Phat Milk

On an unsuspecting corner along Mt Alexander Road lies Phat Milk - modern Middle Eastern fare meets Melbourne cafe culture, pumping out St Ali brews to locals in the gateway to Melbourne’s North West.

A visit to Phat Milk promises an eclectic list of breakfast and lunch stand outs, inspired by Owner, Sean Halabi's Middle Eastern background. We're talking Warm Sahlab Puddings, (Middle Eastern pudding topped with crushed pistachios and berries), Shredded Confit Duck on zucchini and corn fritters with beetroot relish and drizzled with pomegranate molasses, to their Shish Baraks (Lebanese dumplings in hot garlic coriander yoghurt).

And behind the counter ? It’s all family affairs. Not simply in featuring mum’s home pickled olives recipe or grandma’s moghrabieh salad, but physically bringing in Mum and Dad into the kitchen to run a weekend traditional Middle Eastern BBQ. All the warm fuzzies.

Middle Eastern

Based on our waitress' suggestions, it would have been a sin not to order the Middle Eastern. Golden folds of scrambled eggs, falafels oh so crispy on the outside yet light and crumbly on the inside, Sean's Mum's home preserved olives made with TLC, thick and creamy labne, humus, sweet beetroot relish, spicy sujuk and a side of zataar bread. Lip-smackingly good.

Polenta Hotcake

I must say though, the ultimate breakfast showstopper here at Phat Milk must be their Polenta Hotcake, with devotees regularly making repeated visits over one weekend to get their Polenta Hotcake hit. Crispy-edged on the sides and tender in the middle, topped with a rainbow of seasonal fruits and berries, whipped Nutella mascarpone and a house made mixed berry coulis. Perfect for the gluten intolerant (and everyone else) !

I'm a sucker for fusion. And Phat Milk's unique fusion of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine with modern elements has made this Little Piggy very happy.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Phat Milk

Phat Milk

208 Mt Alexander Road

Travencore, VIC

http://phatmilkcafe.com.au 

 

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Tokyo Tina

Welcome a third sister to the family, Tokyo Tina - Windsor's newest contemporary Japanese restaurant-dive bar ! From the brains behind Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally, the guys have combined the best eats, beats and vibes inspired from the streets of Japan and brought us the exotic country as it is today.

Jade green tiles, distressed manga posers and timber features set the scene. The menu ? We're talking Japanese street food with a helping hand from neighbour Korea and touches of inspiration from other parts of the world. Tokyo Tina dares to walk the walk and walks a fine line between fusion and modern Asian cuisine.

Open California Roll / Crispy Avo Bao

We started off with the Open California Roll - a delicate wafer of crispy nori topped with plump sushi rice, shredded WA spanner crab, crunchy salad and toasted sesame seed. An elegant and light start to our meal - I could have only wished for more than a mouthful !

We also tried their Crispy Avo Bao - a soft pillowy bun encasing a battered piece of creamy avo, pickled ginger and gochujang. Unfortunately, this dish didn't really do much for me, with its aimless fusion of flavours which were easily overpowered by the pickled ginger.

Tonkatsu Croquettes 

In contrast, the Tonkatsu Croquettes drizzled in bulldog sauce were ever so lovely, crunchy and packed full with flavour. Accompanied by a refreshing coleslaw, these bite-sized morsels were easily my pick of the night.

Medley Tomato Salad

Next up was the Medley Tomato Salad with smoked tofu, slippery knot noodles and shiso. Sadly, a dish that I was not very fond of at all. I understood that it was a simple side dish, however I felt it was far too simple and a little too effortless. 

Karaage Chicken Ribs 

To finish off the night, we nibbled on Tokyo Tina's Karaage Chicken Ribs slathered in hot sauce and dotted in sesame seeds. Chicken ribs have a special place in my heart and with Melbourne's food scene offering such top notch chicken ribs and wings, I could not help but feel a little let down with the ribs at Tokyo Tina. Again, I felt that ingredients and sauces had just been thrown around, without allowing sufficient time for sauces and spices to marinate and soak in, resulting in rather dry and bland ribs. Luckily, the hot sauce and a spritz of lemon picked up its game. Whilst the overall dish was tasty, the results weren’t as amazing as I imagine they had hoped for. 

Regrettably, Tokyo Tina did not leave me salivating. The potential is definitely there so I'm just thinking of giving her a little more time to grow, learn and find her feet before heading back.

Tokyo Tina

66 Chapel Street  

Windsor, VIC 3181

http://www.tokyotina.com.au 

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Middle Fish

Hip-hip-hooray ! Happy 3rd birthday Middle Fish ! And boy does Middle Fish know how to throw a party. Along with the Thai birthday brunch we indulged in, we also took part in a cooking demonstration where owner, Pla shared her secrets of Thai home cooking and the launch of Middle Fish's brand new shop featuring the eclectic works of international designer Khun Hem. 

The best way to describe Middle Fish ? If Thailand and Melbourne had a baby, Middle Fish would be the product - a fusion of industrial and modern art, large steel bench tops and exposed brick walls. Food wise, it's as authentic as it gets. Though I didn't manage to get my hands on each and every dish, here is a visual highlight of some of Pla's amazing Southern Thai dishes.

Kang Tai Pla

Chocolate and Almond Tea

Sa La Pao

Tiger Prawn Spring Roll

Mushroom Spring Roll

Mini Fish Cake Burgers

Salmon Salad

Thai Desserts

No doubt about, Middle Fish promises to bring the joys of Thailand cultures, customers and cuisines to Melbourne. In fact, I enjoyed my visit so much, I'm heading back tomorrow. Race you there ?

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Zilla & Brooks and Middle Fish

Middle Fish

122-128 Berkeley Street 

Carlton VIC 3053

http://middlefish.com.au 

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Taste of Melbourne 2014 | Taste of Melbourne Giveaway - 2 x Double Passes

Wow, has another year passed already ? 

You know what that means though - Taste of Melbourne is back again, enriching the lakeside lawns of Albert Park this November 13th-16th with food, food and more food. Hang out with Melbourne's leading culinary masterminds, rub shoulders with like minded food lovers, immerse yourself in cooking classes, check out the latest food trends or simply enjoy the atmosphere. Taste of Melbourne. Be there.

This year, Taste of Melbourne have over 60 bite-sized dishes on offer from the likes of Brooks Restaurant & Bar, Lucy Liu, Mamasita, Gazi, Nieuw Amsterdam, MoVida and more.

You can imagine how excited I was to fly #TasteAir and embark on a culinary flight around Melbourne to preview some of Taste of Melbourne’s 2014 restaurants. 

FIRST STOP: BROOKS RESTAURANT & BAR

Sher Wagyu Rib

We kicked off the night at Brooks Restaurant & Bar, lodged beneath the streets of Melbourne, secluded in the basement of the heritage-listed Austral House on Collins Street. I was instantly wooed by their Sher Wagyu Rib - juicy, tender and of slightly gelatinous texture, the boneless rib was glazed in a sticky charcoal vegetable puree and crowned with fried vinegar infused shallots. What blew me away though was the Roasted Cauliflower Ice-cream - the roasting of the cauliflower brought out the most amazing depth of flavour and together with a drizzle of toffee caramel sauce, my tastebuds were in heaven.

SECOND STOP: LUCY LIU

Freshly Shucked Oysters

Green Papaya Salad with Beans

Lucy Liu Wagyu Beef F1 7+ & Lucy Liu Spiced Green Apple Coleslaw

Our next destination was Lucy Liu, the newest and trendiest multicultural Asian eating and drinking space. Here we started with Freshly Shucked Oysters with tangy nam jim and an authentic Green Papaya Salad with Beans that even Mama Piggy would have to agree with. We then sunk our teeth into a premium grade 7 Porterhouse Wagyu Steak with exceptional marbling and flavour which was lifted even higher with yakiniku dipping sauce and a hot mustard horseradish crème fraîche.

FINAL STOP: MAMASITA

Elote Callejero

Braised Zucchini Molotes

Tamal de Camarones

Taco de Pescado and Taco de Puerco

The third and final stop was Mamasita, arguably one of Melbourne's favourites. Our tastebuds were further tempted by their famous street style chargrilled corn (my all time favourite!), alluring and tasty Tamal de Camarones and earthy Braised Zucchini Molotes. The star of the show went to the tacos though, both the Taco de Pescado and Taco de Puerco were explosive in flavour and freshness. You can't miss these.

Taste of Melbourne Giveaway - 2 x Double Passes

So how do I win ? 

1. Like Confessions of a Little Piggy on Facebook

2. Follow Confessions of a Little Piggy on Instagram

3. Send me an email answering "Which restaurant are you most excited to visit at The Taste of Melbourne?" to confessionsofalittlepiggy@gmail.com


Giveaway Terms and Conditions: 

- Entries are open until Sunday, November 2nd at midnight AEST. 

 
- Winners will be notified via email by Monday, November 3rd, and winners’ postal address will need to be provided to confessionsofalittlepiggy@gmail.com within 48 hours. 

 
- Each winner will receive a Double Pass (valued at $60.00) which entitles them and a friend entrance to one session at The Taste of Melbourne. 

- Tickets cannot be resold for commercial gain.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Hot House Media & Events, Brooks Restaurant & Bar, Lucy Liu and Mamasita 

What: Taste of Melbourne 2014 

Where: Pelican Lawn, Albert Park Lake
When: Thursday November 13 - Sunday November 16, 2014 

http://www.tasteofmelbourne.com.au 

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Mamame' Eatery & Bar

My love for soft shell crab and steamed buns continue, this time at Mamame Eatery and Bar. Pronounced similarly to edamame, Mamame (mur-mah-may) is a bright and friendly addition to Church Street. And all that was required was a quick perusal of their menu and I was sold. Not to mention, it would only be rude not to go and welcome them to Richmond. I mean come on, it’s Japanese/Korean fusion, how could we not ?

Steamed Buns

As the food arrived, there was a moment of silent appreciation. However, this was not the case for long. We tackled the steamed buns fist. The fluffy buns were a lovely canvas for the fatty grilled pork, soft yet slightly crisp on the edges, crunchy cucumber slices and kimchi coordinated with lashings of fiery red ssam sauce. Flavours match made in heaven. Roughly the size of my fist, the sizing of these buns were substantial, but had still left me wanting for more. Seriously though, can you blame me ?

Soft Shell Crab Sliders

Our tastebuds were next treated by their Soft Shell Crab Sliders. Crispy morsels of soft shell crab, Asian cabbage slaw and spicy mayo sandwiched by a buttery sweet brioche bun. The soft shell crab was satisfyingly crunchy yet sufficiently meaty and juicy, pairing well with a refreshing cabbage slaw. If I had to be picky, I’d say the spicy mayo did not have enough of a kick to it. But that’s just me being the chilli lover I am. 

In review, though my friend and I were quite strapped for time, we thoroughly enjoyed each and every second at Mamame. The food was brilliantly executed, and the service was smooth and speedy in accommodating for our hurried meal. Simply put, our experience at Mamame was just lovely all round.

Mamame' Eatery & Bar

460 Church Street  

Richmond, VIC 3121

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Kong BBQ

From the brains behind the ever so popular Chin Chin and Baby, now comes Kong BBQ. Positioned comfortably on Church Street, Kong joins a bustling street of crowd pleasers - Top Paddock and Pillar of Salt. Fitted out by designers Eades and Bergman, the 60-seat restaurant is casual - simple yet bold. The menu, inspired by Korean and Japanese flavours focuses strongly slow cooking, the oriental BBQ way. 

Teriyaki Roast Ora King Salmon Ssam Roti Roll

The flavour and texture of Ora King Salmon was full, rich and buttery together with lashings of teriyaki  sauce mingled with the sweet crunch of wok fried Chinese broccoli and tomato. The roti was tender on the inside, soaking up all the sauces, yet the outer layer still crisp and nicely charred. Not exactly a Korean or Japanese inspired dish, but no one’s complaining here. My friend and I fell in love with this dish and had us singing praises for the entire meal.

Kong  Bossam BBQ Tray

I'm a big fan of bossam, mixing and matching bold flavours that you create in your own individual morsel. The gochujang BBQ chicken was delightful, pulled pork a little lifeless, pork belly and crackling absolutely lip-smacking and the beef brisket slightly dry but saved by the coffee infused tomato relish. Together with the fresh lettuce, tangy pickles, wombok kimchi & walnut ssamjang, we had lots of fun playing with your food - in an acceptable way of course. 

At Kong, atmosphere is loud and lively, service fun and friendly, and food marvously mouth-watering. Would I come back you ask ? Puh-lease, that’s not even a question - I’ve already been back for seconds. Kong is King.

Kong BBQ

599 Church Street  

Richmond, VIC 3121

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