Awkward for all the all the wrong reasons

The new Ladro can be found at 162 Greville Street Prahran which is a lot easier for me. Having walked past the construction site for the past few months in sheer anticipation, I am proud to say I finally made it on day two of business.

Having pizza expectations of its predecessors, I wasn't going to let this pizza slip through my knife and fork.

Up there with my favourite vegetables is most definitely peas, yummy fun juicy balls of goodness that pop in your mouth, who could ask for anything more? So, when I see a pizza with peas on it, how could I possibly resist? It also helps that there were prawns, tomato, chilli and basil.

This was a serious taste sensation, not too filling either, loving their thin bases!

Even for mid week, this place seemed to be buzzing with a combination of food addicts and cool young guns trying to keep up with the Jones'.

Whilst dinner was fabulous, I did find myself in a situation I had never experienced in a restaurant. My dinner date took a detour to the ladies and within moments the seat opposite me was occupied by a hot-shot bloke who thought he had the moves. There is no polite way of saying "excuse me, I don't know who you are, and no I am not interested" so I just had to grin and bare his poor attempt for flirting - genuine awkwardness.

Having to explain this to my bathroom-returned date was tricky not to giggle too obviously so white chocolate hot chocolate was an easier option. The spoon is there for a reason, make sure you get the last little bit at the bottom of the cup, it's the best.

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

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.