Recipes & More
Zucchisagne
Serves 6 Ingredients for the bolognese; 500g Lean mince beef 2 onions diced 3 stalks of celery 250g mushrooms sliced 1/2 red capsicum diced Can of crushed tomatoes 400g Sachet of salt reduced tomato paste Empty can of boiling water 1tsp of powdered beef stock 1tbl of worchestershire sauce 1tbk of dark soy Teaspoon 1 tsp mixed herbs 1/2 tsp Rosemary 1 tsp oregano 1/2 cup of red wine Rest of ingredients; 8 small zucchini 400g low fat ricotta 1/2 cup of skim milk 250gs…
Slow Cooked Minty Lamb Stew
Slow Cooked Minty Lamb Stew Serves 2 Ingredients; 2 lamb shanks Bunch of fresh mint Tsp of dried rosemary I can of chopped tomatoes Tablespoon on chicken stock powder Sliced mushrooms Two onions quartered Water – fill up empty tomatoes can 1 1/2 Salt and pepper Method; Place everything in the slow cooker and cook according to your cookers settings, mine took a good 4 hours on high. Once the meat is falling off the bone take out the meat and bones and a cup…
Beef Bulgogi
Beef Bulgogi Serves 4 Ingredients; 500 grams beef – either a nice piece of steak that you can slice finely (if you put your steak in the freezer until it starts to nearly freeze you can slice it really easily) or beef strips are fine. 1 pear ½ tsp minced garlic 1 tsp ginger 1 tbsp Soy sauce ½ tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar 4 x Spring onions finely sliced 1 pinch of chilli flakes Salt and pepper Method; Peel and grate pear into glass bowl…
Recent Blogs
Meat Market
Southwharf is one of those places you forget is so close and has so much good stuff going on with a couple of good pubs, several good restaurants including great Japanese, Vietnamese, Spanish and German. Meat Market is your legendary steak place, with a fridge boasting 1.2kgs Tomahawk steaks you know this is serious! Dinner time can indulge in oysters, croquettes, lamb shanks and pork belly as well as some very reasonably priced steaks with eye fillet, Scotch, Cape Grim Porterhouse or a whole roast…
Crux & Co
Crux & Co have opened opposite Kettle Black and this once desolate end of South Melbourne is getting pretty alluring! Porridge, Eggs, muesli are the only ‘ordinary’ items you will see on the menu, from there you take off to polenta concia with chargrilled squid ink garlic toast and bisque benedict with tiger prawns, poached eggs and a lobster bisque hollandaise – Seriously!! Lunch is Scotch quail eggs, teriyaki tofu, fontina fondue and pork belly burger….. and that’s before you get to the displays of…
Bohemian Bar
Bohemian Bar, found at the end of Southwharf and in excellent company with Munich Brauhaus and Meat Market, a little bit of Spain has come to Melbourne and it’s a great place to be. We were around at the late afternoon time with a little one and the staff were great, we took a big booth on the proviso we would be out by 6.30pm – perfect for us as that’s getting near bed time and gave us plenty of time to get some nice…
The Golden Gate Hotel
Nothing like a good bit of pub grub and we are all big fans of a good steak night and parma night but at the Golden Gate EVERY night is steak night with $10 steaks everyday… but how good can a $10 steak really be? The Golden Gate has been there forever, there have been a few changes here and there but ultimately it’s an easy place to be, great to sit outside in the summer and not a bad place to grab a plate…
Punch Lane
I love a good date night and I love a good BYO Thai or Indian but some nights you want a little more candlelight and romance and Punch Lane is perfect place to find yourselves tucked away in a dimly lit room with nothing but time, wine, great food and lovely service. So pictures are going to be a little iffy – so be it I wasn’t about to ruin everyone elses night by making a huge fuss and lots of flashes, you’ll get the…
Shujinko Ramen
Ramen – simply put it’s noodles in a soupy broth with meat or vegetables. Not sure whether I have had true ramen before but we went to a truly authentic ramen shop in Russell Street, not sure who came first Shujinko ramen or the Mortal Kombat character but it all feels like we have travelled across the seas to a far more peaceful place. It’s a tiny little place, probably 30 seats tops and everything small but perfectly formed, I felt like a giant with…
Stalactites with Uber Eats
The revolution of food delivery in the last year is astounding as we have gone from hopefully having your local Thai pick up the phone and take an order to lounging around on your sofa with a plethora of apps and food services that will bring you pretty much anything your heart desires. Whether you want to cook it yourself but don’t want to plan or shop or if you want your favourite restaurant dish delivered to your door – anything is possible. I am…
Botherambo
I don’t think I have ever been when Botherambo is quiet – sign of a good place! They are always super lovely staff and though you can’t book they will send you off for a drink and call you or we just took a pew at the bar which worked really well and every time I smiled sweetly someone bought me another wine – even better!!! Too much good stuff on the menu at Botherambo with shared dishes providing more than enough tantalising treats with…
Belles
I feel like chicken tonight, like hot chicken tonight!!! Belle’s has opened on a ‘getting very trendy’ Swan Street and we love it! I remember there used to be barely anywhere to choose from when popping to a gig at The Corner in Richmond and wanting to get some dinner. Now there is the poshest Hunky Dory and the poshest Grill’d and they even cater for the Messina crazy gelato lovers!! And they have Belle’s, hailing from Belle’s Diner in Brunswick they have brought their…
Massive Wieners
I had a Massive Wiener and I liked it!! Well I had a small wiener but it was still very tasty!! Massive Wieners making everyone laugh since…. well a while! It’s a very simple and effective proposition – a slightly bigger than a hole in the wall hot dog diner. The counter is small and you often ring to get the guy to pop out from the kitchen, the walls are covered in faded pictures of Massive Wiener challengers and their hot or not so…
Asian Winter @ The Emerson
What makes a Melbourne destination even more appealing for your Winter gathering? A pop up Winter in Asia rooftop bar will do it! The Emerson has taken their already impressive rooftop with the most amazing views of the Melbourne skyline and have turned it into an Asian Winter wonderland! And to make it EVEN better…. Susie Wong has taken up residency and it delivering a special menu packed full of delicious treats to warm you up and match with specially produced cocktails. For just six…
Brunswick Mess Hall
I had maybe overhyped this one to friends but we had a really nice time the last time we visited Brunswick Mess Hall and it didn’t seem to shine as bright this time. The menu had changed up a bit which is all fine and even though there were a couple of dishes I missed there were some new to try. There were some frequent check ins to make sure we were turning up for our bookings, the usual ring just after you book and…
Cookbooks
Donna Hay – New Classics
It’s a biggie! Barely fits in the recipe book holder and there are sooooo many great recipes I want to try. Donna Hay’s New Classics is just as it sounds, the latest and greatest from across cuisines, the fusion of amazing flavours for our everyday cooking. I could not stop cooking from this book, 17 recipes and nearly every one I loved and did a pretty good job with! Probably the best meal I have ever cook is recipes 14 – 17, how good was…
The Burger Book Adventures
Any excuse to go on a burger rampage across Melbourne!! I love a good burger – who doesn’t? And we are pretty spoilt in Melbourne, so much so you can now buy The Burger Book and take the burger challenge – How many places can you visit? The book is a beautiful combination of burger stories, recipes for the perfect burger elements and a tour of the best burger joints across the suburbs. So who did we visit? Third Wave Cafe – Port Melbourne 9/10…
Michelle Bridges Superfoods
Good old Michelle, she has created an empire from helping over-eaters far and wide, bringing healthy and easy recipes to our kitchens and saving us all a few kgs! This one is a goodie, heaps of lovely ideas for breakie, lunch and dinner – delicious! Recipe 6 – Chicken and Bean Salad Tender chicken thigh with beans galore and a wonderful minty dressing – hubby made a cracker! Recipe 5 – Lamb Chops and Purple Salad Quick, fast and easy, no nice beet roots at…