An hour drive for a steak

Ok, well, it really shouldn't have taken an hour to get there but I have zero idea when it comes to the geography of Melbourne's western suburbs.

I wasn't sure if our back seat driver really was a dodgy GPS or she just found it amusing seeing our driver struggle in a car which was way too small for him, so much so, he had to duck.

Finally we arrive at what I see to be "just another pub", Station Hotel, 59 Napier Street, Footscray, it is pretty daggy in appearance. As I walk in, skepticism is creeping up, although I am told to brace myself for what I am about to experience.

Proving to all that I can really eat, I opt for the 400g, 150 day old Angus rump.

Chips - fat, golden and have the perfect amount of crunch.
Salad - fresh, crisp and with an amazingly light dressing
Steak - melt in your mouth, literally! I have no idea what they did to this steak but it was up there with the best. Having tasted both the pepper and the béchamel sauces, I can say they both equally compliment the steak.

With a chef in the kitchen from Arzak in Spain, expectations were high. I am pleased to say, for me, expectations were exceeded.

As if that wasn't enough to eat, I had a nibble of the pav, the chocolate soufflé and the sticky date. Everyone always loves a bit or sticky date ;) too much food! Yum.

Bar food

A busy weeknight in the city and it is hard to get a table at Barbagallo Trattoria e Pizzeria at 103 Lonsdale St, City. Looks like we will pull up a stool at the bar then.

Having followed Pietro Barbagallo half way around town, from East Brunswick, to St Kilda to sample his traditional i Carusi pizzas, I opt for something new.

After having shared broccolini crumbed with fresh breadcrumbs, parmesan, currents and more I tempt my taste buds with a very fresh, very seasonal pine mushroom risotto. Our cutesy arty waitress explained to me after virtually licking my plate clean that pine mushrooms are only found under the fallen pine needles of a pine tree, I thought I could even taste the effort it took for the little farmer to find my mushrooms.

The pork and veal ragu was also sublime. Sheer perfection, melt in your mouth kind if stuff.

These guys don't just know their pizza, they know how to make an impact with food.

"Hope you don't mind that I just ate 17 cloves of garlic"

That was the text message I sent a friend I was meant to see after my jeans-popping dinner at Melbourne Wine Room, The George Hotel, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda.

I have always been a fan of Karen Martini and what other way to totally appreciate her culinary delights that a massive feast and way too many glasses of wine?!

Sharing meals is my ideal way to have dinner (especially when I look at the menu and want to devour it all), therefore I guess that means I had two entrees, two mains and two side dishes.

The opening highlight for my was the wild mushroom tart, the home made butter pastry melting my my mouth and bulging at my thighs.

Who can go past a staple bowl of spaghetti with chopped prawns, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic...did I mention garlic? WOW! Even when I read my weekend newspaper with Karen's recipes, I wonder who would actually use that much garlic? It is out of control but truly amazing.

The super salty onion rings and radish and cabbage salad we not necessary but delicious all the same. I subtly had my jeans totally unzipped and could not bring myself to laugh because of the pain of overeating, but who can blame me when the food was so good?

Hangover Cure

In Yarra St, South Yarra, is the birth child of the St Ali family.
With that said, the coffee excellent!

It's Sunday morning, well nearly afternoon by the time I roll out of bed and my tummy is in desperate need of greasy eggs within walking distance.

My eggs benedict hit the spot! With ham off the bone (imported of course), my day was complete!

I must say, the avocado and feta mash never arrived due to the waiter who was more interested in how my elbow popped out of my jacket and calling me "fancy pants", yet it wasn't until we left that I noticed as my meal was delicious.

Eye-balling the house-made sambos on the way out, looks like I'll be back soon hopefully feeling a little less seedy.