crazy food combinations

Pho is beginning to be this years trend and I can see why. Something that can be so simple but capture a perfect balance of flavours and is easy on the pocket, who wouldn't be craving Pho. Coming into winter all the Pho kitchens of Melbourne will soon be having lines out the door. But it's not always just about the Pho, although a big factor. It's the little extras you can enjoy on the side. The spring rolls, rice paper rolls and the Banh Mi's. Recently I was invited down to enjoy dinner with a group of fellow Pho lovers at Pho 24, located on the corner of Little Bourke and Spencer Street, of which I was blown away with their Pho-nominal (pardon the pun) menu. Starting our evening with delicate rice paper rolls filled with Barramundi, Prawn or Chicken, and choosing between the traditional Hoisin sauce as the accompaniment or changing the pace with beautiful homemade chilli oil or my favourite satay chilli oil. For those who love a kick of chilli and the acidic lemon div...

Well Christmas is over and the new year has begun and I've been off the radar for a good 6 weeks, but never fear I've been eating lots and have plenty of reads coming your way. The only thing I have to really put my mind to is where should I start? Should I start talking about the many burgers I have devoured, the brunches that were relaxing, the ice creams that are so heavenly or just about my Christmas feast in my new home. Let me think....... Maybe I should just start at the beginning of my many weeks of my food comas and adventures. Super Normal Canteen (Test Kitchen) is a delicious source of a pop up eatery and opened through till the 1st of March. A  sample of what will be an amazing restaurant serving us scrumptious modern Asian dishes. Succulent prawns drowning in a miso sauce tantalises your testbeds and although I dislike the word that I use next to describe it, but it's true. The flavours make you salivate and is a soft way to begin your evening. Some Peppers ar...

If you're wondering where you could enjoy a fancy evening, where the dishes are full flavoured and smacks you in the mouth, cocktails that can enchant you and is away from the hustle and bustle of the city then look no further. Elwood has captured the ever enchanting and sleek 'Dandelion Restaurant' showcasing the true essence of Vietnamese with a modern swing to what was a very flavoursome evening. We were overwhelmed  with the menu as our taste buds were tantalised as we read. The decision to go for the Feed me selection where an array of dishes are bought to you or do we go full guns blazing and create our own. Of course saying this when we do go full guns blazing we go crazy..... you know what I'm saying, you've read my blogs. We always end up ordering enough to feed a party of 6 or maybe 10. Food babies turn into octuplets and we always roll out the door. Well tonight is no different, it was a special occasion, it's Paul's Birthday. So let us begin. So...

The term "Hawker" was once used to best describe vendors who moved around in mobile carts with delicious in-expensive dishes, bringing everyone out from their homes and onto the street to buy their favourite snack. Developed into different fixtures; Roving Hawker - a familiar fixture in the neighbourhood, Roadside Hawker - setting up shop on the streets after dark when majority of the car parks were emptied and dining area of wooden tables and stools were bought out. Pushcarts - doubled from a service section and a kitchen in one. Alas hawkers have slowly disappeared from modern Singapore, but Hawker-styled food remains a huge success and has now found it's way to the South Wharf Promenade of Melbourne. BangPop has Popped into Melbourne with a "BANG".  Delivering a magical combination of flavours, mouth watering dishes and ultimately a fantastic service from the entire team. A lot of hard work has gone through to the study of bringing us Hawker styled dishes, s...

If anyone is looking for some top quality Vietnamese food I'd suggest for you to take a trip down High Street Prahran and nestle into Hanoi Hannah. This quaint little place opening it's doors from 6pm is instantly full with foodies trying to get their hands on some very tasty dishes. Arriving on a raining Tuesday evening at 6:15 their was already a 25 minute wait on a table unless wanting to bare the outdoors. With large heating outside their was nothing to do but to accept the challenge of the cold winds undercover and heating overhead as our stomachs were churning for some dinner. To start off the evening in true Vietnamese style their was no way around it but to order some fresh coconut water, served in a young coconut. Delicious and soothing is all I can say with it's fresh sweet taste I really felt like I was on some tropical island far far away. A first round of some dishes to share and to get us in the true spirits of the cuisine were duck paper rolls, salmon and gre...