Restaurant Review: Attica

Location: 74 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea
Phone: 03 9530 0111
Link: http://www.attica.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Vegetarian
Overall Impression: 9/10 

On Tuesday nights, Attica serves new ideas and test dishes that challenge and please. The menu is different every week and seasonal. Priced at $95 a head for 5 courses, it is no surprise that there is a consistently long waiting list.

It was a privilege to trial some of the latest cooking ideas from the Attica kitchen. I dined here with a few colleagues so the photos are secret shots I have taken with my phone (I keep my food blogging antics a secret from my work life - I fear this may be career limiting as it may conjure images of me obsessing about food every hour of the day and not being able to concentrate properly at work although this may very well be the case?). Needless to say (although I will say it) the photos are of a less than desirable quality. 

The food on the other hand was quite simply, fantastic. Well-balanced flavours, creative and beautifully presented. I look forward to returning with J to test drive the weekend dining menu! 

Cafe Review: Manchester Press

Location: 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne

Phone: 03 9600 4054

Link: http://www.8oz.com.au/

Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Bagels

Overall Impression: 7.5/10

In true Melbourne style, Manchester Press is located in a small alley and hidden in such a way that you could never accidentally stumble upon it. If you’re dining here, it’s because you’re in the know.

Cafe Review: The Hardware Sociéte

Location: 118-120 Hardware Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9078 5992
Cuisine: Breakfast/Brunch, Spanish, French
Overall Impression: 5/10

Given the unashamedly French theme (deux is written unnecessarily on the menu instead of two...), it seems only fitting to give our opinion in French - nous n'aimons pas Hardware Sociéte.

Restaurant Review: Misschu

Location: various (please see below)
Phone: 03 9077 1097
Link: misschu.com.au/
Cuisine: Vietnamese, Food Truck
Overall Impression: 6/10

Misschu tuckshops are a modern day Vietnamese hawker/ takeaway/caterer. The menu features traditional and fresh Vietnamese cuisine. 

Cafe Review: Bendigo Street Milk Bar

Location: 37 Bendigo Street, Burnley
Phone: 03 9428 4196
Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast/Brunch, Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 8.5/10

Tucked away amongst the leafy, tree lined streets of Richmond, the deceptively named Bendigo Street Milk Bar is anything but a conventional neighbourhood milk bar.

Frozen yogurt battle: Yo Chi vs Cacao Green

Location: 292 Carlisle Street, Balaclava
Phone: 03 9527 7001
Link: www.yochi.com.au
Cuisine: Frozen yogurt
Overall Impression: 6/10 

Yo-Chi is yet another yogurt outlet that now graces the Melbourne foodie scene. Frozen yogurt has become increasingly popular and it is no surprise why - 98% fat-free with active cultures and probiotics, what’s not to love? 

Restaurant Review: Dikstein's Corner Bar

Location: Corner Of Bank Pl And Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9642 0943
Cuisine: Coffee, Tapas, Wine Bar, Pizza
Overall Impression: 7/10

Fi, Ri, J and I decided to have drinks after work before the Christmas break. For reasons I cannot share with you, we needed a venue that would ensure minimum awkwardness. 

After much thought, J and I decided on Dikstein Corner Bar. 

Restaurant Review: Henry and the Fox

Location: 525 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9614 3277
Link: http://www.henryandthefox.com.au/
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Breakfast
Overall Impression: 7/10

Henry and the Fox is a modern European bistro with a relaxed ambience. Perfect for a lazy brunch, this eatery boasts a breakfast menu that is simple, to the point and well executed. 

Restaurant Review: Penang Road

Location: 177 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne

Phone: 03 9690 0536 

Cuisine: Malaysian 

Overall Impression: 5/10

Newly opened Penang Road is quickly gaining loyal patronage.

Christmas Recipes

Highpoint has just released a selection of Christmas recipes with ingredients that can be freshly sourced from their new Fresh Food Market...

Cranberry  and  Balsamic  Glazed  Ham  
Serves  12  
275  g  jar  cranberry  sauce
1/2  cup    (125  ml)  balsamic  vinegar
1/2  cup  (100  g)  firmly  packed  light  brown  sugar
1  tablespoon  Dijon  mustard
4  kg  half  leg  cooked  ham,  on  the  bone  
Whole  cloves,  to  decorate  

Preheat  the  oven  to  180°C.

Event Review: UCAN Cafe Launch

UCAN Cafe
Location: Altona North Community Library, Corner of Millers & McArthurs Road, Altona North, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9391 7929
Link: http://www.ucancafe.com.au/

UCAN café is a part of an enterprise under the Yooralla umbrella. In a nutshell UCAN provides employment opportunities for people with a disability. Interestingly, they employed Melbourne’s first blind barista, Aaron D’Altera (he wasn’t born with a disability but contracted a brain infection a few years ago which destroyed 90% of his vision). 

Restaurant Review: Grill'd

Link: www.grilld.com.au
Cuisine: Healthy burgers, salads,
Overall Impression: 7/10

The Grill’d chain seems to be taking over Melbourne and it is easy to see why.

Catering for people who love burgers but feel bad when they have them (I can certainly identify with this!), Grill’d is a burger chain that serves delicious and most importantly, healthy burgers.

Restaurant reviews: Persimmon and Kri Kri Greek Restaurant (Christmas functions)

Persimmon

Phone: 03 8620 2434
Location: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Link: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/visit/places-to-eat/persimmon
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Overall Impression: 7/10

It’s the first week of December but Christmas celebrations have started as early as mid-November for me. The first one was a cocktail party at Persimmon at NGV. 

Restaurant Review: Don Don [South Melbourne]

Location: 5 Bank Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9696 6682
Cuisine: Japanese, Asian
Overall Impression: 7/10 

After being around forever, Don Don is still very cheap and still very tasty!

Bar Review: The Lui Bar

Location: Level 55, Rialto Melbourne, VIC 3000
Phone: 03 9691 3888
Link: http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/the-lui-bar
Cuisine: Modern Australian, Bar
Overall Impression: 6/10

It was James’ final day at our work place (OWP). He was moving on to greater opportunities and just a tad too happy about leaving for our liking. Slightly annoyed but also sad that he was leaving, Frank and I decided to reminisce his time at OWP by having a drink at Lui Bar.