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Chin Chin

30/6/2011

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Chin Chin is another of those achingly cool restaurants that don't do reservations and instead request its patrons to queue. We thought a Thursday evening midweek girls dinner starting at 6pm would make it easier to get a table than over the weekend so made plans to meet then.

It's been open since about May so the website is still under construction and it's not on Google Maps yet but in spite of this low profile it is still a very popular place with lots of blogger publicity and chatter about it on forums and restaurant review sites.

The lovely Emma had a day off and arrived early but wasn't allowed a table until everyone had arrived. The delightful Claire encountered the table police who didn't want to let her in until she explained she had a friend waiting for her at the bar. Classy Charlotte managed to sneak in and find the gang. I arrived and was pretty much ignored (obviously not cool enough) and I found the girls too in a corner at the bar.

Initial impressions were that the reception we received was mixed but the place itself was cool and we felt our streetcred had increased just by being part of it! The wait staff are all of the super trendy set and blend in with the crowd that hang around the bar and entrance trying to get in.

In spite of not being a full party yet, we were allowed a table and were shown to a round table just a little away from the busy bar area. Our fifth member Vida arrived soon after. We were asked a few times in a short time if we were ready to order drinks but given there ewas only one drinks list we had to turn the wait staff away a couple of times before everyone had had a look a could decide. Cocktails were ordered and the prettiest one was Charlotte's "lychee" pictured here which was prosecco with a lychee and rose petal sphere.

We were encouraged to order around 5 or so main dishes and some starters so about 7 plates in total. Between us we started with:
  • Crunchy school prawns with nahm prik pla gabi, lemon basil and crudites (photo above)
  • Wok fried salt and pepper squid with nuoc cham and Vietnamese mint (photo above)
The nahm prik pla gabi was a chilli dip which was tasty with the little prawns. The nuoc cham wasn't quite the nuoc cham I'm used to and was more a sweet chilli sauce but was still tasty with the flavorusome squid. Initial impressions were that the food was tasty but portions were a little small.

Next time I'd like to try the corn fritters to see if they're as good as Izakaya Den and also the steamed chicken dumplings.

Main courses came out dish by dish and the curries and fish came with rice which makes the prices better value. I took pictures of all barramundi and sticky pork but forgot about the curries!
  • Green curry of rockling, eggplant, snake beans and Thai basil
  • Massaman curry of coconut braised beef brisket with pink fir apple potatoes and crispy shallots - there was a fight to order this so we had two!
  • Wild barramundi wrapped in banana leaf with coconut red curry, lime and Thai basil
  • Caramelised sticky pork with Siamese water cress and chilli vinegar
  • Son in law eggs with chilli jam
  • Chin Chin's in house roti bread
I think my favourite was the sticky pork which was juicy and tasty although was also very fatty so we left the fat. The curries were full of flavour and very rich. The son in law eggs are like hard boiled eggs with a coating like when fried eggs get crispy round the edges and were pretty tasty with the chilli jam. The eggs were surprisingly quite a large portion especially compared to everything else. For food and a cocktail it worked out about $45 per head which was much less than what we've spent when we've been to Cookie.

I say the portions are smalll but we certainly had enough food and ended up cancelling one roti bread. The food is tastier than Cookie and when it came to the bill we were pleasantly surprised and found it good value.

The issue with Chin Chin is timing it right to get a table without having to wait too long and also it's a very busy environment. With people stood up watching you whilst you eat and they wait for a table, it can feel pressured so it's not a place for a leisurely meal more a quick catch up with friends, some good food and then move onto somewhere less rushed for a drink. It's more of a stop by during the course of an evening along with other destinations than a spend all night there kind of place.

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Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons

29/6/2011

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Mid week date night took us to Giuseppe Arnaldo. We'd been there once before and enjoyed it so decided to return.

Our starters were the:
  • “Arancini”, Crumbed Silver Beet, Spinach Risotto Balls  
  • Yellow Fin Tuna Crostini, Marjoram, Chilli, Lemon
The arancini come in a red gingham lined basket and as with the first time, looked a bit overdone but didn't taste that way. The outer shell was crisp and the filling was soft, moist and oozy with a creamy rice and cheesey flavaour. On the arancini league tables; these do very well!

The tuna crostini is probably my favourite dish here. Crisp baguette baked in olive oil with a subtle garlic fragrance and flavour topped with chopped tuna; not too finely chopped so it's a paste but enough to retain an almost diced feel which adds texture. The lemon, chilli and herbs lift the tuna and provides depth to the flavours making them linger for longer.

Food from the kitchen isn't the quickest to arrive but the time lag is helped by the gorgeous bread and olive oil they provide. Service is efficient but impersonal.
 Our main courses came soon after:
  • Lasagne, Four Cheeses, Silverbeet, Spinach 
  • Grass Fed Sirloin on the Bone 450 Grams Firm Texture, Full Flavoured, Parmesan Herb Crumbed Onion Rings 
  • Potatoes, Rosemary, Garlic 
The verdict on the lasagne was that it was tasty and cheesy and although looked small in size was very rich. Biggest disappointment was Steve's realisation it didn't have any meat in it! He missed the meat.

The steak was very flavoursome with a good char grill taste to it. It was cooked well but it was quite a tough piece of meat which was surprising. The onion rings were delicious if a little greasy.

Rosemary and garlic potatoes were great. HUge portion that we couldn't finish.

We enjoyed our date here and there is more on the menu for us to try - veal shank, pasta dishes and I'd definitely come back for the tuna crostini!
Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons on Urbanspoon
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Topolino's

26/6/2011

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A lazy Saturday lunch in St Kilda and we decided to head to the family friendly Topolino's that we'd heard so much about. It's a fairly low key place and the friendly waitresses said we could choose our table. A drinks order was taken and subsequently delivered promptly.

We wanted to try a few things and having had pizza on Friday we were veering towards the pasta option. Topolino's offers entrée size pasta dishes for $3 less than the full price so we decided to opt for three of those, a rocket salad and a cheesy garlic bread.
  • PENNE MATRICIANA - napoli salsa, bacon, chilli & basil  
  • FETTUCCINE DELIZIOSA - chicken breast, pine nuts, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and cream
  • SPAGHETTI CARBONARA - egg, bacon, cream & herbs
The pasta dishes were tasty and certainly hit the spot. They all tasted distinct which is good as I've been to places where all cream sauces taste the same. The cheesy garlic bread was delicious; soft with a crunchy crust and oozing with cheese and garlic butter. It came first and we wanted to save some to go with the pasta dishes but couldn't resist demolishing it all in a short time!

We found it good value for money with a huge menu. We enjoyed watching what other people ordered - some pretty massive pizzas leaving the kitchen and found service quick and friendly. Thumbs up!

Topolino's on Urbanspoon
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Izakaya Den

25/6/2011

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A Saturday evening and we'd made no reservations which in this town can be a concern if you want to eat somewhere good. I tried to get in at Gingerboy and Red Spice Road as a cancellation but it was in vain.

So we came up with an alternative plan and decided to meet in the city (Steve was at a football game) and have an early dinner at a place that doesn't take bookings - a bit like our Longrain experience.

There are two places I've wanted to try that don't take reservations so have always been put off by potential queueing; Mamasita and Izakaya Den. Given we were meeting on Russell Street, it made sense to try Izakaya Den. Steve had walked past Mamasita's at 5pm and said there was already a queue down the street so we decided to stay in the area and go Japanese.

It opens at 5:30pm on a Saturday and we met up about 5pm so we decided to have a pre dinner drink at James Squire's. It was about 5:45pm that we ventured over to this hidden restaurant. There is low key signage and it literally is a little nook off the Comme des Garcons shop. The black curtain makes you think it's closed but the music and the fact it was after 5:30pm gave me the confidence to push back the curtain.

It's a long narrow room with a bar and the open kitchen on the left as you enter. Seating is at small tall tables or a large communal table at  the back or at a bar in front of the kichen area. We were taken straight to a bar bench in front of the kitchen and left with menus.

Within the next ten minutes the place filled up and a queue began to form so we were pleased we arrived when we we did. At this stage, I confess to being somewhat hungover so stuck to genmaicha green tea which was delicious and Steve ordered his first of many Kirin beers.

Service is friendly although you have to flag someone down as the place is pretty busy. Steve and I discussed this and given the shape of the room there isnt' really space for spare wait staff to stand so it's almost like they understaff the place to add to the busy vibe and to keep them moving at all times. Anyway, it wasn't a huge deal because everytime I stopped a waiter or waitress they always smiled and were very polite and friendly.

We started off with some tuna tataki, sweet corn fritters, grilled asparagus with tomato miso and kingfish sashimi.

First impressions were good. The fish was fresh and the slices thick and chunky. Have to admit the yellowtail sashimi and beef tataki at Nobu is better but this stuff was good too. The sweetcorn fritters were great. Pieces of corn bound together in a crispy batter with a green coloured dipping salt. It was fun watching our food cookand then put in front of us.

Lots of people ate quickly and left - theatre reservations etc but we enjoyed taking our time and after our first lot of food ordered a second round and the staff seemed amenable to this way of eating too.
Our second round consisted of Kurobuta pork done char siu style, quail with a trio of sauces and duck and leek skewers.

We enjoyed the tasty quail which was chargrilled and served on the bone. It was fingerlickin' good! The duck and leek was also tasty and the pork came out late as they must have forgot our order but we were in no hurry. The pork was very rich and unctuous with a fatty layer but also tasty.

We decided that the food was not as good as Longrain or as memorable as Nobu but it is a notch cheaper. We enjoyed the whole meal and the fact we could take our time and it felt more relaxed than Longrain did. There's a good atmosphere and is well worth a visit. I think we did it right by arriving early and taking our time.


Izakaya Den on Urbanspoon
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Bluestone

24/6/2011

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I've actually been to Bluestone a couple of times as it's across the road from work and favoured place for work lunches when we want to get together and celebrate occasions.

Bluestone has a fine dining restaurant upstairs and a more casual pizza and tapas area downstairs and it's downstairs that I've been to.

Friday was a triple date and we decided to head here for a quick bite to eat before going to a comedy club. It's a convenient location for us and we know it's tasty food. The usual procedure is to order several pizzas and shoestring fries to share between the table as well as a couple of bottles of wine. It's a formula that works so why change it?

I have to confess that I've never really read the menu fully as we've always ordered this way and been happy. Between 6 of us we ordered 4 pizzas and two portions of fries. We ate everything so could have done with perhaps another portion of fries.

Service was friendly and attentive and the wine arrived quickly. The pizzas and fries weren't too far off.

Pizzas we ordered were:
  • Bluestone margherita - cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil leaves
  • Hot salami, mushrooms, olives, chilli and mozzarella
  • Chorizo, shaved potato, caramelised onion, rosemary, truffled pecorino
  • Tandoori chicken, pineapple, red capsicum, mint yoghurt
My favourite was the tandoori chicken followed byt the chorizo and then margherita but they were all good. Steve liked the chorizo the most and his least favourite was the tandoori chicken. The fries were salty and crispy just how I like them.

This is a good pizza place and one I am sure we will return to because of its location. A very enjoyable meal as always!


Bluestone Restaurant Bar on Urbanspoon
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Yak Bar Pasta Artigiana

23/6/2011

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The chosen venue for a midweek girls' dinner selected by Charlotte following a review she read that claimed that the lasagne (with brains in it) was a piece of Heaven. Charlotte, Claire and I sat at a comfortable table and were well looked after by the staff. We had to ask for water top ups a few times but the place was reasonably busy so I guess water top ups tend to become less of a priority. Perhaps they could provide bottles of table water to solve the problem.

Anyway there are more important things to comment on than water. The restaurant offers a comfortable environment - pleasantly busy to provide a buzz but not too noisy or rushed. It's definitely conducive for girls chit chat and the tables don't feel cramped together which can be the case in Italian restaurants.

Claire and I had the tagliatelle with pork rib and Charlotte went for the lasagne. The tagliatelle was very tasty with meaty chunks of meat falling off the bone in a savoury gravy like sauce. The tagliatelle was al dente and the plate was finished with a lick of the lips! I forgot to take picture of the main courses as I was distracted with the girly chatter and my growling stomach.

We had room for dessert and each opted for something different. Charlotte ordered canoli which was stuffed with a pistachio cream. Claire had lemon crepes with vanilla bean ice cream and pretty much licked the plate so I take that as a good sign. I went for the old favourite - tiramisu and it was a delight. Soft and light with fluffy cream and hints of chocolate and coffee and not too boozy but boozy enough to make it adults only!
We definitely enjoyed it here and it's a good mid week dinner place. I keep getting it confused though and thinking it's Fat Yak and linked to the beer which it isn't!

Yak Bar Pasta Artigiana on Urbanspoon
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Longrain

12/6/2011

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In order to extend our holiday we decided to finish the week off with a good meal. Being a fan of Thai food, and having heard about Longrain since our arrival in Melbourne, I've been wanting to try it for ages. Unfortunately the no booking policy and having to arrive early and wait for a table when we are usually late eaters has put me off.

So we decided to head to Longrain early ish and got there about 6:45pm. The server told us that it could well be 8pm before we could get a table but there was a couple of bar stools we could get comfy at and work on some drinks. This solution worked for us.

I started on the cocktail list and began with a Soho La which was delicious - lychee vodka, lychee liqueur, fresh watermelon, lychees and topped up with apple juice. Huge chunks of delicious watermelon and a great start.

My second drink was the Asiapolitan which was stronger on the alcohol taste being a martini but still a pretty good combo of sloeberry vodka, lychee liqueur, cranberry juice, fresh strawberries and raspberries.

During our drinks / waiting time, we watched many other people come in through the doors. Some stayed and others left as the wait time must have been too long for them. My thoughts are though, if you come to a place like Longrain after 7pm, chances are there will be a wait.

Anyway our table was actually ready for us about 7:40pm so before we expected which was a pleasant surprise.

We were taken to a little area with another table for two and a table for four as well as our table. It wasn't the most comfortable spot as the chairs were too high for the low bar table. Service was friendly if a bit manic. The food arrived pretty quickly and we had eaten it all in a short space of time! I guess the uncomfy seats just mean that they can turn the tables quicker!

We ordered:
  • Steamed wild barramundi fillet with ginger, star anise & cassia bark
  • Caramelised pork hock with chilli vinegar & crisp garlic
  • Mussaman curry of Taralga springs beef with kipfler potatoes & baby onions
The pork hock was probably the favourite. Crispy, fatty, juicy pork in a sweet sweet sauce but the chilli vinegar served on the side stopped it from being cloying.

The beef curry was rich and deep and the beef braised so it was tender and falling apart. The barramundi was delicate and probably overpowered by the other two dishes. It was tasty but Nobu's baby barramundi is better.
Dessert was a scoop of coconut sorbet with toasted coconut pieces and white sticky rice parcels with custard apple poached in coconut cream. I prefered the simplicity of the coconut sorbet which tenderly wiped away the tingly lips.

The food at Longrain is definitely good. Steve wasn't a huge fan of the ambience and the general frantic atmosphere. It's not a leisurely experience but it is a tasty one so probably not a great romantic date place. I can imagine it would be good in a larger group for a birthday celebration or something similar.

Longrain Melbourne on Urbanspoon
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    For those that know us, this section will probably come with no surprise! Steve and I love eating out so this is our record of our time in Australia.

    This is a blog that is 100% written and edited by Steve and I. All opinions expressed are our own and are not influenced by any third party.

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