Mama Baba

A family dinner with my parents leads to me ticking off another much anticipated dining experience from my 'to-do' list. After this surprise dinner, I am now one step closer to successfully eating my way through the Made Establishment family.

Walking down a lane way through South Yarra, we see the red and white striped awnings giving off a hint that if you want some great pasta, then this is the place to be! The Greek and Italian inspired Mama Baba is another of George Calombaris' gems and the menu uses traditional flavours with a modern twist.

As you walk in, the dim lighting and upbeat tunes pumping from their in-house DJ provides a cool Melbourne vibe, along with the relaxed bar-style seating.

As I can be quite indecisive (especially with so many great options in front of me) we went with my favourite dining approach and let the chefs decide, choosing the Mama Menu, allowing us to enjoy a selection of the chef's favourites. Starting with a bread bag on arrival we then ventured into meze plates, a selection of mains and pastas... and last but not least dessert!

Making our way through the plentiful courses, each dish was bursting with the traditional European flavours - from fresh vinaigrette dressed starting plates to warm garlic-infused pastas. I think my top picks of the night would have to be the seafood stew and squid ink pasta... there's something about the dark colouring of the pasta that brings the sense of mystery and intrigue.

By the end of the night, there were impressed smiling faces all around the table (not to mentioned very satisfied appetites) and I was certainly happy to enjoy my way through another Made Establishment mission.

With Gazi  now on the scene, it looks like my list has grown yet again... but with the great reputation this collection holds I am definitely looking forward dining my way through the rest of my list!

Luna 1878 returns!

As I sit at home all snug listening to the strong winds outside on this cold Melbourne night, it sets the perfect scene for a winter-related post...

A year has gone by since the launch of Luna 1878 at the Queen Victoria Market and this year the Winter Night Market is back with some new tastes and vibrant entertainment.

The bonfires lure you in from the cold winter's air while you are welcomed by the delicious smells from the amazing food on offer.

My usual game plan is to do a lap and then make the tough decision of where to start and this time I started my tasting journey with Hoy Pinoy Filipino BBQ. I had their traditional glaze chicken skewers which are a must-try! The glaze melts in your mouth and in combination with the smokey charcoal flavour, it is a sure winner!

Next stop was Hungarian Street Food where I tried a savoury langos - a traditional fried bread, with cheese and garlic, accompanied by a mulled wine to help keep warm.

But the choices don't end there.... The Meatball Company are back for more this year, with their large pans of meatballs sizzling away and delicious fries which seem to be a popular choice for all guests. On a sweeter note, there's pancakes with oozy chocolate sauce and ricotta cream or if you feel like a taste of Germany - try Bretzel Biz for a warm pretzel!  

While I was enjoying my food and inhaling the brilliant aroma from my mulled wine, a rush of music comes marching through the market and drew in the attention of all the market goers. It was the lively drumming of percussion group Maracatu Estrela do Mar!

With two weeks left of this Winter Night Market, I suggest you get out of your winter blues and make the most of what this market has to offer (and perhaps gain a new appreciation for Melbourne's colder months).

Luna 1878 is on every Wednesday night through August from 5pm - 10pm. See you there!

A Vue to Remember...

Well it was that time of the year again, another year older... which means more food orientated celebrations and getting spoilt by my beautiful friends!

This year, my surprise dining adventure lead to me tasting a little slice of France under the Vue de Monde family... Bistro Vue. This establishment represents a more relaxed, Parisian-style dining experience compared to Shannon Bennett's renowned Vue de Monde.

The warm lighting brings an intimate feeling against the wooden floors and floral accents, whilst the friendly staff ensure you have a memorable and personalised experience. Again accommodating to my dietary requirements of mostly non-dairy, (which can be a struggle with a French cuisine) the staff assisted by suggesting appropriate meals and making substitutions where necessary.

Feeling the urge to try the seafood at this establishment, I had the John Dory which was light and full of fresh flavours. I must admit it is hard to provide you with suggestions here as the meals all around the table were delicious but I would definitely take advantage of the specials on offer, as my girlfriends both ordered from this selection and were very pleased!

I must however take you to the next step of this food journey and have a serious chat about dessert time. You can't do French food and not rave about their dessert.. it just doesn't seem right!

We ordered a few plates to share and I would say this is the best way to go as you get to sample a variety of dishes (that is, if you are dining with friends who are willing to share their delicious choices with you!). It was a struggle to decide but after much debate we went with the Tarte Tatin, Beechworth honey crème (sorbet for me) with oats, cassis and pear and last but not least a cheese board - choosing from a selection on their cheese trolley... yes! They have a cheese trolley on display for you to walk up to and drool over and make the selection for yourself (mmm.. drooling just thinking about it). If you couldn't tell... cheeseboards are somewhat of a weakness for this particular group of girlfriends and myself!

Now, my dish of the night and an absolute recommendation for when you visit Bistro Vue -

(...drum roll please.....)

I think this may actually be a first but it was a dessert this time and rightly so as this dish is a well talked about dish of the restaurant - it's the Tarte Tatin! This sweet number is brought out to you on the pan and flipped before your eyes - so you enjoy the experience of seeing the finished product for the first time along with the staff taking care of you for the night. It crumbles in your mouth as you bite into it and was the perfect end note to a great night out.

However... just when I thought the night was over, the staff also bring me one last birthday surprise. It was birthday wishes to me written in chocolate accompanied by a delicious sugary treat. This last little touch definitely personalised this dining experience to make it extra special!

More miso please

On Hardware Street, lives a place whose name represents a 'convenient lunchbox' in the Japanese culture. They go by the name Bentoya and lucky for us they don't only do lunch, but they are open for dinner too!

On a cold Wednesday night, a group of us indulged in an 8 course Izakaya Banquet to celebrate getting through 'hump day' (one step closer to the weekend!). This banquet brings the group together with the art of sharing, by allowing you to sample a variety of flavours that the Japanese cuisine has to offer - including the perfect, light start of edamame.

Every course that came out provided a unique experience, with different flavours to entertain the pallet as we journeyed through the banquet. While the presentation made even the simplest of dishes appealing to the eye, making us eager to dig in!

 

Although each dish held such individual flavours, my favourite of the night would have to be the miso fish hotpot. With fresh greens and fish so tender it melted in your mouth, this certainly made the perfect spoonful to warm up on a cold Winter's night.

This is only a small establishment and with the crowd I sat among on a Wednesday night, I would imagine that weekends get quite full - so I would suggest making a booking.

I am certainly looking forward to heading back for some more miso to warm me up during the many cold nights to come.

Top Paddock

I can never resist a post about my favourite mealtime of the day and this time my brunch adventure lead me to Richmond. Just over Church Street Bridge, is a corner cafe where the natural sunlight is plentiful and the chairs on the decking are creatively designed from recycled street signs. My brunch hot spot for the long weekend is Top Paddock.

As a friend recently became a resident to the area, we thought we'd take advantage of the rare sunshine in the Winter, by going for a walk to this fairly new establishment.

Unsure whether leaving our brunch date until later than planned would dampen our chances of getting a table... we were pleased to find that upon arrival we were seated immediately, due to the attentive staff and the team's strategic plan to cater for large weekend crowds. This cafe was larger than I expected and gladly so, as it meant no long waits for the deliciousness that lay ahead.

We sat outside on the decking where we could enjoy the fresh breeze and greenery of the street, while pondering over the many tasty options on the menu.

As I can never seem to resist poached eggs on my brunch plate, I went for the establishment's self-titled meal 'Top Paddock' which included their house made sausage which melts in your mouth... especially in combination with the relish! My friend went for a sweeter option, choosing the ginger bread with roasted blood plums and chocolate mascarpone (basically heaven on a plate!).

I left with a very full and satisfied appetite and as we enjoyed the walk home, we both agreed that this place deserved many more visits for future brunch dates!

Opa!

On the Brunswick end of Lygon Street, lies a Greek Taverna covered in vibrant street art and admittedly may be my secret favourite of Made Establishment's wonders.. it is no other than Hellenic Republic.

This bustling, tavern inspired eatery brings a traditional Greek influence with a modern-day twist. Large wooden doors lead you into the this family-friendly restaurant and make you feel welcome, along with being greeted by their friendly staff who make sure you are comfortable throughout your entire dining experience. The mosaic tiling in the group dining area brings a splash of colour to the room and the walls are stocked up with traditional condiments, spices and other goodies.

In agreement with the restaurant’s recommendations itself, I would recommend the Trapezi menu. In the spirit of sharing, this menu includes four plentiful courses which comprise of a Meze selection, seafood, meat and of course a dessert – but don’t expect one plate! Each course is a feast within itself! 

I have dined here on a few occasions now and the menu has changed from time to time, but not once have I been disappointed!

My two favourites from the menu, without a doubt every time, would have to be the Cypriot grain salad (which accompanies the course of seafood) and the Tyri Saganaki (covered in caramelised peppered figs)!!

    

I must say, I am thankful these two items arrive in the earlier courses of this delectable feast, as I would be regretful to run out of room towards the end of the meal! In saying that, yes – the serving sizes are certainly more than enough (I wasn’t lying when I said ‘plentiful’) so plenty to share all around.

If you haven’t yet experienced this amazing feast, I would certainly say it’s time for you to head down Brunswick East way… but be sure to get in early as weekend dining is generally booked out well in advance – and understandably so!   

Don't drop the egg!

On my last week of holidays (after finishing uni to step out into the grown up world and start full time work) I enjoyed a great family night out with my Aunty and younger cousins. My cousin chose one of his local favourites - which he has been raving to me about for quite some time now. Well it was now my turn to try the delicious and greatly entertaining Teppanyaki restaurant on Chapel Street that is, Tokyo Teppanyaki.

We booked a table at the grill and ordered from their set menus which allows you to choose from a variety of meat, seafood, vegetarian or even a bit of everything. I ordered the Osaka Set which gives a combination of both meat and seafood, along with entrees. This was one of the smaller sets and I was full to the brim!

There were quite a few people dining for a Tuesday night and with many patrons laughing at the entertaining chefs, it created a great atmosphere. Not only do you get to see the chefs cook your meal and watch your sizzling meat light up in flames but there are also games to play along the way.

You know it's going to get messy when you're told to tuck your napkin in as a bib - and then next thing you know there's egg flying at you and you've got your mouth open wide trying to catch it before it gets away! But the fun and games are not over with a food fight, there's also bowls to catch. Going around the table, our lovely chef Tony, got us to stand back and catch a bowl... and then another... and another, until the last one - which was full of rice. As he went around the table to each guest, we all had to stand further and further away from him until our guest was attempting to catch from half way down the restaurant! Great coordination is needed here and I was clearly lacking it as i dropped quite a few of my bowls including one that ended up cracking (which they kindly gave to me to keep it as a souvenir).

Now that all the hard work was done, it was time to sit down and enjoy the end of our meal. All components of my meal had fantastic flavour to them - including the fried rice, which tasted a little different to the typical fried rice I've tried in the past. We later found out the secret here is garlic butter. You can never go wrong with a bit of garlic! A favourite of mine would have to be the fried prawn legs. When the chef was cooking our prawns, he cut the legs away to the side and let them fry that little bit longer. They were then taken away and brought back at the end of our meal looking extra crispy and it appeared they had been lightly deep fried. I have tried fried prawns legs before but these were something else! That deep frying had given an extra crunch to the prawn legs and they really did taste amazing! The prawn legs can look a little daunting at first for some as it isn't exactly the most attractive looking dish, but I urge you to give it a try - they actually taste a little like prawn crackers, but crunchier and better!

And for dessert... Black sesame and blood orange sorbet. Delish!

We really did have a great night out at Tokyo Teppanyaki and it is great entertainment for large or small dining groups of all ages. Just mind the egg on the floor when you walk out - can't blame anyone but yourself really, for not having better food-catching reflexes!