Team lunch takes place most weeks and our little group of four like to frequent the cheap and cheerful which generally means Asian food. This time we took a suggestion and headed to Sichuan House which wasn't the big, glitzy Sichuan restaurant on the main road with the neon lighting I thought we'd be going to but actually kind of next door, down and alley and hidden away. 

The eggplant is also fried and coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. Crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside as eggplant should be, this was another tasty dish.

The sweet and sour pork was probably the disappointment in that the batter was too thick and although the pieces looked big and generous, it was mostly batter.

The food is very filling - deep fried does that to you and it does lie heavy on the stomach but it's not pretending to be anything other than what it is. There's nothing pretentious here. It's fast, tasty and cheap. MSG alert too but all that is really not surprising. As an occasional eat, it's a decent option when you want spice, meat and a fix of fried food.

We needed a quick breakfast stop when were in Chippendale and Steve found this little neighbourhood gem. A little quirky and boho it's a cute cafe and it wasn't busy when we came across it fairly early on a sunny Saturday morning. 

We found the service prompt and efficient and we ordered one of the specials and the bacon dish. It's not a vast menu but we had enough to choose from. The plates are presented prettily with lots of fresh leaves, herbs and flowers. There's lots of colour and the eggs were cooked well so in all we enjoyed our breakfast. 

We were looking forward to our dinner at Automata in the company of 4 friends we hadn't seen in a long long time. We'd had a good meal the night before at Kensington St. Social just next door and heard such good things about Automate that expectations were high.

When presented with the menu, nothing looked too unapproachable. Duck hearts would be a test and we expected our dining group to be divided on this one but hey, something to talk about.

We started off with cocktails and the Cher Pear one was very popular. Well balanced it was strong enough without being overpowering.

We started off with some "snack". A piece of asparagus each and a Wagyu beef roll. The asparagus was covered in something and tasted quite sharp and pickled. Unusual, not delicious but not off putting. The Wagyu was delicious - melt in the mouth meat and some enoki mushrooms.

We were also served bread throughout the meal with whipped anchovy butter. At one point the waiter provided us with a plate of three slices when we're a group of five which was strange but one of the more experienced wait staff spotted this and commented that it was a strange thing to do so evened out the numbers and brought some more bread so we could all have a piece.

• Raw Scallop, Cured Roe, Tamarillo, Yukari

The scallop was presented in a pretty purple shell which resonated with the yukari being a purple ish shiso salt. I enjoy raw scallop and this was all about that. It was pretty small but it was our opener dish so not the end of the World.

• Bug Tail, Eggplant Puree, Rhubarb, Dulse, Capers and Tamari

Tasty and complex, this dish was about how seafood can be rich and not always the "lighter" option but the size of this kept it light even though it was rich in flavour. Tasty but could definitely have done with more. At least there was bread...

• Duck Hearts, Onions, Black Garlic, Fermented & Raw Mushrooms, Thyme

I expected the duck hearts to be polarising but actually we all agreed this was the highlight; an unexpected highlight but definitely the stand out dish. So flavoursome with a creamy, silky smooth mushroom source and a tang form the onions and black garlic this was unarguably so clever a dish in terms of flavours. But again, small in size.

• Steamed Pork Belly, XO & Red Vinegar Sauce, Turnip Flowers

The piece of pork belly was hidden beneath greenery and we expected this to be the crowd pleaser when we received the menu but actually this was the one that not everyone liked. I didn't mind it but could see the argument that the pork was a bit fatty and gelatinous and the sauce a touch too sharp. I actually like acid flavours so liked the contrast with this and the natural sweetness of pork but have to say that it wasn't an entirely flawless dish unlike the duck hearts.

• Fleur du Maquis, Cherry Miso (plus $12)

We all opted for the cheese course which was well received and enjoyed by all and really given the small volumes of food, much needed.

And sadly, that's how we feel about Automata. It didn't really do it for us. Yes, it's two hatted and yes, there's plenty of supporters out there but we found it underwhelming.

There's some clever cooking, duck hearts being the example but one stand out dish in a $100 per head menu is just not enough. And it's not just the cooking but the generosity and hospitality. I didn't feel a sense of generosity and it's never good when just before dessert, a dining group readily agree on going somewhere else for something else to eat! Hospitality was professional but not personal so in all, not a place I'd really want to return to.

Incidentally, we had a meal at Ides in Melbourne which is one hatted and has a similar 5 - 6 course fixed menu and there we experienced some great cooking, some great hospitality and a lot more warmth and generosity so it can work and we can be pleased but Automata just didn't do it for us and that actually saddens me as I really really wanted to like it.

Steve and I took a weekend trip to Sydney for our 12th wedding anniversary and we stayed at the Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale. As well as being a pretty nice play to stay, it is also home to two restaurants: Kensington St. Social and Automata and our first dinner was at the Social.

Booked in for 8:30pm we arrived on time and were invited to have a drink at the bar as our places at the "Chef's Table" which is essentially the bar around the kitchen area were not quite ready for us. We weren't waiting for long though and very quickly were settled into a great corner spot where we watched the action.

The cocktail list is pretty quirky and fun to try. The food menu is a little more classical with many "Modern Australian" style dishes. By "Modern Australian", I mean that unique type of cuisine that Australia offers with Italian, Asian and other world influences.

The chef in charge that night served us our first course and I immediately recognised his accent from my hometown so rapport was built and we enjoyed that friendly Northern hospitality that is close to my heart!

The courses were served individually and designed to share. Looking around the restaurant it appeared that dining couples were seated around the bar and any larger groups were at tables. Kensington St. Social is one of many "Socials" all part of the The Social Company of restaurants set up by Jason Atherton. With all the sharing style of food, it is clear that it's a "social" kind of place...

• ​Native Rock Oyster, Cucumber, Chamomile, Gin Pickle

This was served with a cucumber granita to be spooned on the oyster so there's that icy texture and temperature. Very savoury I expected a little sweetness or citrus but the overall flavour was the briny sea flavours from the oyster. Not a bad thing to remain pure to the heart of the produce but I would have liked a little contrast whether that be zing, tang, acid or sweet. Steve was on the Dill or No Dill cocktail which is Tanqueray gin, cucumber, elderflower, smoked sea salt, dill and lemon and he said it was a great combination. I suspect his liquid accompaniment provided that lemon hit I was after.

• Tongue 'n' Cheek Croquettes, Picalilli

A cube of a croquette each and a sliver of tongue that just melted in the mouth, this was meaty and crispy and pretty tasty. Not exactly ground breaking with innovation and creativity, but it tasted good which is the main thing and I know I was seeking for some sharpness in the oyster dish and I got that contrast here with the zippy picalilli.
​

• Persian Feta, Smoked Shiitake Mushrooms, Pickled Pumpkin, Nut Crumble

The pickled flavours continued but we went vegetarian for the next dish. The creaminess of the Yarra Valley Persian Feta was contrasted with some smoky earthiness from the the mushrooms and the piquant pickled pumpkin then mellowed out with some crunchy toastiness from the nut crumble. I actually really enjoyed this dish and thought the smoked shiitakes were genius. The chef told us he used to run a meat business making burgers, sausages and the like and for the vegetarians he used to smoke the large Portobello mushrooms and they were always well received so he brought that touch to this dish. I love hearing the personal aspect of food.

• Tataki Hiramasa Kingfish, Dill, Kale Togarashi, Vermouth Dressing

A refreshing and cleansing sashimi dish. Like the croquettes, tasted good, but not groundbreaking. Fresh fish, tasty dressing, some spice and seasoning - all very favourable and a crowd pleaser.

• Smoked and Crumbed Hen's Yolk, Fioretto, Young Green Garlic, Green Goddess Dressing

We requested this dish as an addition as we couldn't resist the sound of it. Whilst this set sharing menu was appealing to us, we did want to try the egg yolk and our server assured us it wouldn't be excessive to have the cheeky extra course. We're very glad we did as this was delicious. I didn't know if the yolk would be runny but it was actually more of a paste so it held it's shape but wasn't dry and it added a richness to the delicious green veg. Fioretto is like the cauliflower of broccolini to broccoli and it was another very satisfactory dish. Unless you don't eat egg, I can't imagine anyone disliking this.

• Swordfish, Celery Root Cream, Burnt Fennel, Onion Ash

It was a bit odd to have three pieces of fish for the two of us but I guess it really is about the sharing! I'm not a huge celery or fennel fan but I really enjoyed this. The celery root cream was subtle but delicious and the swordfish was cooked perfectly.
​

• Yoghurt Mousse, Lemon Curd, Malt Meringue, Basil

Dessert was a snowball to split between the two of us. Totally my kind of dessert - fresh and sharp flavours make it refreshing and light and the little bit of meringue provided just enough sweetness and crunch. Steve prefers a more decadent, richer and heavier dessert but he definitely ate his half so it was obviously still good!

We had a great meal and I like the fact that it is a good place for groups to dine as the food is so approachable and delicious. It's all about the crowd pleaser and that's in line with the "social" aspect in its moniker. Like a group of friends. it comes together and there's good cheer and warmth in every bite and moment.

Having said that, we were blessed with sunshine on Saturday and we decided to call in for a glass of rose which became a bottle of rose and as we made our way through the bottle we decided to enjoy a coupe of plates of food. I've never eaten at Marion - never been quite sure the small menu would provide enough choice for an indulgent lunch or dinner but let me say, having enjoyed this snack of a meal recently, I will return for more tasty goodness!

We ordered the:

• Asparagus, Comte custard and Cured Egg Yolk
• Broadbeans, Peas and Stracciatella
• Venison Tartare with Saltbush

Each dish came individually which given we had the whole afternoon to while away was perfectly well received but if you prefer to dig in and feast and have shorter proceedings you may want to let the wait staff know.

Presentation of the food was flawless. The vegetables looked fresh and vibrant. The tartare had the colours of Autumn. As we leave Autumn and enter into Spring, our food choices were a perfect representation of the changing seasons and I loved it!

The Comte custard was like a cheese sauce and the clean asparagus flavours were a perfect accompaniment with the cured egg yolk gratings adding richness and depth. The peas and broadbeans were like Springtime on a plate with the soft, milky tang of the mild Stracciatella.

The venison tartare did take its time to reach our table but we didn't feel the need to chase but one of the wait staff noticed and followed up. Well seasoned and spiced it was a good way to end our "snacking" experience.

I loved sitting outside and enjoyed the drawn out pace of food and drink. I'm not sure what it would be like inside - probably a bit more cosy as the tables look quite close together. I'm quite keen to get to know Marion better though so I'm sure I'll find out!

Bon Ap' is in our neighbourhood so it was high time we gave it a go. I feel there has been a renaissance of French cuisine in Melbourne in the last 12 months from the casual (Bon Ap') to the unusual (Oter) to the old school classic (Phillipe).

We arrived with no reservation on a Friday evening and were warmly welcomed and shown to a cosy table towards the back of the dining room next to the spiral staircase. It certainly has a French wine bar feel and I feel like I could be in Paris or on the set of Allo Allo!

We start off with:

• Escargots in garlic butter
• Housemade Toulouse Sausage, Shallots & Armagnac

I wanted to try the steak tartare too and the charcuterie and pate also looked great coming out of the kitchen and going to neighbouring tables.

The escargots come with the neccesary implements. The butter is rich and garlicky just how I like it but the dish is under seasoned and there's no table salt. The Toulouse sausage is much better in terms of seasoning and the jus in the dish is a flavour hit. I like the texture of the sausage which is coarse but there are some small bits of gristly cartilegey stuff in there which is not so appetising.

​The chicken is a small Maryland that comes in a cute square crockpot. The trout is presented on a retro square plate. Both look quite small in size and we have debate on whether it's value for money or not. The price point is not particularly high at around $20 per main dish but the servings are not large and they don't come with sides.

Having said that, as we worked our way our dishes, I found that there was actually a decent amount of trout on my plate and the chicken is very rich with the truffle cream so it's probably the right size.

The taste I had of the chicken was good, comforting, creamy and rich. Personally I think mashed potato or even just steamed baby potatoes would have elevated this but Steve didn't have a problem using the fries to soak up the delicious sauce.

The trout I had was delicately flavoured and just on the right side of being over cooked. The brown butter wasn't brown enough for my liking and stopped just before it turns nutty so it was more melted butter. To me butter tastes good in all forms so it didn't stop me from enjoying the dish but browner butter would make it better butter! I do like a tongue twister! Like the escargots it needed a bit more seasoning but the chips were very well seasoned so I just had to mix everything up a bit.

After all that butter and cream we were too full to tackle dessert but the classic offering of tarte tatin was very appealing.

Bon Ap' is a nice local restaurant. It's not somewhere I would travel far to but I'm pretty pleased it's around and I'd like to try breakfast there too. It would also be a great place for a lunchtime charcuterie plate and accompanying wine so it's a welcome addition to Brunswick Street.

Well, who would have thought that Doncaster East, that little South Eastern suburb would be the home of a much hyped, much photographed burger joint?

Smartly decked out in black and accents of red including a neon sign, it's welcoming, feels like a reliable upmarket chain and with that comes that reassuring nuance of good hygiene standards. There's a family friendly feel and I have to admit it reminds me of a good Nando's outlet. That's meant to be a positive by the way. Nothing wrong with a good Nando's!

The menu has something for everyone - burgers, fish, salads, milkshakes...large and small appetites catered for plus a wide choice of beers and ciders. You can take your time to peruse the menu and then order up at the counter - see I told you it was like Nando's.

My friend and I both opted for the Hey Hombre lured in by the call of bacon and spicy jalapenos. We shared the smallest serve of fries and some onion rings.

The order arrives - two towers of burger madness and golden fried accompaniments. We are able to squish the burgers down and cut them in half to make them more manageable and away we go.

I enjoy the spice and balance of meat patty and other things but end up picking the tomato out as unnecessary. The bread is soft and I would describe it as half brioche as it's not as sweet as full brioche. I like it though. The meat patty could have done with being a touch juicier or just slightly rarer but the plus side to a drier patty is that it doesn't all fall apart in the hands. I am able to demolish it all using my hands and don't have to resort to cutlery which is a win and a crucial burger performance test.

The chips are crunchy and don't feel greasy. The serve for one is more than enough for the two of us, onion rings or no rings. I chose the regular fries over chunky chips which apparently come with herb salt. Onion rings are decent. I think I'd like more onion so maybe slightly thicker or less batter but again like the fries, there's minimal oily residue.

This monster meal definitely is a stomach filler, belly buster but not uncomfortably so. I think when it comes to food like this, bloatedness usually equates to poor quality and too much grease so although we feel totally indulgent it doesn't come with that unpleasant stretched stomach, need to lie down and never eat again feeling.

Doncaster East is a bit of a way to go for me even for a good burger but I'd recommend it if you're local to the area. I've heard the fried fish isn't so great so burgers all the way!

This was a quick morning tea stop on a quiet Thursday morning when the rain was pouring down and all felt quite grey and miserable. Thank Heavens for tea and cake!

The tea was strong and well brewed and my friend and I enjoyed an eclair each. I had the chocolate one which had a secret layer of strawberry jam. Great choux pastry and delicious fresh cream. A touch sweet but the tea helped. Gold star for the coffee eclair though and definitely a case of food envy on my part. It was perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness and coffee flavour. That's the one to go for!

And with two pastries and two pots of tea, spirits were lifted. If only everything in life could be so simply solved!

A cheeky mid week breakfast date meant that this popular Prahran premises was laidback and leisurely and the frantic, hectic weekend crowds were avoided. We were able to relax and smell the awesome coffee and enjoy an indulgent breakfast served by personable and friendly FOH staff - perfect!

Oh the Oscar Benedict! Truly a stellar choice; crispy potato rosti replaces the English muffin and beautiful bacon lies on a bed of mashed avocado for another Oscar twist on the classic. What remains true to textbook though are wonderful poached eggs with oozing, orange yolks and a tangy Hollandaise sauce that in spite of its creaminess cuts through all the richness.

It's just the perfect size to be a good breakfast that is a treat but won't leave you comatosed and unable to be productive for the remainder of the day. It's a true breakfast that provides fuel for what lies ahead.

Oscar Cooper, how nice to meet you! Let's be friends.

Bahari has been on the 'must visit' list for some time now. Finally we made it; thanks to Progressive PR for an invitation to a banquet to showcase Cypriot halloumi. It was wild and wet Thursday evening and there was no better place to shelter from the storm than in this intimate venue, cosy with warm Hellenic hospitality and where companionship flowed frmo fellow food enthusiasts and Halloumi lovers.

The first round of food paraded out and friendships with strangers were forged as we passed plates and shared dishes.

SMALL PLATES

• Trio of Dips - Tzatziki, Melitzanosalata, Taramasalata
• Hallomi and Thyme Cigars
• Kolokithokeftedes; Zucchini and Fetta Fritters
• Halloumi with Pomegranate Molasses
• Chargrilled Octopus

All the dishes were delicious - traditional and flavourful, simple and oh so effective. The pita bread was soft, warm and pillowy and the perfect counterfoil to the creamy cool tzatziki, salty umami laden taramasalata and the mellow and rich eggplant melitzanasalata. We had a small accident when beer bottle fell into bread but a new dish of toasty warm doughy goodness soon replaced the unfortunate demise of our previous plate. I think my favourite was the eggplant but I definitely ate my fair share of the others to try and reach that conclusion and had to keep tasting to make sire my decision stood!

Other notables were the zucchini fritters; more oozy, melted stringy cheese than zucchini but who can turn down melted cheese. And on that note, fried halloumi - always a crowd pleaser especially with the tang of the pomegranate seeds and molasses.

Chargrilled octopus offered a cleaner, more acrid flavour against the richness of the dips and cheese especially with the zesty kick of squeezed lemon.

As the banquet progressed we moved onto main dishes and strengthened those relationships round the table with further feasting.

​PROTEINS AND SIDES

• Slow Roasted Lamb Shoulder
• Halloumi, Pork and Fennel Sheftalies
• Greek 'Horiatiki' Salad
• Cypriot Cabbage Salad
• Crispy Skin, Lemon Potatoes

Tender, flavoursome lamb and home made pork sausages (sheftalies) accompanied by crisp, clean salads and indulgent fried potatoes is a heartwarming culinary delight that warms the soul and fills the belly!