tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65262876618415407482024-03-13T07:22:34.663-07:00LIFE IS SHORT, SO EAT DRINK AND TRAVELJacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-62292520329772499712012-08-06T03:49:00.001-07:002012-08-06T03:53:31.574-07:00The Grand Dining Room<div style="text-align: center;">
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Last Sat night was date night. After a bit of convincing I agreed to sit through two and a half hours of 'The Dark Knight'. And I must admit it was actually really good! So seeing as hubby got to choose the movie, I got to choose the restaurant.<br />
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I decided on The Grand Dining Room @ The Grand Hotel. The Dining room is tucked away in the front corner of the hotel. As soon as you enter the main pub area there is a door to the right that takes you through to the cosy, intimate Dining Room. </div>
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We were greeted by a super charming host. He pulled out my chair and offered to take my coat...from that point I knew we were in for a great night. After my glass of bubbly and Nick's beer were brought to the table, we were asked if we wanted to move to a more private table in the corner of the room that had became available. Another tick in my book service wise! So we moved tables and started to study the menu. </div>
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Not long after we were served drinks a complementary starter platter arrived that consisted of some fresh crusty sour dough bread, some creamy butter and a small bowl of olives. There were a couple of different varieties of olives (I loved tasting and comparing the different types), and they were all soft and juicy, in a delicious herb infused olive oil. </div>
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<b>Natural Tasmanian Oysters served w lemon wedge</b></div>
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Those of you who know me well know about my love of oysters. I couldn't go past the oyster entree special. Freshly shucked Tasmanian oysters. Nothing fancy. Just served with some lemon. The oysters were quite small, however they were super fresh and I slurped them down nice and quick. </div>
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<b>Gratinated Half Shell Scallops w Spinach & Parmesen</b></div>
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Nick went for the scallops. Which I was also considering...but decided against because I don't like ordering the same dish, and I knew he would let me have a taste of his anyways. As soon as Nick handed me his fork I could instantly tell the scallops were great because he gave me the smallest bite size amount possible. ha ha. It was delicious. The combination of the spinach and parmesan sitting atop of the scallop was amazing. In each mouthful you got the freshness from the spinach, and a creaminess from the melted parmasen. If you like scallops, this one is definitely a must try!</div>
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<b>Risotto Of The Day - Asparagus, Brocollini & Truffle Oil</b></div>
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Now the mains. I went for the risotto of the day which is surprising for me. I often have a pasta dish. But not risotto. I'm so happy that I went for something different to the norm because it was so super amazing. I'd have to say it was probably the best risotto I have ever had. As soon it was put down in front of me I could smell the scent of truffles wafting towards me. My mouth was watering. Although the dish was quite simple with only a couple of ingredients the flavours were very strong and intense. Again it was the combination of the fresh brocollini and asparagus, paired with the taleggio cheese that gave the dish the perfect balance. And the drizzle of truffle oil floating on top of the risotto made me want the dish to never end. </div>
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<b>Roast Duck w Semolina gnocchi & Orange & Juniper Berry Sauce</b></div>
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Nick went for the Duck. Surprise Surprise! He is very predictable whenever there is duck on a menu. But his decision was well made because the duck was cooked to perfection, and it had a caramelised orange and berry glaze coating which was delicious. Also served with the duck was a semolina gnocchi which was also very tasty, and complemented the duck well.<br />
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So overall a great experience at The Grand Dining Room. From the service to the food we just couldn't fault our experience, and will definitely be returning. For those of you who want to give it a try, it's in the entertainment guide (Gold section) which gives you 25% off the bill. </div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket:</b></div>
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Natural Tasmanian Oysters served w lemon wedge: Forget exactly how much it was? Think it was $18ish??</div>
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Gratinated Half Shell Scallops w Spinach & Parmesen: $22</div>
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Risotto Of The Day - Asparagus, Brocollini & Truffle Oil: $26.50</div>
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Roast Duck w Semolina gnocchi & Orange & Juniper Berry Sauce: $38</div>
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<b>The Grand Dining Room Address: </b></div>
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333 Burnley St</div>
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Richmond </div>
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Tel: 9429 2530<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760798/restaurant/Melbourne/Grand-Hotel-Dining-Room-Richmond"><img alt="Grand Hotel Dining Room on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/760798/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-80779182771041742992012-07-22T15:25:00.000-07:002012-07-22T15:25:22.303-07:00Collingwood Children's Farm Famers Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Being such a foodie I just LOVE Farmers Markets. I get a real buzz talking to the people who actually grow the veggies, make the jams and roast the nuts! And I also like the fact that most of the produce/goodies at Farmers Markets are either organic, or made with the freshest ingredients.<br />
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I've always wanted to go to the Collingwood Children's Farm Farmers Market. So when my girlfriend suggested we head there, I was excited to have a shopping buddy!<br />
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Recently I have been doing a lot of reading on 'Clean Eating', and am now much more conscience with what I'm putting into my body. Where possible I'm now buying organic fruit and veg. And I could't believe how much cheaper organic produce at the market was, compared to buying it at the supermarket.<br />
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Now the Market. There is about 50 stalls in total. Most were selling food. But some also selling flowers and seedlings. There's some great options on offer for lunch too. Hot organic soups on the boil, gozlems, pancakes, venison sausages and much more. I went for the 'Jumbo' Organic potato rosti and it was delish. It was served with beetroot and apple relish, tomato salsa and a pumpkin salad. My girlfriend had a spinach and cheese gozlem which she said was yummy too.<br />
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It was quite muddy under foot, so if you go make sure you don't wear your fancy shoes! We had boots on luckily. Some other shoppers were in their gumboots. And there were even people pushing around their wheel barrows loaded up with their goodies. Loved this idea! Suggested to my hubby we bring our wheel barrow next month when we go! But unfortunately its so big it doesn't actually fit in our car! ha ha.<br />
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So if you're a market lover like me make sure you check out this market. It's a fun day out, and if you want to buy organic but can't afford the price tag, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the affordable prices.<br />
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Out Of Pocket: $2 Parking & $2pp Donation Entry (Make sure you have coins)</div>
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Collingwood Farm Farmers Market Address;</div>
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St Heliers St,</div>
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Abbotsford</div>
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<br /></div>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-43831719649265454722012-07-01T03:17:00.000-07:002012-07-01T03:17:16.847-07:00The TableI love mexican food. And not just because it's Melbourne's current hot cuisine! I got introduced to it about 12 years ago now! It was a Mexican restaurant where I first met my mother in law Jul's. I can't recall what I actually ate? But I do remember getting a large strawberry margarita ordered for me, and I was so nervous that I ended up head in the toilet bowl by the end of the night! <div>
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But my first bad experience didn't put me off. My love of mexican food grew so much that I'd say its probably now my fav cuisine. Ok. well maybe its a tie with Italian! </div>
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So when I got my weekly email from Scoopon the other week listing their weekly deals, I liked the look of a deal for 'The Table'. A mexican inspired restaurant in St Kilda, owned and run by Chef Jame's Blackman. After checking out the restaurants website, and of course the reviews on urbanspoon, I decided we'd give 'The Table' a try. </div>
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Our booking was on a cold, dreary wet Saturday night. So when we peered through the window we were excited to see that the restaurant was a small intimate dining room, with a nice warm homely feel. Unfortunately where we were seated wasn't so warm. We were at a table right by the front door. So whenever anyone went in and out of the restaurant a gust of freezing cold wind would come right towards us. </div>
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But even though our seats weren't great, the food definitely made up for it! </div>
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<b>Corn Tortillas w A Variety Of Salsa's & Guac</b></div>
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First we started with the home made Tortilla chips, with a variety of salsa and Guac. The Tortillas were so fresh and crisp. I haven't tasted anything quite like them before. I think some were corn, and the brown ones I'm guessing were a combination of corn & bean? I loved having the variety of different salsas. My favourite one had a smokey bacon sort of flavour to it! But I also loved dipping into a few of the different salsas to mix the different flavours. Yum Yum!</div>
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<b>Corn Battered Snapper w Pico de Gallo, Avocado & Coriander Taco</b></div>
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I went for the Snapper Taco. Although two bites and it was gone. It was delicious. The batter on the fish was super crispy, and it paired well with the smooth avocado puree, and the creamy sauce drizzled over the fish. The squeeze of lime juice added just the right amount of freshness too. </div>
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<b>Anejo Glazed Pork Belly, Jalapeño w Cream Frainche & Chipotle Salsa Taco</b></div>
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My hubby had the pork taco and loved it. I was lucky enough to get a tiny nibble. The pork was glazed in a sticky sweet marinade which was soo good I want to try and re-create it at home. </div>
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<b>Scallop Ceviche & Preserved lime, Agave, Jalapeño, Toasted Almonds & Coriander served w Corn Tortillas</b></div>
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Now I'm not normally a fan of raw fish. But I have been starting to dabble in ceviche. And I am now totally converted since trying this scallop ceviche. What I loved about this dish is that it wasn't just about the scallop. The dish was designed to pile a crispy tortilla with all the many elements on the plate. Combined, the many flavours were so fresh and flavourful! This dish was a definite winner for me. And if your not normally a raw fish eater give it a try! You might surprise yourself. </div>
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<b>Pork Loin Glazed With Agave, Orange & Chipotle. Stuffed w Apricot & Goats Cheese. Roasted Baby Fennel & Butternut Squash Puree</b></div>
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I had the Pork loin dish for my main, and unfortunately I wasn't in love with it. The pork was a little too pink for my liking, and I felt the dish as a whole was lacking flavour. However I loved the filling of the goats cheese & apricot. I also loved the roasted Fennel. I've only ever had fresh fennel. But loved the deeper flavour it gives off when roasted. </div>
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<b>Charred Swordfish, Tamarind & Agave Chutney, Smoked Bacon, Green Beans, Brandade & Salsa Verde</b></div>
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Hubby went for the swordfish main. He really enjoyed it. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the beans were fresh and crunchy. </div>
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So as a whole I'd definitely recommend 'The Table'. Just make sure that if you decide to give it a try, you request a table to the back of the dining room! Unless it's a nice sunny summer day of course! And any table would be just fine!</div>
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<b>The Table Address: </b></div>
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49 Fitzroy St, </div>
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St Kilda</div>
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Corn Tortillas w Salsa's & Guac: $15</div>
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Corn Battered Snapper w Pico de Gallo, Avocado & Coriander Taco: $5.50</div>
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Anejo Glazed Pork Belly, Jalapeño w Cream Frainche & Chipotle Salsa Taco: $5.50</div>
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Scallop Ceviche & Preserved lime, Agave, Jalapeño, Toasted Almonds & Coriander served w Corn Tortillas: $14.50</div>
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Pork Loin Glazed With Agave, Orange & Chipotle. Stuffed w Apricot & Goats Cheese. Roasted Baby Fennel & Butternut Squash Puree: $34.50</div>
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Charred Swordfish, Tamarind & Agave Chutney, Smoked Bacon, Green Beans, Brandade & Salsa Verde: $32.50</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1546996/restaurant/Melbourne/The-Table-Restaurant-St-Kilda"><img alt="The Table Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1546996/minilink.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-2434762414618606182012-06-13T07:26:00.000-07:002012-06-13T07:28:37.706-07:00Phat BratsA week or two ago (yes I've been slack with keeping up to date with my posts), a friend and I headed to a newbie called Phat Brats for a quick bite to eat before heading to the movies. The best way to describe Phat Brats.....think New york hot dog joint, but with a hint of fanciness - to make it more Melbourne like!<br />
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With so many amazing sounding dogs on the menu board it was too hard to choose just one! So my friend and I decided to go halvies in two dogs, with a serving of cheesy fries on the side! Yum Yum. </div>
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<b>The Chilli Dog</b></div>
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I can never help but ask what a waiter, or in this case, a guy behind the counter, what they would recommend I try?? I love it when I get an instant response, with their suggestions, because it adds to the excitement of the whole dining experience! So to my excitement without hesitation the guy behind the counter told me that their chilli dog was a must! So we went with the chilli dog! </div>
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When our order arrived at the table it took me down memory lane, to my summer spent in Up State New York...where a lot of American food joints I frequented served up their burgers and deep fried goods in these cheap looking red plastic baskets! These might look cheap and nasty to some, but for me, it added to the whole experience!</div>
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Now onto the dog. The actual sausage was made with wagyu, and it was topped with ground beef, their homemade chilli and cheesy sauces, with a sprinkle of spring onions. So I took my first bite, and with chilli and cheesy sauce running down my chin and hands, I couldn't decide whether I loved it or not? I came to the conclusion that I loved all the elements except the actual sausage itself. It was definitely super fresh, and had some great flavours going on, however it seemed a little on the tough side. On a positive note the chilli and cheesy sauces complimented one another so well, and the ground beef was super yummy.</div>
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<b>The Pork & Sage Dog</b></div>
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Although the chilli dog was what came recommended, it was actually the Pork & Sage that got my mouth watering when looking at the menu board! And it didn't disappoint. Piled onto the sausage was an apple, cabbage and fennel slaw, drizzled with a creamy delicious horse radish sauce....and lets not forgot the little pieces of crackling balancing on top! I loved the combination of the apple, fennel, creamy horse radish sauce, with the crunch of the crackling. And the actual dog had fennel seeds in it, which also added to the flavour explosion you got with every bite! This one was the winner in my books, and I'll definitely be heading back for another in the near future. </div>
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<b>Cheesy Fries</b></div>
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I could have honestly had a couple of baskets of these bad boys. Not because there weren't enough. The basket was overflowing. But once you start. You can't stop! And I wonder why my arse got rather large while living in the states! Ha ha. The fries were hot and crispy, the cheesy sauce was super cheesy and just the right consistency! It was everything cheesy fries should be. The only thing it was missing (which I think is a must with cheesy fries) was tomato sauce! So I asked for some of their homemade sauce for dipping! I highly recommend you do this too! Just adds a bit of something extra!</div>
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So Overall I recommend Phat Brats for those wanting a quick, non fuss, bite to eat like I did! I will def be back, even if just to snack on some more of those amazing cheesy fries! he he. </div>
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<b>Phat Brats Address: </b></div>
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320 Brunswick St </div>
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Fitzroy</div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket: </b></div>
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The Chilli Dog: $8.90</div>
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Pork & Sage Dog: $8.90</div>
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Cheesy Fries: $6.00</div>
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Side Of Homemade Tomato Sauce: Complimentary</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1659286/restaurant/Melbourne/Phat-Brats-Fitzroy"><img alt="Phat Brats on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1659286/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-64416253424400640772012-06-03T05:40:00.000-07:002012-06-03T05:41:38.304-07:00Naked For Satan<div style="text-align: left;">
Spain is one of my favourite countries....and I'm sure its got to do with how amazing spanish food is! So when I heard about Naked for Satan, a Basque inspired pintxo and Vodka bar....I got very excited. Saturday night I finally headed there with one of my girlfriends, for a drink and a bite to eat to start off the night!</div>
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As soon as we walked through the front door my eyes instantly went to the bar filled with plates of pintxo's all lined up! For those that don't know what a pintxo is. It's a crusty piece of bread stick with a variety of different toppings, held together by a tooth pick. Pixtxo's are very popular in Spain, and the spanish love to snack on them over a wine for dinner, mixed with a selection of other tapas. </div>
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After finding a comfy couch upstairs we started to study the drinks menu, which is filled with old school pin up girl illustrations, making it quirky and fun to flick through. Deciding what to drink was a hard task, with such a large variety of infused vodkas and yummy sounding cocktails. </div>
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I ended up going for the Watermelon and Mint infused vodka, mixed with a splash of soda and a slice of lime. It was so delish and refreshing. My girlfriend was a little more adventurous and went for the chocolate infused vodka, which was served on the rocks with a slice of fresh orange. It took a couple of sips to be able to taste the chocolate flavours....its was nice, but think we were expecting it to be much more chocolatey, so were a little disappointed. I asked one of the guys behind the bar what their most popular/best infused vodka is, and he said the pineapple is their speciality! So I'm going to give that a go next time.</div>
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And now onto the pintxo's. With such a large variety of pintxo's with interesting spanish inspired toppings it wasn't an easy decision! But finally we ended up getting a mixed plate of the goats cheese w quince paste and pistachio's (my personal favourite), Potato spanish tortilla topped with a creamy garlic aioli, cream cheese with quince paste, olive and walnuts and lastly eggplant and olive with crumbled blue cheese. The bread was crusty on the outside, and nice and soft on the inside, and the topping's were all really fresh and made you want to go back for more! And at $2 a pop. Why wouldn't you.</div>
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Whilst seated sipping our vodka, and enjoying our pintxo's, bar staff circulate the room every 5 mins or so with a hot selection of pintxo's to temp you even further!! It worked on me, I couldn't refuse the tomato meatball with shaved parmesan one that was smelling oh so good, just sitting there on the plate being waved in front of me. Unfortunately this one was gone before I even thought about taking a pic. Sorry! But it was super yum and I'd recommend you give it a try if it's offered to you. </div>
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Once our bellies were full, and glasses dry, it was time to tally up our tooth picks. Payment here works on an honesty system which I think is really cute. You carry your tooth picks up to the bar, and they are counted up to work out the bill. </div>
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So how would I sum up Naked for Satan?? Well, It was a really fun way to start off our Sat night. The place has a great vibe, good crowd, some delicious authentic tasting pintxo's and a huge selection of interesting infused vodka's. Wish we could have stayed longer, and I'll def be heading back there soon!</div>
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<b>Naked For Satan Address</b></div>
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285 Brunswick St</div>
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Fitzroy</div>
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Infused Vodka: $10</div>
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Pintxo's: All $2 each (But they do a lunch time special of 80cent pintxo's Mon - Fri)</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1544244/restaurant/Melbourne/Naked-For-Satan-Fitzroy"><img alt="Naked For Satan on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1544244/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-38867930074111722922012-05-21T05:51:00.001-07:002012-06-01T19:58:08.780-07:00Houghton's Winery - Swan ValleyA little while back I headed to sunny Perth for a bit of sunshine, relaxation, and to catch up with some great friends who recently moved to this sunny state. I imagined Perth to be laid back....it was super laid back. Prob a little too laid back for me, as I like a bit of hustle and bustle to keep the day exciting!<br />
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We stayed in Scarborough where our friends were living. Such a great little spot. Beautiful long stretches of white sandy beach, and a laid back vibe that makes you instantly slow down and relax. </div>
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Of course we got out to explore what Perth has to offer. With a little help from Urbanspoon, and some friends who grew up in Perth we were pointed in the right direction. </div>
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Houghton's Winery was one of our first stops as I love a good winery lunch! And it didn't disappoint. A quick glance at the menu and my decision was made very quickly. I can't go past a great winery platter full of local produce where you can nibble your way through the wide selection of yummy things on offer! Luckily one of my friends didn't need any convincing to share with me, as the platters are made for two people. </div>
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So we ended up going for the Mann Platter which was delicious. The platter was made up of peach & lemon chicken shanks, sticky pork ribs, moroccon grilled lamb, tzatziki, chef's salad and relish, a fresh selection of crusty bread, and lastly a nut crusted deep fried brie. All elements of the platter were so yummy, but definite stand outs for me were the pork ribs, and the brie. The ooziness of the brie smeared on a piece of bread was amazing! But I felt like a fatty after eating my way through half the cheese wheel! </div>
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My other two friends with me were going to go the wagyu beef burger. But when they went to the counter to order, they were told there was only one burger left and they'd be sold out for the day. Always a good sign!! So they went halvies in the burger, and a serve of the sticky pork ribs w chips. They really enjoyed both dishes, but said the burger was the winner of the two. </div>
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We washed lunch down with some bottles of wine, which we were able to buy in the tasting area and take across to the cafe to have with lunch. Loved that you could do this, instead of pay per the glass at restaurant prices. </div>
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Swan Valley is such a pretty part of Perth, and I'd def recommend you take the 50 or so minute drive out there to enjoy what the wineries have to offer. Unfortunately we didn't have a full day free, so we limited ourselves to Houghton's for lunch, and a couple of other wineries for some quick tastings - and a stop at a chocolate factory which I'll post about shortly. </div>
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More on Perth to come soon!!</div>
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<b>Houghton's Winery Address</b></div>
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148 Dale Rd</div>
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Middle Swan</div>
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WA, 6065</div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Mann Platter (worth every cent!): $55</div>
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Wagyu Beef Burger w chips: $28</div>
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Sticky Ribs w chips: $25</div>
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Wine: Forget now, but very reasonable because we paid by the bottle at the tasting area of the winery!</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/338/1370394/restaurant/Perth/Swan-Valley/Houghton-Cafe-Middle-Swan"><img alt="Houghton Café on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1370394/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-21198675861670975372012-05-11T05:30:00.001-07:002012-05-11T06:01:52.385-07:00Hutong Dumpling BarI've been wanting to go to Hutong Dumpling Bar for a while! Finally after seeing Steven K Amos (very funny man!) who was here as part of the Melb comedy festival, my hubby and I decided to wander down Market Lane, and try our luck at getting a table.<br />
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It was about 8.30 by the time we got there. We were greeted by the front desk hostess who told us we'd have to wait 30 mins for a table. We weren't starving so waited around on the couple of chairs they have by the front door. Although we were hungry the time flew by, as we watched through the glassed in dumpling kitchen, watching the chefs preparing the different yummy looking dumplings. My mouth was watering!<br />
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We were having an alcohol free night...and instead of our usual beer & cocktail, we opted for a sprite & diet coke. </div>
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With such a large menu, and so many delicious sounding dumplings it was hard for us to decide what to order! But there is one dumpling on the menu I know draws crowds of serious dumpling fans to Hutong. So we decided to start with the.....</div>
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Filled with a minced prawn and pork filling, as well as a jelly like broth, these funny wobbly looking dumplings are what people say are a must have at Hutong. There is definitely no easy way to eat them! After you take your first bite, the broth squirts out of the dumpling and runs down your chin! Its quite funny! It had us both in fits of laughter trying to master the best way to eat them! Def don't order these if your on a first date! he he. They were tasty, however I'm not sure they lived up to what I expected. Probably because I had high expectations with all the raving reviews. The mince filling was really delicious, but I felt the broth was a little oily and rich. Sadly I'm not sure I'd order them again.</div>
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<b>Prawn Dumplings</b></div>
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Next we tried the prawn dumplings! They were quite simple but really yummy. The filling was a full prawn, that had a great juicy texture, and was cooked to perfection. These were my hubby's favourite.</div>
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<b>Duck Dumplings</b></div>
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These were my favourite. I could have had 4 more! The filling was delicious! I loved the combination of the minced duck, with the finely grated carrot and ginger. </div>
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<b>Chicken & Sweet Corn Soup</b></div>
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And to finish off we went for the trusty chicken and sweet corn soup. Ever since I was a little girl, I can't go out for chinese and not have it! The soup was nice and thick, with just the right amount of chicken broth. And the peas were nice and soft, but still popped in my mouth! I'd say its the best I've had in a long time. I cook my own version at home. But its never as good as the chinese make it! If anyone has a great authentic recipe, I'd love for you to share!</div>
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So would I go back to Hutong? Not sure. It was good. But not amazing. And with so many great places in Melbourne that specialise in dumplings, I think I'd prefer to to give somewhere else a go next instead. If anyone knows of a must visit dumpling place, please post a comment and let me know about it!</div>
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<b>Hutong Dumpling Bar Address</b></div>
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14 - 16 Market Lane</div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Xiao Long Bao Dumplings: $11.80</div>
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Prawn Dumplings: $8.80</div>
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Duck Dumplings: $8.80</div>
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Chicken & Sweet Corn Soup: $7.00</div>
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Make sure you look out for my next post on Perth! Had a fun little trip there. Visited some great wineries, a chocolate factory (yum yum) and so many great restaurants. Can't wait to tell you all about it!</div>
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<br />JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-11989000995582484062012-05-04T06:49:00.000-07:002012-05-04T06:49:16.564-07:00Foodie Tour @ The QVM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When on holiday I always make sure we visit local markets...which usually ends up with us buying lots of yummy local produce and having a picnic somewhere nice! It was my last little break where we did this, I thought to myself....why don't I do this at home?! With such a huge bustling market, full of amazing fresh produce, and at great prices, it just seems crazy to head down to Coles for my weekly shop, when I could pay the Queen Vic Market a visit instead. <div>
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So this thinking is what made me decide to book a 'Foodies Tour' at the Vic Market. My cousin Lauren came along with me (Didn't take much convincing as she's just as much of a foodie as me!) The tour is on Saturday's at 10am, when the market is busy, but not at its peak!</div>
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The lady that lead our tour was such a cute little woman, she was so tiny that she had an umbrella with a duck head handle that she would hold up above her head as she powered through the crowds of shoppers, so we could find our way to her. </div>
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We got told a lot of history about the market. Some things I had no idea about.....like that the market site was once a cemetery! One of my fav stalls we visited was a fruit and veg stall that specialises in tomatoes. They have 20 or more different varieties. I didn't even know there were that many! I'm planning to make a big batch of homemade tomato sauce soon, and I'm going to head back there to get my tomatoes.</div>
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So the tour goes for 2 hours, and throughout that time you find out things like how to pick the freshest produce, who sells the most expensive, and the cheapest steaks - and why! And along the way you get to have approx 7 different tastings! I won't spoil it by telling you all the things we got to try, just incase you decide to go on the tour, but will show and tell about a few of them.</div>
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Here is a plate of yummy dips and yummy crusty bread we got to try. The different dips were spicy capsicum and basil pesto. Two of my favs! Yum Yum. The spicy capsicum had a real kick to it which i loved!</div>
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Our last tasting of the day was chicken tortellini in a creamy mushroom and parmesan sauce. It was delicious. I don't normally like pasta meat fillings, and normally I go with the veggie options such as pumpkin and ricotta. But it was a winner. Although tempted to buy some to take home, unfortunately the fresh pasta was super expensive, and I couldn't justify buying it when I've started making my own pasta at home! I'll just have to try and re-invent it myself!</div>
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I would highly recommend the 'Foodies Tour', and it has made me go back to the market more regularly which i'm loving. It's not just the fresh produce I love, its the fun conversations with the stall holders, and being around people that are so passionate about food that makes it such a fun, and exciting experience. </div>
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After the tour we grabbed a trolly ($5 to hire) and did our weekly shop! Check out all our yummy ingredients. I ended up with a bit of a mish mash of ingredients! Thats what you get when you don't write a shopping list!</div>
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<b>QVM Address</b></div>
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513 Elizabeth St</div>
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Melbourne</div>
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<b>Website For Booking</b></div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Tour: $40</div>
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Shopping Afterwards: I lost count! Hot Tip - Count your $$ before you start shopping</div>
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<b>An Apple A Day.....Keeps The Doctor Away...</b></div>
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Although I thought it was more an old wives tale than anything else. I have recently learnt that two apples a day is proven to lower cholesterol, and can also help weightless! And apparently having the peel is very important! So don't go peel free my friends!</div>
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<br /></div>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-7368003559882283202012-04-30T05:47:00.000-07:002012-05-11T06:11:43.505-07:00Mamasita's & Red Door Corner Store<br />
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Sorry it's been sooo long between posts! It's been a crazy month filled with birthday's, catch ups and a trip away to Perth. On the upside of not having a minute to spare, I have lots of exciting things to post about! So you'll be hearing lots from me over the next couple of weeks. But first onto Mamasita....</div>
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<b>Mamasita</b></div>
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Mamasita meaning 'Hot Babe' in spanish has been 'the talk of the town' since opening its doors in Melbourne. After my third visit I can see why people love this taco and techilla bar, and keep coming back for more. Probably because I'm one of them! </div>
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The no booking policy (except for large groups) means that most nights there is a long line of hungry people trailing up the staircase in hope of getting a table. After my first visit we worked out that the key is to get there early, say 6pm when there aren't too many people in the que. Then you leave your name and number and head off elsewhere for a few drinks.....and wait for the call to let you know your tables ready. We headed off to Madame Brussels which is close by for a few Sangria's. Now onto the food!</div>
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<b>Tortilla Chips w Guac & Salsa</b></div>
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Not long after being seated we ordered some crispy tortilla chips with guac and salsa to share while we studied the menu. I always order these to start - they're delicious! Mamasita's menu consists of a lot of small bites for one, and some larger dishes for sharing. I normally stick to the small bites, but because there were five of us dining this night, i thought it was a good opportunity to try some of the larger sharing dishes too....the verdict...keep reading and you'll find out.</div>
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<b>Tostaditas</b></div>
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These bite size Tostaditas are my fav thing on the menu. They are a crispy corn chip piled high with different toppings. We ordered some of the De Pollo which has chargrilled chicken, avocado, chipotle mayo and queso fresco. We also got some of the De Carnita, which has slow braised pork shoulder, pickled jalapeño and chicharron. They are simple but have such an intense flavour! I also love the presentation, with them being served up on a chunky wooden chopping board! Make sure you try these!</div>
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<b>Tacos</b></div>
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The tacos are designed to serve one and aren't very big. I would recommend ordering two. There's six different filling options to choose from. Most of us got either the fish or prawn. They are my two fav fillings. The filling's are really simple, but the flavours are so punchy and fresh! The salsa that's</div>
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served with the tacos is amazing. So make sure you sprinkle your tacos with it.</div>
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<b>Street Style Corn</b></div>
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I'd heard a lot of talk about Mamasita's street style chargrilled corn cobs. And I was happy that they lived up to the hype. Smeared in queso, chipotle mayo, a squeeze of lime juice and grilled to perfection. They were super juicy like a good cob should be. </div>
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Now onto the larger sharing dishes......</div>
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<b>De Pollo Quesadilla</b></div>
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The Quesadillas are great for sharing. We ordered the De Pollo which has a filling of Char grilled chicken, coriander, queso criollo, pico verde & queso fresco. It was topped with the same yummy salsa that was served with the tacos and a sprinkling of cheese.</div>
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<b>Chickpea Fritters</b></div>
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This dish came out and I was really excited because it looked so colourful and pretty, with the bright purple cabbage and the jalapeño herb sauce. Sadly my fellow diners and I were a bit disappointed, as the flavours were a little bland and the fritters weren't crispy like you expect fritters to be.</div>
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<b>Squash & Goats Cheese Tortillas</b></div>
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Like the chickpea fritters these stuffed tortillas just didn't excite our taste buds. The Tortillas were deep fried which made the dish a little greasy. I think if they were pan fried and crispy it would have been much more enjoyable. My advice is stick to the smaller dishes because they are just so much more delicious! I know when I head back to Mamasita I'll be ordering my usual choices of the tostadas, tacos and the must have corn.</div>
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<b>Sweetcorn Ice-cream Cone Topped With Caramel Popcorn</b></div>
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Now I'm not a fan of mixing sweet and savoury, so I had my doubts about corn flavoured ice-cream. But boy was I wrong. It was delicious! The ice-cream was so creamy. They must have churned the corn for hours to get it so smooth!! I especially loved the addition of the sweet caramel pop corn that sat on the top of the cone.</div>
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So to sum up my latest visit to Mamasita. Although the larger sharing dishes were nothing to be excited about, I still love this place and will continue to head back there whenever I get a craving for mexican. I'll just make sure I stick to the smaller dishes. Make sure you get to Mamasita and give it a go!</div>
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<b>Mamasita Address</b></div>
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1/11 Collins St</div>
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Tortilla Chips w Guac & Salsa: $9</div>
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Tostaditas: $12 - $16 (4 per serve)</div>
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Tacos: $5 - $7</div>
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Street Style Corn: $4.90</div>
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De Pollo Quesadilla: $12</div>
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Chickpea Fritters: $19</div>
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Squash & Goats Cheese Tortillas: $21</div>
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Sweetcorn Ice-cream Cone Topped With Caramel Popcorn: $6</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1507775/restaurant/CBD/Mamasita-Melbourne"><img alt="Mamasita on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1507775/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a></div>
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<b>Red Door Corner Store</b></div>
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I've been wanting to go to Red Door Corner Store cafe for a while now. Not only because I've heard great things, but also because it was my local milk bar growing up. Pulling up to the cafe memories came flooding back of me and my sister riding our bikes down to get our TV Hits magazine (we were so cool), and some powdered jelly babies (which nowhere seems to sell anymore! Which is such a shame because they rocked)</div>
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The place has a great relaxed vibe to it, and is decorated with a cute quirky feel - with different shaped baking tins and cooling racks hanging on the walls like artwork. </div>
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The menu isn't huge. But has a nice variety of different options to choose from. I decided on the...</div>
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<b>Coconut Crumpets Served w Rooftop Honey</b></div>
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I was intrigued to what home made crumpets would be like, so was excited to give them a try! They came to the table on a cute little wooden chopping board, and I loved how the butter was resting on top of a wooden spoon! Very creative. When the waitress put down the dish in front of me she explained that the honey was fresh from the bee hives on their roof top. Which I think is so unique and cool. After my first bite they weren't really what I imaged. More like a scone than a crumpet. And I think they must have run out of coconut the day I was there, because I couldn't really taste any coconut flavour at all. So the verdict was that they were ok, but prob wouldn't order them again, unless I was feeling in the mood for a scone. Which isn't often for me. </div>
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<b>Banana Bread w Whipped Orange Ricotta, Oven Roasted Stone Fruit & Hazelnut Dukkah</b></div>
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My girlfriend I was having brunch with ordered the banana bread. It came to the table and I got instant food envy. I hate it when that happens! Luckily I was offered a mouthful. It was delicious!! The banana bread was nice and moist, and tasted amazing with the orange ricotta drizzled over the top. The juices that were resting underneath were from the baked stone fruit, and the banana bread had soaked up some of the of it which added something special to the flavour combination. This dish was a definite winner!</div>
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I'm not a coffee drinker, but my girlfriend told me that it was a good coffee. I took a photo purely because it looked so pretty! he he.</div>
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So if your in the Northcote area pay The Red Door Corner Store a visit, and enjoy the laid back atmosphere, and the homemade, fresh non fuss food this place has to offer. </div>
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<b>Red Door Corner Store Address</b></div>
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70 Mitchell St</div>
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Northcote</div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Coconut Crumpets Served w Rooftop Honey: $9.50</div>
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Banana Bread w Whipped Orange Ricotta, Oven Roasted Stone Fruit & Hazelnut Dukkah: $15</div>
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Coffee: $3.50</div>
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I've got so much more to share with you! Look out for my next post on the Vic Market tour I did last month, and some other exciting places I've visited. </div>
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<br /></div>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-43381019270715864212012-03-12T06:01:00.000-07:002012-05-11T06:19:18.315-07:00Girls weekend away in DaylesfordLast weekend my girlies and I left our men behind and headed off for a weekend away in beautiful Daylesford. I've been to Daylesford a couple of times now, and have really fallen in love with this sleepy little town. Could have something to do with the fact that Daylesford is all about great food, and getting pampered. Which are pretty much my two favourite things in life!!<br />
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Our 1st exciting stop for the weekend was to pick up the keys to the house we had hired! A short drive to the house and it looked just like it did in the pictures! Phew! Seeing as I booked it! ha ha. I found the house 'Luxe On Queensbury' on Dayget website. Have attached the link and some pics below just incase your interested. http://www.dayget.com.au/Luxe-on-Queensberry</div>
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<b>Farmers Arms Hotel</b></div>
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Now onto the food. I'd heard great things about the Farmers Arms Hotel so we decided to head there for dinner and drinks on our first night. We arrived and the place was packed. Always a good sign. We were lucky enough to get a cosy little corner table where we settled in with a few wines. The menu was large, and everything sounded delicious! Decisions..Decisions!<br />
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<b>Pork Belly w Mash & Brocollini</b></div>
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I finally decided on the pork belly and was so excited when the dish arrived, because the skin was super crispy and delicious! Exactly how it should be. The potato mash served with the pork was super creamy, and the brocollini was nice and al dente. I enjoyed this meal so much that I think i'd be boring and order it again next time I'm at Farmers Arms. </div>
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<b>Dukkah Crusted Snapper w Rocket & Avocado Salad</b></div>
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Two of my fellow diners had the snapper, which of course I had a taste of. I loved the dukkah crust, and the rocket and avocado salad had a zesty citrus dressing which matched with the fish perfectly. </div>
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<b>Chicken Stuffed w Goats Cheese Served w Potato Mash & Asparagus</b></div>
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My other fellow diners ordered the chicken. I don't often order chicken dishes and when I do, I don't 100% enjoy them. But this chicken was so delicious and juicy. It made me think I need to give chicken more of a go! The chicken was served with the same yummy mash I got with my pork belly, and asparagus which was covered in a rich balsamic butter sauce. Yum Yum. </div>
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The meals were so big that there was sadly no room for dessert. Maybe next time!</div>
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<b>Famers Arms Hotel Address</b></div>
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Pork Belly w Mash & Brocollini: $25</div>
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Dukkah Crusted Snapper w Rocket & Avocado Salad: $26</div>
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Chicken Stuffed w Goats Cheese served w Potato Mash & Asparagus: $26</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/346/1493630/restaurant/Victoria/Farmers-Arms-Hotel-Daylesford"><img alt="Farmers Arms Hotel on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1493630/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>
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<b>Frangos & Frangos</b></div>
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Before heading off to get pampered and massaged we decided we deserved a glass of bubbly. Jimmy's bar at Frangos & Frangos looked like the perfect place! So we ventured inside and got seated at some cute bar stools, where we enjoyed a glass of the local prosecco. I wish I remembered the name of the prosecco as it was beautiful! While half of our group went off for the earlier session of pampering at Endota Spa, three of us girls stayed on at Frangos for a bite to eat. Although there were some great sounding things on the menu, there was one dish that we all got excited about......</div>
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<b>Fried Zucchini Flowers Filled With Roasted Pumpkin, Ricotta & Sage, w Dill Mustard dressing</b></div>
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One bite and I was in heaven. The batter that coated the zucchini flowers was so light and crispy. And the inside filling was so beautifully seasoned and smooth. There is no way I could fault this dish. The syrup that was drizzled on the plate wasn't actually a mustard dressing as described on the menu. Instead it was a sweet honey based dressing which was amazing, and really bought all the elements of the dish together.</div>
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<b>Frangos & Frangos Address</b></div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Fried Zucchini Flowers Filled With Roasted Pumpkin, Ricotta & Sage, w Dill Mustard dressing: $16</div>
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Bottle Of Prosecco (shared between the 6 of us): $42</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="Frangos & Frangos Restaurant on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1493631/minilink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: move; height: 36px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 130px;" /></span></div>
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<b>Wombat Hill House</b></div>
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We had packed our bags and it was nearly time to head home. But before we made the drive back to Melb, we decided to head to the Wombat Hill House cafe in the Botanical Gardens. After taking a scenic drive through the beautiful gardens, we wandered along a windy path to get to the house. This little cafe really had a homely feel with its open fire, comfy couches, and great looking comfort food we could see being served up to other diners. </div>
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<b>Corn & Zuchinni Fritters, Smashed Avocado, Chilli & Tomato Salsa, Sour Cream w Bacon</b></div>
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I'm a huge fan of corn fritters and so are the girls I was away with. So much so, that most of us ordered the fritters. Although they weren't the best bfast fritters i've had, they were very tasty. And its the first time I've had them served with sour cream! I loved combining the fritter, bacon, roasted tomato and rocket with a smear of sour cream for each mouthful! I'm defiantly going to try and re-create this bfast combo at home.</div>
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<b>Avocado & Salmon On Gluten Free Toast</b></div>
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Unfortunately for my gluten/dairy free girlfriend, (who normally relies on ordering poached eggs on gluten free toast) the cook refused to cook poached eggs. You would think they could poach an egg for her - seriously its not that hard right? Hmmmmm. So instead she asked them to do gluten free toast with avocado and salmon. It was presented nicely with a cute little pansy garnish, but it was pretty basic and sadly for her not nearly as exciting as the fritters. </div>
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<b>Blood Orange Hepburn Mineral Water</b></div>
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I discovered Hepburn flavoured mineral waters last time I was in Daylesford, and I was excited to see that they had some new flavours since I last tried them. The mineral water tastes so fresh, and they use a high percentage of real fruit, so they have a nice strong fruity flavour. My fav is the orange & passionfruit flavour. But I decided to try the blood orange this time, as I thought I should try one of the new ones. It was nice, but not nearly as good as the orange and passionfruit. I've noticed that some cafes in Melb are starting to stock this mineral water - so make sure you try one if you see it! You won't be disappointed!</div>
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<b>Wombat Hill House Address</b></div>
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Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens (Up on the hill, near the Convent)</div>
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Daylesford</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Out Of Pocket</b></span></b></div>
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Corn & Zuchinni Fritters, Smashed Avocado, Chilli & Tomato Salsa, Sour Cream w Bacon: $19</div>
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Avocado & Salmon On Gluten Free Toast: $16</div>
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Blood Orange Hepburn Mineral Water: $4.50</div>
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Watch out for my next post on the much talked about Mamasita mexican tapas bar/restaurant, a cute little Northcote cafe full of country style and character - Red Door Corner Store, and my Vic Market 'Foodies' tour I'm going on next weekend with my fellow food blogger cousin Lauren! Check out Lauren's blog if you get a chance. She has just posted some amazing japanese style seafood dishes she learnt to cook recently at the Electrolux Vic Market Cooking School. http://surburbanculinaryadventures.blogspot.com.au/</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/346/1608104/restaurant/Victoria/Wombat-Hill-House-Daylesford"><img alt="Wombat Hill House on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1608104/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-67026078000719510262012-03-05T04:06:00.000-08:002012-03-05T04:12:31.783-08:00I've been cooking!I've been doing a bit of cooking over the last couple of weeks, so I thought I'd share some of my new fav recipes with you! Hope they tempt you into trying some of them.<br />
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Firstly I'll start with a Thai Beef Salad that has now made my regular dinner list. It was a really hot day and I was over our usual weekly salads we whip up.....so decided to jump on the net for something a little different. I found this delicious recipe on taste website and it did not disappoint. If you like fresh asian flavours, you simply have to try this one!<br />
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<b>Asian Beef Salad</b></div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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1 1/2 tbs lime juice</div>
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1 tbs grated palm sugar</div>
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1 tbs fish sauce</div>
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2 tbs sesame oil</div>
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1 tbs soy sauce</div>
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2 tbs finely grated ginger</div>
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1 crushed garlic clove</div>
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1 beef rump steak (approx 680g)</div>
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1 x 200g pkt of grape tomatoes (sliced in 3)</div>
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1 cucumber, halved lengthways and sliced into thin strips</div>
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1 red onion, cut into thin wedges</div>
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2 long chillies, sliced thinly lengthways</div>
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1 bunch fresh mint leaves, large leaves torn</div>
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1 bunch fresh coriander leaves</div>
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1 bunch Thai basil leaves, large leaves torn</div>
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1/3 cup roasted peanuts, crushed</div>
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4 kaffir lime leaves, centre veins removed, finely shredded</div>
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<b>How To</b></div>
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1. Combine the lime juice, palm sugar, fish sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and garlic in a bowl and whisk. Place the steak in a dish and drizzle with half of the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for approx 2 hours to develop the flavours.</div>
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2. Preheat barbecue grill on high. Cook the steak to your liking, and then transfer to a plate and cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes. </div>
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3. Place the cucumber, tomato, onion, chilli, mint, coriander, basil and peanuts in a large bowl. Thinly slice the steak and add it to the salad. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and toss lightly to combine. Divide the salad between plates and serve. </div>
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** I crushed the peanuts in a food processor which was nice and easy. I did a little more than 1/3 of a cup so i had some extra to sprinkle on the top of each of the salad servings once plated</div>
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Serves: 4</div>
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<b>Eggplant Parmigiana</b></div>
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I love this veggie delight and have made it a couple of times now. It's so good you don't even miss the usual chicken or veal that comes with a traditional parma. </div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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2 small to medium size eggplants sliced into 1 cm thick slices</div>
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2 eggs, whisked</div>
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1 cup plain flour</div>
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1 1/2 cups Tip Top Krummies bread crumbs</div>
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1 tsp mixed dry herbs</div>
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600 ml of pasata tomato sauce</div>
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1/2 tsp white sugar</div>
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1/2 cup white wine</div>
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olive oil (enough to coat a frying pan 1cm deep for cooking the eggplant, 4 tbs for salad dressing & 1 tbs to cook garlic)</div>
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2 garlic cloves, crushed</div>
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1/4 cup basil leaves & 8 extra leaves to garnish</div>
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150g grape tomatos</div>
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1/2 large cucumber</div>
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1 red onion sliced into thin wedges</div>
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3 cups spinach</div>
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4 tbs olive oil</div>
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3 tbs sweet balsamic reduction</div>
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2 tbs lemon juice</div>
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A few cracks of pepper and a pinch of salt</div>
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<b>How To</b></div>
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1. Heat the oven to 180 degrees. Cut the eggplant into slices. Combine the breadcrumbs and herbs. Dip the eggplant slices into the plain flour, followed by the whisked egg and then coat in the mixture of bread crumbs and herbs. </div>
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2. Heat a frypan with a tbs of olive oil, and sauté the crushed garlic for a couple of mins on medium heat. Then add the pasata tomato sauce, sugar, white wine, salt & pepper. Chop up the basil leaves and add to the sauce and simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.</div>
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3. Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to make the oil 1cm deep, and heat the oil at high heat. Once the oil is hot add the eggplant slices and cook until browned on both sides. Then remove the eggplant and dab the excess oil with paper towel.</div>
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3. Pour the tomato sauce into an oven proof dish large enough to fit 4 of the eggplant slices. Lay the eggplant slices in the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce in the dish onto the eggplant to coat, and top with the sliced mozzarella. Then pop into the over for approx 5 minutes. It's ready once the mozzarella is melted and a little golden and the tomato sauce is nice and hot.</div>
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4. While the eggplant is in the oven, chop up the tomatoes, cucumber and red onion. Combine the salad ingredients in a bowl with the olive oil, balsamic reduction and lemon juice and toss until the salad is coated in the dressing.</div>
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5. Place one of the eggplant slices on each of the plates and divide the salad equally. Garnish the top of each eggplant pama with two basil leaves and serve.</div>
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Serves: 4</div>
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<b>Super Easy Rich Chocolate Mousse</b></div>
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This is a Donna Hay recipe! What i love about all of Donna's recipes is that they are super quick and easy - yet taste like you have been slaving away in the kitchen for hours. This Chocolate Mousse is super rich! I loved it, but think next time I would use half milk chocolate and half dark chocolate instead to make it a little less rich. </div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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400g Dark Chocolate</div>
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1 1/3 cups milk</div>
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1 1/2 tbs icing sugar</div>
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1. Place the sugar, chocolate and icing sugar in a saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and smooth</div>
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2. Pour the chocolate mixture into a bowl and place over a larger bowl of ice</div>
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3. Using a hand held electric mixer, beat or approx 6 minutes or until the mixture become light and fluffy (Don't overbeat or the mixture will become grainy)</div>
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4. Spoon the mixture into 4 glasses or ramekins and top with some fresh fruit. I used blueberries, but raspberries would be very nice also</div>
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Serves: 4</div>
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<b>Prosciutto Wrapped Figs</b></div>
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I was served up this delicious starter at Nick's nanna's place when over there for dinner one night and fell in love with it! So thought I'd try it myself and share with you all too! Took me all of about 10 mins to prepare and cook. Gotta love that!</div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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8 figs</div>
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8 super thin slices of prosciutto</div>
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1/4 tsp butter per fig</div>
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8 sage leaves</div>
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Crack of pepper on each of the figs</div>
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1. Slice a cross into the top of each fig. Make the cut nearly to the base of the figs so you can fan open the figs</div>
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2. Place the butter and sage leaf into the centre of the figs and then top with a crack of pepper</div>
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3. Wrap each fig with a slice of proscuitto and place under the grill until the butter is melted and the prosciutto becomes a little crispy</div>
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Serves: 4</div>
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<b>Smashed Pea, Goats cheese & Egg bruschetta</b></div>
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I have always been crazy for peas! Whilst most kids would come home and snack on chips and lollies, I got into peas topped with a melted kraft cheese single slice! Ha ha. So needless to say, i loved this breeky creation and will def be making it again.</div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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2 1/2 cups of frozen peas</div>
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1 tsp finely grated lemon rind</div>
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1 tbs lemon juice</div>
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1 tbs olive oil</div>
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Sea salt & cracked pepper</div>
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8 slices of crusty bread (I used a Pana De Casa loaf)</div>
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Olive oil, extra for brushing the bread slices</div>
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250g soft goats cheese curd (I used Meredith brand thats sold in a tiny tub at Coles - nothing beats it)</div>
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8 eggs, poached</div>
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1. Place the peas in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow the peas to stand for 1 minute, and then drain and rinse in cold water.</div>
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2. Place the peas in a bowl and roughly mash with a fork. Add lemon rind and juice, oil, salt & pepper to the peas.</div>
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3. Brush the slices of bread with olive oil and chargrill in a pan until golden, and then spread each piece with the goats curd.</div>
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4. Spoon the pea mixture on top of the goats curd, and top with a poached egg. Sprinkle with sea salt and some cracked pepper, and garnish with some parsley leaves.</div>
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<b>Love was in the air.......At The Firehouse</b></div>
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I don't make a huge deal of Valentine's Day...but figure why not head out somewhere special to celebrate love!! So Nick took me out for a romantic dinner at a special place called The Firehouse. This restaurant is housed in an old firehouse. It has so much character with its many small rooms that are all decorated differently, giving them all their own individual charm. </div>
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<b>Mt Zero Olives, Carrot Hummus & Soft Middle Eastern Breads</b></div>
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This little nibbles wooden board platter we were first served up was super yummy. The olives were coated in a warm herbed oil, the carrot hummus had a hint of curry that really complemented the carrot, and the middle eastern bread was so soft and fresh. I'm going to attempt to make my own version of the carrot hummus. Will keep you posted on how I go with it!</div>
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<b>Fetta Souffle with roasted figs and honey drizzle</b></div>
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This was my starter and I enjoyed every mouthful. The soufflé was so creamy and perfectly cooked. The roasted sweet figs were topped with crushed hazelnuts, and the honey drizzle sauce that was poured over the dish added a sweetness that matched so perfectly with the soufflé. </div>
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<b>Slow Roasted Pork Chuck With Summer Bean & Walnut Salad</b></div>
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Nick really enjoyed his starter. The pork had a melt in your mouth texture, and the beans added a nice crunch to each bite. He said he'd have it again....so its a thumbs up to the pork!</div>
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<b>Pan Seared Barramundi With Yarra Valley Vegetable Salad</b></div>
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The Barramundi was cooked to perfection and so were all the roasted vegetables. I loved that there were so many different types of veggies on the plate! I especially loved the squash. not many places serve squash these days so it was nice to have something a little different. The chive infused oil that garnished the dish was really delicious, especially when mixed with the lemon that I squeezed over the fish. </div>
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<b>Chargrilled Wagu Sirloin With Bearnaise sauce, Green Peas, Horesradish Cream & Caramelised Onions</b></div>
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Nick had the Wagu for his main and was very happy with his choice. it was cooked exactly as asked, and the bernaise sauce was so creamy and delicious. By the time I asked for a forkful the plate was empty, which is always a good sign :)</div>
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<b>Trio Of Firehouse Treats To Share</b></div>
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Even though we didn't think we could possibly fit anything else in our bellies, our waitress talked us into their trio of desserts to share. The platter included Cinnamon clotted cream with cinnamon lavish, salted white and dark chocolate delice, and a berry, tapioca, and yogurt pudding with Rose syrup which was the definite stand out on the plate! I'm going to try and create this pudding at home sometime soon myself! If anyone has done anything similar please let me know of any good recipes. </div>
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<b>Firehouse Address</b><br />
253-257 Maroondah Hwy<br />
Ringwood, 3134<br />
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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We paid $80 a head for nibbles platter to share, starter, main, dessert & a glass of wine each as a Valentine's Day special</div>
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Well thats all from me for now! But keep your eyes out for my next post on Daylesford. Went to some great little places over the weekend that I want to share with you all.</div>
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<br /></div>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526287661841540748.post-37793446715026149852012-02-07T04:07:00.000-08:002012-05-11T06:21:40.897-07:00Chin ChinI'm so happy to be able to start off with a post on my experience at the informal, yet stylish Chin Chin. This Pan Asian restaurant serves up some amazing mouth watering dishes, with punchy fresh flavours, which leave you walking out the door wanting to come back for more. Chin Chin is all about sharing, which is something I love to do, as you get to try lots of different dishes....instead of ordering the one dish and wishing you'd ordered what someone else on your table had ordered!<br />
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I'd heard about the lengthy waits people have experienced at Chin Chin, so decided on a late Sunday lunch for our group of 4. The wait only ended up being about half an hour which wasn't too bad at all.<br />
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So after being seated my eyes went straight to the cocktail list (as they usually do) and something very exciting caught my eye! </div>
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<b>Lychee Cocktail Goodness</b></div>
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This super girly cocktail served in a martini glass had a mix of lychee liqueur, prosecco and rose water. The beautiful ball of ice you can see floating in the centre of the glass was the highlight. It was filled with a fresh lychee and some rose petals, and as the ball meted it kept the cocktail nice and icy cool. I'm on a mission now to find some sphere ice cube trays to experiment with different flavoured ice balls at home!! Will keep you updated with how I go on my search.</div>
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<b>Spicy Corn & Coriander Fritters</b></div>
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What a start! These delicious ball shaped fritters had a nice crunchy crust on the outside and were warm and soft on the inside. Served with iceberg lettuce to wrap around the fritter, and a delicious chilli jam. Yum Yum!</div>
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<b>Crispy Barramundi & Green Apple Salad w Caramelised Pork, Chilli & Lemongrass</b></div>
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This dish was a stand out! The 4 of us at the table all agreed it was probably our fav dish of the day! I would never have thought to mix fish and pork in the one dish, but the combination of the sticky sweet pork and fried barramundi just blew me away. The dressing that coated the salad was super zesty and fresh which i also loved!</div>
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<b>Chin Chin Pork Roll Ups</b></div>
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This DIY dish consisted of red braised soft stringy pork, pancakes, slaw and herbs. I loved filling my own pancake, as I could decide how much of each filling I wanted to add. The sweet, plum like sauce that was served on the side was super yummy drizzled over the pork.</div>
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<b>Crispy Skinned Duck With Pickled Cucumber & Ginger Salad</b></div>
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This dish had nice flavours however I probably wouldn't order it on my next visit, as I didn't feel it was as exciting as the other meals we experienced. In each bite you get the crunch of the ducks crispy skin, and the softness of the melt in your mouth juicy meat. The salad served on the side had a nice tang that went well with the duck! I love the combination of duck and cucumber, and this was no exception. </div>
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<b>Chinook Salmon Wrapped In Banana Leaf w Coconut Red Curry, Lime & Thai Basil</b></div>
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I love salmon and all the exciting and interesting ways you can experiment with cooking it. This dish was beautifully presented with the salmon fillet wrapped in a banana leaf. The Red curry flavours were all the way through the salmon keeping it nice and moist, and the lime and thai basil added a great fresh flavour.</div>
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<b>Chin Chin Special Rice w Crab, Pineapple, Chicken & Coriander</b></div>
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I really enjoyed this rice dish. Simple flavours, but super tasty. The rice had a lovely shine to it and was nice and fluffy. And the crab was really soft and juicy - as crab should always be!</div>
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<b>Palm Sugar Ice Cream Sundae w Salted Honeycomb & Lime Syrup</b></div>
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If you visit Chin Chin you simply must leave room for this amazing dessert (or just mentally tell yourself your not full - like i did! ha ha) The sweetness of the palm sugar flavoured ice cream drizzled with the bitter lime syrup creates an unforgettable flavour. And let's not forget the salted honeycomb goodness crumbs on top.</div>
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So that sums up my Chin Chin visit. Hope this post has tempted you to try this little gem!</div>
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<b>Chin Chin Address</b></div>
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125 Flinders Lane </div>
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Melb CBD</div>
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<b>Out Of Pocket</b></div>
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Lychee Cocktail Goodness : $15</div>
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Spicy Corn & Coriander Fritters : $12</div>
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Crispy Barramundi & Green Apple Salad: $26 (Worth every penny!)</div>
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Chin Chin Pork Roll Ups : $18</div>
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Crispy Skinned Duck With Pickled Cucumber & Ginger Salad : $33</div>
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Salmon Wrapped In Banana Leaf w Coconut Red Curry, Lime & Thai Basil : $25</div>
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Chin Chin Special Rice w Crab, Pineapple, Chicken & Coriander : $22</div>
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Palm Sugar Ice Cream Sundae w Salted Honeycomb & Lime Syrup : $14<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="Chin Chin on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1596082/minilink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: move; height: 36px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 130px;" /></span><br />
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<br /></div>JacquiBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400360395906304435noreply@blogger.com0