The Hunter's Kitchen at Lucky Penny

Now, we all know Lucky Penny as the bright and air space coated in fresh white brick walls, warmed up with furnishings of pale wood, tanned leather and soft lighting. Vintage modernism vibes coupled with quality coffee and an all-day breakfast menu full of flavour and variety. But did you know about their exciting winter dinner concept, The Hunter's Kitchen ?

Created by Head Chef Jason Chan,The Hunter's Kitchen concept focuses on home style, sharing dishes, inspired by traditional Nordic, Scandinavian and Viking food. Yup, that's right, the ultimate winter comfort food to warm the heart.

Thinly Sliced Rare Wagyu, cauliflower, mustard, freeze dried horseradish

Cured Salmon, celriac puree, cornichons, dill, celery leaves, salmon roe, rye

Bannockburn Free Range Farmhouse Chicken, bacon, roast celery and kale chips

Slow Cooked Venison, venison sausage, confit red cabbage, spiced pear chutney

Inspired by the traditional Danish snack smørrebrød, we started our Viking feast with the Cured Salmon and Thinly Sliced Rare Wagyu, followed by the hearty Slow Cooked Venison and Bannockburn Free Range Farmhouse Chicken served on heavy cast iron pans. Oh man, the most succulent chicken smothered with smooth creamy potato studded with salty bacon bits, roast celery and crispy kale chips. Hands down, the favourite of the night.

Roast Beetroot and Rhubarb with buffalo mozzarella 

 Burnt Broccoli, brown rice, currants, almonds

Complementing the heavier dishes, we enjoyed a smokey Burnt Broccoli Salad with nutty brown rice, sweet earthy currants and crunchy almonds together with a Roasted Beetroot and Rhubarb Salad with soft buffalo mozzarella.

Glühwein (Mulled Wine)

Blueberry and Elderflower Crumble with vanilla ice cream

Warm saffron cake with treacle sauce and ice cream

Our eyes sparkled as the traditional Nordic inspired delights came around. We satisfied each and every sweet tooth with the Blueberry and Elderflower Crumble, and demolished the most decadent Safrron Cake with treacle sauce and ice cream. Hmmm... hot and cold, hot and cold.

Let me just say, the food and drinks at The Hunter's Kitchen is exactly what you need tot cozy up in the chilly days this season. Get lucky.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Lucky Penny

Lucky Penny

481 Chapel Street

Prahran, VIC

http://www.theluckypenny.com.au/

 

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Nourished:385

#cleaneating is a hashtag that has taken over social media. But what exactly is it ? Simply put, it is the idea of being more mindful of the food’s pathway between its origin and your plate. 

Found in Prahran, Nourished:385 is Melbourne's newest clean eating cafe and restaurant, and is very much the epitome of a cool, calm and collected cafe. Head Chef Benjamin Hildred (ex Proud Mary) has produced a menu that aims to present foods as close to their natural state as possible - preservative free, locally sourced and using only the freshest free-range ingredients. That means no deep fryers, no excess fats or harmful GMOs will be found in his kitchen.

There’s a creative all-day breakfast menu – featuring the likes of Coconut 5 Seed Bircher with berry compote and toasted shredded coconut; Roasted Root Vegetables over tahini with lentil gremolata and poached egg; Vegan Breakfast Scramble with crispy nori over eggplant kasundi on a vegan seed and nut bread - and an equally appetising lunch and dinner menu. 

Caribbean Calypso / Super Charge 

Finding ourselves a table overlooking the gardens in their courtyard, we kicked back, soaked up summer's warmth and fresh air as we sipped on our smoothies. My Super Charge smoothie was delightfully revitalising - bursting with pineapple, mango, watermelon, apple, banana, blueberries, goji berries, spinach and coconut water. On the other end of the table, my friend escaped to paradise with her Caribbean Calypso loaded with mango, passionfruit, banana, orange, shredded coconut and coconut water.

Smashed Avocado

If you know me well, you would also know that I love avocados. So when I heard that Nourished:385 did a Smashed Avocado with a killer twist, I was thrilled. What isn’t stimulating about smashed avocado served with jalapeño infused strawberry chutney, herbed labneh, and sticky balsamic honey on their home-made Nourished house loaf. Though I would usually opt for more savoury dishes, this sweeter number was a refreshing change.

Huevos Rancheros

My friend went for the Huevos Rancheros - baked eggs braised with beans, charred corn, chipotle yoghurt and crunchy corn chips. Typically a richer and heavier brekkie option, we were impressed how these baked eggs were modified to be much lighter and cleaner. 

Chocolate Beetroot Brownie

We were also treated with a slice of their Chocolate Beetroot Brownie which incorporated all sorts of flavours and textures to tempt the tastebuds. The surprising addition of beetroot enhanced the sweetness and moistness, matching well with a scoop of banana coconut sorbet. Packed with all sorts of goodness, this was a slightly less guilty pleasure – easier on the hips, but still as satisfying on the lips. 

Nourished:385 boasts quality food to nourish the body, welcoming staff and a comfortable atmosphere for all to appreciate. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner Nourished:385 could easily become Nourished:365 – a spot to visit all day, every day. 

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Nourished:385

Nourished:385
385 High Street
Prahran, VIC 3181 
http://nourished385.com.au/

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La Svolta

To celebrate the arrival of balmy summer nights, an exciting new menu and outdoor dining terrace, I was invited to the exclusive unveiling of La Svolta’s estate Italiana all’aperto. Complete with a live Italian band playing into the evening, it was a night that excited the senses to indulge in a traditional Italian affair.

 Arancini Balls

Baby Snapper Skewers

Prosciutto with Deep Fried Pizza Dough

Pizza Porcini e Speck

Pizza Margherita

Pizza Campania

Food is genuine - their menu based on old family recipes that have been passed down through generations. The menu delights us with a mouth-watering Seared Tuna with a sesame seed crust, Baby Snapper Skewers to lip smacking Beef Carpaccio involtini with rocket, parmagiano & balsamic reduction.

The pizza ? Bellissimo. La Svolta is one of the nine places in Australia accredited by the Naples official pizza body, Associazione Versace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN). This ensures their pizzas are the best of the best, made using traditional techniques with love.

Soft, chewy and fragrant, the pizzas were the highlights of the night. The outer puffed edges are beautifully charred and the centre, molten with sauce and cheese – reminiscent of those in Naples. Toppings are minimally topped with the finest and freshest ingredients, striking a careful balance among crust, sauce, and cheese resulting in gorgeous flavours and texture to the pizza.

La Svolta's outdoor dining terrace will be open to the public every Saturday and Sunday evening from 6.00pm, where you can sit back, relax and enjoy good food in the sun. Go say ciao today !

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of ID Collective and La Svolta

La Svolta

3-5 Cecil Place  

Prahran, VIC 3181

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Tall Timber

There's a lot to like about Tall Timber. And it's not just the food, but the whole package - it's the real deal. 

Decked out in timber (duh!), the whole look and feel of the place is clean, casual and relaxed. Filled with the glorious aroma of coffee wafting through the air, the bright airy space is attributed by tall ceilings and white washed brick walls. 

The menu offers your classic brunch items, but with flair. Think Eggs Benedict jazzed up with slow cooked pork shoulder smothered in apple cider hollandaise. Let's not forget their super-duper food dish of sautéed kale, asparagus, greenback with poached eggs, almonds, and goats curd on quinoa loaf. 

Skinny Flat White

Brunch really is not brunch without a mandatory skinny flat white. I trust you guys know this by now !

Roast Pumpkin Bruschetta

My Roast Pumpkin Bruschetta was unbelievable. On a striking black plate, the dish came out looking magnificent - with an earthy hummus as the base, two crunchy slices of toasted quinoa loaf, bright orange smashed pumpkin, two perfectly poached eggs littered with micro herbs. Not only magnificent in looks, my pumpkin dish also tasted amazing. The sweetness of the roast pumpkin paired with the creaminess of the feta worked beautifully with the crunchy mix of dukkah.

Sourdough with Smashed Avo

On the other hand, my friend opted for a more simpler dish - toasted sourdough with a side of smashed avocado. Exactly what she was after.

You really can't deny it - Tall Timber is one appealing cafe. For me, it ticked all the right boxes in ambience, service and price. Add to this enjoyable coffee and delightful food offerings and we have ourselves a winner. And a happy little piggy.

Tall Timber

60 Commercial Road  

Prahran, VIC

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Matsuri

Positioned quietly on High Street  lies this lovely little Japanese restaurant, offering locals the fresh and light flavours of Japan. There was no doubt that Matsuri would be the destination for E's birthday dinner - mainly because E has been urging us to try Matsuri, for as long as any of us can remember.

Though a small space, we were presented with a full menu - there was definitely no lack of options here. We let Birthday Girl take full control.

Pork Gyoza

We kicked off with Pork Gyozas - crispy skinned dumplings with a juicy pork and cabbage filling.

Takoyaki 

The takoyaki octopus balls were a hit - a golden exterior encasing a wonderfully creamy and tasty batter. Lathered in takoyaki sauce and mayo, a sprinkling of aonori and finished with dancing dried bonito, these were demolished in no time.

Agedashi Tofu

Next up was the Agesdashi Tofu - which actually turned out to be deep-fried tofu with onion, broccoli and teriyaki sauce. Looking back on the menu now, it does indeed read that it comes with teriyaki sauce...but then why did they call it Agedashi Tofu ? Mind boggling. 

Vegetable Tempura

An array of vegetables deep fried in a light and crispy batter served with tempura dipping sauce - think your typical trusty vegetable tempura.

Salmon Avocado Roll 

This dish was probably my favourite for the night - creamy avocado and lettuce enveloped in nori and plump sushi rice, topped with fresh salmon, drizzled in mayo and finished alfalfa sprouts.

Prawn Tempura Roll

We also ordered the Prawn Tempura Roll - bread-crumbed prawns, avocado and cucumber sticks wrapped snugly in sushi rice, dotted with black sesame seeds. 

Uanagi Don

Glazed in a sweet and sticky sauce, the bite sized pieces of grilled unagi (eel) smelt and tasted amazing. On a bed of hot steaming rice, it was accompanied with broccoli and zucchini, drenched in the same sweet and salty sauce.

Pork Loin Katsu

Last, but definitely not least was Birthday Girl's most anticipated dish of the night, the Pork Loin Katsu. Breaded in panko, the crunchy outer casing gave way to a moist and flavourful piece of pork loin. The side serving of cabbage salad not only added a touch of color to the dish, but went incredibly well between bites of the pork loin katsu.

Despite a couple of misses among a handful of hits, Matsuri is a cozy little resturant serving up quality Japanese food that is inexpensive and stomach satisfying.

Matsuri

406 High Street 

Prahran, VIC

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Third Wave

When it comes to brunch options, there are plenty of fish in the sea. But an American BBQ and Russian inspired menu ? 
Third Wave, I'm already there.

White Chocolate Mocha & Skinny Flat White

A was delighted to hear that they served White Chocolate Mochas. However it was to her disappointment to find that there was orange zest sprinkled on top. This would have made a lovely fruity kick for those that enjoy a jazzed up mocha, but A wasn't the biggest fan. 

Reuben Sandwich

A thick mix of layers of slow smoked beef brisket, tangy coleslaw and pickles slathered in homemade zesty BBQ sauce was all held together by melty Swiss cheese. ​Greg explained that the beef's tenderness was achieved by smoking it for 8-10 hours using hickory wood.​ Squished in between two slices of toasted rye - it was saucy, messy and full of flavour. The way it should be. With their own Third Wave twist on the famous sandwich, it is not your everyday Reuben Sandwich.

Gourmet Burger

A feta and sun-dried tomato infused porterhouse patty was supported well with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and creamy basil mayo between a divine brioche bun.  A massively sized burger which both A and I very unladylike-ly chomped on. We did however find the patty to be on the leaner side, which meant it was not as moist and juicy as we would have liked it. 

Blintzes - Meat, Mushroom and Cheese

On top of everything, Greg was also kind enough to bring out a Russian dish for us to sample. He explained that there was nothing more Russian than blintzes, which can be sweet or savoury. The one that caught my attention was the Cheese Blintz - a creamy cottage cheese and cinnamon filling wrapped within a lightly toasted blintz. Matched with sour cream and blueberry jam, the Cheese Blintz was a nice way to wrap up our meal.  

Having only opened for six weeks, Third Wave is no doubt a great addition to Prahran. There is plenty of good happening, with just a couple of hiccups here and there. With such an interesting menu that draws inspiration from both American BBQ and Russian dishes, I'm sure Third Wave will be making splashes in no time.

confessions of a little piggy was invited to dine as a guest of Third Wave.

Third Wave 
30 Cato Street
Prahran, VIC

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Ladro Greville

For the birthday girl's pizza weekend adventure, landed us at Ladro on a Friday night.  After our  initial struggles with parking and being mislead by the iPhone maps, we finally made it. 

Now, I have to admit, we had to have a lot of help with ordering. Help from Google that is. Amongst our conversation, every second question was "Hey .. what's *insert italian word* ?" With Google on our side, and the clock ticking away, we finally decided to choose a main each to share.

Gnocchi al Forno

Out first, came the Gnocchi al Forno. The gnocchi was submerged in a rich San Marzano tomato sugo sauce, cheesy bufala, parmigiano and topped with basil. The sweetness of the tomatoes came through and as always, went beautifully with the cheeses and basil. However, I did find the gnocchi to be a little overcooked, resulting in overly soft gnocchi.

Risi e bisi

Described to be a Venetian classic, came our next dish of risi e bisi, most commonly known as rissotto. I loved how the pea's vibrant green colours came out and gave the dish a happy feel. Cooked and fully packed with flavour, this dish of rice, peas, pancetta, shallots was a creamy dream.

'I do not like green eggs and ham

 I do not like them

 Jen-I-Am

Gamberi Piselli

tomato, lemon garlic prawns, peas, chilli, basil

Porcini

fior di latte, taleggio, porcini, basil, pangrattato

Scout's Pizza

tomato, taleggio, caramelised onion, basil, dressed rocket, parmigiano

And finally onto what Ladro is famous for - the Pizza !

And no, they did not disappoint. The base was perfect, thin, pillowy and a little chewy. With fresh toppings and ingredients, and well balanced flavours, it ticked all the right boxes. They were all delicious yet light, which didn't make me feel guilty for having so many slices !

Our experience at Ladro was fantastic. Relaxed atmosphere, attentive staff, and tasty pizzas was all we needed, and was what we got. 

Ladro Greville

162 Greville Street 
Prahran

And being so close by, we ended the night at Yo-Chi. I told you I'd be back for you !

Yo-chi
292 Carlisle St 
Balaclava

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