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Love Thy Neighbour, Northbridge

Paul

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29 April 2013

Sticking with the recent Perth themed updates here at The City Lane is a review of Love Thy Neighbour, a hidden gem of a cafe in Northbridge. Head to the end of the arcade at 119 William Street and you’ll find it. Blink and you’ll miss it.

The fit out is very simple with lots of wood and earthy materials. The inside is quite small, however there is additional seating both in the arcade and outside.

You can order your coffee and food from the outside if you like.

Thankfully the sugar was not poisonous! The addition of mint to the water wasn’t really necessary in my opinion as you couldn’t taste it. Perhaps a bit of muddling would help to release the flavours.

The coffee beans are from Sydney’s “Single Origin Roasters”. There’s a house blend, plus two rotating single origins on offer.

“Short Macchiato” ($3.00)

The coffee was really tasty and smooth, as would be expected given the quality of beans and equipment. If you want a regular milky coffee you’re looking at $3.80, which is not bad for Perth.

There is a small range of breakfast and lunch options available, as well as an assortment of muffins and cakes. The menu is partially rotating, so there is always something different on offer – the focus is on simple, fresh ingredients. The owners (who also own the small bar Ezra Pound next door) were influenced by cafes in New York City and some of the offerings certainly reflect this.

“Salmon Bagel” Bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and dill ($8.50)

My brother got the salmon bagel. He enjoyed it, and it certainly looked delicious.

“Jerk Chicken Sandwich” Rye breaad with jerk chicken, tomato, avocado and homemade mayo ($10.00)

My cousin’s sandwich was really packed full of ingredients. He had ordered it a week or so prior and enjoyed it so got it again.

“NYC Rueben Sandwich” Rye breaad with corned beef, pickled cabbage, Swiss cheese, pickles, Russian dressing ($10.00)

The Rueben was very large and I actually couldn’t finish it even though I was very hungry before I started. There’s a lot of cheese, but it worked well in balance with the other flavours. I really enjoyed it. The pickled cabbage was very much in the vein of sauerkraut.

Good food, good coffee, a chilled out vibe and friendly service make Love Thy Neighbour a well worth considering if you want to relax and are in the mood for a coffee and cake or some breakfast or lunch. The fact that the prices are decent for generally expensive Perth is also a definite plus.

Love Thy Neighbour

7/189 William Street
Northbridge
Perth 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9227 6820
Email: n/a
Website: https://www.facebook.com/LTNespresso/

Open
Mon – Fri: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Sat: 7:30am to 3:00pm

Perth: A Quick Walk Around The CBD

Paul

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28 April 2013

9

Back in Perth for the weekend to go to a friend’s wedding, I decided to head into the CBD and Northbridge to check out some record stores for International Record Store Day. You can read my post on that topic here. While I was in the CBD, I had a bit of a wander around and took some photos. There’s no real topic or underlying theme to this post, just photos that I took while walking around and assorted musings on my hometown.

Each time I go back to Perth, there’s more street art in the laneways. Slowly but surely, the laneways are being activated throughout the CBD. Unfortunately, this is all very regulated at the moment and is happening at a snail’s pace. There was an article in the local paper a little while ago about all of the vacant small spaces in various buildings throughout the CBD and how difficult it is for owners to do anything with them due to regulation and cost.

It would be great if regulations were loosened so that owners could rent them out for cheap to artists and independent, local retailers etc. Often access is via these laneways, up some stairs or though a passageway. It would really help to add another layer to the CBD.

Murray Street Mall is one of the main shopping malls in Perth’s CBD.

Forest Chase has undergone a huge transformation over the past few years. Only a few years ago, the fountain, stage and nice stone paving didn’t exist, instead there was an ugly concrete overpass that completely blocked off the rundown square from the street and created a very unwelcoming environment.

“The green blob” was quite controversial when it was unveiled, and either you love it or hate it. I think it’s great because whenever I go back home, I always see people engaging with it and regardless of what you think of the design, that’s exactly the sort of thing that Perth needs.

The second Australian branch of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain “Jamie’s Italian” opened in Perth recently. The huge lines during lunch and dinner mean between a 2-3 hour wait for a table. This sounds crazy for what is ultimately just an international chain, however it goes to show what has been missing in very overpriced Perth – well priced, decent food with great service.

Elsewhere in the world, a Jamie’s Italian opening would not be such a big deal, but in Perth it is all part of a shift which should ultimately lead to there being more options for decent, well priced meals in Perth. Operators who have got away with gouging their customers in the past for a sub-standard experience will be forced to adapt or close.

St George’s Terrace is where you’ll find most of Perth’s office towers. It’s been the historical centre of business in Perth for a long time. It’s rather devoid of life outside of 9-5 weekdays, but recent improvements and initiatives are aiming to make it a street that’s active outside of business hours. Further up, there are now bars and restaurants where previously there was nothing to keep people in the area.

Howard Street contains a lot of beautiful older buildings at that start, and then the unfortunate ugly boxes that resulted from the destruction of Perth’s heritage in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s really sad knowing that Perth’s CBD used to be full of these old buildings, which were knocked down for nondescript ugly boxes.

Howard Lane just off Howard Street was one of the first laneways to be “activated” under the current scheme and now has art, installations and a few bars.

Grand Lane is the most recent laneways to be activated in the CBD. A new on-trend cafe selling toasted sandwiches “Toastface Grillah” opened up down the end recently. I wanted to check it out, but unfortunately they weren’t open on Saturdays (they will be soon according to their Facebook page).

A lot more installations like the boxes and lights below are appearing around the CBD too which is great.

Si Senor Popup Art Taqueria

Paul

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27 April 2013

2

Si Senor Melbourne’s Las Laneway Fiesta is a pop up taqueria, art gallery, bar and music venue. It’s been launched in Somerset Place, in Melbourne’s CBD to celebrate the release of the book “Laneways of Melbourne”. Over the next 4 weeks there will be Mexican street food, cocktails and beers, mezcal and tequila shots as well as street art and live performances from emerging Latin American musicians.

I had been looking foward to this for a while so popped by on opening night to see how it had all come together.

The gallery downstairs, with various items of artwork for sale. Just to the right behind me was a DJ spinning vinyl.

The inside of the venue on the main floor gets quite busy, and this is where the bar is located. The popup is licensed outside in the laneway too so you can bring your drink outside if you want some fresh air or want to switch up the vibe.

To the side of the main building is where you can grab some food. $6 tacos or 4 for $20 is the deal, and it won’t be the same things on offer each night. On the night I went there were chicken, pork beef tongue or vegetarian tacos. Unfortunately the chicken had run out (I’m guessing they’ll be ordering a lot more food for subsequent nights as it was very busy), with the beef tongue and the vegtarian tacos being the highlights.

The tacos were generously sized and very filling. You couldn’t eat more than 4 if you wanted.

Si Senor has a good vibe about it, the drinks are cheap, the food is good and the music lively. The lighting outside is especially cool (it’s done by the same team that did the lighting for White Night Melbourne) and I like the fact that a different street artist will be featured each week. Get yourself down there and check it out for yourself sometime soon.

Si Senor Art Taqueria

Gallery One Three
13 Somerset Place, Melbourne (Off Little Bourke Street)

April 26 — April 27, 6:00pm
May 3rd — May 4th, 6:00pm
May 10th — May 11th, 6:00pm
May 17th — May 18th, 6:00pm

Closing time is 1:00am on Fridays and 12:00am on Saturdays.

Florence: Street Art & The Little Things

Paul

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25 April 2013

8

Florence, the capital of Tuscany attracts tourists from all over the world who wish to experience the treasures that it offers. In fact between April and October of each year, the number of tourists in Florence outnumbers the local population.

Being a very wealthy medieval trading town, birthplace of the Renaissance and the base of power for some very important religious and revolutionary events, Florence has been left with an amazing architectural, artistic and cultural legacy.

Florence is a very beautiful city, and the entirety of its historical centre is UNESCO heritage listed. Walking around Florence, you cannot help but be awed by the history that surrounds you. There is, however, a risk that visitors to Florence take when they get swept up by all of this and forget to pay attention to the little things.

I will be exploring the historical side of Florence in another post. In this post, I’d like to focus on some street scenes and these “little things”.

There is a thriving street art scene in Florence, especially around the university district, and the streets that contains the everyday stories of the people that live in Florence today are just as fascinating as those that tell the stories of the past. In many cases these streets are one in the same, but in many instances they are not.

In relation to both Florence’s history and its modern aspects, there is a lot to be gained in looking at the finer details. Many of the buildings have details that can be missed upon first glance.

When you’re in Florence, immerse yourself in history and explore that fascinating side to the city, but also make an effort to walk down streets that, at first glance, appear to contain nothing of note. Always look up, down, in and around and you’ll discover an equally fascinating side to Florence, as well as unique perspectives of the tried and true spots.

Piqueos, Carlton North

Paul

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23 April 2013

0

Piqueos Carlton North is a restaurant and bar that offers food that is a fusion of Peruvian and Argentinean dishes, flavours and styles. Co-owners Shaun Burke and Dave Mills were inspired to open a South American restaurant in Melbourne after working in Gaucho and Floradita respectively in London. The space is very casual and lends itself to either a full meal, or a drink and some snacks.

Piqueos offers a good selection of Argentinean wines (in fact the wine list is exclusively Argentinean , as well as a very extensive selection of pisco. A decent selection of craft beers and other spirits is also available.

Pisco Sour ($19 each)

Pisco is a grape brandy produced in the wine-making regions of Peru and Chile. A pisco sour (or to be more precise the Peruvian pisco sour, which differs slightly from the Chilean version) contains pisco, lime (or lemon) juice, syrup, ice, egg white and Angostura bitters. The pisco sour was created by an American expat, Victor Vaughn Morris, in Lima in 1921. It is considered the “national drink” of Peru.

Our waiter for the night was co-owner Dave, who was, as you would expect, very knowledgeable about everything on the menu, and very friendly, chatty and enthusiastic.

He made each of our pisco sours with a different pisco. He explained what differentiated each one and we all tried them. You really could taste the difference between some of them. My favourite was the 4th one.

“Cebiche” Locally caught fresh fish, red onion, aji amarillo, sweet potato, sweet corn and lime ($15.00)

The cebiche was very tasty, the locally caught fish being Kingfish. The aji amarillo, which is a type of Peruvian yellow chilli pepper really added a surprising kick to the dish.

“Vieira” Grilled scallop with aji rocoto ($5.50)

The scallops were tasty and grilled just right. Aji rocoto is a red chili that is one of the hottest in Peru. Whenever it was used, there was a noticeable kick.

“Empanadas” ($4.50)

The empanadas were available in 3 varieties. “Carne” which was beef, olive and egg, “Pollo” which was chicken and char grilled corn, or “Queso” which was cheese, potato and char grilled onion.

They were all tasty, the pastry was not too heavy and the ratio of filling to pastry was perfect. The Queso was the highlight of the three.

“Pulpo” Char grilled octopus, grapefruit and olive ($16.00)

Octopus can often be a hit and miss affair, with many restaurants seeming unable to cook it properly. Thankfully the octopus at Piqueos was cooked perfectly. I’m not generally a fan of grapefruit however it really did add a nice balance to this dish.

“Picada” Pigs head terrine, serrano jamon, bresaola, pickled zucchini and panca olives ($19.00)

I’m a big fan of charcuterie plates so ordering this was a no brainer. It was all very tasty and provided a good mid point to the meal. I love proper jamon so that was, for me, the highlight of this plate.

The bar table extends around the entire bar, which is in the middle of the restaurant. I like the exposed brick used in a context that’s more homely than the usual industrial type environment in which you see it.

“Anticucho de Corazon” Grilled beef heart with red onion and aji rocoto mayonaise ($16.00)

Beef heart in general has a more rubbery texture than beef itself and is very easy to turn into a rubbery “thing” that you don’t want to eat. As with the octopus, the beef heart at Piqueos is cooked just right with a level of sponginess that successfully adds to the dish.

“Mussels”

The mussels were the special of the night, and I cannot remember how much they cost or what exactly was added to them (apart from the obvious toast). They were, as with everything else we ate on the night, brilliant, fresh and full of flavour.

“Churrasco” 300g Little Creek grass fed sirloin, 24 hour chimmichurri marinated ($32.00)

After we were done with the piqeuos (the small dishes) and the raciones (the medium sized dishes), we moved onto the food that had been cooked on the parrilla, which is a type of charcoal grill.

The steak was delicious. Charred with a beautiful crust on the outside and melt in your mouth tender on the inside. I only discovered chimmichurri recently and have become a big fan, and the Piqueos version is very tasty.

“Papitas Fritas” Potato chips with aji amarillo mayonnaise ($9.00)

Chunky chips, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, just the way that chips should be.

“Zanahoria” Blackened carrots and goats curd ($9.00)

I really liked the carrots. A few of my friends commented that the carrots weren’t charred enough, however I thought the char taste was very clearly present.

“Pollito” Peruvian spiced baby chicken ($28.00)

It was a close call between the steak and the chicken, but the general consensus was that this was the highlight of the night. The chicken was super tender and the flavours were something else. An extremely tasty dish.

“Alfajore” Honey, almond spiced biscuit with dulce de leche and roasted coconut ($4.00)

I did not try this one, but the friend who ordered it seemed very happy with it.

“Picarones” Fermented pumpkin doughnut with purple corn jam ($4.00)

With a description like that, there was really no option for me but to choose the picarones. I couldn’t really pick the fermented pumpkin taste wise, however it was obvious that this doughnut was denser than a normal doughnut. I really enjoyed it.

I had heard of Piqueos a few months earlier and was looking forward to visiting for a while. Thankfully when I did visit, I was not disappointed. The food really lends itself to sharing, and as a table of 6 it was perfect. I’ve not had much experience of Peruvian or Argentinean food so cannot comment on how authentic Piqueos is, but what I can tell you is that the ingredients are authentic and of the highest quality and the food is delicious.

A lively neighbourhood vibe, friendly, enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable staff and the chance to try some food and drinks which you may not have tried before makes Piqueos and easy place to recommend.

Piqueos

298 Rathdowne Street
Carlton North
Victoria 3053
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9349 2777
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://piqueos.com.au/

Open
Tue – Thu: 5:30pm to 10:00am
Fri – Sun: 12:00pm to 10:00pm

Record Store Day – Keeping Music Alive

Music
Travel

Paul

-

21 April 2013

2

The 3rd Saturday in April of each year is International Record Store Day. I was in Perth for the weekend for a friend’s wedding, and had some time to kill before it kicked off so went into the CBD to have a wander around, and check out some record stores with my brother and cousin.

The idea for a Record Store Day came about at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding the thousands of independently owned record stores around the world.

The first record store day was kicked off by Metallica at Rasputin Records in San Francisco on 19 April 2008. Each year, independent record stores coordinate to get the message about their existence and music in general, out to the public. Limited release records are created for sale on the day, and there are lots of artist meet and greets, free gigs, DJ sets and other events that occur. Popular international artists and obscure local artists all get involved.

I visited 4 record stores for Perth’s Record Store Day.

78 Records

78 Records is one of the more popular record stores in Perth, and has been around since 1971. They moved from their location of 16 years relatively recently and can be found upstairs at 255 Murray Street, Perth. The entrance is to the side of this laneway. A variety of CDs, Vinyl, DVDs and other music related items can be found here.

Safari’s Record Shack

Hidden behind a florist at the rear of Shop 3, Arcade 189 William Street, Northbridge, is Safari’s Record Shack. One of the newest and smallest record stores in Perth, Safari’s Record Shack focuses on vinyl, and edges towards the funky, soulful side of the musical spectrum.

Noise Pollution Records

Noise Pollution Records specialises in second hand and collectible vinyl. You can find it at 280 William Street, Northbridge.

Planet is located at 636-646 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley. Originally famous in Perth for being a video store with very generous opening hours and a huge selection of popular and independent videos to rent, Planet has evolved with the times and, while no longer occupying the old corner site, they are next door with a book store, DVD store, record store and cafe.

Planet has a lot of vinyl, CDs and music DVDs as well as posters, equipment and the like. A wide variety of genres is available, and there’s a good mix of popular and obscure.

On the website for Record Store Day, Jack White (2013 Record Store Day Ambassador) sums things up perfectly.

The world hasn’t stopped moving. Out there, people are still talking to each other face-to-face, exchanging ideas and turning each other on. Art houses are showing films, people are drinking coffee and telling tall tales, women and men are confusing each other and record stores are selling discs full of soul that you haven’t felt yet. So why do we choose to hide in our caves and settle for replication? We know better. We should at least. We need to re-educate ourselves about human interaction and the difference between downloading a track on a computer and talking to other people in person and getting turned onto music that you can hold in your hands and share with others. The size, shape, smell, texture and sound of a vinyl record; how do you explain to that teenager who doesn’t know that it’s a more beautiful musical experience than a mouse click? You get up off your ass, you grab them by the arm and you take them there. You put the record in their hands. You make them drop the needle on the platter. Then they’ll know.

I’m not saying that you need to become an avid vinyl collector, but there’s something special about walking into a record store, mixing with other music lovers, browsing through music, seeing something that looks interesting and discovering a great artist, band or genre that you’ve never heard of before. There’s a lot more to music than what you are force fed on commercial radio.

However you choose to consume your music, I think it’s important that we all support our local record stores, as something truly special will be lost come the day when they have all closed down.

The Beaufort, Carlton

Paul

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15 April 2013

0

The Beaufort Carlton has a very simple one page website. A logo, essential details on where it is, when it’s open, and how to contact them, as well as the promise of:

Boats. Booze. Buns.
Handcut Ice.
Good Times.

An intriguing proposition that invites you to check things out without giving away too much. What exactly is it then, that the Beaufort offer to those wandering souls who walk through its doors?

The brainchild of Dave Kerr, the inspiration for the Beaufort came from American Dive bars, with Kerr quick to admit that they are not trying to recreate a dive bar, but rather create a fun venue for locals, and anyone else who pops in that is inspired by dive bars, and Kerr’s love of nautical themed paraphernalia.

When you walk inside, it’s instantly clear that the guys have pulled off what they set out to achieve. The Beaufort is not “nice” and is very bare bones save for the copious amount of nautical themed objects and posters scattered throughout.

There is a mixed crowd, and it really is the kind of venue that anyone can feel at home at. One of the things I miss the most about the UK is that feeling you get from having a drink at a “locals” pub and in many ways the Beaufort recreates some of that feeling.

On some nights there is live music, and it’s one of the most casual feeling bars I’ve been to in Melbourne. Standing out the front, watching the world go by while waiting for a friend to arrive is something that seems to be getting harder to do in Melbourne, and it’s nice to be able to do that here. It’s all of the little things that help make a night at the Beaufort a good one.

Behind the bar lies an impressive array of beers and spirits that any pirate would enjoy, and the cocktail menu is small but very decent. The drinks are very well priced too.

As well as Australian craft beers in the fridge, there is a rotating selection of Australian craft beers on tap. I like to order “a pint of the ship” or “a pint of the whisk” and wait until after I’ve tried it before asking what it is that I’m drinking.

The side room has a long communal table and that valuable addition to any bar – a pool table.

The food on offer at the Beaufort is very decent and quite well priced. American classics such as burgers, deep fried pickles (the best in Melbourne in my opinion), pulled pork buns etc is what’s on offer, including gluten free options for those who request it.

On the night that I took the above photos I wasn’t eating, but here’s a phone photo from when I was at the Beaufort on another occasion and ordered the pulled pork and kimchi bun with jalepeno mayo. It was delicious.

If you haven’t been to the Beaufort yet I’d highly recommend that you check it out. I’ve been several times since I discovered it last year, and have always had a great night there. You’ll feel like it’s your local bar, even if you’re not a local.

The Beaufort

421 Rathdowne Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9347 8170
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://thebeaufort.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sat: 5:00pm to 1:00am
Sun: 3:00pm to 11:00pm

Tuscany: Castello di Gabbiano

Paul

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14 April 2013

0

Castello di Gabbiano is a castle and estate located in the Chianti region in central Tuscany. This part of Italy is where the wine Chianti is produced (a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca). Staying here overnight was certainly a step up from the usual accommodation that I have when travelling, and was a very nice way to spend part of my first visit to Tuscany. It is a beautiful, majestic castle in a beautiful location.

Castello di Gabbiano is very old, with the fortified tower dating back to the 12th century. It was developed by the Soderini family over several centuries, with it taking its present form in the early 16th century. The Castle was very well located, benefiting not only from very fertile land, but also from being at a high altitude which was very advantageous when it came to ensuring that communications could be made between Florence and Siena during times of war.

Today, the 173 acre estate is primarily used to grow wine grapes and olives which are sold under the “Gabbiano” brand, with Chianti wine being by far the primary export.

Behind the Castle is an outdoor dining area. Dinner here was really tasty. All of the ingredients were fresh and local, and the dishes were relatively simple, with the natural flavours of ingredients mostly being respected.

There were a few small sculptures dotted around the grounds near the Castle which have been created by various artists over the years. There is also a small gallery to view exhibitions which occur a few times a year.

Standing outside of Castello di Gabbiano, looking over such beautiful, majestic scenery, one can’t help but feel grateful to be alive and lucky enough to experience this. The air is so fresh, and everything is so peaceful.

Sangiovese grapes make up 70% of Chianti wine and is the most widely planted red grape variety in Italy. Sangiovese based wines have a relatively high acidity, which makes them perfect for pairing with many tomato based Italian dishes.

It is very easy to see why the countryside of Tuscany is such a popular tourist destination. Indeed, one day in Chianti was all that I needed to fall in love with the place.

Meatmother, Richmond (Closed)

Paul

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11 April 2013

2

*Note: Meatmother has closed down*

Meatmother Richmond is the latest new restaurant to open on the rejuvenating Swan Street. Co-owners Neil Hamblen and Nick Johnston (disclosure: I work for Nick Johnston in another, unrelated capacity), who are new to the restaurant game, have set out to provide Melbourne with a den of meaty goodness, inspired by the American BBQ venues found in cities like Austin, Texas.

The venue is small and narrow, and decked out in cleavers, saws, animal skulls and other suitably meat related objects. Think industrial chic meets your local butcher. Large black and white prints with edgy imagery adorns many of the walls too. It all comes together really well, and helps to set the scene for the meal to come. With looks like this, I had my fingers crossed that Meatmother would be more than just a superficial twisted beauty.

Heading upstairs, Meatmother takes on a noticeably lighter tone (literally, not figuratively). Wooden floors, tables and chairs and clean white walls are adorned with various industrial flourishes and more of those unique black and white prints.

The dishes come unsauced, with the two sauces “Panther” (Carolina style vinegar and chilli flake based sauce) and “Chief” (Kansas City style ketchup based sauce) being provided on the tables to add as you please. I like this idea as it gives diners the opportunity to really taste the flavours of the meat before saucing things up. Both sauces are made fresh in-house.

The drinks on offer at Meatmother are a carefully selected range of beers cocktails, bourbon, rye and whiskey. Wine, cider, soft drinks and sweet tea are also available.

The beer selection is very impressive and contains a variety of craft beers from the USA and American inspired local craft beers. I was very pleased to see one of my favourites, 3 Ravens’ “Dark Smoke Beer” was on offer but was even more impressed to see Dogfish Head’s “My Antonia Pilsner” on the menu.

For those who don’t know much about beer, Dogfish Head is a USA craft brewery that is considered by many to be one of the best in the world. The beers that come out of this brewery are always amazing and they are very hard to find in Australia. To find a venue that actually sells one of their more unique beers in this part of the world is a rare and wonderful thing. I would attribute this in large part to the fact that Meatmother have consulted craft beer aficionado Tiffany Waldron aka Beer Girl Bites, to consult on the drinks menu.

“Bacon Sour” Bacon-infused Maker’s Mark bourbon, lemon, bitters and candied bacon ($15.00)

The cocktail list is short and impressive. The bacon sour was delicious, and the candied bacon was a real treat.

The food menu is focused and simple. You are given the option of a “Meat Tray”, which contains one meat (choice of pulled pork, beef brisket, beef short rib or spare ribs), one side and Texas toast and pickles, or a “Bun Tray”, which contains a brioche bun filled with pulled pork or brisket and slaw plus one side and pickles.

From the sides you have a choice of bbq beans, chipotle slaw, mac & cheese, gravy mash, grilled cos salad or sprouts with lardons. Extras of house pickles, BBQ chicken wings and hock croquettes are also on offer.

All of the meat is local and free-range, and smoked at a low heat for up to 12 hours.

“Bun Tray” Pulled pork bun + sprouts with lardons ($16.00)

I really enjoyed this. The pulled pork was extremely tender and the strands had an amazing texture to them. The pickles were very tasty, and, in what my fiancée and I both declared the surprise package of the night, the sprouts with lardons (small cubes of pork fat) were divine and with an unexpected complexity to them.

‘Meat Tray” Beef brisket + chipotle slaw ($18.00)

The brisket was very tender and tasty and the slaw had a nice level of spice and tartness which complimented the meat very well.

“Meat Tray” Beef short rib + mac & cheese ($18.00) + BBQ beans ($4.00)

We were told by both Nick and Neil that the beef short rib was the “hero” of the menu, so had high expectations. Needless to say, these expectations were well and truly met. The meat fell right of the bone and was extremely tender with the perfect level of smokiness.

The mac & cheese was great too. When my fiancée and I were in New York, we went to Williamsburg restaurant Roberta’s and my fiancée had what she has always claimed was “the best mac & cheese ever”. Nowhere has been able to match it, however tonight she took one bite of Meatmother’s mac & cheese and instantly said “this takes me right back to New York”. High praise indeed.

The beans were also very tasty.

“Frozen Lime Pie” ($8.00)

The frozen lime pie was delicious. It had a really nice, almost frozen yoghurt (but denser) texture to it and was on a chocolate base.

“Sticky Toffee Pudding” ($8.00)

The sticky toffee pudding was very tasty, and came with a caramel sauce and caramel bourbon ice-cream, which my fiancée was a big fan of.

Overall, Meatmother really hit the spot. With a smoker imported from the USA and Michelin trained Quebecois chef Yannick Dagenais in charge of smoking duties, it’s clear that these guys were serious about delivering a quality product from the start.

Thankfully, after only 2 days of operation, Meatmother more than lives up to expectations and really does offer a point of difference from the American food that many of Melbourne’s other restuarants have been offering as of late. I’ll certainly be back there, not just for the food but also for the great drinks and brilliant service.

Meatmother

167 Swan Street
Richmond
Victoria 3121
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9041 5393
Email: n/a
Website: http://meatmother.com.au/

Open
Tue – Sun: 5:00pm to late

Melbourne Dining Guide 2012

Paul

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11 April 2013

0

Welcome to my Melbourne Dining Guide 2012. While I was living overseas, I made an effort to keep up-to-date on what was happening with Melbourne’s food scene and was always interested in reading about what were considered to be the best restaurants in Melbourne.

Unsurprisingly, when I moved to Melbourne at the start of 2012, I had a long list of restaurants, bars and cafes that I wanted to try. I didn’t being to properly food blog until 2013, however I ate at a lot of great places in 2012 so thought I would write up a few posts highlighting some of my favourites.

These are not full reviews like you’ll usually find on The City Lane, but rather quick summaries to point you in the right direction should you find yourself looking for a great feed in Melbourne. There isn’t much in the way of photos as blogging simply wasn’t on my mind when I was eating out in 2012.

Chin Chin

Chin Chin opened in August 2011 and very quickly become one of the hardest restaurants to get into in Melbourne. Step inside and it’s not hard to see why. The space is very open, leading to an open kitchen at the back. Service is always fun and excellent and, most importantly, the authentic, Thai street food inspired sharing dishes are full of flavour and taste.

The flavours are very authentic, but the dishes themselves not necessarily so. This is not a bad thing. There is a mixture of mild dishes and non-toned down spicy dishes. The menu is quite extensive and flexible, and if need be Chin Chin isn’t afraid to bend the rules to offer up some unique flavour combinations. The key is that the ingredients are top notch, and the flavours are amazing – all sauces and pastes are made on site. One dish that I always get to start off with is the Kingfish Sashimi, which is very light, tangy and flavoursome.

Chin Chin is still extremely popular today – I’d recommend going during lunch or a weeknight as on weekends at dinner, their no booking policy means you can be waiting several hours for a table.

Chin Chin has a decent all-Australian wine list, and offers an impressive selection of quality cocktails too.

Chin Chin

125 Flinders Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8663 2000
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://chinchinrestaurant.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sun: 11:00am to late

Mamasita

Mamasita was one of the hottest restaurants in Melbourne when in opened in 2010, as is generally considered to be the restaurant that kicked off the Mexican food trend in Melbourne.

Set in a former recording studio, the space is narrow and has a great feeling about it – paying homage to the space’s origins (insofar as it retains a certain old fashioned charm with its high ceiling and use of wood).

Food wise, there is a focus on authentic Mexican street style dishes, cooked with fresh ingredients. The food is great – in particular the charred corn, topped with finely grated queso fresco, chipotle mayo, and lime to squeeze on top. The food is designed for sharing, the tacos, quesidillas, toastadas and ceviche are all great. There are also mains available, which are great too, but sharing a range of the smaller dishes is much more fun and lets you try so much more.

Mamasita has a no bookings policy, so get there early if you’re thinking of going for a weekend dinner – you could be waiting up to several hours on a busy night, so try to go for lunch or a weeknight dinner.

Mamasita

Level 1 / 11 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9650 3821
Email: n/a
Website: http://mamasita.com.au/

Open
Mon – Wed: 12:00pm to 12:00am
Thu: 12:00pm – 12:30am
Fri – Sat: 12:00pm – 2:00am
Sun: 1:00pm – 10:00pm

Cutler & Co

Cutler & Co is located in an old metalwork factory in Fitzroy and as a result, the space is very open, with many hints to its industrial history, most noticeably the high walls and exposed brick walls. This matches the vibe of the venue. Very casual and relaxed for a fine dining restaurant, without any pretension.

I had the tasting menu, and all of the food was excellent. Really creative things done with local, fresh, seasonal ingredients. The bar area is rather decent too, and you can always just drop by for some amazing cocktails.

Cutler & Co was my first fine dining experience since returning to Australia, and overall I was very happy with my night. Andrew O’Connell’s take on fine dining is one the best options for a meal at this level in Melbourne – the food, dining space and service are all top notch.

Cutler & Co

55-57 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9419 4888
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://cutlerandco.com.au/

Open
Dinner: Mon – Sun from 6:00pm
Lunch: Fri – Sun from 12:00pm

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Rockpool Bar & Grill is one of the better known restaurants in Australia, with branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Its reputation is justified, and it’s one of the best places to get a steak in Melbourne. Beef is sourced directly from the producers and dry aged on premises, and the staff are very knowledgable.

The wine list is excellent, and if you’re not in the mood for a steak, you might want to check out the Rockpool burger, which is not your usual burger, and tastes amazing (it won several awards for Australia’s best burger when it first came onto the menu).

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Crown Complex
8 Whiteman Street
Southbank
Victoria 3006
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8648 1900
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://rockpool.com/melbourne/

Open
Dinner: Mon – Sun 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Lunch: Sun – Fri 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Movida Bar & Tapas

Movida was the first “known” restaurant that I ate at way back when I visited Melbourne as a tourist in 2008. Back then, there was just one Movida, and you had to book a month in advance just to get a table. It was the highlight of my Melbourne dining experience and my first every introduction to proper Spanish food.

By 2012, a lot had changed. I had been to Spain several times and eaten a lot of authentic, amazing food over there. Movida itself had gone from strength to strength, with Frank Camorra having opened several other Movida branded eateries in Melbourne. Understandably, I was keen to see how the original Movida had stood the test of time.

I am happy to say that the food at Movida is just as great as I remembered. The dining scene in Melbourne has gone from strength to strength, and Movida doesn’t feel as fresh as it used to, however this is irrelevant. The atmosphere is great, the staff are very passionate about the restaurant, and the food is seasonal, fresh, authentically Spanish, and very tasty

There are a variety of options designed either to share or to eat as mains. You still need to book, but if you want to visit on a whim, the excellent and somewhat more casual Movida Next Door, which takes walk ins and focuses more on sharing, tapas style dishes.

Movida Bar & Tapas

1 Hosier Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9663 3038
Email: n/a
Website: http://movida.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sun: 12:00pm till late

Izakaya Den

Izakaya Den was one of the most popular restaurants that opened during Melbourne’s Izakaya fad a few years ago. The fad has died off, but Izakaya Den remains. There is a good reason for this, and that is the brilliant food on offer.

The food is not typical Japanese Izakaya food in that it’s higher end and more expensive than one would expect from an Izakaya. The flavours and textures are amazing, my favourite being the succulent, melt in your mouth pork belly, which is the best I’ve had in Melbourne.

The list of sake and Japanese whiskey is extensive, and the venue itself has a great vibe about it. Very small, narrow and underground, Izakaya Den a raw, futuristic feel about it with images and animations being projected onto the blank wall across from the long bar.

Izakaya Den is hard to find, but well worth looking for.

Izakaya Den

Basement / 114 Russell Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9654 2977
Email: n/a
Website: http://izakayaden.com.au/

Open
Dinner: Mon – Sat 5:30pm till late
Lunch: Mon – Fri 12:00pm to 12:30pm

Naked For Satan

Naked For Satan is a great bar that focuses just as much on food as it does on drinks. The fit-out is brilliant, very industrial with lots of open spaces combining with small side areas and a huge rooftop bar “Naked In The Sky”.

The concept here is that at the bar there are a variety of tapas style dishes, all priced at $2. Additionally there are wait-staff walking around offering hot tapas dishes, also for $2. Each portion had a toothpick in it. You save up your toothpicks, and go up to the bar and pay for your meal before you leave.

The food is Spanish influenced, but not Spanish per se. It’s all very tasty and very affordable. Even if you’re not eating, Naked For Satan is a great spot to go for a drink, with a variety of decent beers, a large selection of infused vodkas, and a very decent spirits list. I celebrated my birthday here last year with a group of friends and we all had a great time. I’ve been back several times since and think it’s one of the best spots in this part of town.

Naked For Satan

285 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy
Victoria 3065
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9416 2238
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://nakedforsatan.com.au/

Open
Fri – Sat 12:00pm to 1:00am
Sun – Thu 12:00pm to 12:00am

Hellenic Republic

Hellenic Republic is part of George Calombaris’ Greek restaurant empire, and serves traditional Greek taverna cuisine with modern flourishes. The venue is very casual, the staff are friendly and attentive, and I’ve never had a bad meal here.

Fresh, seasonal ingredients means that the menu is constantly changing, although there are many options that are consistent, including the amazing taramosalata (cod roe) dip with pita. The lamb which is cooked on a rotating spit is also exceptional.

Hellenic Republic also offers a take-away menu, which includes arguably the best souvlaki in Melbourne. The lamb is to die for, and the use of horseradish mustard makes for an interesting change.

Hellenic Republic

434 Lygon Street
Brunswick East
Victoria 3057
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9381 1222
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://hellenicrepublic.com.au/

Open
Dinner: Mon – Sun 5:30pm till late
Lunch: Fri – Sun 12:00pm to 4:00pm

Proud Mary

Proud Mary has a reputation for being one of the best places to get coffee and brunch in Melbourne and I think that this reputation is very much deserved. They roast their own beans, which are carefully sourced from independent growers around the world, and there is always an exceptional choice of beans, brewed by almost any method that you can think of on offer. I’ve often bought beans from here to bring home for my own coffee machine.

Food wise, there are the usual breakfast options on offer, generally simple but with a twist here and there. The ingredients are really left to do the talking and I’m quite fond of the rotating sandwich selection. Proud Mary might be considered too hipster by some, but to be honest I don’t care. The coffee, food and service have never been anything but excellent, and the level of knowledge and passion that the staff have is great. Highly recommended, although on weekends for breakfast be prepared to wait for a table.

Proud Mary

172 Oxford Street
Collingwood
Victoria 3066
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9417 5930
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://proudmarycoffee.com.au/

Hutong Dumpling Bar

Ask people in Melbourne where the best place in the city to get dumplings is, and a large number of them will tell you to head to Hutong. While perhaps not the best place for dumplings in Melbourne any more, I have a good reason for including Hutong on this list.

First, just because it’s not the best (more on that at a later date), this doesn’t mean that it’s not good. The dumplings at Hutong are still excellent and up there with the best in Melbourne.

Second, it’s open until 3:00am which means that it’s a great option for a feed in the early hours of the morning any day of the week.

Third is because often, you’ll get recommendations from people who are simply recommending a place without knowing that there are better and cheaper options out there. Hutong is one of those places where a lot of people are likely to recommend it, but you’ll actually be getting a great feed for a good price.

If you want a reliable feed for a good price for lunch, dinner or after a night out, Hutong should definitely be on your list.

Hutong Dumpling Bar

14-16 Market Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9650 8128
Email: n/a
Website: http://hutong.com.au/

Open
Mon – Sun: 11:30am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 10:30pm

D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella

In a similar vein to Hutong above, D.O.C. makes this list not because it is necessarily the best Italian restaurant that I have been to in Melbourne over the past year, but rather because it offers very good food in a part of town that’s known for its tourist traps.

Lygon Street, Carlton (don’t get it confused with Lygon Street, Brunswick East) is where all of the tourist guides point visitors to get their taste of “the real Italy, in Melbourne”. It is true that Carlton is an area that was historically home to a very large Italian immigrant population and it is also true that Lygon Street had some great restaurants on it. Times move on, Melbourne’s food scene is now world class, and the vast majority of establishments on Lygon Street are now typical tourist traps. Touts on the sidewalk trying to get you to come inside their restaurant which is decked out in everything you’d expect a stereotypical Italian restaurant to have (Italian flags, Ferarri memorabilia, red and white chequered tablecloths, Italian football posters etc). The food is relatively cheap, but given the poor quality of it, does not represent value for money.

Enter D.O.C. A restaurant that shuns all of this and offers simple Italian food with exceptionally high quality, fresh ingredients in a venue with a modern, clean fit-out. If you’re in the area and want to try some real Italian food, D.O.C. is the place to go.

D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella

295 Drummond Street
Carlton
Victoria 3053
Australia

Telephone: (03) 9347 2998
Email: n/a
Website: http://docgroup.net/

Open
Mon – Thu: 5:30pm to 11:00pm
Fri – Sun: 12:00pm to 11:30pm

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

THE CITY LANEEAT & TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL

“Short Macchiato” ($3.00)

“Salmon Bagel” Bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and dill ($8.50)

“Jerk Chicken Sandwich” Rye breaad with jerk chicken, tomato, avocado and homemade mayo ($10.00)

“NYC Rueben Sandwich” Rye breaad with corned beef, pickled cabbage, Swiss cheese, pickles, Russian dressing ($10.00)

Love Thy Neighbour

Si Senor Art Taqueria

Pisco Sour ($19 each)

“Cebiche” Locally caught fresh fish, red onion, aji amarillo, sweet potato, sweet corn and lime ($15.00)

“Vieira” Grilled scallop with aji rocoto ($5.50)

“Empanadas” ($4.50)

“Pulpo” Char grilled octopus, grapefruit and olive ($16.00)

“Picada” Pigs head terrine, serrano jamon, bresaola, pickled zucchini and panca olives ($19.00)

“Anticucho de Corazon” Grilled beef heart with red onion and aji rocoto mayonaise ($16.00)

“Mussels”

“Churrasco” 300g Little Creek grass fed sirloin, 24 hour chimmichurri marinated ($32.00)

“Papitas Fritas” Potato chips with aji amarillo mayonnaise ($9.00)

“Zanahoria” Blackened carrots and goats curd ($9.00)

“Pollito” Peruvian spiced baby chicken ($28.00)

“Alfajore” Honey, almond spiced biscuit with dulce de leche and roasted coconut ($4.00)

“Picarones” Fermented pumpkin doughnut with purple corn jam ($4.00)

Piqueos

78 Records

Safari’s Record Shack

Noise Pollution Records

The Beaufort

“Bacon Sour” Bacon-infused Maker’s Mark bourbon, lemon, bitters and candied bacon ($15.00)

“Bun Tray” Pulled pork bun + sprouts with lardons ($16.00)

‘Meat Tray” Beef brisket + chipotle slaw ($18.00)

“Meat Tray” Beef short rib + mac & cheese ($18.00) + BBQ beans ($4.00)

“Frozen Lime Pie” ($8.00)

“Sticky Toffee Pudding” ($8.00)

Meatmother

Chin Chin

Chin Chin

Mamasita

Mamasita

Cutler & Co

Cutler & Co

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Rockpool Bar & Grill

Movida Bar & Tapas

Movida Bar & Tapas

Izakaya Den

Izakaya Den

Naked For Satan

Naked For Satan

Hellenic Republic

Hellenic Republic

Proud Mary

Proud Mary

Hutong Dumpling Bar

Hutong Dumpling Bar

D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella

D.O.C. Pizza and Mozzarella

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