Room with a view

In the kitchen are Norman Bellis and Joshua Lovi, these boys know how to cook up a storm at Ice, 30 Cato St, Prahran.

As we were on our way to grab fish and chips, we took a slight detour and found ourselves at the newly renovated, back street cafe/restaurant, much better option.

I opted for the risotto of pea puree, smoked tomatoes (smoked tomatoes) and feta. I had never heard of such a thing. It had an outrageously smoky taste of pure delish!

From the other side of the table I tasted the daily special: a pan fried trout fillet with a broad bean, green bean, capsicum and fennel salad with tomato jam. It must be their latest craze, but these guys know how to take tomatoes to a brand new dimension.

Although the food was incredible, the view from our window seat wasn't too shabby either, muscle men pumping iron at the gym across the road. It did make me feel a twinge of regret though as I chose to have an early dinner rather than a gym session of my own, oh well, I will just have to go tomorrow

"Birthday Special"

Wanting to take a friend out for a memorable birthday but don't have the cash to splurge? I've got the place.

142 Victoria Street, Richmond is where you will find Thy Thy 1, up a dingy, scary, rickety, bright pink staircase.

This it up there as one of my all time favourites, and has been for at least fourteen years. My favourite is taking someone there who has never experienced it before, the apprehension on their face until they chow down into some of the most reliable food in Melbourne.

I have tried half of the menu but I keep going back to my trusty favourites: Vegetarian spring rolls (which I wrap in lettuce, add Vietnamese mint and bean shoots, a squirt of Hoi Sin sauce and dunk in all into a vinegar chilli carrot concoction) followed by rice noodle soup with vegetables - Pho.

This is all well and good but definitely is not the highlight of the night.

If you are taking a birthday boy or girl who has never been to Thy Thy it is ideal, they have no idea what they are in for. On arrival I whisper to the waiter "can we please have a birthday special for the girl with the black scarf" and my job is done for the night.

After devouring our meals......BANG!!! The lights go out! The bells are ringing! The entire restaurant, which seats about 100, are singing "Happy Birthday" and a massive penis shaped banana fritter with sparklers is heading towards our table. It is hysterical! The pricelessness of the birthday girls face when she realises all the fuss is for her.

Another bonus, it's BYO.

Speedy Stallions

Seated, fed, wined and out in 20 minutes.

Usually I would not be impressed, although we were in high-speed mode as we had to get to the Melbourne Comedy Festival in time for our show.

The Guy Grossi trained boys greeted us with the standard "Buonasera", making you feel for that micro-second that perhaps you have found a small Trattoria in Italy as apposed to being at Florentino's Cellar Bar, 80 Bourke Street, in the city.

Hearing the Italian spill out of the restaurant was reassuring of the authenticity of the food.

The only issue with the Cellar Bar was that, although they were efficient, I felt as though my Melanzame Alla Parmigiana was literally thrown into my lap and I was having parmagiano on it regardless of whether I wanted it or not.

I guess you can't expect too much from the Italians, trust me, I've grown up with them all of my life.

Location: Undisclosed

Pizza for free?

I feel a trend coming across, maybe I have a fetish for restaurants underground, although this one, I had no idea where I was going until I got there.

Hidden Pizza Restaurant is just that, hidden!

After my complementary delicious homemade lemonade (recipe attached to jam jar glass), we waited in what felt like a friend's kitchen while we watched the busy indie kids prepare our FREE pizza before our eyes.

While we waited for the master chefs to create their masterpieces, our ears were greeted with some great tunes.

No wonder these guys have an affiliation with Yellow Pages, one entire wall is covered from floor to ceiling in them.

The use of recycled materials in this warehouse conversion is above and beyond most I have seen.

With all this aside, the food was a stand out. Honestly, it wasn't the most phenomenal pizza experience I have ever had in relation to the taste but the experience and the hunt was what made this place stand out from the rest.

Both the Prawn and the Capricciosa pizzas were tasty, yet a little tricky to eat on your lap.

If you need a cheap date, or even a free one, this is the place to go for the next 12 days. Good luck finding it!

The Best in Australia

For someone with Italian blood, it is always hard to beat Nonna's cooking.

I think I have found an exception! Supermaxi,305 St Georges Rd Fitzroy North is the brainchild of ex-Ladro-ites.

Salumi platter - ohhhhhhhhhhh by far the best cold cuts this side of the Mediterranean. Who would have thought meat could give this much pleasure to someone who once considered becoming a vego?

How could I go past my favourite vegetable, cauliflower, for primi? This lightly battered and super salty crunch flavour sensation kicked Nonna's equivalent straight up the backside.

This food is simplicity at it's finest. Not trying to over complicate things and keeping it real.

I opted for the house-made artichoke stuffed ravioli with sage butter. Words cannot explain how this packs a punch. It got slightly embarrassing with all the "ooohh!" and "aaaaahh!" from our table, it was starting to sound like an SBS late night movie.

The spaghetti with napoli sauce was the epitome of Italy. Freshest pasta possible (feel like it was made especially for us), truely garlicy tomato sugo and not trying to be anything other than spaghetti with napoli sauce.

Having travelled through Italy, I have come to the conclusion that Supermaxi is "the best Italian food in Australia". Trust me, I've tried a lot.

these kids make you wanna drink coffee!

Located at 359 Little Bourke Street
, Brother Baba Budan is as cute as pie!

With no signage out the front, I managed to stumble past it only noticing by the queue of coffee enthusiasts snaking out the door.

Tiny? Yes. But atmospheric? Hell Yeah! We managed find a few spare seats at the bar where we were tempted by earthy looking coffee accompaniment (AKA cakes and pastries), but we refrained and insure the coffee was the highlight of the show.

With close ties with one of Melbourne's most sought after coffee beans, Seven Seeds, you know this coffee is going to the prime. I'm not much of a coffee drinker myself, but when it comes to this strong, smooth gulp, who could resist?

A little scared for my safety with chairs hanging above my head, the coffee out my mind at ease and I felt like I was on a parallel universe.

Not the quietest of locations, there still seems to be business meetings for the creative minded (architects) sprawled all over the front communal table.

This is a place a would be willing to develop a coffee addiction for.

Underground Adventure

Located beneath the Adelphi Hotel 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, the modern pan-asian restaurant, Ezard is found. One of Melbourne's highly acclaimed two hat restaurants.
Being a Tuesday night, we suspect it to be a quiet night, yet we are happily surprised by the buzzing atmosphere created from the suits straight from work, the romantic couples and one dorky guy trying to impress his new catch.

After a long day at work, we opt for the easy option - the 8 course degustation.
Taste buds already on high-speed from the glorious sourdough and tasting salts (wow, flavour bombs!), the first of the tiny meals arrive.


Japanese inspired oyster shooter- 6/10
Accompanied with a soba noodle nori roll, the Sake in the shooter was enough to blow your head off.

Kingfish sashimi with toasted sesame custard, chardonnay and shallot vinaigrette - 7/10
Trying to brave it with the chop sticks, the sashimi was a slippery little bugger, I was pleased with the lighting of the venue for this particular reason.

Steamed crab and ginger wonton dumplings with tom kha and finger lime 10/10
"Umm...what the hell? Is this not the best thing you have ever tasted in your life?"
Memories of my many Thailand adventures. I want to go back.

Coconut roasted ocean trout with asian gazpacho, tempura avocado, creme fraiche, hot and sour salad 9/10
Tempura avocado, who would have thought it could melt in your mouth quite like that?


Crispy white polenta with sauteed mushrooms, peas, poached egg and soft herbs 9/10
This course had so much going on but you could still taste each individual ingredient.


Five spiced bangalow sweet pork belly with yellow bean and peanut dressing, apple and coriander salad - 7/10
For someone who never eats pork, pork belly is usually a no-go-zone, yet i really enjoyed it

Roast duck with green chilli and shallot sauce, stir fried garlic shoot, and silk melon and coconut rice 10/10
Mind blowing!

Honeycrunch ice cream, toasted gingerbread and sugar swirl 9/10
The perfect amount of sweetness with the right amount of crunch. My type of dessert.

Finished off with a glass of dessert wine and an espresso, it was up there with some of my favourite meals.
If only I had been able to experience it with the man who it was intended for, thanks for the date Mum!