly. Deliciously and meltingly soft and creamy with a sweet miso like sticky shine this was a perfectly executed dish that is memorable yet understated. The eggplant skin was fried into wafer thin crisps. Definitely unsung hero status worthy!

• Poached Trout, Kohlrabi Remoulade, Leaves and Roe

Poached trout conjured images of dry pink fish, 80s dinner party or buffet style so I was a little apprehensive but this was definitely more confit and was slippery and silky. The kohlrabi remoulade offered a little creaminess to add some richness, there was a sharp zesty gel to cut through the oiliness of the fish and the sea vegetables were a lovely salty seasoning. Maybe not quite as creative as the eggplant but still highly enjoyable.

• Warialda Beef Chuck, Braised Shin, Rye, Scorched Salad 

The main course was another attractive looking dish with a beautiful blushing piece of girello from the beef chuck. The braised shin was a crumbed square of a croquette and the barley was a tasty accompaniment. Not sure that scorching the cucumbers added that much flavour wise but the caramelised onion puree was amazing. Sweet and smooth it just added to the meat flavours.

And Steve cannot turn down a visit from a cheese trolley. There's a wide choice; they're pretty strong cheeses so a cheese wuss like me didn't find much for my tastes but for Steve it was a very fruitful experience as he chose 3 to chow down on. Generous serves with bread, crackers and fruit based accompaniments, it's definitely one for the cheese lovers.​

• ‘Gevallen Citroen Taart’

After a short break, out came dessert. Deconstructed tart and almost crumble like there was a scoop of lemon parfait like goodness with plenty of crunchy, nutty accompaniment, some soft scorched meringue and licorice gel. Now I'm not into licorice as I don't like aniseed so I avoided it but I didn't mind the slight scent of it coming through the crumb.

Service was attentive throughout (although I ordered some tea that was forgotten but I wasn't desperate). The attention intensified as others diners left and by the end we were almost friends!

This is classic and creative cooking in one. It's a step above a neighbourhood drop in bistro although it retains all the positive attributes of one. The chef's hat award is well deserved as it is that little bit more special but at the same time is highly approachable and charming.

I had an early start on Saturday morning with a manicure appointment in Fitzroy North at 08:30. It takes me around 20 minutes to walk there and I was due at barre class afterwards but the more I thought about it, the more I didn't want to go and I found myself in Mio Locale instead ordering breakfast and a coffee!

Sure exercise is good for the body but I also believe that sometimes, some me time and indulging oneself nourishes the soul and encourages emotional wellbeing too! 

The service was warm and friendly and the little cafe with its gleaming black walls, bright lights and gentle hum of activity was certainly restorative for this tired soul. The coffee was great even with an over generous sprinkling of cocoa and whilst the baked eggs took their time it sure felt great to relax and just take the time for some solitary comfort.

When the eggs did arrive they were appetisingly attractive. The tomato sugo with the nduja was tangy and tasty with a spicy kick. The mushrooms were deliciously soft and flavoursome with garlic. I'd have loved another slice of toast to enjoy the gooey yolk and tomato sauce but that's just being greedy.

This is a simple place and simple things done well are true neighbourhood gems. I'll be remembering this one for sure and not just for breakfast.