Steak night

Well I must admit… I was never normally one to choose steak from the menu when dining out, but one visit to The Station Hotel a few years back may have swayed me. I have now visited this relaxed pub on quite a regular basis of the late, introducing more and more friends on each visit, with the promise of tender steak and quality produce. 

Visitors pile in for a taste of what seems to be the talk of the Footscray community, so be sure to make a booking as tables fill up fast! If the dining area does fill up however, there’s always plenty of options with the bar and courtyard areas available for a casual dining experience.  With so much choice, it can sometimes be hard deciding on which cut to go with, but I assure you no disappointment shall be found. As for the sides, I can’t go past the simple green beans or heirloom carrots (but portions are fit for a king and I can never seem to get through everything). Also be sure to ask for a serving of Bearnaise on the side! 

“Only steak?” I hear you say… well no! The Station Hotel’s menu sports quite the variety, but I can’t help to boast about their steak selection. It has certainly opened my eyes to a new perspective on ordering a good ol’ steak and with The Age reviewing this place as one of the top 5 eateries for a fine steak, there’s no surprise why! This local hot spot is shedding some light on Melbourne’s inner western region and has taken pub style dining to a new level.

Before I send you off drooling there’s just one more thing I’d like to draw your attention to when you do visit… the wine list!! Enough said… you will see.  

Winter night market

The Queen Victoria Market truly is an interesting place. With the bustle of shoppers trying to grab the freshest pick of the morning’s produce or that perfect bargain from the General Merchandise Stalls – there really is something for everyone. On Wednesday nights during the summer months the Suzuki Night Market takes form, offering an array of delicious treats from cultures all around the world and a display of creative pieces from local designers.

During the winter months when the wind felt too cold and the night life not so vibrant, I would always count down the nights until the Suzuki Night Market would take form once again – not to mention longing for that warm summer’s heat. But it seems like my wait is now over! On Wednesday, August 8^th, The Queen Victoria Market launched Luna 1878, their winter night market that will take place every Wednesday night through the month of August. Again displaying their many cultural Hawker Style Food Stalls, art and craft stores and live entertainment – but this time keeping out of the cold, huddling around the warm fire places set up which make you forget just for one night, how much we are longing for that warm summer’s weather.

With so much choice for food, our tactic plan was to try a small serving from different food stalls so that our tastebuds could travel around the world in one night. All the food stalls provided warm-hearty treats that would keep you cosy during the warm winter night. Some of these delicious treats included tasty meatballs, Spanish beef stew, roasted chestnuts, Texas style barbecued ribs, Polish dumplings and not to mention hot and spicy mulled wine, which definitely speaks for itself!

 

 

And to finish off the night you ask? A Colombian style caramel served in miniature wafer cones. The perfect little touch to finish off the food tastings for the night.

Once you have finished exploring the food stalls, be sure to check out the designer stalls filled with creative arts and crafts, clothing, jewellery and much more, where you can grab an individual piece to take home.

But the night is still not done here!

Luna 1878 has its own bar, supplying drinks to compliment your choice of food or to sip on while watching the live entertainment.

Be sure to take part in Luna 1878’s first year in the Queen Victoria Market’s night scene. You can catch this great event every Wednesday night until 10pm throughout August – so make sure you head down and shake out of your winter hibernation!  

All wrapped up

Another weakness of mine would have to be dumplings. There’s just something about those delicately packed parcels that burst with flavour as you take your first bite! I think ginger is the key ingredient here. It leaves a refreshing trail of flavour in your mouth that keeps you wanting more. So, on a midweek drive through Carlton trying to find a quick bite to eat, there is no surprise that the bright red logo of M.A’s Dumpling Den caught my eye. I normally order a variety of dumplings in the one seating to share around and enjoy the different flavour combinations, as most dumpling eateries I go to provide generous portions at great prices (and M. A’s Dumpling Den was no different). On this particular occasion, we saw fried lamb dumplings on the menu and thought we’d try something different from our usual pork and prawn or vegetarian combinations… and I’m sure glad we did! I’m not usually a fan of fried dumplings, I prefer the steamed variety myself, but these fried lamb dumplings were done really well – only lightly pan fried so they still kept their soft texture. I was very impressed and so glad we took a chance on something you wouldn’t normally see on your regular dumpling menu. It helped complete what was a great meal to get through Wednesday – ‘hump day’ of the week.    

Hutong Dumpling Bar is another great dumpling eatery that I’ve dined at. Located in Chinatown, this dumpling bar offers that authentic Chinese taste offering dumplings holding flavoursome broth that burst with flavour. The pricing here is slightly dearer to its surrounding dumpling eateries in Chinatown but the difference being that its atmosphere holds a point of difference from the others. Here you can enjoy a more intimate experience with a little extra touch on your regular casual dining. The dish to try here is boiled dumplings with stuffed spinach. A Northern Chinese inspired dish with a great green colour that brings excitement to your plate. If you’re planning a night out to Hutong Dumpling Bar, be sure to make a booking as, well… they actually take them so no need to line up and they usually get quite busy, so be sure you don’t miss out.

Another great dumpling place I must recommend in Melbourne’s Chinatown, is the well known Shanghai Village Dumpling. If you live in Melbourne and love dumplings, you’ll know this place – and if you don’t, I certainly recommend checking it out because it will be the first of many visits to come. This fairly spacious eatery is a family friendly venue with two levels of seating and ticks all the boxes for hunting down that authentic taste. One dish I must recommend is the crispy pumpkin cakes. Even though they’re not dumplings, they’re definitely worth trying as an entrée. These crispy cakes with a sweet pumpkin filling are the perfect start to your dumpling feast that awaits. I’ll admit, Shanghai Village Dumpling is not your flashy fine dining setting but for that authentic taste from the Asian cuisine of any sort, I believe this is certainly the way to go – fast and friendly service, generous portions with affordable prices and most importantly, great tasting dishes.

Another key in searching for a great dumpling place – if it’s good, it’s always busy! So don’t let the line up at the door put you off, take it as an enticement that this place must be worth trying.