Do you ever find yourself procrasti-snacking when you should be studying? Have you ever wished you could be bothered to make loose leaf tea but not been bothered and instead just reached for that same extra strength black tea or antioxidant rich green tea?
Today we were procras-tea-nating whipping up a delicious cup of T2's Ruby Red Rosehip using the handy dandy Teamaker when we realised that not everyone was blessed with knowledge of using this awesome tool. Making loose leaf tea is as easy as 1-2- tea! 1. Put in one or two teaspoons or your favourite tea 2. Fill Teamaker with boiling or 80degree water for green tea and let it brew for a few minutes 3. Press it down on your fave cup and you are good to know! To make a quick cup of iced tea simply fill your glass with ice before pressing the tea maker down! Teamakers are super easy to clean, just chuck out the leaves and rinse the inside and you're good to go again!!
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Right in the middle of High Street Armadale sits Moby in the old site that was a family pizza shop.
Now completely unrecognisable with light and spacious interiors and ample sitting outside, inside or even upstairs. The menu offers a mix of healthy and indulgent options - from ancient grains Bircher to decadent eggs Benedict. Service was quick as soon as we sat down and we didn't have to wait long for our coffees either. However, when we were ready to order food it was hard work trying to get a waiter to come to our table!! Don't you hate it when you make eye contact with a waiter and then they walk the other way?? This all happened on their very first day of opening so perhaps they are still in the process of training the staff. When end we finally got our food it was good and well presented. Out of the "smashing pumpkins", Bircher and eggs benedict, the eggs Benedict was definitely a stand out! But of course we are always fans of a good eggs benny!! High Street Armadale is really turning into a little bustling hub of its own! We might give this one a second chance after they've been open for a bit longer. 7/10 Fourth Chapter on High Street Armadale isn't really "new" anymore after having opened a few months ago, but it is still "new" enough to have a line out the door on the weekend EVEN if it is raining!
We went early on Monday morning to finally get a table without waiting but the inside seats were still full! The large well lit space is decorated with green hanging plants and pops of happy yellow. The menu has something for everyone- whether you want Peanut Butter Smore Waffles or a healthy Acai Bowl. Everything is just as photogenic as it is delicious. Coffees are decorated with cute latte art such as swans or hearts and is consistently really good- so you can understand why it's so popular!! If you don't go a peak time, the coffee and food come out quickly and all the staff are friendly and accomodating. With a great location right next to a tram stop or lots of on street parking, this cafe is only going to get busier as the weather gets warmer!! Plus, the park next door is great to hang out in as well. 9/10 will definitely be back! Doughnuts have made a stamp in the Melbourne food scene, grabbing attention with the many flavours available from so many different brands!
Just like the police stereotype, doughnuts and coffee go so well together which might explain why different Cafes stock them as a simple addition to a coffee catch up. This round treat can be easily cut and shared, or indulged single handedly by one person. Krispy Kreme first opened in Australia in 2006- can you believe that was ten years ago!? And beyond the classic hot jam doughnut at the footy, there's so many exotic flavours like matcha, lemon cheesecake or iced coffee! There are so many brands of doughnuts you need more than two hands to count them on! The ones that can think of at the top of our head are : Shortstop (pictured below as Eliza's 19th birthday cake!) Bistro Morgan (also pictured) Doughboys Donuts Doughnut Time Donut Shop Fitzroy Micks Place We asked the current reigning "Prince of Doughnuts" Morgan from Bistro Morgan why doughnuts have become so popular. His response? "Everyone loves doughnuts because they are the full package!" We couldn't agree more! Full of love, happiness and fun (and zero calories of course!) there's a doughnut flavour for everyone! Where's your favourite doughnut spot? Xx Newly opened sister cafe to Operator 25, the new cafe Middletown is an aesthetic delight in a great location. At 229 High Street Prahran, this new cafe is just off the corner of Chapel Street and High Street. The first impression of the space is that it is elegant, refined yet welcoming. Midnight blue walls are contrasted with fresh white marble details and light blonde timber. Offering standard coffee from Code Black, there is also the options for specialty coffee - something previously lacking in the area. Our regular iced coffee, at $4.50, was a nice big glass that was refreshing for a summers day. On the other hand however our Latte was served in a tiny cup and was finished in 5 sips!! We asked if that was their small size and our waiter told us that the standard latte size is 175ml, but we feel like it is usually bigger than that!! Perhaps it's a way to up sell you into getting another or buying a large one instead?? The menu is set out impeccably with an extensive range of all day options and some interesting lunch options. As you would expect having a Head Chef coming from the likes of Top Paddock, Kettle Black and Two Birds One Stone, the food presentation is perfect for your snap story or Instagram. Again, the portion sizes were leaning on small however were of elegant sufficiency. Definitely coming back here to try the Benedict! Overall, a beautiful space for brunch with friends or a relaxing mid week coffee. I'm sure we'll be seeing this place all over Instagram very soon! 7/10 pictured below: the "avocado" and "the mushroom" dishes, and the latte mentioned earlier! Rock Sugar is the newest cafe to open in the cute and quiet Hawksburn area, at 477 Malven Road. There's a tram stop out the front, a train station around the corner and a fair bit of parking, so there's no excuse not to try this one!
Showcasing the latest and greatest interiors trends - think big pink neon lights, white exposed brick walls and classic wooden tables - accompanied by a great playlist and an awesome Thai menu this place has everything going for it! The menu has some great options to share, like beef cheek or chicken skewers and interesting desert options (some even including Tumeric!?). The drinks menu is totally awesome, aaaamazing cocktails such as the Blue Fairyfloss , all super reasonably priced under $20! The wine list features mostly Australian labels with the exception of a couple. Also if you feel like it, there's the option to have a $495 bottle of Dom Perignon champagne!! :O When the small venue is full, it gets really noisy and there didn't seem to be any padding or anything to combat this. Also be wary of a few rogue chilli pieces hidden in the side dishes of some of the mains!! 8/10 - definitely coming back to this one. Located only a block away from South Yarra Train Station, SOS cafe offers nourishing and warming food right on Toorak road.
The gorgeous courtyard setting of the cafe has a great relaxed atmosphere during the day and the bustling of the smaller inside space is perfect to hang out in winter. The inside interiors are really clean and aesthetically pleasing which is a stark contrast to the simple appearance of the courtyard. Fountains are great, we need more fountains in Melbourne! Food wise, the baked eggs are to die for. So creamy with lots of mushrooms and some nice warm whole meal bread served with it. The smashed avocado is quite a small portion but still very satisfying. The menu is quite extensive and we'd love to go back and try the tiramisu pancakes!! The coffee is by St Ali and is therefore very reliable. One unreliable thing we noticed about the service though was that there was too many staff. As soon as we were seated and had a menu, three different waitresses asked us if we were ready to order! We hadn't even looked at the menu yet! Our order took a very long time to come, so when we inquired about it they realised it had accidentally been delivered to the wrong table! Luckily with all day parking around the area on Sunday, we weren't in a rush. Overall, a great concept in a fabulous area that is well loved. A bit on the pricey side so won't be a regular there! 6/10 Smoothie bowls are an amazing choice to have for breakfast. Not only are they full of fantastic fruits (& sometimes protein powder!) but they are also so easy to whip up in minutes. Oh, and they look great to show off on your instagram!
I came up with this receipe by accident because I put in too much coconut yoghurt, I realised I could eat it with a spoon and then Ta-da, we start making this on the regular. Ingredients: (serves 3) 1 frozen banana 1/3 cup frozen blueberries (or other berry of choice) 1 cup coconut yoghurt Splash of milk (to chance consistency) 2 tablespoons of protein powder Method: Blitz all together in blender until reached desired consistency. Pour serving into bowl Garnish with chopped fruit or mix in museli Bon Appetite! Serotonin Dealer is only a 15 minute drive from the city and is a hub for finding happiness. At 52 Madden Grove, Burnley you’ll find the Eatery, Exercise and Education space all centered around promoting happiness! Named after the chemical that is linked to happiness, the Serotonin Eatery has some amazing menu items that are so delicious you forget that they're healthy! The waiters and waitresses are all clearly passionate about what they do, eagerly answering any questions and showing off an impressive amount of knowledge on the benefits of specific ingredients.
There have been rumours that the smashed avocado here is one of the best in Melbourne and you'll have to try it yourself to see how it got awarded such a prestigious acclaim!! With beetroot coulis and smashed peas with mint, its a bit more exotic than your run of the mill smashed-avo-with-feta. Other options include banana “nice cream” and a variety of raw desserts. There is also a range of caffeine free “lattes”, with their Tumeric option being the most showed off across social media channels. As a mocha drinker myself, the apparently healthy option of their cacao mocha was surprisingly delicious with a rich chocolatey flavour. Served decorated with a big smiley face on it, I couldn't help but smiling right back at it! The fabulous light filled interiors were also the idea of owner Emily Hazell who has a background of interior and graphic designing. The hexagonal tiling and pot plants around the space can be seen as a subtle acknowledgement to the chemical serotonin’s structure (which stems from a basic amino acid called tryptophan and helps with transporting and storing nutrients). With different styles of seating ranging from outdoor swings, indented Japanese style seating to regular bench seats bathed in sunlight theres no excuses not to walk out with a spring in your step and a smile as big as the one on top of your latte! A local favourite that is named after its location on Beatty Avenue in Armadale, The Beatt Cafe has recently expanded to include a wellness hub which builds upon its already firm stance on providing deliciously healthy food and encouraging nutrition and education.
With breakfasts ranging from "Pina Colada Puddings" to "Vegetarian Mexi Eggs" theres something for everyone. Our current favourite is the "Ben and Breakfast" which is a huge bowl of healthy greens like kale, peas, broccoli and avocado mixed with quinoa and served with two biodynamic poached eggs; its a great one to eat in your activewear to make you feel extra healthy!! They also have an extensive choice of smoothies and healthy juice shots but of course my favourite is the Choc Peanut which might not be as good for you as "Berry Good for You" or the "Mean Greens"!! For a caffeine hit I suggest asking for a coffee shot or two into the Choc Peanut smoothie for an extra flavour hit. I am yet to try any of their yoga programs that they run in their Treehouse studio but you can read about their wellness programs here. Who doesn't love being healthy once in a while? xoxo Eliza Matcha Mylkbar is a newly opened vegan cafe in St Kilda, with much of the menu including matcha (due to the fact that the owners of Matcha Maiden helped with the inception of the cafe!). Before it even opened it had over 10,000 Instagram followers, and even boasts about running out of food on some days!!! The cafe itself is much smaller than expected, whoever it is all thought out very well. The milkbar / mylkbar part of the name comes from its location, being on a corner off Acland street, almost reminiscent of old fashioned corner store milkbars. However it's minimalist interior set up is anything but. Exposed cement walls and photogenic wooden tables it's all very simple, but neon signs add a bit of excitement to the room- for example the neon logo installed as a feature back drop. Another amazing detail that food photographers wil love is that their dark gunmetal coloured cutlery was chosen specifically for its non reflective quality! No more worrying about ugly silverware in photos, #rejoice!!! Also demonstration the cafes photo conscious nature is the sheer aesthetically pleasing presentation of all the food. Perfectly lined up toppings on acai bowls, tacos all positioned evenly, smoothies with crazy names served in awesome cups and puns everywhere!! The smoothies have names like "When Kahleesi wears Lycra" and "excuse me but I find you appealing"; our waitress said its all part of the fun saying the funny names! The funny named smoothies come in awesome clear skull mugs so you can see the fabulous hues of the smoothies. The "Kahleesi" one is the most gorgeous deep fuscia and is so refreshing and nourishing whereas the "excuse me" flavour is so indulgent and tastes like pancakes! Both are vegan and are good for you! We also tried the dragonfruit acai bowl, which was probably one of the most flavoursome acai bowls we've had in a long time. The toppings were presented so well and the thick creamy texture of it made it seem like more of a meal than a drink ! Of course we had to have something matcha inspired, so we tried the matcha pancakes. You could see the matcha in the crazy green colour of it, but the actual pancakes themselves tasted more like honey than matcha. Paired with yummy icecream, the dish is so delish that you forget it's actually good for you! Come for the food but stay for the tap water that is (allegedly) 3 times more hydrating than regular tap or bottled water because of their filtration process... Interesting Although the Beetroot lattes look cool, we're not sure if we are game enough to try ! But we will definitely be back to try the vegan eggs!! It is super easy to get to on the tram but there is also plenty of free all day parking within easy walking distance. It's not to far from Luna Park for those who need to use up all their matcha energy! Definitely one to try out , vegan or not! The Como gardens cafe is a beatiful quaint establishment offering a calming escape from the craziness of the city whilst being in the middle of it!
The Stables of Como are easy to get to by public transport (catching the team down Toorak road and getting off at the Williams road stop), but if you come by car you may find it difficult to get a park if it is at a busy time. After a walk through the gardens themselves admiring all the amazing flora, you will stumble across a quaint low building just behind the extravagant mansion. Taking it's name literally from the stables it is built in, the fresh white colour palate gives a modern yet relaxed atmosphere to the older setting of the gardens. The menu is very overwhelming with so many choices to make! Tea, coffee or a fresh juice? A classic Croque Messieur or the slow baked eggs? The Cafe is a great place to go with friends so that you can all order something different and share! The zucchini and corn fritters with ricotta are not has rich or heavy as it sounds. The portion size is perfect to keep you going throughout the day. The fritters themselves were very dense and almost thick like bread, for someone who usually prefers crispy fritters I still really enjoyed this. However, adding two poached eggs made a reasonably priced $18 dish far to expensive! The slow baked eggs was absolutely incredible. Two poached eggs served in a hot dish surrounded by mushrooms and an indulgent amount of Brie - this dish is not for the faint at heart! Served with prosciutto, it was a perfect heart warming dish to eat whilst the rain poured down around us. This dish is so rich it could even be a nice idea to share it with someone, but of course sometimes you have to indulge and #treatyourself. The service to take our orders was a bit slow and our waitress wasn't confident answering our questions of the menu which was a let down, but the beautiful atmosphere of the location is a great distraction from this. 7/10 will definitely be back to try the banana bread! Love E NEW SUSHI RESTAURANT IN MELBOURNE'S CBD MAKES QUICK DINING AN EXPERIENCE AGAIN!With private access via an elevator down the alleyway of Topshop at Melbourne Emporium shopping centre, Tetsujin has an exciting ambiance from start to finish.
Upon exiting the private lift you walk through the dark and smokey room of the bbq house which is full of groups of friends sharing hot plates meals and glasses of wine. After requesting a seat at the sushi train you are then ushered to a space age, modern, white and bright room. The first time I went I had to wait 45 minutes- but it was so worth it believe it or not!! At $3.30 per plate of sushi you don't have to worry about what colour plate means what- just eat whatever tickles your fancy!! But of course, you do have to try something new while you're at it. What at about an oyster shooter? Literally an oyster in a shot glass- refreshing and delicious, not nearly as scary as it looks! After a bit of fiddling around and guess work, you can get extra food bought fresh out to you from the kitchen. Okononyaki and Udon are some of our favourites. Within minutes of pressing order from your iPad, a smiling face will deliver your food fresh to you. If you've ordered a sushi dish, you can watch the chefs in the middle of the seating area and guess which is yours. Next time you're in the city definitely check it out. Sushi is one of my favourite foods, so it's great to find such a fun place to relax after a day of shopping in the city! 7/10 love the food but not prepared to wait for so long again! Hopefully the line has died down now as it has been open for a whie xoxo Eliza Located at 1102 High Street Armadale, High Society is a great new healthy but yummy cafe to try.
Large inviting glass doors open into the fresh white walls of the cafe with ample siting and tables for larger groups. The high ceiling makes you feel like you really are a part of "high society" yet under deeper deconstruction of the name you can see the pun! Society on High Street or a High Society - very funny! The lighting inside the shop is perfect for taking foodie photos for your Instagram, but also great to take a few happy snaps and selfies with friends over coffee. Situated right next to a tram stop, there's no excuses not to check it out on your next jaunt through the shops. Not only does this buzzing cafe have fabulous interiors but it's menu has a lot on offer. Everything from protein balls to pulled pork eggs benedict, chia puddings , $10 healthy smoothies and of course smashed avocado!- there's something for the health conscious and the indulgent Sunday bruncher! The "Power Plate" is a great deal. For only $21 you get a slice of smashed avocado, a chia pudding and a great deep purple smoothing called Pink Goddess ( made of chia seeds, banana , dragon fruit , coconut flakes and protein powder). The chia pudding is one of the best we've ever tried as it was full over flavour and wasn't too runny. It's easy to forget that what you are eating is so good for you when it tastes so good! The smashed avocado was on a great seeded bread that was heaped with a generous layer of avocado, although it wasn't as extravagant and innovative as the chia pudding. If you ordered the Pink Goddess smoothie separately it would cost $10, so getting it in the power plate is a great idea. Not only is it absolutely delicious and unlike any other banana smoothie you've ever tried, the amazing deep purple colour is absolutely gorgeous! Bonus points if you order it and it matches your nail polish! The pulled pork eggs benedict was absolutely delicious. The pork was so tender and the slightly runny Apple cider hollandaise complemented the flavour perfectly. The yummy thick slice of toast with the dish was just enough to soak up all the deliciousness of the perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise. High Society is a great new cafe in a thriving shopping strip! There's no excuses not to give it a go, you'll definitely find something you love. 9/10 Xoxo Eliza Still relatively new to Chapel Street, Cafe Amba has hit the nail on the head with their new weekday express lunch deal. For only $20 you choose between one of three mains (salmon, pork belly or gnocchi), a coffee AND a dessert from their cabinet! If you're a chocoholic like me, definitely have the "pleasure dome" for dessert. Chocolate encased in chocolate - you can't go wrong! There is even a grape on it to make you feel healthy :P . The cheesecake is superb with their great coffee from 7 Seeds to chat away the afternoon, relaxing in the courtyard. When was the last time you had a well priced, well presented full meal in a funky cafe in a great location? Probably not for a while! This lunch package is definitely not to be missed. If you do the maths, the coffee and dessert is nearly $10 on it's own. This is putting Cafe Amba high on the agenda for a great lunch after shopping along beloved Chapel Street! Make sure to admire their great interiors too while you're there. xoxo Eliza Matcha has grown increasingly popular recently, with matcha lattes, smoothies and even cakes popping up all over instagram. This green goodness has actually been around for hundreds and hundreds of years. Powdered tea has been used ever since the Tang Dynasty of China (618-907) when tea was pulverised into a powder for storage purposes. During the 14th to the 16th centuries in Japan, matcha was reserved for the upper classes only. Today, matcha is a drink available world wide for everyone to enjoy. See below 1. When you drink matcha, you are actually ingesting the entire leaf and therefore receiving 100% of the nutrients and antioxidants, whereas with other green teas you are simply only infusing it into your cup. 2. Matcha promotes relaxation and general well being due to the presence of L-Theanine. This compound promotes the alpha wave in our brains and therefore can be used to help with anxiety, blood pressure, mood, memory and learning. 3. Matcha has 60 times the amount of antioxidants than spinach - eat that Popeye! 4. Matcha's caffeine is slow released over four hours, whereas your regular strong latte will give you a sudden burst of energy followed by a low. Drinking matcha encourages you to be alert for longer, without the low after drinking coffee. 5. Matcha was drunk by Chinese Daoists and Japanese Zen Buddhist monks as it enabled them to relax and meditate while remaining alert- don't we all want that!? 6. Matcha has high levels of chlorophyll and therefore is a great detox option, removing your body of toxins. 7. Matcha can be added to anything to give an extra kick of flavour or even a cool green colour! Try making a matcha smoothie in the mornings, or impress your friends with matcha brownie! After you've invested in you matcha, make sure you know how to do it properly! Only use 1/4 of a teaspoon, it doesn't sound like much but its all you need! Make sure to whisk it with a nice bamboo whisk or something similar- you know you are doing it right if it starts to froth! Cafe Amba is the newest addition to the South Yarra end of Chapel Street, sitting only a few doors down from our favourite Lucky Penny and across the road from landmark Topshop.
Raw brick and blonde timber interiors offset by glorious golden accents and a delightful outdoor courtyard , it is very on trend just like all the cafes at the moment! Theres a large communal table which is perfect for lunch breaks with your squad after a morning of shopping! With coffee beans roasted by Seven Seeds there's not much that can go wrong. Unless your waitress mistakes your "single origin long black" for a "single orange with a long black"! This mix up happened on their third day of opening, but surely if you work in a coffee shop you know the jargon! The chai is by Prana Chai and is served so you can pour as much as you want into your cup, who doesn't love a bit of diy? The menu has some great offerings, but their crispy cornflaked French toast is beautiful, and very photogenic too as it is served with a generous amount of edible flowers !! On my list next to try is their smashed avocado on corn fritters - two of my favourite things in one dish! This has the potential to be a great cafe once the waiters start learning more about coffee, but definitely get in and take some selfies with their golden mirror wall! 6/10, for now! Xoxo Eliza Freckleduck is located in and amongst a busy shopping strip in Geelong, just under Westfield and only two blocks from having ocean views. The name itself is quite sweet, and when we found out they were open on New Year's Day we were so happy! To see that it was decked out with fake Edison light bulbs, white walls and blonde timber benches made us feel right at home, even though we were more than an hours drive away! With beans from 5 senses and coffee made with a Synesso , there was nothing very exciting about it. Even the Mork "specialty" chocolate on offer isn't special anymore because it is so common! I had an iced chai , with the tea supplied from Chai Boy chai. It was delightfully sweet and very refreshing however I probably should have thought about having a giant glass of milk after a night of drinking!! After the order of a cold brew got mistaken for an order of iced latte, a wooden tray was delivered with a cup of ice, a little jug of coffee and a mini pot of condensed milk. The coffee itself was standard, but the side dish of condensed milk was intriguing , after a test try to see what it tasted like it we decided that it was more of a gimmick than for taste. The simple order of double ristretto was mistaken for a double espresso , and had to be sent back with an explanation of what was wanted! Once we were all sorted with our drinks, various waitresses kept on bringing out random orders making us think that they didn't have a very efficient table ordering system! All in all, it was New Year's Day so we were just happy to hang out somewhere! 6/10 It is funny to see the typical Melbourne standard aesthetics of coffee shops to be spreading all the way out! Inconspicuously located in a very industrial looking area of Geelong, Cartel Coffee is on Leather street and is the perfect place for a pit stop on your way to some of the great beaches along the coast. Being a coffee roastery itself, there was no surprises that their coffee was totally on point. The cold brew hit the spot on 42 degree day; and being served in a mason jar made it ever so insta-worthy! The large wooden hand built looking table made a perfect backdrop for our photos, and made our great looking food look even better! Everything was reasonably priced, each of the all day breakfast dining options were all under $15 and included options such smashed avocado, ham hock croque and waffles! The waffles were absolutely amazing, and if you ordered them in any Melbourne cafe it would cost well over $25! It was an incredibly large serving of two waffles on top of each other, with candied bacon and maple syrup on one layer and a slathering of peanut butter and bananas and ice cream on top! To complete the dish there were crumbed chocolate chip cookies expertly spread around the plate! It was probably one of my favourite dishes I've had in a long time, and I'll be craving it until I get to have it again- or as much as I can eat of it because it was very very filling! The ham hock croque wasn't as good as was expected, it was very very hearty but a bit too oily to be able to enjoy the flavours enough. In the same token the smashed avocado didn't have mountains of halloumi as was promised , but it was a rather a modest, simple take on the restaurant staple! The interiors were very pared back and the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, with the staff happy to chat about New Years fun or stories behind their dishes. Coffee Cartel is definitely worth a visit to get some caffeine in you to break up your journey! 8/10 , the food and coffee was bought out at very staggered times which made some feel like they had been waiting for a very long time! Right near the High Street and Chapel Street intersection, you won't have to go on a difficult journey to visit Journey Man!
But man oh man, they have a great selection of speciality coffee to quench your thirst no matter how far you had to venture to check out their industrial-chic interiors! Theres even a variety of Duke's Espresso beans that you can take home and DIY at your leisure. The wooden tables and and exposed brick walls make you feel like you could be anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, the menu is distinctly "all day brunch on Chapel street". Smashed avocado, waffles with a million edible flowers, and Eggs Benedict with apple (??) are all fashionable foods of today, because they're yummy, (somewhat) nutritional and photograph well for the millions of avid instagrammers out there. The waffles are super popular.Exhibit A: the group of 6 sitting next to me all ordered them! They are so popular for obvious reasons: they photograph well and the exaggerated amount of edible flowers look so sweet, you pour over your own sauce so they don't go soggy, aaand the actual waffles themselves are thick and filling without being sickly sweet. Eggs Benedict are the best way to judge a cafe, as each different interpretation of the classic dish gives a snapshot into the cafe. Here, they are served with a ridiculous amount of spinach as a garnish, so much so it looks like a forest more than a humble garnish. The sliced apple pieces are also visually interesting. To taste, the apples give a nice crunch to an otherwise somewhat soggy dish. Don't bother even eating the forest/garnish because theres no effort put into the flavour of it. Ignoring this, the hollandaise itself is quite sweet and a nice pale yellow. Its taste is quite subtle but compliments the pork croquette very nicely. Pork is a very versatile dish, my favourite being pulled pork burgers, but here the smokey flavour is absolutely divine. If there wasn't that cray cray amount of garnish, I'd say it would be one of the better interpretations of eggs benedict out there. Best would be from Monkey Bean ( http://twocogsinawheel.weebly.com/food/monkey-bean) and the most stupid from Mammoth (http://twocogsinawheel.weebly.com/food/mammoth Hawker hall is a great fun place to eat out, located in the funky Windsor end of Chapel Street.
Featuring a fusion of Singaporean and Japanese food, everything at Hawker Hall is beautifully served and crafted, there is something for everyone. You won't be disappointed with anything off the menu! It's best to try and go in for early lunch or early dinner, or try and be organised to book a table! Sitting at a "cocktail table" is fine as you will get the same service and access to the same amazing food. Not only do they run out of tables, it isn't uncommon for them to also run out of ingredients. The pork dumplings and other pork dishes are the fastest to run out. Our favourites from the menu include the char sui steam buns (basically bbq pork buns), the hokkein mee egg noodles and the short ribs. You HAVE to try the short ribs as they are possibly the best ribs I've tried (so far!) absolutely melt in your mouth texture with a delicious sauce that has a slight vegemite flavour to it. Perfect to share as a course between two (like most of their menu is designed for) or a meal in itself for one! The waiters are very friendly and do talk a lot! It nice and cool inside but too dark to take good photos. Despite this lack of photogenic lighting, there is super loud pumping music it does help set up a really fun atmosphere but it does make it difficult to have conversations with a big group of people ! I rate Hawker Hall 9/10 love Gigi Love Channel 9's The Block, or love finding hidden local cafe's? Then you're bound to love Mister Zen cafe! It is right at the intersection of Commercial road and Punt road, more specifically, on the ground floor level of this year's "octoblock" building!
Mister Zen has more allure to it than the star attraction that the "octoblock" has created, the short list covers Mork specialty chocolate, 5 senses coffee and an awesome interior. Everything is thought out perfectly, a cute cactus on each table, an aesthetic and practical salt dish, and a sweet little raw sugar bowl. There is a row of books running along eye level to the wall, ranging in an eclectic range. The funky light pieces from Vintage LED are practical and add a bit of funk to the otherwise simple space. Exposed cement walls give the room a warehouse vibe which is nicely contrasted by the roomy blonde timber tables and other wooden accents. Also, bonus points for having an awesome play list. The menu features breakfast classics such as Eggs Benedict and lunch favourite Soft Shell crab burger. No cafe is truly a Melbourne cafe without some sort of smashed avocado on toast - and Mister Zen serves up one of the best I've had! A generous amount of avocado and feta is a bit too much for the thinly sliced bread, but this is just a minor issue. The "beetroot tinted eggs" are spectacular, I've never had anything like it! Typically smooth and buttery poached eggs are contrasted by the slight bitter taste of the beetroot coming through. Paired with the avocado and feta, this will quickly become one of your new favourite breakfasts. 9/10 Definitely add this place to your go to list! Easy to get to by tram, or a perfect hang out place if you live nearby. The young owners are super friendly - but if you're trying to get any Block gossip out of them - their lips are sealed!! Xoxo E So last week I drove all the way to Thomastown for donuts. This is nearly an hours drive away from me- can I call this a donut addiction yet?
Mick's Place is an unassuming general store just off Thomastown's main street. The red and white tiled exterior is eye catching and fun, seemingly a nod to stereotypical corner stores of yesteryears. Inside it really is just a general store with bits and pieces of typical things. However the counter is home to a display of a range of donuts from classic Nutella flavour (apparently they're famous for it) , peanut butter and jam donuts (which where my favourite of theirs!) to crazy things like cookies and cream! Yes the donuts were good, and it was a fun adventure going to a new area. However, the doughnuts were extremely doughy and before you got the the middle of it, it tasted like you were eating plain white bread!! If you're dedicated to your donuts, make a day out of it and drive over there- but there's also heaps of donut places around Melbourne too so dont rush out there too quickly! Mick's Place is here to stay, that much is obvious! 7/10 How far would you drive for donuts? Xoxo E The night noodle markets as part of the age good food week are an instagrammers delight! Hot summers evenings, pretty decorations hanging from the air and yummy food to show off to everyone! But before you line up in any crazy long queues for the likes of Chin Chin and Kong, let me tell you what I ate! Wonder bao is not somewhere I've been to however I have heard the name, so when I walked past their little stall tucked to the left of the main area I thought I should give it a go.
Three delicious pork belly bao for only $20 were super filling- the bun dreamily soft and perfect to share with my boyfriend, whom I made take me as a cute date night! We also shared three pork buns for $10, and I can honestly say that these were the best barbecue pork buns I've ever had! The steamed bun was perfectly sweet and almost melted on my tongue, and the barbecue pork inside had the most intense flavour that hit the spot! For dessert we went to Messina and had deep fried bao with gelato - are you noticing a theme of food yet? Don't be worried about the line for this one - it moves so fast you barely have time to decide what you want! We tried the "Chicka Bao Bao" and the "David Baowie". The first had the most perfect salted coconut sorbet inside the bao and the other had a peanut butter ice-cream. I recommend the salted coconut as the flavour was more powerful and the icey cold of the sorbet is a perfect refresher on this heat wave we are having! You must check it out before it ends next week! xoxo E Just at the intersection of Williams road and High Street, From On High won't leave you feeling any high.
The vibe is very homely, but this does not make up for the horrible service. The waitresses get too busy talking to the regulars to remember to pay attention to you, they ignore you when you try to order something extra... The fork my place was set with was dirty, like it hadn't even been washed! Luckily, the Sonos speaker tucked into the corner was playing some old classics for us to reminisce to. However, this did not distract us from the dirty white tiles of the repurposed bathroom space. The coffee arrived at the same time as the food which was surprising because we ordered coffees before we even ordered the food. The small table for two was very cramped, causing us to feel a bit uncomfortable and rushed. The interpretation of Eggs Benedict was very interesting. The bright yellow hollandaise was deliciously sweet and tart at the same time, but the baked trout served on the hash brown was just too over powering and nauseating. No one wants to eat a whole fish for breakfast! Their special peanut butter "waffin" (muffin / waffle) was Cray Cray. After my first bite my first thought was "wow this is weird". There was a lot of flavours all competing with each other, so it was difficult to establish what was supposed to be happening on my palate. The texture of the waffin was very crumbly and it was tricky to eat because it kept falling to pieces. Luckily I could scoop it up with the yummy caramel sauce around the plate. Our quick stop for breakfast ended up taking over an hour. We ordered take away coffee which took another 20 minutes... At least there was a cute barrista we could admire while we waited (he didn't return any of our smiles though). If you live in the area, you're better off finding somewhere nicer to make your local. 4/10 What's the most important thing to you about coffee shops? |