Obviously I have heard a lot about Huxtaburger…who hasn’t and I have wanted to go for a long time now. I love burgers, I really do.

Knowing that its unlikely you’ll get a table, I always struggled with finding an appropriate time to go. This was until my mum was down for the weekend. We were doing a food styling and photography workshop together, and lets be honest, I was really hung over.

Sitting it class it was coming up to lunchtime and my mind was wandering. When I am hung over it usually wanders to food. So my mind said…I’m hung over…I want a burger…I’m close to Huxtaburger…mum loves burgers.

Class finished, I told mum the plan and we were off.

As expected it was packed. After ordering our burgers we managed to snag a spot at the bar inside and we were pretty happy. We watched as the procession line of burgers was being made in amazing time. Bun…bun…cheese…pattie…bun…bun…cheese…pattie. Repeat!

Our burgers arrived in nearly no time at all.

Mum ordered the Bills – beef pattie, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, tomato, cheese, lettuce pickles, bacon, egg, pineapple and beetroot ($10). We also ordered small chips to share ($2.5)

Bills Burger and Small Chips

Mum was very happy as she munched away on her burger. A very messy task however I did notice.

A lover of simple burgers I ordered the Huxtaburger – beef pattie, mustard, mayo, tomato sauce, tomato, cheese, lettuce pickles ($8).

Huxtaburger

My burger was fantastic. The beef was moist and delicious and slightly pink in the centre. The tart flavour of the pickles and the mustard was the perfect combination. It was juicy a little greasy and a little bit messy. Everything a burger should be. I also liked the sizes of the burgers. They are smaller than the usual burger meaning you wont feel too full after eating one. It’s an old school burger and it’s good, it’s really good.

The chips were also very good. Regular frozen crinkle cut chips…nothings fancy, but cooked perfectly and very very salty.

I left feeling satisfied and my hangover was very appreciative.

Ok I realize it is ridiculous that it has taken me this long to get to Earl Canteen, and there is probably not much else left to say about these sandwiches, but hey, I’m going to tell you about my visit anyway.

So, it was Tuesday, I had summer school for my Masters and it was about 1000 degrees outside. What better excuse to get together with a girl friend, eat some awesome sandwiches and have a bit of a gossip session.

When I arrived, my friend (who is an Earl regular) had already had a chat to the wonderful waiter and nabbed us the next available table. I had to laugh when a couple of suits tried to take our table and our waiter went and spoke to them quickly alerting them to the fact that “this table is for the lovely ladies behind you”. Sometimes chivalry needs a little helping hand when there are sandwiches involved.

So we took our seat, next to the kitchen. Aside from the fact that the toaster, which was preparing all the delicious bread, was making us sweat even more, we had a cool view of the sandwiches.

Chefs at work

The menu, put in front of us was really not needed for me. After following Earl Canteen on twitter for a long time now I knew I had to try to chicken and chips. I waited patiently while my friend decided which option she was after today.

Menu

My Chicken and Chips sandwich, which was roast free-range chicken, crushed peas, candied bacon, potato crisps on ciabatta bread ($13), was placed in front of me and I was a little excited.

Chicken and Chips

Ok so this is not the kind of sandwich that you should be eating every day but it is also the kind of sandwich to break the rules for. Tasty chicken, salty bacon, a little green from the peas and crunch from the chips…I mean it can’t really get much better than that.

My friend ordered the Harissa Lamb on this particular occasion which consisted of Slow cooked harissa rubbed lamb, quince, hung yoghurt, green beans and almonds on ciabatta ($15).

Harissa Lamb

She loved her meal as well, commenting on the fact that the almonds gave it a really nice crunch.

These sandwiches almost feel like delicious meals placed between two pieces of bread, and I have to say that is more than ok by me. I also have to say I liked the sizes of the Earl sandwiches. They are a good lunch portion and won’t leave you feeling full for hours.

They are an experience in themselves and if you haven’t been, your missing out.

I was lucky enough to attend a sneak preview of Rose Diner and Bar this week. The staff were smiling, the paint freshly dried and the chefs were ready to go.

Ash and Steed, the lovely gentlemen behind the venture were relaxed and smiling. “This is what we do, its hospitality” they told us. The hard part of refitting the now beautiful Rose Diner was over and the show was about to start.

As Tom and Winter behind the bar mixed us up a few drinks we had a look around to get a feel of the place.

Its light, its relaxing and its beautiful. Wooden tables, and a wooden bar are highlighted with mint green features, exposed brick and thoughtful touches.

The menu, created by chef Stephen Drake is about good produce and simple classic dishes executed well. He was after a sense of nostalgia. Entrees like the prawn cocktail and vol-au-vents and mains like a steak Diane or a leek and Gruyere quiche really achieve this. There is even a corned beef sandwich available.

When it came to ordering, the four of us decided that the more dishes and sharing involved the better.

For appetizers we started with oysters ($3.5), Welsh rarebit croquettes with pickled tomato and raisins ($9) some Fried green olives ($7) a coronation chicken vol-au-vent and a crayfish vol-au-vent.

These were outstanding. The olives were crisp and warm and packed a real flavour. The salty olive came through underneath the batter. I can see myself ordering these every time I visit.

The Croquettes burst with rich cheesy flavour, which was matched perfectly with the refreshing and sweet tomato and raisin accompaniment. The vol-au-vents, while fun could have had a bit more flavour to them for me.

On to entrees.

We went with the Red spanner crab, warm Nicola potato, crab bisque and quail egg  ($19) and the Pan-roasted Hervey Bay Scallops with pickled green chilli and mint ($17).

Again they was delicious; and served on the cutest plates. Their love of the Country Woman’s Association shone through in the crockery choices.

The spanner crab dish was creamy and delicate at the same time. The potato and the tiny eggs were the perfect combination to the crab. The Scallops packed a punch. Fresh scallops, combined with the heat from the chilli made it a great dish.

Now, we may have over ordered a little of the mains, but it seemed a shame not to order big!

We had the Steak Diane with brandy mustard and shallot ($25), the Char-grilled salt bush lamb, lemon and thyme, roasted peppers and slow cooked garlic ($29) and the Pan-roasted snapper with clams, braised lettuce, bacon and white ale ($26).

To accompany we ordered the salad of Fresh peas, basil, mint, parsley, shallots lemon and quinoa ($14), the Heirloom tomatoes, cucumber dried oregano, red onion and crouton ($9) and the Hand-cup chips ($6).

The portion sizes were very generous and we were very happy diners. Forks were going this way and that trying everything.

The lamb and the snapper were both cooked beautifully. With the lamb pink and the snapper falling apart with the fork. The salads added fresh crisp highlights to the meals and I would highly recommend them. The fresh peas with the herbs was a lovely mix.

However for us, the Steak Diane was the stand out. It was just beautiful. Tender and flavoursome, thinking about it now is literally making my mouth water. The sauce made it beautifully moist and the light salad leaves were a lovely accompaniment.

While dessert was not necessary we couldn’t say no. We opted to, once again share, the Peach Melba, the Valrhona chocolate filled doughnuts and Mum’s Trifle.

The doughnuts were HUGE and there were five of them, I would highly recommend sharing them. They are rich and decedent and I don’t know anyone who could easily eat all five. I am not a huge fan of sponge or custard so it was no surprise that the trifle wasn’t my favourite, but according to those who do like trifle, it was a good one. The Peach Melba was delicious. Rich ice cream with peaches and sorbet all drizzled in coulis was a divine combination. I would highly recommend it.

We left feeling very full and happy. There are about ten other things I want to try on the menu and I know for a fact my mum would be in foodie heaven here, so I will be back. Most likely many a time.

Little Rose opens this Saturday February 4th. Seriously excited about jaffles, milkshakes and coffee. Will be heading there for a weekend brunch soon.

Last Thursday night after a gig in Northcote, my friend and I were not ready to go home. This resulted in late night dancing on Brunswick Street. Thursday nights can really creep up on you and when Friday morning came around…lets just say getting to uni wasn’t the easiest of tasks.

There was however a light at the end of the tunnel…a lunch catch up planned at Seven Seeds. A two hour lecture was all that stood between me and hopefully a delicious headache-curing lunch.

I arrived a little early and waited for a table while my friend arrived. The place was pumping and very busy for a Friday afternoon. I can’t imagine getting a table would be easy on the weekend. The warehouse type café is open and relaxed. The wait staff were chilled and lovely even though they were extremely busy.

The menu is small and too the point.  Toast, a muesli, a few sandwiches and that’s about it folks. On this particular day I took a strong liking to the Grandmother ham, vintage cheddar and roasted tomato relish hot pressed sandwich on organic grain bread (only $10.50). We ordered two and started chatting.

This was a hangover cure if I have ever seen one. The ham was beautiful and strong and there was so much cheese, it spilled out of the sandwich resulting in a cheesy caramelized exterior. The bread was packed with grains, just as grain bread should be and the relish was a unique and welcomed addition to a classic sandwich combination. My stomach and my head really appreciated it.

Grandmother Ham, Vintage Cheddar and Roasted Tomato Relish Hot Pressed Sandwich on Organic Grain Bread

After a lazy hour or so catching up on the week’s happenings, we were tempted by the sweets cupboard. We decided to share two of the treats of the day. A vanilla cupcake with cream cheese frosting and a strawberry crumble slice.

Vanilla Cupcake

The cupcake was cute and had quite a dense cake, which I enjoyed. The icing was lovely too.

Strawberry Crumble Slice

The strawberry crumble slice was delicious. Cinnamon was blended through the crumble and the sweet strawberry centre was spot on.

All round it was a fantastic lunch. I am sad it has taken me 5 years of uni to make it to Seven Seeds, but now I will be sure to make it back soon.

When I realized today was coming up, I wanted to post something in celebration.

I love brunch; it is my favourite meal of the day (the lucky days when it occurs) so I figured I should make myself a delicious brunch.

My food stylist Mia Antonia shared an incredible fluffy, light and delicious pancake recipe with me on a shoot one day. We made it on the spot and devoured it as soon as the photographer was done.

So I decided that today = pancakes…

Basic Pancake Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup flour
Pinch of Bicarb soda
¼ cup of caster sugar
¾ cup of milk
1 egg

Method

Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, create a well in the centre.

Whisk the milk and egg together in a separate bowl. Pour into the well of the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Spoon desired amounts of the mixture into a hot, buttered and slightly oiled non-stick frying pan. Then, in the words of Mia herself “fry in far too much butter”.

In an attempt to make these more delicious than they already are, I served them with cinnamon butter and blueberries.

(Cinnamon Butter: Spoon desired amount of butter into a small bowl and add cinnamon to taste – it can usually take quite a bit, add sugar if you want a sweeter butter.)

So there you have it, a delicious pancake recipe that is so easy and will give you fluffy pancakes every time, and don’t skimp on the butter…its just not right J

A friend of mine is gluten free, so Chocolate Buddha is a great choice as they have a separate gluten free menu and gluten free soy sauce on each table. It makes eating gluten free fuss free, which is always nice.

As I lover of Japanese and sushi, I usually opt for the sushi option. On this particular occasion I really wasn’t in the mood for a sushi platter or raw fish at all to be honest. So I scouted the menu for a change.

My sister and I decided the share a serve of the Soft Shell Crab inside out sushi roll to start (8pcs for $17.50).

This is always delicious. The soft meat with a crisp exterior sits perfects inside the rice. Avocado and the homemade tartare sauce give it a creamy finish. A must order here in my opinion.

Moving onto main course…

My gluten free dining partner ordered the Sushi and Sashimi platter for one ($24.00). She said that it was delicious.

Having had this many a time, I think it can be hit and miss. It depends what they have available and fresh. While usually good, I was once served 6 pieces of salmon on the one platter. This time however my friend was happy.

My sister wanted the Shake Oyako Don, which was cured cold salmon over rice. Sadly they were out of the cured salmon, but served this main with teriyaki salmon from the entrée menu for her.

She absolutely loved her meal. The salmon went perfectly with the sushi rice and cold salad that accompanied the original dish.

Heading into new territory I ordered the Yakitori Skewers (19.80) for my main. This consisted of 3 free range chicken skewers, char grilled and glazed with teriyaki sauce served with spinach and cucumber salad over sushi rice, topped with sesame seeds and pickles.

The chicken was beautiful and moist. The glaze was flavoursome and delicious. They make excellent sushi rice here and it was the perfect accompaniment to the chicken. The cold salad kept the dish light. Both of the rice dishes also came with miso soup.

This was by far the best meal I have had at Chocolate Buddha , and that is not due to bad experiences! It was delicious. I am always keen to go back here. I have to say I think the prices are quite good for the quality and quantity of food here as well.

Birthdays in my family are excuses to either cook up a feast at home or go out to a nice restaurant. To be honest…usually both.

Circa, the Price has been on both my sisters’ wish list and mine for a very long time so this year she decided to book us in long in advance.

My sister’s birthday is in the middle of December. This usually sees us getting a little over excited as the birthday and Christmas season nears. This year was no different. I found myself tweeting excitedly at Circa almost two weeks out!

When we arrived we all headed up stairs and took a seat in the bar to enjoy a pre-drink. The bar is dark and sophisticated and kept us quite happy for almost 45 minutes. My dad finally decided we should head to our table and caught the eye of one of the staff.

We were seated by our waiter and the wonderful sommelier Matt Brooke who both already knew exactly who we were and wished Jess a very happy birthday. This was a clear demonstration of the service that followed. The whole team was professional, and very knowledgeable. While I never had an empty glass or a need not being met I never felt watched – a true sign of good service.

After having a look at the menu, our waiter informed us of the appetisers which of course we ordered as well.

We all ordered the same appetizer. It was a basil wrapped prawn that was then battered.

Prawn Appetiser

These were a delicious start to the night. Fresh prawns, crisp light batter and a kick of flavour from the basil, yum.

On to the entrée’s.

My sister and I, who have quite similar tastes in food, ordered the Rock Lobster Raviolo with Champagne and Avruga.

Rock Lobster Raviolo with Champagne and Avruga

This dish was divine. Fresh lobster meat was complemented perfectly by the pasta and the creamy yet light sauce it was served with. The Avruga offered another delicate layer of texture.

While waiting for our main course we were happily chatting and drinking away; (we are quite a chatty family) really enjoying the atmophere. As it was summer, the light was still coming through the open yet covered roof and the green and white interior along with the interesting furniture all popped in the dinning room. It was fun and vibrant while still feeling intimate and sophisticated.

As a complete surprise to us, our waiter returned with a very generous offering on the house thanks to the very talented Jack Nicolson. With a simple Happy Birthday, 6 plates of the White Alba truffle risotto were placed in from of each of us.

White Alba truffle risotto

We were simply in heaven. This dish was out of this world. It was creamy and balanced and showcased the beautiful flavour of the truffle. A real treat!

Then we moved onto our mains. I was umming and ahhing during the ordering stage, having a lot of trouble coming to a decision, when my dad asked if anyone would be up for sharing the 48 hour mutton shoulder which was served with piquillo peppers stuffed with green olives and crushed kipfler potatoes and broccolini. I was sold!

48 hour mutton shoulder with piquillo peppers stuffed with green olives and crushed kipfler potatoes and broccolini

I was not at all disappointed with this decision. The mutton was so tender and soft and just fell apart under my fork and the peppers were amazing filled with a salty creamy mixture. The whole dish was topped with a delicious crunch, which appeared to be a bread crumbing or something of the sort.

The table shared two sides: Cumin roasted beets with sheep’s milk yoghurt, honey and almond, as well as the Beans and Pulses with cracked faro, salted ricotta and caperberries. Both were great with good mixtures of textures and flavours.

As the end of the night I was almost going to pass on dessert when someone offered to share Circa’s Rocky Road – the eighth sin. I couldn’t say no.

After the night that we had just had I was not surprised at all that the dessert was fantastic. Marinated cherries, chocolate coated biscuits, cream and an array of other delicious ingredients came together to complete a perfect evening.

As we left I was sure that this had been one of the best meals of 2011 and I am still sticking to that.

Thank you to Matt and Jack and the whole team for making it a fantastic evening and a birthday my sister will remember for a long time coming.

‘Festive Favourites’, the theme for this months – and may I add the CHRISTMAS (yay) – Sweet Adventures Blog Hop got me thinking. I love anything Christmas and anything sweet, which made picking something to write about rather difficult.

Christmas can often be stressful and busy and can creep up on even the most organized people. While I often take month’s dog earring and post-it marking Christmas themed books, some people don’t have the time or energy.

FEAR NOT!! There are a million ways to put festive flavours into a recipe that are easier than goggling ‘Last minute Christmas sweets’.

I love chocolate just as much as I love Chocolate and that is why I chose to post about a ‘make your own adventure’ type chocolate bark recipe. The idea is simple. Choose your favourite flavours and mix them together with some chocolate and BAM…you have a delicious and easy treat to bring to a Christmas party or give away as a gift.

The two that I chose for this occasion where obviously Christmas inspired and are a White Chocolate, Cranberry and Macadamia Bark, and a Dark Chocolate, Cherry and Coconut Bark. These flavours are classic, simple and delicious.

White Chocolate, Cranberry and Macadamia Bark

Ingredients (all can be varied according to taste)

250g Good quality white chocolate
Handful of dried cranberries
Handful of roasted macadamias

Method

1. Dice up the dried cranberries and set aside.
2. Crush the roasted macadamias, make sure to leave some larger pieces as well as having some smaller dust like pieces
3. Line a tray (I used a loaf tin to make thick bark) with greased backing paper
4. Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until smooth.
5. Pour the melted chocolate into the lined tin.
6. Scatter the chopped nuts and fruit over the chocolate evenly. It will sink in nicely.
7. Cool in the fridge until set
8. To serve break the bark up revealing the multicolored deliciousness inside!

Dark Chocolate, Cherry and Coconut Bark

Ingredients (again all can be varied according to taste)

250g Dark Chocolate
1/3 – ½ a can of black cherries in syrup
Handful of shredded coconut

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the coconut evenly.
3. Toast in the oven for 5 minutes or until slightly browned (set aside)
4. Drain the cherries and remove excess syrup, then dice the cherries into small pieces
5. Line a tray (I used a loaf tin to make thick bark) with greased backing paper
6. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler until smooth.
7. Pour the melted chocolate into the lined tin.
8. Scatter the chopped cherries evenly over the chocolate then the coconut
9. Cool in the fridge until set
10. To serve break the bark up and enjoy the juicy, crunchy, roasty sweetness.

Not very complicated, huh? I think they are a perfect addition to any Christmas party.

When you’ve eaten way too much ham, roast veggies, prawns and christmas pudding, you’ll always be able to squeeze in a little chocolate. So instead of store bought truffles or something of that kind, make something a little special this year.

Merry Christmas all – I wish good food and drink for you all

Hop over to 84th & 3rd who is hosting this months Sweet Adventures Blog Hop to have a look at what everyone else put together!

Street Tables

A friend of mine lives walking distance from the cute find and we decided, that was more than enough reason to give it a go.

As you walk into Coin Laundry you are automatically hit with the calm and relaxed vibe of the wait staff and the atmosphere. Chilled waiters run the show seamlessly. On a Thursday morning, we were lucky to secure the last free table and word on the street tells me the weekend usually involves waiting a while for a table.

Coffee's Being Made

Coffee’s came quickly and we took way too long to decide what to order. Gossip often gets in the way of choosing meals at breakfast catch-ups.

The menu offers your standards like eggs, toasts, banana bread and porridge. It then has more exciting items like the Caramelized French toast with crispy bacon and organic maple syrup or the Olive Bread Bruschetta with fresh ricotta, fresh tomatoes, basil oil and parma ham.

On this particular day I wasn’t in the mood for a large breakfast so opted for the Fruit bread with ricotta and thyme honey.

Fruit Toast with Ricotta and Thyme Honey

It was simple and delicious. The fruit bread was out of this world. It had whole dried apricots and whole dried figs studded through it. The ricotta and the honey, smooth creamy and flavoursome was the perfect addition to the crunchy bread.

My dining partner ordered the Corn and Manchego fritters with guacamole, corn relish and crème fresh. It was served with a huge salad of rocket and coriander, which made my friend very happy; she is a serious rocket fan. It is often joked about just how much she loves it!

Corn and Manchego Fritters

If you’re in the mood for something sweet after breakfast choose a take home pastry or muffin from the very cute selection on display.

Fresh Pastries

We will be returning very soon to try the other delicious options on the menu.

For more information:

Coin Laundry

61 Armadale St, Armadale

Each dinner features a different set of wines and the food is always matched to dishes created and matched by the chefs at Esposito.

Esposito

On this occasion it was all about the Champagne. There were six courses and seven wines, one for each course and a cheeky extra to start. As a serious fan of champagne and a lover of great food…this was pretty much heaven for me!

We were served the wines blind which added interest, and a little fun competition among the diners.

Upon arrival we happily sipped away on a glass of Serge Matieu. This Champagne is 100% Pinot Noir and was a nice introduction to the evening.

1^st Course

Seared Scallop with avocado cream and preserved lemon dressing

Our first course was a Seared Scallop with avocado cream and preserved lemon dressing.  This was served with Champagne from Lanson.

This wine had such an intense bready smell we were all blown away.  The taste however was much more subtle and complimented the dish beautifully. The scallop was cooked perfectly and the citrus in the dressing cut through the richness nicely and brought out the flavours in the Champagne.

2^nd Course 

Slow Cooked Octopus with whipped smoked eel, potato and pickled cucumber salad

Next up was the Slow cooked octopus with whipped smoked eel, potato and pickled cucumber salad. This was served with Champagne from Pol Roger, which I have been told was a favourite of Winston Churchill. I have to say this was the evening stand out for me. It was delicate, balanced and refined.

The slow cooked octopus was tender and the potato was a really nice match.

3^rd Course

Rock Flathead fillets with blue swimmer crab, pea, broad bean and wasabi leaf

The third course was Rock Flathead fillets with blue swimmer crab, pea, broad bean and wasabi leaf. This course was served with a 2006 Janz…an Australian Sparkling among a Champagne dinner…scandal? As a fan of Janz I wasn’t complaining and it was nice to be able to compare an Australian wine in the mix. The Janz had less of a yeasty flavour and was sutble and lovely.

This dish was also delicious, the flathead was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside and the simple salad added freshness and lightness.

 4^th Course

Duck breast pastrami with white balsamic soaked fig and sorrel.

The fourth course saw the first meat of the evening. It was Duck breast pastrami with white balsamic soaked fig and sorrel. This was served with Champagne from Philipponnat. This was another lovely wine, which was slightly heavier than the Janz we had with the previous course.

This food and wine combination was fantastic, the dish cut through the wine beautifully and together they really complimented each other.

5^th Course

Quail saltimbocca, pear tartin, radicchio with Vincotto dressing

The final mains course was a Quail saltimbocca, pear tartin, radicchio with Vincotto dressing. I have to say this pear tartin was incredible…I would have eaten these on their own!

This dish was served with Champagne from Louis Roederer. Having had this wine many times before, it was interesting to see that it had much less impact than the other wines we had tried on the evening.

6^th Course

Brilliant Savant - Soft French sheep’s cheese served with quince paste and house baked fruit bread.

The final course of the evening was a delicious cheese course, a Brilliant Savant – Soft French sheep’s cheese served with quince paste and house baked fruit bread. This was served with Champagne from Perrier Jouet.

The smell of this wine was astounding; it had that feeling of being caught in your throat, almost making you cough. Yet again smell was not indicative of the flavour. It was another lovely drop and went very nicely with the rich creamy cheese.

All in all I felt very spoilt being part of this dinner.  We were able to try seven great wines that I know I would not be able to afford if I were to buy them myself. This is one of the great things about the dinners that Matthew Hansen from Fine Wine Appreciation puts together. For less than $200 you can try seven expensive wines and be treated to Esposito cooking while you do it.

For more information:
Fine Wine Appreciation
Matthew Hansen
www.finewineappreciation.com.au

Esposito
162 Elgin Street Calton VIC
(03) 9347 9838
www.espositofood.com/