It was Mr D’s birthday and I booked Lake house for his second lunch (wooohoooo lunchhhh) because I’ve been hanging to come here (2 chefs hat!). We arrived and entered through reception and was greeted warmly. We were shown to our table, I of course went and sat on the cushiony bench surrounded by cushions (Mr D was lucky I didn’t just cocoon myself with cushions). We (really it means I) decided to get the Autumn/Early Winter 2015 Tasting Menu for $145 (why pick two dishes when you can have EIGHT!!!) and waited for our food to arrive.
The Food Gallery, Daylesford
I came here for lunch since it was Mr D’s lunch choice today. He was craving chips an so this menu caught his eyes. We walked in and was seated immediately (we thought we wouldn’t even be able to get seats) and was handed the menu. I ordered a Chai Latte and Mr D got a latte and he really liked his coffee, they use 100% Arabia beans (said so on the signage).
Auction Rooms, North Melbourne
I agreed with a friend to come here at 9:30am (that would be my breakfast…) and when I got there, it was fully packed. Luckily my friend got there super early and got a table for us (YAY). I ordered the breakfast board of grilled chorizo, ocean trout croquette, feta, avocado puree, a soft-boiled egg with rye soldiers and a white iced coffee. THIS WAS AMAZEBALL! The soft-boiled egg was perfectly cooked and the yolk was so runny and the ocean trout croquette, YUMMO!!!
New Shanghai, Melbourne (Emporium)
I was craving for xiao long bao and my friend suggested New Shanghai at the Emporium. Since I haven’t been yet we decided to give it a go. Emporium, Melbourne’s new shopping centre with a gazillion shops and confusing escalators and layouts to lose your orientation, we finally found our dumpling spot (with the help of the electronic information stand thingy of course). At the front it had people making the dumplings so you could watch them (looks at them creepily hohoho).
Industry Beans, Fitzroy
It’s time for a catchup with the creative couple (yes they are so creative in their own way that we’ll just call them the creative couple) again and I was in charge of picking a place yet again. This time, Industry Beans located in Fitzroy.
It’s located in a shed/warehouse/hipster-y place and they don’t take bookings. Luckily for us, the creative couple turned up early and by the time we got there, we walked straight in (like a boss) and sat down. We ordered our coffees and chai latte (both was pretty average) and gossiped for a while. I took forever to decide what to get and finally (YES FINALLY) I got the Tamarind Blue Swimmer Crab with crispy prawns, green apple, lychee, thai herb omelette. THIS. WAS. ABSOLUTELY. MOUTHWATERING-LY (yes not a word, I know). AMAZEBALL!
Nieuw Amsterdam, Melbourne
So it’s date night again (I’m always finding excuses to have date night) and Mr D took me to Nieuw Amsterdam (SURPRISE!!). We got lost getting there because he refused to tell me where we were going so I couldn’t help him. When we eventually got there, I was ecstatic. I was a bit confused since there were stairs going up and down and no signs to which one we should take. I went down and BAM hit the bar. This mean the eatery was upstairs (damn!).
Cobb Lane, Yarraville
We had a double date for lunch and I was responsible for finding a venue. Took a random stab and chose Cobb Lane in Yarraville since I love the smell of fresh bread in bakeries. They don’t take bookings so we decided to turn up at noon (should have thought this through more carefully) but luckily we got a table just as we arrived. The place is very small and cosy and as you step in you just smell the bread (mmmm bread).
Epping Thai, Epping
Another dinner with the girlies and we decided to come here for Thai since it was local for them. It looked fancy and decent from the outside and was seated immediately (not that busy on a Tuesday night). We got the Pad See Ewe with chicken and found it to be really oily and salty. We also got two servings of the Roti with peanut sauce. The roti was okay but ones as Malaysian restaurants are much better.
Hammer & Tong 412, Fitzroy
My friends decided they wanted to head to Hammer & Tong for lunch and of course they only do bookings for dinner (head online) and walk-in for lunches. So I got there early with Mr D and they wouldn’t seat or consider us until everyone in our party was there (booo they were only 5 minutes away) so we sat by the coffee bar and waited patiently (without any choice….sigh). Finally, they arrived and we got a table within 5 mins (WOOOOHOOOO). Took our jackets off (so hot) and got seated. I ordered a Chai Latte (my adult coffee substitute that won’t make me hyperactive) and when it came out it was the most exciting thing I saw. The honey on the side was in a little beaker (SCIENCE WOOOOOO). Mixing in the honey into the latte, it was pretty damn good!
Hihou, Melbourne
I was taken here by one of my two stooges and decided to take Mr. D and a friend Miss Pear back. What I love about this place is to get into the bar/lounge, you need to press the doorbell and someone will open the door and let you in (yes the door is locked, always checking). Once you enter they will ask how many people and if there’s space and in you go.
Turned out we were lucky and was able to get into the lounge area!! As the lounge area is carpeted and huge lounge chairs, we were asked to take off our shoes (yay novelty!) and leave them at the shoe rack. As soon as we got comfy and seated (or lay down), the waiter come by with the drinks menu and warm hand towels so we can be clean to start our drinking (great service!).