Dinner @ Burger Culture

Burger Culture is a great local place to pop in when you’re around the area on a nice warm day. They have great tasting burgers and lovely tables and chairs that will make you feel like you’re at home. Though I’ll be honest, the staff were quite mundane and didn’t really open up to the customers.

Chips w/ dipping sauces ($5) – thick cut chips ($4) sprinkled w/ crushed salt and rosemary served with culture mayo & chilli mayo dipping sauces ($0.50c each)
Chips were mediocre. The smaller sized chips had a great crunch, but the longer chips could’ve been cooked for longer in my opinion. The chips also needed a tad more salt and rosemary for the flavours to really come alive. The dipping sauces had a thicker consistency than the usual creamy sauces… which I didn’t mind that much. It just made it harder to really dip the chips in, so I would’ve preferred a more creamier texture. The flavours of the mayo dips were the standard mayo with a few added spices, nothing unique or memorable.

6.5/10

A.T’s meal:
‘The Spartan’ Beef Culture Burger ($9.50) – lean beef, roasted capsicum, fetta cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion, tzatziki, kalamata olives, & tomato relish in a wholemeal bun

My meal:
‘New Yorker’ Beef Culture burger ($9) – lean beef, caramelised onions, swiss cheese, tomato lettuce, tomato relish & culture mayo in a wholemeal bun
The meat was cooked well and I liked how all the ingredients tasted together. Standard burger which tasted great, one thing I would say is that it would’ve been much better if the dip was creamier because I found that the burger was quite dry. I’m really impressed on how they assembled the burger as everything was stacked carefully on top of each other and it was cleaner and easier to eat.

8/10

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 7.5/10
Price (based on food quality) – cheap
Service – 5/10
Atmosphere – casual, beachy/local diner
Overall experience – 7/10

Interested?
Burger Culture (American/Burgers)
3 Cole Street, Williamstown
(03) 9397 7156
Open Monday to Sunday

Home

http://www.facebook.com/burger.culture

Have a happy new year everyone!
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Dinner @ Yim Yam Yarraville

A group of friends and I went to eat at Yim Yam in Yarraville for A.T’s late birthday dinner. The restaurant is filled with a fusion of modern/urban and traditional Thai decor with a big golden statue in the middle of the dining area. Yim Yam’s service for the night was average… the waitress was very patient with us and tried to maintain her smile despite the swarming influx of diners constantly coming in. Due to the hectic nature of the restaurant, the waitresses found it difficult to pay attention to their surrounding customers and the restaurant was just overbearingly loud which really destroyed the overall experience. The presentation of their cutlery could have been more consistent as each person on the table had different sized and styled set of plates (that attention to detail nomsayn?). The quality of food on the other hand, was fantastic and I would definitely return again, perhaps to their Ascot Vale restaurant where it is much calmer and less noisy.

Roti Bread ($5) – served w/ satay sauce

Papaya Salad ($12.90) – Laos salad of shredded green papaya w/ cherry tomatoes, beans, peanuts and a hot dressing

Massaman Curry ($14.50) – indian-themed dish w/ chunks of beef, tamarind, potatoes and peanuts

Creamy Seafood Curry ($20.90) – mix of prawns, mussels, fish and calamari steamed w/ herbs and served in a whole baby coconut (including an extra small bowl of curry)

Satay Roti Roll Chicken ($8.90) – chicken & salad in a satay sauce and wrapped in roti bread
The roti bread was beautifully crisp and the chicken was tender. Simple yet all the ingredients were nicely suited for each other, and the satay sauce added a burst of flavour and thick creaminess to the dish which has gotten me coming back for more. Sensational!

9/10

Pad Thai Prawn ($15.50) – Pad thai rice noodles fried w/ dried shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts & ground peppers w/ fresh prawns
Presentation could’ve been a tad neater. (N ordered the same meal and one our dishes… I think mine, was presented rather sloppily). However that could be excused because, with added squeezes of about 2 lemon slices, this dish made for a banging dinner. The noodles weren’t greasy, the prawns were beautifully cooked and with a pad thai this simple yet clean, you really can’t go wrong. I love myself some pad thai, mm mm!

8.5/10

Banana Roti ($7) – caramelised banana in roti bread served w/ vanilla ice cream.
There was a whole mishap with the bill and C ended up unintentionally getting this for free. Terrible management at Yim Yam in Yarraville but it was a fortunate thing for us in the end. 🙂

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 8.5/10
Price (based on food quality) – reasonable
Service – 7/10
Atmosphere – congested, busy & very loud
Overall experience – 7.5/10

Interested?
Yim Yam Yarraville (Thai&Laos)
40a Ballarat Street, Yarraville
(03) 9687 8585
Open Monday to Sunday 5PM – 10PM
http://yimyam.com.au/yarraville/

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Lunch @ Laurie Dee’s

A.T and I decided to stop by Laurie Dee’s for lunch after my induction for a volunteer job at Pacific Epping (a place very far away from my home and where I would never imagine visiting, let alone working… but so glad I do now!). One of the best discoveries to date! Such a casual and quiet environment, Laurie Dee’s is a mix between an American diner and a fast food chain. I think the travel distance in those early mornings have now become well worth it when I know burgers as good as these are waiting for me at the end of the day.

Chilli Cheese Fries ($8.95) – shoestring fries w/ Laurie Dee’s special seasoning and topped w/ mild beef chilli, cheese sauce and salsa fresca.
Both A.T and I agreed that the fries were tasty but also pretty average as well (and overpriced in my view, they were more expensive than the burger!). We both hoped for something spicier… it is called ‘Chilli’ Cheese Fries for a reason. I did enjoy the flavours and freshness of the ingredients blended together and found the shoestring cut of fries much easier and more addictive to eat than a thicker cut, so great choice of fries on their part!

7.5/10

The Laurie Dee Burger (single patty $7.95) – angus beef minced patty, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, Special D sauce, tomato, lettuce, pickles & tomato relish.
A.T (who ordered the same burger) – when asked to review the burger, A.T thought it was appropriate and relevant to quote Marshall from How I Met Your Mother and also said that it was the best burger he has tasted to date.
TwT (me) – I would arguably agree… but at the same time, I haven’t tried many burgers in my lifetime. This juicy, sloppy, wholesome burger was just oozing of fatty goodness (though the only downfall was the oil, which kept dripping down the burger… it was one messy feast). Salty and tenderly cooked meat minced on the day, an added sour flavour and crisp of the pickles, the freshness of the tomato and lettuce, tying together with Laurie Dee’s genius combination of tomato relish and their creamy special D sauce which was special indeed. This bad boy was wrong for me in every way but tasted oh so right. A complete upgraded version of a typical American fast food burger, The Laurie Dee is great value for your buck! Definitely coming back very soon… I am already craving.

9/10

Frozen Vanilla Bean Custard (single cup $2.95) – what a terrible way to end such an amazing meal. Their frozen custard just tasted like… well frozen custard. I could not taste the vanilla bean at all, it was just awfully sweet and milky. Very very sickening, both of us could only finish half of our cups and that was pushing it (we tried so hard to get through it, we really did). The only thing I liked was the ice-creamy texture.

5/10

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 8/10
Price (based on food quality) – very reasonable
Service – 7/10
Atmosphere – casual, diner/fast food
Overall experience – 8/10

Interested?
Laurie Dee’s (American/Burgers)
Shop RE 03 Urban Diner, Pacific Epping Plaza, Epping
(03) 9408 0196
Open Monday 11AM – 5PM, Tuesday to Thursday 11AM – 9PM, Friday & Saturday 11AM – 10PM, Sunday 11AM – 8PM
Accepts Card
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Dees/211821058881980

From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Dinner @ Maedaya Sake & Grill

For N’s birthday, my friends and I went to eat Japanese at Maedaya Sake & Grill. From what I saw, the restaurant is separated into two rooms, one being a sushi train/grill type thing and the other having a more restaurant feel with isolated chairs and even an awesome booth at the back which we were lucky enough to be seated at! As their name suggests, Maedaya has an extensive display of sakes so its a great place if that is what you like to drink. Personally, I thought the alcohol flavour and smell were way too strong for me. Anyway, interactions with the waitresses were sometimes difficult because they spoke basic English and mainly Japanese; a true indication that this place is authentic. Maedaya has a tablet system which I think is much more efficient and limits the probability of wrong orders and whatnot. However, I would recommend ordering from the tablet as much food as you can, as fast as you can, because some of the menu items sell out pretty quickly; a true indication that this place uses only the freshest produce (fish).

Maedaya Tsukune/Chicken Balls Set ($11) – soft and chewy chicken balls with a variety of flavours and sauces. The difference between each skewer was subtle but this set is fit for any palate, although… ok maybe not so much for those who like a little spice (it was more sweet than spicy).

Maedaya Sumiyaki Set ($15) – a plate of various of meats (tofu, chicken, beef and pork belly) grilled and skewered, each seasoned to display a range of different flavours. It was great for sharing and expressing which one was our personal favourites!

Veggie Chips ($6.50) – each veggie had a crispy texture which differed from the next. The carrots and the one on the left (sorry not sure what that was!) were more soft while the lotus had more of a ‘snap’ to it. I personally preferred the lotus chips because of that snap! I like things with a bit more bite into it 🙂

Takoyaki ($5.50) – my takoyaki only had one piece of octopus no bigger than a centimetre big but the flavoursome batter compensated for the lack of filling. The exterior had a crispy texture, whilst the batter inside was nice and soft.

Rainbow Sushi Roll ($16.50) – ingredients and flavours were foreign to me, particularly in a sushi roll but oh so amazing. Creaminess of the cream cheese with the smoothness the salmon were a match made in heaven, both just melted in my mouth. Dipping sauce was also special, with an added vinegar taste for that extra kick. My biggest regret was not ordering more of these beauties before they ran out!

Assorted Sashimi Platter ($16) – the freshest assortment of fish I’ve ever tasted. Tuna, kingfish and salmon instantly dissolved on my tongue as I ate it. The delectable taste of each individual fish was so distinctly different.

Salmon Sashimi ($13.80) – salmon sashimi was also very fresh and smooth. Only downfall were the fish bones, which all three of us girls coincidentally stumbled upon when we ate our sashimi pieces.

Taiyaki ($5) – taiyaki was difficult to eat. It was heavy and doughy with not a lot of the red bean filling (the ice-cream was a massive help in cutting down on all of dat heaviness).

Double Ice Cream (Black Sesame & Green Tea – $6.50) – I shared this with N and the green tea flavour was mine (obviously… haha). Green tea was creamy and indulgent, and the black sesame was too! My friends said they thoroughly enjoyed the black sesame, with A.T describing it as having a subtle toasty flavour.

Avocado Chocolate Baked Mini Bread w/ Vanilla Ice Cream ($5.50) – This is what C ordered. She thought it was good and enjoyed it, though a tad oily for her liking.

Highlights: unique and interesting sushi varieties (I would go again just for the sushi rolls), great booth!, fresh and to-die-for sashimi, tablet system
Lowlights: fish bones, boring taiyaki, mediocre skewers, menu sells out quick!
Food – 7.5/10
Pricing – $$ (reasonable)
Service – 8/10 (very friendly and joyful)
Atmosphere – traditionally Japanese
Overall: 8/10

Interested?
Maedaya Sake & Grill
398 & 400 Bridge Road, Richmond
(03) 9428 3918
Open Sunday to Thursday 5.30PM – 9.30PM, Friday & Saturday 5.30PM – 10PM
Accepts Card
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maedaya-Sake-Grill/161138433912058
http://www.sakejapan.com.au/

Until next Tuesday!
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Dinner @ Phat Brats

A.T and I decided to eat at Phat Brats because he has always wanted to go back after trying it once some time ago. Phat Brats has high ceilings and brick walls, emitting a casual and rustic feel. The worker was patient, friendly and very helpful with the menu. The food is quite average, but definitely worth a try if you’re around the area and in the mood for fast food that isn’t your typical Maccas or KFC.

Chilli Fries (regular – $8.50) – fries with spicy beef, chilli sauce, sour cream, spring onion and additional cheese (+$1). 7.5/10
Chilli fries were quite tasty and great to snack on in between conversations. The fries were similar to schnitz chips; they were flat and wide, creating a nice crunchiness and the right amount of potato inside so it wasn’t sickening. The sauces, cheese and the beef mixed well especially with this particular cut of fries. 

Chilli Dog ($9.90) – wagyu beef sausage, spicy beef, cheesy sauce, chilli sauce and spring onion in wholemeal bread.  6.5/10
The Chilli Dog was very boring, there wasn’t anything in the hot dog that stood out and made it memorable. Everything was rather average (though the meat was nicely cooked, quite soft and not dry at all!) and there wasn’t enough spice for that extra kick.

The Phat Brat ($9.90) – bratwurst sausage, pulled pork, BBQ sauce and apple slaw in wholemeal bread. 7.5/10
The bread roll wasn’t stale but it wasn’t entirely soft and fresh either… just mediocre. The fillings they chose for The Phat Brat creates a great combination though! The sausage was meaty and tender, slaw added texture and moisture with the added BBQ sauce, matching well with the soft pulled pork. The slaw was the hero of the dish for me, without it, The Phat Brat would’ve been very plain. 

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 7/10
Price (based on food quality) – reasonable
Service – 8/10
Atmosphere – rustic, casual
Overall experience – 7.5/10

Interested?
Phat Brats (American, Hot Dogs)
320 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
(03) 9419 5526
Open Monday to Thursday, & Sunday 12PM – 12AM, Friday & Saturday 12PM – 3.30AM
http://phatbrats.com.au/

Lunch @ Chiba

A.T miraculously chose this amazing Japanese restaurant for lunch on a 28 degree day because we figured sushi was a healthy alternative that would go down well in our battles against the scorching heat. Chiba was the perfect decision; the restaurant has two storeys with a fancy, clean yet sophisticated interior. The restaurant doesn’t play background music, which was actually great because it creates a quiet and comforting environment. The staff were friendly, polite and professional, and the food is just exquisite!

A.T’s Meal:
Moriawase (from the lunch menu – $17) – combination of sushi, sashimi and seaweed rice rolls. 
A.T: “it was healthy with a variety of sashimi, great value for your buck as Chiba was generous in their servings and the presentation was f*ing sexy. Not to mention, everything was made to order so it tasted very fresh.”

8.5/10

My Meal:
Bento Lunch Box (from the lunch menu – $15) – chef selection of the day (today was chicken teriyaki), including sashimi, tempura, small pieces of tonkatsu and shredded cabbage.
Quality and portions were impeccable! The batter tightly clung onto the various vegetables (eggplant, pumpkin, etc) and prawn, which made the exterior of the tempura crispy whilst retaining the moisture and texture of the ingredients inside. Deep fried fish (not too sure, correct me if I’m wrong) was crumbed well, rice was fluffy and soft with great seasoning on top, and the teriyaki chicken was glossy, sweet and delicate. Cabbage provided tangy freshness to round off the meal. All elements (texture, flavour, presentation) were there and beautifully executed. You can taste the love and care put into every single component of the bento.

9/10

Our meals also included miso soup and dessert (which was just a few pieces of fruit). The miso soup had a homely simplicity, which made it soothing, light and nourishing.

Our Dessert:
Green Tea Ice Cream ($6.50) – for me, green tea ice cream after any meal is guaranteed to keep me satisfied. Smooth, creamy and just the right amount of that green tea flavour. Yumyumyum!

With bento boxes, Ebi Fine Foods and Chiba are almost neck to neck. Ebi Fine Foods is unique in their main dishes, which change daily. It is definitely the stand out as it infuses traditional Japanese meals with modern twists. The major let down with Ebi’s bentos are their cold and pre-prepared side dishes, which is where Chiba takes the crown and reigns supreme. Due to the freshness, generous portions, cheap price and amazing side dishes of Chiba’s bentos, I personally think Chiba wins (by a pretty thin margin). Arguably the best and my most favourite local Japanese restaurant yet!

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 9/10
Price (based on food quality) – our meals from the lunch menu, very cheap
Service – 8/10
Atmosphere – peaceful, fancy and sophisticated
Overall experience – 9/10

Interested?
Chiba (Japanese)
41 Hall St, Moonee Ponds
(03) 9347 2656
Lunch: Monday to Saturday 11.30AM – 3PM
Dinner: Sunday to Thursday 5.30PM – 10.30PM, Friday & Saturday 5.30PM – 11PM
http://www.chibajapaneserestaurant.com.au/
Accepts credit cards only
No split bills

Happy dining!
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Summer Night Market @ QVM Part 1

The night market runs from 5PM-10PM every Wednesday throughout summer starting from November 6th – February 26th at the Queen Victoria Market. Similar to the Luna 1878 (refer to a previous post), it is an amazing event which celebrates the beauty of food, fashion and music, bringing them to life!

K & B’s FOOD:
Buffalo chicken wings by Wing Man – 6 pieces of chicken wings (mild) with hot fries and homemade blue cheese dip ($8 + $2 + 0.50c = $10.50)
K has tried buffalo wings before in America and said that this was the closest to the real thing. Rating: 9/10
B: the wings tasted good and wasn’t greasy. Would recommend and have it again, however, I would not get the chips again. B rates the wings 9/10

Dutch Pancakes by Tram Stop Dutch Pancakes caravan – mini Dutch pancakes with sugar, butter and lemon ($7.50)
K: nothing special, especially at that price as it could be made at home. If it was $3-4, I would’ve been happier with the meal. Rating: 5.5/10
B: the pancakes were pretty good but fairly average, as you could get the same thing anywhere and for cheaper, therefore Rating: 7/10

A & T’s FOOD:
Seafood Paella by the Spanish Gourmet Caterers  ($12)
A: 2nd time having it and I still love it. Interesting flavour and texture, I just like how it’s all mushy and soft. Would’ve enjoyed it more if they served it more hot (temperature wise). Portions were not too bad for $12. Rating: 8/10
T thought A was being too nice with his review. She thought maybe ‘I’m just bored and there’s nothing new about it’ Rating: 6.5/10

Sri Lankan Roti Beef by the Lankan Tucker – ($12)
A: 1st time having this. Portions and price were adequate considering I had a meal before that. A very exotic and exciting dish especially with the hot sauce. Interesting combination and taste, however, it tasted a bit familiar to pho (Vietnamese noodles) but I didn’t mind it. It got dry after a while so next time I would try the sweet chilli sauce. Waiting for the food was avg 5-6.7mins.
(I also had a try of their roti and I get where A is coming from. I had a bite almost towards the end and by that time, the sauce had dried up and you could barely taste it. Though I still thoroughly enjoyed the dish; it was sweet and chewy… I think I might buy myself one when I go back next week!)

Dutch Pancakes by Tram Stop Dutch Pancakes caravan – mini Dutch pancakes with sugar and butter ($7)
A: 1st time having this. Pancakes were nice and soft but it tasted like any pancake to me except in bite-sized portions. Happy with the portion. Rating: 7/10

Both couples also had a Korean potato twist which was $6 each with your choice of salt. Sorry I wasn’t able to get a photo of it but it looks like this.
B found that hers tasted more like salt and vinegar even though she ordered chicken salt. Perhaps the lady gave her the wrong flavour but K&B still thought it was good, Rating: 7/10.
T also had hers with chicken salt and said ‘the best and always the best.’ Rating: 8.5/10

OUR (A.T & I) FOOD:
Kimchi Fries by Blazn Street Food – hand cut chips with kimchi, bean sprouts, spring onion, mayonnaise and spicy chicken ($8)
The staff were friendly, young and fresh. The cook was upbeat and kindly posed for the photo haha! However, the kimchi fries was such a disappointing and boring dish. The fries did not taste or look hand cut to be honest, I thought they were frozen and packaged. The fries had a unpleasant soggy texture, it would’ve been a much better fit with the rest of the dish if it was crunchy. I didn’t find it spicy at all… maybe because they weren’t very generous with the chicken. Kimchi, bean sprouts and mayo were ordinary and tasted pre-bought. Not worth the price. Rating: 3.5/10

Soft Shell Crab Burger by Hammer & Tong 412 – soft shell crab slider with shredded cabbage, sriracha mayonnaise and coriander ($12)
The service was terribly slow despite the lack of people lining up to order. There were only about 1-2 people working whilst the other three were just standing around. We waited for around 15-20 minutes until our burger finally came and I think there were 3 people who had ordered before us. The burger itself was very tasty however overpriced. All of the ingredients tied together beautifully and danced on my tongue in a synchronised fashion. The stand out of the dish was definitely the mayo because it was perfectly matched with the soft shell crab. The texture was there and the flavours were there. Can I also emphasize how much A.T kept going on about how much he loved the burger. Whereas for me, it was simple, tasty however pretty standard ingredients, and nothing particularly special or unique. Rating: 8/10

Kerala Dosa by Kerala Foods – Southern Indian Dosa; spicy organic beef wrapped in a crispy rice and lentil crepe served with dahl, coconut sambal and kasoundi ($12)
It would’ve been better if the sauces were served separately instead of poured on top of the crepe. It ruined the crispiness of the crepe and the centre became very soggy. The beef inside was nicely cooked and tender and went very well with the various sauces. The kasoundi was a mixture of sweet and spicy, packing in a great punch. The coconut sambal reminded me of tzatziki, I couldn’t taste much of the coconut but still complimented the crepe well. Dahl was pretty standard. Overall, the dish was warm, humble and comforting! Rating: 7.5/10

Taiyaki by a Japanese food stand (sorry I forgot to check their name!) – taiyaki with red bean, custard or chocolate filling ($4 for 1 piece, 3 pieces for $10)
I’ve always wanted to try taiyaki because it looks amazing, especially when it is made fresh with the steam leaving the dough, floating and dancing into the air and the filling oozing out when you rip it apart (well that’s what I’ve always imagined). Unfortunately, this was far from my silly yet beautiful vision of the taiyaki. As you can tell, they had already cooked heaps and left them there for goodness knows how long, ready to be served immediately. Therefore, it was not steaming hot, fresh and crispy around the edges. There was hardly any filling inside and just underwhelming overall. The best filling out of the three would have to be Nutella, because its liquid texture helped give it a bit of moisture whereas the other two were very dry. Rating: 4/10

A huge thank you to K, B, A & T for giving up their time to provide valuable insight into their thoughts and ratings!
Also, credits to my photographer A.T for putting up with my bossiness on the day and never missing an opportunity to capture the food!

Stay tuned for part two 🙂
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Brunch @ Duchess of Spotswood

Duchess of Spotswood is a lovely little cafe in the corner of a strip down at West Melbourne. Its a great location with such a peaceful and quiet environment, which really added to the experience. The actual setting at Duchess of Spotswood incorporates both artsy and fancy features, simple yet elegant. The service was also superb. The waitress who served us was so friendly and hospitable, she made us feel welcomed and made no hesitation in helping us with the menu. What more could you ask for really!

A’s meal:
Idle Tongues ($17.50) – seared ox tongue, pickled radish, onion soubise, smoked bone marrow croquette, poached eggs & toast.
A.T said he really liked his meal but I thought it was a bit too heavy for me, particularly the croquette, it was just way too creamy. The ox tongue was quite different, and it was cooked really well; so soft! It was kind of funny knowing an animal tongue was on my own tongue haha. The presentation is another thing though… It is… questionable to say the least? If you get what I mean… haha sorry guys, we didn’t realise it looked like this when we took the photo but we had a great laugh out of it! (Yes we are immature and silly, we know)

Skinny Late ($3.80) – I’m not a big fan of coffee so I wouldn’t know where to begin when reviewing it. A.T, on the other hand, is a coffee enthusiast (that may be an understatement), so I like to believe he knows his stuff. When drinking this, he said he really enjoyed it, that the coffee was brewed well and it was very smooth.

My meal:
Kings’ Woodcock ($18.50) – pork, fennel & chilli sausage, scrambled eggs, gentleman’s relish & toast.
To be honest, I’ve never really went out for brunch until recently and I guess it’s not my most favourite meal of the day. That’s because I find brunch to be overpriced for such simple foods that I could easily make at home (at a terribly amateur level of course). This meal was no different, I think it’s overpriced but I did enjoy it. The eggs were so fluffy and light and the sausages were really delicious, a bit of spiciness which enhanced the flavour! The relish (you can’t see it in the photo but they placed it underneath the sausages) gave the whole dish a bit of moisture and everything tied together really nicely. The toast was just standard bread though. All in all, a tasty expensive brunch dish, very simple but also very little faults.

8.5/10

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 8.5/10
Price (based on food quality) – a bit overpriced
Service – 8.5/10
Atmosphere – peaceful, fancy yet casual
Overall experience – 8.5/10

Interested?
Duchess of Spotswood (English Breakfast&Lunch)
87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood
(03) 9391 6016
Open Monday to Friday 7.00AM – 3.00PM (Kitchen closes at 2.30PM), Saturday and Sunday 8.00AM – 4.00PM (Kitchen closes at 3.00PM)
http://www.duchessofspotswood.com.au/

Thank you for reading! 🙂
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Dessert @ TUTTO

The frozen yogurt at TUTTO is probably one of the best I’ve ever tasted (and I’ve tried quite a few!). It had the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, and with an extensive array of toppings and flavours, you’ll be spoilt for choice!! However, I find the prices quite excessive… most places usually charge around $7 (froyo + 3 toppings) but TUTTO’s prices are about $1 higher than that. This was soon forgotten however, as the staff were genuine and friendly, and the restaurant provides a nice casual environment. It also opens late, so TUTTO is the perfect place if you’re ever in the munchies for some late night sweets!

A’s dessert:
Green Tea Froyo ($8.95) – regular green tea froyo ($5.50), toppings of green tea mochi, dates, figs & peanut + coconut mix ($2.50 + 0.95c)
Both A.T and I grew a fondness for the green tea flavour at TUTTO, which is rare because A.T doesn’t usually go for green tea froyo. The peanut and coconut mix was really different and interesting, but in a good way because it complimented the yogurt.

My dessert:
Original Froyo ($8) – regular original froyo ($5.50), toppings of strawberries, house crumble & green apple boba/popping pearls (3 for $2.50)
The frozen yogurt at TUTTO is delish! Must credit the workers, they know how to make a girl happy 🙂 Lovely balance of tanginess and creaminess so the yogurt had an incredibly smooth texture whilst also not falling short from that zing! I really liked the crumble, it added a crunch and had a sweet cinnamon taste which blended well with the yogurt. I cannot say the same for the strawberries unfortunately… they weren’t fresh at all, which you can kind of see in the photo from their dark colour.

8.5/10

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 8.5/10
Price (based on food quality) – a bit overpriced
Service – 8/10
Atmosphere – casual
Overall experience – 8/10

Interested?
Tutto (Dessert)
81 Grattan Street, Carlton
(03) 9348 2148
Open Monday to Thursday 10.30AM – 11.00PM, Friday & Saturday 11.00AM – 1.00AM, Sunday 11.00AM – 11.00PM

From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T

Lunch @ Iv’s Burritos Food Truck

Iv’s Burritos is one of the freshest food trucks to come out and deliver food to the Melbourne masses, having been on the market for only around three months. Knowing how much A.T loves his burritos and how much I love my food trucks, I just couldn’t let this opportunity pass, it was a win-win! The food truck is run by a great team (nice guys, they were very timid at the start but they opened up a bit more when I told them about my blog), and they strive to use ingredients which are ethically sourced! Their burritos are securely wrapped, quite generous with their fillings and they taste lovely 🙂

A’s meal:
Pulled Pork Burrito ($11 + $1 guacamole = $12) – flour tortilla w/ oregano saffron infused rice, refried beans, sour cream, smokey BBQ pulled pork filling, hot jalapeno salso verde and added guacamole.

My meal:
Spiced Chicken Burrito ($11 + $1 cheese = $12) – flour tortilla w/ oregano saffron infused rice, refried beans, sour cream, mexican spiced chicken, mild chipotle mayo and added mozzarella cheese.
My burrito was pretty banging. Not sure if it was because I was super hungry but I had a really good meal. The rice was flavoursome and had a soft texture, there weren’t a lot of beans in my burrito which was perfect for me, and it was wrapped very tightly. The chicken was tender too. I just wish there was more of that salsa/salad to give it that extra crunch and freshness.

7.5/10

Our dessert:
Chocolate Brownie w/ Orange Glaze ($3.50) – the brownie itself was delicious; very soft and moist with a nice chocolate flavour. However I thought it could’ve gone without the orange glaze because it had this intense and strong bitterness which was way too overpowering for both A.T and I.

7/10

T’s Verdict:
Quality of the food – 7.5/10
Price (based on food quality) – reasonable
Service – 7/10
Overall experience – 7/10

Interested?
Iv’s Burritos (Mexican Food Truck)
0423 215 255
Check our their websites for trading times and locations:
http://www.ivsburritos.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/IvsBurritos
http://www.twitter.com/IvsBurritos

Hope to see y’all next week 🙂
From Your Weekly Foodie,
– T