Team dinner; always under pressure to find a place that pleases everyone's tastebuds and budget and this time we were also cutting it fine to find somewhere for that evening. We wanted to go to Tonka but they couldn't fit us in so then we booked Portello Rosso but when our numbers went from 7 to 8, they couldn't accommodate the additional person and by the time we found that out, it was 17:15 and we wanted to eat at 18:30!

Longrain was suggested and I wasn't aware we could book but apparently for larger groups it's possible. Not holding much hope I called and asked for a table for 8 in an hour and the ever so friendly lady on the other end of the phone assured me it would definitely be possible! Woo hoo! 

Last time I went to Longrain it was a long time ago and although I'd enjoyed the food, wasn't comfortable at our table as it was too low and the chairs too high so it wasn't too great an experience.

This time round we had a great table - round and with a lazy Susan built into it so it was very convivial. We ummed and aahed over banquet or no banquet but with different dietary requirements it soon became apparent that it was probably easier for everyone to pick a dish, share it and add some communal plates too!

So we ended up with:

• Filled eggnet, pork, prawns, peanuts, caramelised coconut
• Cone Bay barramundi, sawtooth coriander, hot & sour broth
• Crispy whole fish, chilli, tamarind, lime
• Stir fried Chinese broccoli, chilli, oyster sauce, fried garlic
• Salt & pepper silken tofu, fried eschalots, sweet soy
• ​Blue eye jungle curry
• Lamb shank massaman curry
• Caramelised pork hock, five spice, chilli vinegar
• Dry duck leg curry

It was an amazing feast and it shut us right up! Great spicy flavours, plenty of rice to soak up the sauce. 

My favourite was the barramundi and the coconutty broth it came in was just so tasty. The fish itself was delicate and soft and perfectly cooked.

Also worth a mention was the beautiful silken tofu that was tasty and just a lovely slippery texture. The filled eggnet looked impressive and was a cold dish which was a nice additional plate of food to have in a feast as it's light and refreshing but I think if it was one of only a few main course, it could be disappointing. Pork hock is always good and this version was better than Red Spice Road's offering in my opinion; mainly because it wasn't as heavily battered or fatty.

Service was friendly initially but as the place filled up, the wait staff seemed stretched so it became harder to catch someone to ask for refills of water, rice and we also wanted extra greens and tofu. It also took a while to be able to ask for the bill.

However the lack of service was forgiveable given we were able to get a table in the first place and the food was delicious. It was exactly what a team dinner should be about.

Steve and I took today off from work and were heading back home after a weekend in the Dandenongs. We'd completed 1000 Steps and were pretty tired but also in gym gear so needed a casual and quick lunch fix so I suggested Jimmy Grants'. I'd been once before but it was a while ago and we'd always enjoyed souvas at Gazi so we knew what we were getting into!

With it being Monday, it was quiet but usual standards no doubt but enough people there for a buzz. We took two stool up at the bar and decided on the steamed dimnies, one lamb and one chicken souva, a small grain salad and couldn't resist the chips with garlic oil, feta and rosemary.

The food arrived pretty quickly and the dim sims were tasty and of a size that was manageable. I find the giant ones a bit off putting and I'm also not a fan of the fried versions either so this was a good option for me.

I started on the lamb souva and then swapped it halfway for the chicken and obviously Steve approached the souvas the other way round. I'd forgotten they had french fries in them so really the chips we ordered were overkill. Excessive but yummy so sorry, not sorry!

I love the softness of the pitta bread, the juiciness of the meat and being able to turn up the heat with sriracha. Yum! The freshness of the grain salad along with the tang of yoghurt, sweetness of the dried fruit and toasty nuttiness is very yummy. It was interesting to see some men come in for lunch and literally have a plate of the salad each! Whilst I'm sure that would be yummy and filling, how can you come and resist a souva?

This is an affordable but delicious quick food fix and it deserves its popularity.
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Sunny Sunday afternoon and we were in the area having been to SkyHigh and the Tulip Festival. It was after 1:30pm so pretty much a late lunch and we had been in to The Deli Platter the day before but hadn't been in the mood for anything and ended up at the pub, Kelly's just round the corner but this time we were committed!

Rather than sit outside at the small tables, we decided to take up one corner of the communal table in the window. We'd ordered a platter each and figured we'd need the room! I had the charcuterie one and Steve stuck to his English roots and went for the ploughman's. The owner (I think); a chirpy and friendly lady picked up on the accents and said that she'd be keen to hear his view and standards would be high! Nice of her to interact with us. 

Our tea arrived promptly and we could see the boards being prepared with plenty of goodies. The lady actually asked Steve how he liked his Cheddar and when he said strong, she stopped cutting the one she had picked out and swapped it for an American version to which we had a giggle and bit of banter about Americans not being able to make good cheese and their offerings were from a spray can.

On the American cheese note, it was actually very good. Smooth and creamy and flavoursome but not too intense; actually quite mellow but strong at the same time. Pretty enjoyable and I definitely helped Steve out with that. We learnt that the pork pie was made to a recipe from the lady's husband's great grandma who is a Melton Mowbray girl (home of great pork pies for those that don't know) so Steve was pleased to be able to provide the feedback that it was a very good piece of pie with the right jelly to meat to pastry ratio!

I loved all the elements of the charcuterie board, The greeny goodness of the asparagus cut through some of the fatty saltiness of the meats. The chorizo certainly had a hot punch to it. The pate spread like cement and didn't look the most appetising but was really tasty and well balanced in flavour and on the toasted rye bread it was delicious. The sweet and spicy tomato chutney and the pickled onions offered some tang and fruitiness to balance some of those other intense flavours.

Steve and I feel we are well versed with good deli boards and often create our own with the help of the David Jones Food Hall. We also indulge when dining out and we've had some good ones - Cumulus, Robbie Burns Hotel spring to mind but we felt that these were up there in terms of quality, balance and flavours.
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A beautiful Sunday morning and we were on our way to the Tulip Festival but decided to stop at The Piggery for sustenance first. We pulled into the car park a touch after 9am and there were already plenty of vehicles there and during our time there we saw more and more couples and families and groups arrive.

It's a large venue with so many plans - brewery, dairy, accommodation all to come and to see it in Spring is a vision of green, green grass and blue blue sky. There is so much land and scope for little ones to run around in and for diners to feel relaxed and unrestricted by confined spaces.

Service was professional and efficient if not particularly personal or warm but the team did the job. Steve had the scarmbled duck eggs with crispy bacon on toasted brioche and added the "Burnham greens" which are seasonal and grown on site. The day's selection was rocket and mizuna. I had the Vietnamese eggs which were atop pulled pork on a bread roll with said greens and nuoc cham dressing.

Our drinks of orange juice and a pot of tea for tea arrived promptly and it was pleasant to sit outside with the views of the green vista and young children running in the distance; pretty idyllic for a Sunday morning.

Our food took a little while to arrive but not unreasonably so. The greens were so fresh and punchy with leafy flavour. I'd have liked my eggs to be slightly less well done and bit runnier to be ideal but I enjoyed the pork and bread. The dressing was pretty delicate so a little more zip and zap would have elevated the dish. But still enjoyable.

Steve enjoyed his more traditional breakfast. We didn't think it was any better than the popular weekend breakfast haunts closer to home but it offered a different experience; rural vs. urban which was enjoyable and with lots of table space it was easy to spread the newspapers and feel comfortable even when sharing the communal table with a family of 3.

I took a peek inside too and admired the attractive display of cakes and pastries. I liked the decor that stays true to the original use of the building with concrete walls, outside pipes style taps and stone floors. I think that it's more the destination and venue that scores the Piggery high and not so much the food. It's about the convivial dining, quick turnaround of food, child friendly space all done to a high standard that draws the crowds. And I guess when you're a parent and have little ones, it is about finding somewhere kid friendly in terms of venue and not just food.

I look forward to seeing how the other developments on site and look forward to another visit in the future.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and Steve and I were enjoying a casual stroll around Carlton and wondering where to stop off for lunch. We'd had a look around the deli and were torn between revisiting an old fave or trying out DOC Espresso and watching people tuck into their bowls of pasta won us over so we took up one end of one of the larger communal tables and made sure we were comfortable.

It's not table service so I went up to the cash register to order. The chap that took my order was pretty brusque but we'd been to DOC in Mornington where service and warmth doesn't abound so I figured this was definitely from the same family!

We shared the small antipasto which had generous amounts of prosciutto, some bresaola and salami and then a small ball of mozzarella and a small triangle of either pecorino or parmesan accompanied by 4 chunks of bread drizzled with olive oil. It's simple fare but darn tasty and authentic and we really enjoyed the quality of this produce.

The antipasto actually arrived the same time as our two plates of pasta and we had chosen the parpadelle with truffle and porcini mushrooms and the lasagne. I was tempted by the veggie lasagne and the amatriciana but we decided to go one tomato based and one not so.

The lasagne was traditional with layers of ragu and rather than bechamel there was gooey melted mozzarella. Flavours were spot on. I'd have liked it browned on top I think but this was still yummy. The parpadelle was al dente with garlicky oily goodness and slippery mushrooms. Another simple but yummy dish.

We actually stayed a while as we had a bottle of wine to finish and we didn't feel rushed, We saw others come and go, some for coffee and a toasted sandwich, others for a plate of pasta and everyone seemed to enjoy the Italian goodness. A great stop for something quick, tasty and authentic.

I came to Tonka when it first opened with a group of girlfriends and although I enjoyed it, we trusted the waitress to order for us and didn't feel she did that great a job but I put that down to inexperience and unfamiliarity, So roll forward 3 years or so and I come here for another girls' night, this time with Shern.

We'd had a few Friday night cocktails before our 8:15pm table so were feeling merry and bright and oh so ready for a feed. Our table wasn't quite ready so we stood by the pass in the narrow corridor and our drinks order was taken by a friendly waiter.

The table wasn't too long and we were shown to a roomy one that could seat 4 but we had it all to ourselves. All the more surface area to put food on!

Our drinks arrived pretty quickly:

Blueberry Punch - Gin, Blueberry, Cucumber, Citrus 
A fresh punch of Hendricks Gin, French Vermouth, peach and cucumber served with a trio of blueberry. An homage to the serving style of Madam Geneva bar in New York.

Pink Lady - Gin, Apple, Pomegranate, Citrus Rich yet refreshing this drink combines American apple brandy, gin, citrus and grenadine. Feminine in name, but definitely not just for the fairer sex.

Mine was the Pink Lady and I liked the sweetness and tartness of it and Shern really enjoyed her Blueberry Punch that had a hint of grassiness from the Hendricks and some interested strips of dehydrated blueberries that looked like seaweed. 

Great cocktails to start off with so thoroughly recommend indulging on those!

Our waitress was friendly and definitely knew the menu and she offered to put something together for us but we were quite taken with some of the dishes so decided to go with what our tummies wanted. The good news is that a few of the curries come in half serves so there's more that can be eaten and shared.

We started off with a bit of a seafood themed couple of dishes which was the plan as we didn't want to go too meat heavy.

• Tuna tartare, rice pappadum, pomegranate, ginger and fresh wasabi
  
• Soft-shell crab pakora with pickled cucumber, lemon, chilli and mint
  

The tuna tartare was delicious. Light and fresh with hints of warming wasabi and then the sweetness of pomegranate bursting here and there. Dolloped on a piece of cracker reminiscent of a prawn cracker, texture and flavour is all there.

Where the tuna was delicate and fresh, the soft shell crab was all about richness and a punchy flavour of salt and pepper rescued with a the soft tang of the pickles. 

The cocktails we started off with were great and this continued through to these opening numbers. We were very pleased.

Next up came some roti and we had it with:

• Duck korma, apple and vanilla spiced beetroot 
  

This was our half serve curry so it was a dainty portion with two bits of duck covered in a pale yellow sauce. So unlike the cloying sweetness of korma curries I've had but still reminiscent of those flavours spiked by the sweetness of the beetroot and refreshed by the sharpness of some apple. The duck shredded off the bone really easily and was a tasty meat to have with this smooth and velvety curry. Yum!

And then our last course we went back to seafood and had the:

• Goan curry with barramundi, Spring Bay mussels, Mooloolaba prawns and Kashmiri chilli 
  

I love a fish curry and I fell in love with this one. Where the duck curry was about warming spice, this one was packed with heat and caught us in the back of the throat but we loved it. There were a few prawns in there, couple of pieces of fish with crispy skin, some mussles and some green beans. The sauce was delicious with rice and the seafood was perfectly cooked.

Shern and I thoroughly enjoyed our food, our cocktails and the bottle of wine we had. We didn't have room for dessert but are excited about returning for more incredible Indian cuisine.

night for a quick bite to eat. Again it was quiet with maybe 3 tables in which is a shame as it's a nice fit out and has a good selection of wines and beers. 

To make things more interesting, I encouraged Steve to order a dessert to share as popcorn crumbed doughnuts with maple syrup and bacon ice cream was far too appealing to turn down.

I had memories of the bacon icecream we'd had a Three Little Pigs with the jam and ricotta hotcakes. 

It arrived and didn't look too appealing...a bit scabby looking with the granular crumb and two balls of ice cream but I don't judge on appearance.

Unfortunately the doughnuts were gluey and had such a weird spice flavour; almost bitter and not enough maple sweetness that they just weren't nice to eat. The bacon ice cream had bits of bacon through it unlike the smooth version at Three Little Pigs and didn't have the right balance of sweet and salty and the bacon bits just wasn't porky goodness so this dessert was not finished off and really not our thing.

There's a lot of competition for pub food in Fitzroy what with Napier, Rochester, Marquis of Lorne, Rainbow to only mention a few so I'm not sure how the Stone will manage against these heavyweights. Having said that The Provincial across the road isn't great but seems to do a roaring trade so maybe there is hope for Stone.

It was time for a girls' day and Stef and I decided we would meet Ling in her neck of the woods one Saturday afternoon for a late lunch and we decided to go Asian. We'd seen and heard talk of amazing roast pork so thought we would try Phoenix Soars.

Given it was 2pm on a Saturday it wasn't hugely busy and we had a roomy table for the three of us. We ordered platter of roast duck, char siu and crispy pork, salt and pepper crispy prawns, some veggies (unpictured) and some crispy noodles with pork and Chinese chives.

The crispy noodles was dish ordered under pressure as we hadn't fully decided on what noodle dish when our order was taken and was the waiter's suggestion with a surcharge of $6 for the Chinese chives. It was pretty standard though.

The king prawns looked impressive but really it was more about the batter making them look bigger and it the coating was quite thick and heavy but they were tasty enough. The roast meat platter was also fairly standard. Stef had a really fatty piece of duck, the crispy pork was pretty fatty and the char siu was fine.

I think we enjoyed the chit chat and company more than the food. I reckon I'd head to Footscray for pork chop rice over this place or Roast Duck Inn in Box Hill for a more direct comparison. It was nice of them not to rush us out though and there was no pressure to pay and leave in spite of the fact that they close at 3pm for a couple of hours before dinner service.

This was my second visit to Entrecote as I'd been for lunch with Stef to check out the digs and see if it reminded me of Relais d'Entrecote in Paris where I'd been a couple of times before and love dearly. Apparently the Parisian version has inspired Jason M. Jones to lanch a Melbourne option. Lunch had been successful so when Steve said he'd like to try, I was happy to go along. 

It was Friday evening and we arrived there around 6pm after work and we weren't ready to eat but then didn't want to have to wait for a table later. The friendly maitre d' was happy for us to go for a drink at Stokehouse City and to return 30 - 45 minutes later which worked for us.

Our table was intimately sandwiched in between two other tables for two and we were all very close to one another.

I think even in romantic Paris it wasn't quite so cosy! We were also looking forward to a carafe of rustic house red served in a glass bottle probably filled from a tap at the bar a la Paris but instead had to go for a very pleasant if inauthentic Victorian pinot noir.

We decided to share and try the French Onion Soup and the Spring carpaccio of scallop. The soup arrived steamingly hot with the cheesy top, gratinee as they say in France! It was very savoury and satisfying. Probably too rich for one person but yes, very French. I like the cheese to be a touch browner so there is some crispiness as well as gooeyness but this was a good start.

The scallop was reminiscent of Paris in Springtime. Delicately and prettily presented, it was fresh and light with a heavy lemon zing from a a citrus gel dotted around the plate which was pretty intense. I wasn't too sure about the lemon gel and maybe a lighter touch would have been a better balance but it was still good to have some sharpness and acidity.

So the piece de resistance...Grilled Hopkins River porterhouse, frites, sauce maison au beurre et aux herbes and a soft leaf salad.

I liked the way the waitress marked on a paper placemats the R for rare which is what they do in Paris but it's S for saignant. The sauce is a little greener in appearance than its French cousin which has a deeper flavour and more of a mustard kick but I like the freshness of this version. The steak I had the first time was good if a little tough but this time it was tender and melt in the mouth. Funnily enough the fries were better first time round - crispier but these ones were still pretty yummy. I love that authentic shoe string frites are served which is hard to find in Melbourne.

The salad is a delicious blend of nuts, soft leaves and radish. This time round there was less dressing on it so it didn't have the sharpness to cut through the richness of the meat, sauce and frites but the leaves lightened the load.

I really wanted to try dessert as who can resist French expertise. I was torn between the lemon tart and the strawberry profiteroles. I was anxious that the lemon tart wouldn't live up to Phillipa Sibley's version from Prix Fixe (the predecessor to Entrecote) and the waitress' suggestion was to go strawberry. Steve couldn't resist the sound of the Bombe Alaska with salted caramel, raspberry, chocolate and meringue.

The desserts arrived and looked pretty. I found the profiteroles a bit disappointing though. There were three each one filled with something different - cheesecake ice cream, strawberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream. The cheesecake ice cream had a nice flavour with a tang at the end but it was a bit grainy and the other two were fairly standard. Sadly the Bombe Alaska was also disappointing. The ice cream sphere in the centre was too frozen rendering it difficult to eat.

I've since learnt from a former chef that used to work at Prix Fixe that the lemon tart at Entrecote is to the same recipe...darn...should have had that...it's on the to do list...

We'd been to Lee Ho Fook a couple of times when it based out of Smith Street and really enjoyed the Chinese flavours that I felt were modern and fresh but at the same time, reminiscent of the food I'd grown up with. 

When we learnt that Lee Ho Fook was moving to the CBD we wanted to give it a go and we loved the typical Melbourne laneway it was situated in - Duckboard Place. Graffiti, brickwork, neon lights - so magnificently Melbourne.

The dining area is upstairs and it's pleasant to sit in with wooden beamed rafters and a buzzy vibe that also manages to be calming unlike the frantic nature of Chin Chin or the close confinement of Lucy Liu.

There's so much on the menu that is delicious - it's hard to choose but we manage to narrow down our choices.

The final dish we indulge in as part of this great feast is the 

• Xin Jiang style lamb shoulder stir fry with fragrant chillis and Uighur bread with sumac
  

Chunks of braised lamb shoulder is spiked with some intense chilli heat and stir fried leeks onion and capsicum adding that aromatic fragrance, flavour and crunch to the heat. The flatbread seasoned with spice adds another layer of intensity and a little part of me would have enjoyed some plain pillowy bread. It's a powerful way to end this meal and certainly memorable.

We really enjoyed Lee Ho Fook. The quality of the food is just like it was at Smith Street but I thought the service was friendlier here and I loved the Melbourne environment of the location and the high ceilings of the dining room. I'm looking forward to trying the other dishes; the barramundi looked great and to revisit the old favourites.