Is that a 20c piece in the bottom of your glass?

Drinking games are always a fun way to start dinner for your best friends birthday. So if there is a 20c piece in the bottom of your glass it means scull (or in the American's opinion it means chugg). We have made our way to one of Melbourne's nicer restaurant bars, Cookie 1/252 Swanston Street in the city.

It is a battle to find a table big enough for us all but with a few elbows out and and few hip and shoulders we managed to all get squished around a few tiny tables.
After the 20 cent piece residing in my glass a few too many times it is time for some serious food.

Ladies, if you want to see your man's teary side, here is your cue, chillies are a favourite for this Thai kitchen.

Five spice chicken is comparative to last night's experience at Ichi Ni yet this time there is bucket loads.

Having travelled through Thailand many times, I claim this to be the best green chicken curry ever with chicken and corn dumplings as well as enoki mushrooms. Delish! As the boys have a sook, I pile up some pad thai on their plates to cool their tastebuds. Having succeeded I find it humorous to give them some salad too. This is where the chilli really packs a punch.

After copious amounts of food and my hand getting tired from covering the top of my drink to save myself from yet another scull, we opt for a few more flights up the The Toff. Ahh this place is date heaven!

Three's a crowd

Standard Saturday after work...I am given three options for dinner but my actions speak louder than works as I itch my knee (hint hint).

Ichi Ni Izakaya, next to the Espy at 12 The Esplanade, St Kilda is packed to the rafters. Feeling a little sceptical that we are going to get a table without having a booking, the pommy waitress finds us three stools around the grill. To make our third wheel feel more comfortable, the Asahi just keep flowing.

Do I like gyoza? Yes! is theirs the best I've tried? Yes! Do I like tempura? Yes! Is theirs the best I've tried? Yes! Going well so far I get a little thrown by the eel. Having recently tried it and not being overly impressed I am finally convinced to give it another crack, ahh, yum! They can make even things I don't like taste good.

Without a word of a lie the Tori Cara chicken was the best chicken I've had for a while. GIving the Colonel a real run for his money.

My favourite thing about Japanese food it walking out of the restaurant still feeling light, yet this time I was a little stumbly too which never hurt anyone.

This is a wonderful place for a few nibbles yet isn't ideal if you are famished, hence the fact we detoured via Maccas St Kilda on our way out...shwoops