tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29289306575408311502024-03-13T22:52:25.849-07:00KatKat TalesTales of gastronomic adventures and discoveries down the various alleyways of Melbourne (and the world)...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-11532579407142685622010-07-25T06:19:00.000-07:002010-07-25T06:19:43.586-07:00Changes aren't always for the better<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Cafe Sweethearts</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">263 Conventry St, South Melbourne 3205</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">I think it is always disappointing when a favourite regular is crossed off the list due to change of ownership; I think it is even more disappointing when such an event inspires and motiviates one to return to food blogging. This was the exactly what transpired out of my experience at Cafe Sweetheart today.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After hearing that Guy (previous lovely owner) has decided to move on from the industry, we thought we'd pay Sweethearts a revisit to see if the change in ownership had left any battle scars in the quality of the food, as it had always been one of my favourite places to fall back on for Sunday brunch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Arrived at just past noon, the place was surprisingly quiet for a Sunday. By that I meant there were actually tables availble, without any signs of queues reaching out to the door. We were seated promptly and offered menus, and to have our drink orders taken. So far so good. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwy7TmjUsI/AAAAAAAAAWc/VFZCKkFuKmo/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwy7TmjUsI/AAAAAAAAAWc/VFZCKkFuKmo/s320/DSC_0758.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The chai lattes (soy and normal) arrived in an upgraded teapot, with a healthy sprinkle of cinnamon. Our meals arrived shortly after; the eggs benedict still worked its spot on hollandaise magic, albiet the scrambled egg whites were missing a lot of the smooth, creamy punch-factor. Possibly the healthier version, although I would still much prefer to have the extra taste and remain in denial about the accompanying calories.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwztzI2yNI/AAAAAAAAAWs/VD_TuBbeWVE/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwztzI2yNI/AAAAAAAAAWs/VD_TuBbeWVE/s320/DSC_0762.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwzYLMPi6I/AAAAAAAAAWk/aHRy9C9BOO4/s1600/DSC_0764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/TEwzYLMPi6I/AAAAAAAAAWk/aHRy9C9BOO4/s320/DSC_0764.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">And Then (the famous last words). And then, things started to go slightly pear-shaped. Sure the service at Sweethearts was mostly amicable, although somewhat inconsistent and inefficient at times. Having known most of the wait staff by face, we had never had any problems with their service standards. We were even OKAY when we had to wait for 40 minutes for our meals to arrive because the waitress had forgotten to put in our order.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">So this time, when we waved the waitress over and asked her if she could bring our waters we ordered at the beginning, politely using key words such as 'please' and 'if it's okay', I didn't think twice about it. But apparently, as we found out 10 minutes later when our water was brought by another waitress, we 'shouldn't snap our fingers and scream at waiters' if we wanted something. And apparently, the said waitress is now very upset and angry, and would not come to our table, so it would be good if we could 'refrain from asking her for anything for the remainder of our time there'. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Now, it may be a while since I've blogged, it also may be a while since I've visited a breakfast venue, but since when did the waitresses decide who the customer should and shouldn't ask for glasses of water from? Especially when they are all EMPLOYED to have that as I would imagine part of the job description!? Also when did it become OKAY for staff to start reprimanding customers for something they had complete zero knowledge of?!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I also found that feedback wasn't taken specifically well, or at all. When we tried to raise our concerns before leaving, we might as well be talking to a plate of unorganic, over-buttered, and under-sauteed mushrooms. The final nail in the Sweetheart coffin was when we brought up our 5 years of dining relationship with the resturant and ex-owner, we were told 'well, Guy's not around anymore, Darling'.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Looks like we won't be either, Darling.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Rating: 1/10</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Encore: only if they lose the attitude</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-66169318018691456162009-05-04T03:59:00.000-07:002009-05-17T01:00:25.436-07:00Walter's Wine Bar - Shop UR1 Southgate, SouhtbankSo arrived the much anticipated return to Walter's Wine Bar for breakfast. Unlike our less welcomed arrival from the half-asleep and potentially hung-over waitress at 8AM sharp during our last visit, we <span style="font-style: italic;">just</span> scraped in for breakfast when I casually walked in at 11:27AM and asked if breakfast was still being served. Just in time, I was told. And our usual balcony seating complete with Moroccan cushions was also available. Excellent.<br /><br />Having already studied the menu the evening before (like kids before camp), we knew exactly what was to be ordered: Corn cake with smoked salmon & horseradish cream ($11.50) and the Wine Bar Big Breakfast - scrambled eggs (poached on original menu), hollandaise, bacon, mushrooms, tomato, spinach, hash brown & sausage ($15.50). And of course the usual skim and soy lattes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_p-jhwdI/AAAAAAAAATc/YNkYgpy69Y0/s1600-h/DSCN5893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_p-jhwdI/AAAAAAAAATc/YNkYgpy69Y0/s320/DSCN5893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336694811344880082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_pl9KWQI/AAAAAAAAATU/Z-ybWMxu8eQ/s1600-h/DSCN5892.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_pl9KWQI/AAAAAAAAATU/Z-ybWMxu8eQ/s320/DSCN5892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336694804741511426" border="0" /></a><br />The coffees didn't exactly deliver, although I have found myself partial to the glassware they came in.<br /><br />The scrambled eggs were nicely done and herbed, the mushrooms average, bacon below average, and the hash brown resembling something from a frozen McCaine's package. The smoked salmon came generously served and fresh, the corn cake a little doughey, then again, I suppose a 'cake' and a 'fritter' has its differences.<br /><br />The food was substantial and well priced, although unsure if it's because of the time of the day, or the inherent expectations from our last visit, or because I've since been exposing myself to various breakfasts at alternate menus, there were no fireworks. A good feed but, nevertheless.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_paSbvSI/AAAAAAAAATM/i9BDJ2u0FEo/s1600-h/DSCN5882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_paSbvSI/AAAAAAAAATM/i9BDJ2u0FEo/s320/DSCN5882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336694801609506082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_pGpZjtI/AAAAAAAAATE/foocGW7JL4k/s1600-h/DSCN5889.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_pGpZjtI/AAAAAAAAATE/foocGW7JL4k/s320/DSCN5889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336694796337123026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_qOc-HkI/AAAAAAAAATk/9Eh6h29y07U/s1600-h/DSCN5896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sg-_qOc-HkI/AAAAAAAAATk/9Eh6h29y07U/s320/DSCN5896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336694815612345922" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 6.5/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: 6/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: Professional and friendly waiters - 8/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: VERY well priced for the venue and serving - 8/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 8/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 36.5/50<br /></span><em>Encore</em>: Perhaps for something lighter next...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-42972892390631632752009-04-26T00:06:00.000-07:002009-04-30T04:46:04.782-07:00Tomodachi - Melbourne Central, Melbourne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.menulog.com.au/generated_content/images/venueA/220_232_0_1/44418_1c7e507222bdbd735f21e900ea8b9c02/14.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 144px;" src="http://www.menulog.com.au/generated_content/images/venueA/220_232_0_1/44418_1c7e507222bdbd735f21e900ea8b9c02/14.jpeg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So ends my brief affair with Tomocachi due to horrendous service.<br /><br />Quite sad really. I was a good, and most often, returning customer.<br /><br />The story went something like this; one lunch time I casually strolled into the venue and was greeted, like previous times with a waitress and given a booth. No dissatisfaction thus far.<br /><br />The waitress popped down the drinks menu and the LUNCH TIME menu next to me. I already knew what I was going to order so I scanned the menu and called the waitress over to order a Chicken Teriyaki bento box. Again, no issues so far.<br /><br />Meal comes and looks slightly different to the usual lunch time bento, without putting much thought into it, and just assuming that they've changed their menus, I quite happily finished most of the my meal. Contented so far.<br /><br />Then I go to pay. And this was the part that unstitched my entire association with Tomodachi. Cutting a long story short - the waitress had put the bento in as a normal bento rather than a lunch time bento. "If you told us earlier that this wasn't your meal then we could've changed it for you" - Hello? How was I meant to know it wasn't the right bento? "Well if you've only eaten half of your meal we could also change it for you" - Again, who orders their meals and only eats half so they could change their order to the one they originally ordered? Confusing I know, but nevertheless. "Well you should've specified that you wanted the LUNCH bento" - IT WAS THE LUNCH MENU THE WAITRESS GAVE ME!<br /><br />Outcome: paid full amount as I was running late for meeting, but have, am, and will always recommend anyone I talk to against visiting the restaurant. Quite a pity really - the food wasn't bad, and for a mere $12 they're going to lose one valuable return customer, and the whole bunch of people that I'm going to turn away.<br /><br />Food for though maybe?<br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 7/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: N/A<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 0/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 0/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 6/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 13/40</span> - 16.25/50<br /><em>Encore</em>: This one's on the black list with Golden Monkey...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-90047047525964937142009-04-19T02:24:00.000-07:002009-04-19T04:23:38.131-07:00Babka Bakery Cafe - 358 Brunswick St, FitzroyI have a dilemma. It's 3:49PM, and I need a place to have breakfast.<br /><br />After several pone attempts to various popular breakfast diners and still no success in securing a venue which operates later than 5PM and has a kitchen which is still open after 4pm, I'm torn. Should I skip breakfast and to straight to dinner, or am I desperate enough to actually settle for a home cooked meal?<br /><br />Tears were shed, tantrums (and phones) were thrown, but at the end of the day, I still decided to source somewhere to satisfy my insatiable craving for scrambled eggs.<br /><br />This is when Babka came to the rescue. Known for its Russian influenced all day breakfast menu, a kitchen that's open till 6pm, and a venue that's open till 7pm, it was the ultimate, if not only, choice.<br /><br />A typical Brunswick street cafe setting, the venue was quite easy to locate by the 'babka' stenciled in yellow on bright blue background. At 4:46pm, most people were having cakes (which looked delicious) and coffee, or pies (with drool-worthy fillings).<br /><br />We ordered scrambled eggs on toast with a side of bacon, mushrooms, and avocado, the Cottage Cheese Blintzes - which I heard was a popular choice, and was weary of the bad service, which was also rumoured to be quite atrocious. Fortunately, or unfortunately on the last matter, most things I had heard/read about the venue proved to be true.<br /><br />With tight spaces between tables and chairs, the place were filled with various waif waitresses who each tries their best to ignore your existence, whilst pretending they're too occupied with their duties to care about you in the first instance. W.W.1 (Waif Wait 1) looked startled when, after a few mins of waiting at the counters feeling invisible, we interrupted her conversation with W.W.2 and asked if we could seat ourselves. W.W.3 made it apparent that we had rudely interrupted her usual duties (which I had thought would've been serving customers) when we waived our arms about to catch her attention so we could order. W.W.4 was pleasant enough when she placed our orders down, and W.W.5 (a more elderly and less waif lady) generously allowed us to take the home-made preserves resting on the bar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Servm5slgSI/AAAAAAAAASc/S9R9JOCyRfQ/s1600-h/DSCN5717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Servm5slgSI/AAAAAAAAASc/S9R9JOCyRfQ/s320/DSCN5717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326332960920928546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/ServmqtTzXI/AAAAAAAAASU/l4KqnHEb-bo/s1600-h/DSCN5716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/ServmqtTzXI/AAAAAAAAASU/l4KqnHEb-bo/s320/DSCN5716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326332956897430898" border="0" /></a><br />The food arrived within a reasonable timeframe (which meant a lot, given by the time we've manged to place our orders it was past 5pm and we were starving), the scrambled eggs were silky and creamy, however slightly on the soggy end. The bacons were crisp, caramelised and <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span>, the mushrooms were quite lacking in flavour, and the avocado was definitely not of the Hass variety. The blintzes were nice, albeit a little short of the reputation that's been circulated around various blogs. And the most important aspect of a perfect breakfast - coffee, was off the mark.<br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 7/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: 5/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 5/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 6/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 8/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 31/50</span><br /><em>Encore</em>: Maybe the cakes and pies next time...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-8398253062391849092009-04-19T01:56:00.000-07:002009-04-19T05:00:19.962-07:00Dench Bakers - 109 Scotchmer St, North FitzroyDench was actually a lot smaller and less polished than I imagined. Perhaps because of its reputation in the food review/critique community, or maybe it is credited to their highly professional <a href="http://www.denchbakers.com.au/">web page</a>. Nevertheless, it was a nice, clean, bright, airy cafe, with an equal amount of dine-in and take-away patrons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SerskN0wcvI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fEcT1pYtiW8/s1600-h/DSCN5732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SerskN0wcvI/AAAAAAAAAR8/fEcT1pYtiW8/s320/DSCN5732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329616249418482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sersi5UqkyI/AAAAAAAAARc/YYQxoKu_ggY/s1600-h/DSCN5719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sersi5UqkyI/AAAAAAAAARc/YYQxoKu_ggY/s320/DSCN5719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329593566237474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SersjCGQ00I/AAAAAAAAARk/io93NX40LT8/s1600-h/DSCN5720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SersjCGQ00I/AAAAAAAAARk/io93NX40LT8/s320/DSCN5720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329595921748802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sersj4-9R9I/AAAAAAAAAR0/wVg0pxK-AAc/s1600-h/DSCN5731.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sersj4-9R9I/AAAAAAAAAR0/wVg0pxK-AAc/s320/DSCN5731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329610655057874" border="0" /></a>We were greeted warmly by a young lad from Canada (judging by the accent), who amicably agreed on our self-selected seating, and asked what coffee I would like. Such a good man.<br /><br />It might have been his first day, as he seemed a little uncertain when I asked for the breakfast menu; after quickly scanning the cafe, he settled on retrieving a menu from the table behind us.<br /><br />They don't serve Chai latte, so I settled for my fall back - latte, of the skim variety, and Chai tea, which they do serve. My coffee came perfectly presented, almost too pretty to drink. We ordered the poached egg, w smoked salmon, potato rosti with dill mayo and rocket ($15.50), and the breakfast special - corn and zuchinni fritters, w herbed scrambled eggs, avocado salsa, bacon, and spinach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SersjlghiOI/AAAAAAAAARs/X72Gg9y3wkM/s1600-h/DSCN5724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SersjlghiOI/AAAAAAAAARs/X72Gg9y3wkM/s320/DSCN5724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326329605427136738" border="0" /></a><br />Our much anticipated meals arrived after a brief wait, and the result was mixed. The poached eggs were runny, although when our order was taken we were given the option of specifying how we'd like our eggs poached, which we forewent. The salmon as a little rubbery, however the potato rosti was <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent</span>. The scrambled eggs were 10/10 - perfect texture, perfect flavour, perfect consistency...just <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span>. Avocado salsa was nice but may have suited better with the smoked salmon, fritters were a little disappointing, spinach was boiled and not sauteed, and the bacon - overcooked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SertZcP_VMI/AAAAAAAAASM/uccTDOAZN4M/s1600-h/DSCN5743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SertZcP_VMI/AAAAAAAAASM/uccTDOAZN4M/s320/DSCN5743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326330530654803138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SertZFvK1AI/AAAAAAAAASE/LgT0EXQSr50/s1600-h/DSCN5739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SertZFvK1AI/AAAAAAAAASE/LgT0EXQSr50/s320/DSCN5739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326330524611564546" border="0" /></a><br />The owner (one of) was nice and engaged in light conversation when we asked for payment preferences, of which we were advised "cash is king". Pastries, cakes, and bread were under popular demand, as with the hot breakfasts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: May stick with its signature treats next time - 7.5/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: Upgraded for presentation - 7/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: Prompt, professional & friendly; a true distnction from the likes of <a href="http://katkattales.blogspot.com/2009/04/babka-bakery-cafe-358-brunswick-st.html">babka</a> - 9/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: our meals + drinks came to just over $36 - 7/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: casual and relaxed - 7.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 38/50</span><br /><em>Encore</em>: I hear croissants calling...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-92019994804486634122009-04-16T03:04:00.001-07:002009-04-16T05:13:24.977-07:00Royal Copenhagen Ice Cream Cone Co - 15 Jetty Rd, Glenelg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHbZijOcI/AAAAAAAAAQk/HpppZA1V9l0/s1600-h/DSCN5351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHbZijOcI/AAAAAAAAAQk/HpppZA1V9l0/s320/DSCN5351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325233251682564546" border="0" /></a><br />"You Scream, I Scream, Let's all Scream, for Ice Cream!"<br /><br />This slogan takes me momentarily back to my primary school days, where sticky fingers and ice cream smeared faces were still considered acceptable public etiquette.<br /><br />And Royal Copenhagen makes me want to delve back into those youthful carefree days, where one can enjoy the simple pleasures in life without giving the slightest waffle cone about what 'other people' thinks. Even if it does involve brief periods of discomfort as you leave sugar smudges over everything you touch until you're hauled into a sink and appropriately scrubbed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHblZ_odI/AAAAAAAAAQs/uPsgqUfM8A0/s1600-h/DSCN5354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHblZ_odI/AAAAAAAAAQs/uPsgqUfM8A0/s320/DSCN5354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325233254867902930" border="0" /></a>This is good ice cream. We went back twice in the shortly span of our stay in Glenelg, and it was worth every dripping fudge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHb1_o4mI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Zp92oDxVvd4/s1600-h/DSCN5356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecHb1_o4mI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/Zp92oDxVvd4/s320/DSCN5356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325233259320762978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecByBS4GZI/AAAAAAAAAPU/igfSMIoNh4w/s1600-h/DSCN5680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecByBS4GZI/AAAAAAAAAPU/igfSMIoNh4w/s320/DSCN5680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325227043241597330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: This has the potential to give Melbourne Ice Creameries a run for their money - 8.5/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: N/A<br /><div><em>Service</em>: The girl behind the counter was surprisingly patient with us, as we trialed our way through the three flavours we finally decided on, every time I thought she might flip she didn't. Kudos to her - 8/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: They had self-serve chocolate and caramel fudge, as well as sprinkles and other toppings - 8.5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: Your usual ice cream takeaway joint slightly on the shabby side - 6.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 31.5/40 = </span>39/50<br /><div><em>Encore</em>: ice cream anyone?<br /></div>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-71255219778994505502009-04-15T06:20:00.004-07:002009-04-30T04:43:11.454-07:00Hahndorf Inn Hotel - 35 Main Street, HahndorfIf you're looking for a traditional German fare in Adelaide then Hahndorf is probably your best bet.<br /><br />We ordered the German Mixed Grill ($28.90) with a side of German Pretzel ($4), was probably quite a pricey affair for what <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> thought was an over-salted, over-saturated fat, over-cholesterol meal...although I'm sure the boys will deem this a favourite!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecEG2TSi_I/AAAAAAAAAPs/roqxLqZ84o4/s1600-h/DSCN5612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecEG2TSi_I/AAAAAAAAAPs/roqxLqZ84o4/s320/DSCN5612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325229600091048946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecDzQjB9eI/AAAAAAAAAPc/CYqCzh0DZI4/s1600-h/DSCN5619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecDzQjB9eI/AAAAAAAAAPc/CYqCzh0DZI4/s320/DSCN5619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325229263539008994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 6/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: N/A<br /><div><em>Service</em>: There were 'kids' (award-waged juniors) everywhere! - 5/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 4/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 7/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 22/40</span> - 27.5/50<br /><em>Encore</em>: Possibly - for the culture.Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-91435349195046008332009-04-15T06:20:00.003-07:002009-04-30T04:31:01.964-07:00Andersen's of Denmark Ice Cream Co - 46 Jetty Rd, GlenelgThe cone was soft and stale, the ice cream tasteless, the service luke-warm. I only have one word for Anderson's Ice Cream: Disappointment.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmLLTJ2YmI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fr4JOjdzZnI/s1600-h/DSCN5261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmLLTJ2YmI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fr4JOjdzZnI/s320/DSCN5261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330444660206101090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmLLsi4leI/AAAAAAAAAS8/-V5YsVdVbWU/s1600-h/DSCN5264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmLLsi4leI/AAAAAAAAAS8/-V5YsVdVbWU/s320/DSCN5264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330444667021989346" border="0" /></a>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-85325866912379938632009-04-15T06:20:00.001-07:002009-04-27T03:59:58.753-07:00Zest Cafe Gallery - 2a Sussex St, GlenelgYet another disappointment in Adelaide. So much potential. So little substance.<br /><br />I was extremely delighted when I stumbled upon this hidden cafe on a quiet side street as I was walking down the main strip in Glenelg. Tucked behind a quirky layout in an ambiguous location, it seemed full of promise. Places like this back home would have been the very representation of excellent coffee, crave-worthy signature treats, a tattooed waiter/waitress with at least 3 piercings (perceivable), and at least a 95% local population.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecFsLPLpNI/AAAAAAAAAP0/4nE4VCZaKI8/s1600-h/DSCN5333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecFsLPLpNI/AAAAAAAAAP0/4nE4VCZaKI8/s320/DSCN5333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325231340877751506" border="0" /></a><br />So it was with much anticipation that I returned to Zest Cafe Gallery the next morning, hoping for a much better breakfast experience than the likes of <a href="http://katkattales.blogspot.com/2009/04/biga-200-hutt-st-adelaide.html">Biga</a>.<br /><br />I was not prepared for what happened next.<br /><br />We ordered 'Hell's Eggs' ($12) - two eggs in a pot with a tomato, capsicum and rosemary salsa, topped with grilled cheese, Tobasco and Zest's BBQ sauce served with toasted baguette, and 'The Hottie' ($12) - a spinach, basil and pecorino risotto cake with chorizo sausages and a tomato, rosemary and red capsicum salsa, served with toast.<br /><br />All sounds fantastic. Right? Wrong.<br /><br />The baguette was toasted to an inch of it's crispy and rock-hard life, the grilled cheese was probably the only edible thing in the dish, the eggs were <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> overcooked, and only the tomato (and 5kgs of salt) were detectable in the salsa...the 'Hottie' was equally worse, if possible - the spinach looked like it had endured the boil for a few mins too long and was void of colour, or taste for that matter. The spinach, basil and pecorino risotto cake resembled nothing of its proclaimed yumminess. It was like eating stale rice with drabs of over-grown weed from the side strips. And the salsa. Ah, the salsa. What was that about differentiating between salsa and <span style="font-style: italic;">tomato soup</span> again?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfWHWhUVd6I/AAAAAAAAASk/gFjNq-oDrx8/s1600-h/DSCN5344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfWHWhUVd6I/AAAAAAAAASk/gFjNq-oDrx8/s320/DSCN5344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329314555033384866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecGDnl-SzI/AAAAAAAAAQc/stDApv58LSI/s1600-h/DSCN5349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecGDnl-SzI/AAAAAAAAAQc/stDApv58LSI/s320/DSCN5349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325231743626529586" border="0" /></a><br />The coffee was typically Adelaide. Unimpressive, albeit in this instance, at least drinkable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecFs4FiPgI/AAAAAAAAAQM/xS2AMdHLx38/s1600-h/DSCN5340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecFs4FiPgI/AAAAAAAAAQM/xS2AMdHLx38/s320/DSCN5340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325231352916884994" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em><br />Food</em>: We ended up feeding our deprived stomachs on toast and butter - 1/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: 4/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: The service was appreciative - albeit the waitre showed genuine signs of disbelief when we provided some feedback regarding the quality of their food - no one ever told them!? - 6/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: Reasonably priced food, but I'm down-marking it due to quality 4/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: Neat little cafe - 8/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 23/50</span><br /><em>Encore</em>: Would not want to with a 10 foot barge-pole...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-34958208724080553242009-04-12T04:01:00.000-07:002009-04-30T04:22:33.706-07:00Bracegirdles House of Fine Chocolate - 31 Jetty Road, GlenelgAdelaide's best Coffee and Chocolate?<br /><br />...absolutely!<br /><br />At least so claimed the advertising on the windows. Enticed by the 'champion team of Barista’s including this years State Barista Champion Fiefy and runner up in the Latte Art Competition Mark', I walked into this dim lit chocolate house.<br /><br />We settled for the lemon meringue, accompanied by a mug of hot chocolate, and a skim latte - to test out the talent of Bracegirdle's 'award winning' baristas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIPsbHpII/AAAAAAAAAQ8/z-4HO5doDc4/s1600-h/DSCN5384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIPsbHpII/AAAAAAAAAQ8/z-4HO5doDc4/s320/DSCN5384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325234150104867970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIQAY4DpI/AAAAAAAAARM/7F2Ew6ti_Dw/s1600-h/DSCN5390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIQAY4DpI/AAAAAAAAARM/7F2Ew6ti_Dw/s320/DSCN5390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325234155464167058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIPzfAe2I/AAAAAAAAARE/i4eX2Jomhf8/s1600-h/DSCN5388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIPzfAe2I/AAAAAAAAARE/i4eX2Jomhf8/s320/DSCN5388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325234152000224098" border="0" /></a><br />The meringue tasted artificial, like something from a chain retail coffee place (not a good thing). The hot chocolate was rated highly, and the coffee again, average. Must be the SA beans/milk?<br /><br />Feeling a little peckish after picking at the meringue, we went ahead and ordered the Chocolate Fondue for 2.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIQdMOdAI/AAAAAAAAARU/dIETysuyAXY/s1600-h/DSCN5392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SecIQdMOdAI/AAAAAAAAARU/dIETysuyAXY/s320/DSCN5392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325234163195737090" border="0" /></a><br />Wasn't too sure about the orange slices (with rind) and still a long way away from KoKo Black or Max Brenner, but this proved to be a popular choice, as banana and strawberry pieces were dipped and re-dipped before being rapidly consumed.Then again, chocolate is one of those things that takes great talent to wrong (even though lately I've been convinced about Adelaide chefs possessing such a rare talent).<br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 5/10<br /></div> <em>Coffee</em>: 5/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 5/10<br /></div> <em>Value</em>: 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 25/50</span><br /><em>Encore</em>: Quite average across the board really...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-23446144368101109302009-04-12T03:54:00.000-07:002009-04-30T04:25:02.975-07:00Novotel Resort Barossa Valley - Golflinks Rd, Rowland Flats, Barossa ValleyI can't say I've had my share of Hotel Buffet breakfasts, but as far as my standards go - this one's going to the top of the list. Fantastic view, great selection, the scrambled eggs weren't half bad, and they even had a great selection of fresh fruits!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXePS05eoI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2oETSLL2wsU/s1600-h/DSCN5198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXePS05eoI/AAAAAAAAAPM/2oETSLL2wsU/s320/DSCN5198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324906488768592514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXePCYXJiI/AAAAAAAAAPE/sw3Bm6CtuGI/s1600-h/DSCN5197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXePCYXJiI/AAAAAAAAAPE/sw3Bm6CtuGI/s320/DSCN5197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324906484353934882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeO1ej1uI/AAAAAAAAAO8/MioUqefQ96Q/s1600-h/DSCN5196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeO1ej1uI/AAAAAAAAAO8/MioUqefQ96Q/s320/DSCN5196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324906480890271458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeOn_AiRI/AAAAAAAAAO0/QWfsh9w1eTs/s1600-h/DSCN5194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeOn_AiRI/AAAAAAAAAO0/QWfsh9w1eTs/s320/DSCN5194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324906477268273426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeOc3827I/AAAAAAAAAOs/KGruaX1PJG4/s1600-h/DSCN5191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXeOc3827I/AAAAAAAAAOs/KGruaX1PJG4/s320/DSCN5191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324906474285882290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 7/10<br /></div><em>Beverages</em>: 7/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: N/A<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 8/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 8/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 30/40</span> - 37.5/50<br /><em>Encore</em>: Definitely.Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-35296072739772991152009-04-11T22:34:00.000-07:002009-04-27T04:26:03.744-07:00Mings Steamboat - 301 Morphett St, AdelaideSo begins our first venture into the dismal one page mentioner of top Adelaide restaurants in the Good Food Guide (2009). After many a disappointment, we thought it might be safer to 'stick the the books', as they say.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZcbmhRYI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Vmue-xX0IBc/s1600-h/DSCN5297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZcbmhRYI/AAAAAAAAAN8/Vmue-xX0IBc/s320/DSCN5297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324901216904365442" border="0" /></a><br />The restaurant, we were told, is right beside China Town. Upon entering, I realised that the restuarant <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> China Town. The pseudo local hang out for Asian Students, everyone greeted their friends on one/multiple tables as they walked through the door.<br /><br />The waiter <span style="font-style: italic;">threw</span> our menus onto the table after we asked if we could be seated at a different table he had originally indicated us to, and then looking perfectly righteous as he ignored us for the next 30 minutes as we tried to get someone's attention to take our order.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZctfmK4I/AAAAAAAAAOE/_QQ0jwV-uAQ/s1600-h/DSCN5301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZctfmK4I/AAAAAAAAAOE/_QQ0jwV-uAQ/s320/DSCN5301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324901221707164546" border="0" /></a><br />When we've finally managed to place our orders, and everything did arrive - which it did relatively quickly - we were too busy cooking and eating to recall the prior disservice. Plus, the girls were pretty helpful later on when we requested to have more condiments.<br /><br />The soup base was authentic, and the ingredients fresh. First reasonable feed since our landing in Adelaide.<br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 7/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: N/A<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 3/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 6/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 21/40</span> - 26.25/50<br /><em>Encore</em>: If all else fails...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-22493125990240478362009-04-11T02:25:00.000-07:002009-04-30T04:12:22.537-07:00Maggie Beer Pheasant Farm Shop - Pheasant Farm Rd, NuriootpaEvery once in a while luck will allow one to discover a rare hidden gem, one that will allow you to forget its exact location, even if in an alien state, and proclaim it as your own prerogative to visit every fortnight. Spying Maggie Beer Farm Shop in one of those Tourist brochures and captivated by the serenity of its lakeside existence, we've visited, and confirmed that the Pheasant Farm Cafe do belong to one of those places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVNSjFFkI/AAAAAAAAALs/F7JOBdecOeQ/s1600-h/DSCN5145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVNSjFFkI/AAAAAAAAALs/F7JOBdecOeQ/s320/DSCN5145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896558729467458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2Z-9yaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/l3hFdNl8PrU/s1600-h/DSCN5158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2Z-9yaI/AAAAAAAAAMU/l3hFdNl8PrU/s320/DSCN5158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897265100114338" border="0" /></a><br />Every once in a while luck will allow one to discover a rare hidden gem, one that will allow you to forget its exact location, even if in an alien state, and proclaim it as your own prerogative to visit every fortnight. Spying Maggie Beer Farm Shop in one of those Tourist brochures and captivated by the serenity of its lakeside existence, we've visited, and confirmed that the Pheasant Farm Cafe do belong to one of those places.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVNxPzD6I/AAAAAAAAAL0/6F1QE_dusLI/s1600-h/DSCN5149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVNxPzD6I/AAAAAAAAAL0/6F1QE_dusLI/s320/DSCN5149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896566970093474" border="0" /></a><br />A shop in its own right, you can browse the the vast range of quinces, sauces, dips and jams on display is enough to whet your appetite, both visual and of course, taste wise. We were greeted warmly by an older lady asking us if we have been here before. Upon hearing negative she briefly explained we're free to browse and try everything we like, alternatively if we do wish to dine there are picnic baskets available.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOfzy5OI/AAAAAAAAAME/59Dlw52Zoh0/s1600-h/DSCN5153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOfzy5OI/AAAAAAAAAME/59Dlw52Zoh0/s320/DSCN5153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896579469108450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOPq8VCI/AAAAAAAAAL8/PAuGtdBKfiM/s1600-h/DSCN5151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOPq8VCI/AAAAAAAAAL8/PAuGtdBKfiM/s320/DSCN5151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896575137010722" border="0" /></a><br />The plates brought back nostalgia from kindergarten, and the recycled wooden spoons were gorgeous. The view outside was all splendorous and looked exactly like, if not more breath-taking, than the photo (rare occurrence!). It's one of those places where one can easily spend their better part of the day reading, dining, wining, whilst getting up close and personal with mother nature.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOocPodI/AAAAAAAAAMM/UY65WCrD1fQ/s1600-h/DSCN5157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXVOocPodI/AAAAAAAAAMM/UY65WCrD1fQ/s320/DSCN5157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324896581786247634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmGwDwPXzI/AAAAAAAAASs/NkiL7SqOIk0/s1600-h/DSCN5167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SfmGwDwPXzI/AAAAAAAAASs/NkiL7SqOIk0/s320/DSCN5167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330439794169175858" border="0" /></a><br />We went for the Homemade Pheasant Terrine ($16) - Pheasant and porcini mushroom terrine wrapped in sour cream pastry with salad greens, Vino Cotto vinaigrette and Maggie's Cabernet Sauce, and the Seasonal Cheese Picnic Basket ($13.50) - Maggie's seasonal cheese choice with quince paste, fresh fruit and walnut bread roll.<br /><br />Everything was delicious, the terrine was beautiful, and the grapes crispy fresh. This alone is worth the trip to Adelaide!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2ZZs4uI/AAAAAAAAAMc/iY9k3-BKG-4/s1600-h/DSCN5166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2ZZs4uI/AAAAAAAAAMc/iY9k3-BKG-4/s320/DSCN5166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897264943817442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2gxC4LI/AAAAAAAAAMk/kqfRqW-gnss/s1600-h/DSCN5174.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV2gxC4LI/AAAAAAAAAMk/kqfRqW-gnss/s320/DSCN5174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897266920775858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV291BemI/AAAAAAAAAMs/41khnHmMZRo/s1600-h/DSCN5176.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXV291BemI/AAAAAAAAAMs/41khnHmMZRo/s320/DSCN5176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324897274722089570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 8.5/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: 6/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 8/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: 7/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: 9/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 38.5/50</span><br /><em>Encore</em>: Coffee was the only downfall; then again, it might just be an Adelaide thing...Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-67375020572674777642009-04-11T02:18:00.000-07:002009-04-27T03:54:33.971-07:00Biga - 200 Hutt St, Adelaide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZC3eYTHI/AAAAAAAAAN0/BJwJ6ss4TdY/s1600-h/DSCN5133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZC3eYTHI/AAAAAAAAAN0/BJwJ6ss4TdY/s320/DSCN5133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900777709816946" border="0" /></a><br />This is one of those places that has so much potential it makes you cringe when they under-deliver and you're pained with the realisation that it's all just seductive packaging with no substance whatsoever.<br /><br />Actually. That describes most Adelaide Cafes and Restaurants.<br /><br />Having just landed in Adelaide less than hour ago after a <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> early morning flight, we were on a mission to locate a venue for a good, hearty breakfast. Out of the four cafes on the corner of Hutt and Halifax St, Biga seemed to be the most unpretentious candidate. With laid-back seating outside under massive white umbrellas, the light-filled cafe was clean, warm, and homely. The waitress was friendly enough, even though she was cool and rather occupied to grant us much of her attention.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYPbIyp5I/AAAAAAAAANE/iZExrmqgvRI/s1600-h/DSCN5117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYPbIyp5I/AAAAAAAAANE/iZExrmqgvRI/s320/DSCN5117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324899893929748370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYQWR6ARI/AAAAAAAAANM/6DFtxbrRX60/s1600-h/DSCN5113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYQWR6ARI/AAAAAAAAANM/6DFtxbrRX60/s320/DSCN5113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324899909805670674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYNW7zdNI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ak0FzUgjRa4/s1600-h/DSCN5121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYNW7zdNI/AAAAAAAAAM0/ak0FzUgjRa4/s320/DSCN5121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324899858441794770" border="0" /></a><br />With a neat one sided seating space and a clean, transparent counter display cabinet displaying all the pastry, muffins, slices and many others on offer, I was quite delighted with, and had high expectations of, what we decided on from the menu - Brioche dolce: brioche roll served with condiments and fresh cream, and the Big Breakfast: 2 poached eggs, layered stack of grilled chipolata sausage, field mushrooms, rosti potato and roast tomato on Biga toast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYQrXXO3I/AAAAAAAAANU/bekuinpjTf0/s1600-h/DSCN5124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYQrXXO3I/AAAAAAAAANU/bekuinpjTf0/s320/DSCN5124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324899915465702258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCAZ13tI/AAAAAAAAANc/qQiATfwd4tc/s1600-h/DSCN5126.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCAZ13tI/AAAAAAAAANc/qQiATfwd4tc/s320/DSCN5126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900762926833362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYOBij7RI/AAAAAAAAAM8/D642dbnCzRE/s1600-h/DSCN5119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXYOBij7RI/AAAAAAAAAM8/D642dbnCzRE/s320/DSCN5119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324899869878643986" border="0" /></a><br />Our coffee and food arrived relatively promptly. I immediately regretted trusting the breakfast chefs in a foreign state, particularly this one, with the holy task of poaching eggs. As I witnessed my egg yolks rolling back and forth under my very eyes, my stomach lurching with every shake and wobble, half expecting the undercooked egg whites to give way to the liquid yokes that's yearning to burst free from it's delicate confinements.<br /><br />The sausages were far from being qualified as chipolata, and overcooked to a disturbing state. The mushrooms were totally tasteless, not to mention the potato rosti looked like it was freshly unpacked from a frozen homebrand packet and <span style="font-style: italic;">absolutely wrong</span>. The much fussed about Biga toast (apparently sour-dough and freshly baked) turned out to be two slices of cold, over-toasted slices of bread, with no recollection of its former aristocratic status after its abuse in the oven. To give credit where credit is due - the bacon rashes were quite edible. To my utter shock and surprise.<br /><br />I was less than impressed with the rock-hard, stone-like brioche (served with cream!), and the coffee - although palatable - failed to make an impression as <span style="font-style: italic;">actual</span> coffee. Having offloaded most of my breakfast, I thought I'd suppress my hunger by ordering a hot-crossed bun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCXRg3nI/AAAAAAAAANk/1QwiwpvSgUQ/s1600-h/DSCN5129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCXRg3nI/AAAAAAAAANk/1QwiwpvSgUQ/s320/DSCN5129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900769065918066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCvTTBkI/AAAAAAAAANs/UxXVt2kR9tM/s1600-h/DSCN5132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SeXZCvTTBkI/AAAAAAAAANs/UxXVt2kR9tM/s320/DSCN5132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324900775515850306" border="0" /></a>Besides the few charcoals of burnt sultanas I picked off the bun, it wasn't too bad. Although for $3 I'd rather have a choc-chip hot-crossed bun from Baker's Delight.<br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: 4/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: 5/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: 7/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: For the quality of the food - 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: Chilled, relaxed, laid-back - 8.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 29.5/50</span><br /><div><em>Encore</em>: not for all the runny egg yolks in the world<br /></div>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-66195655776179594102009-04-05T17:34:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:50:56.991-07:00Immerse - 17-19 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, OlindaOn the way back from Miss Marples we decided to drop into Immerse and grab a coffee. The reception was cool as always; we waited at the 'Please Wait to be Seated' sign for almost 10mins without anyone even acknowledging our existence, before finally managing to grab the fleeting attention of a passing waitress and were given the nod to join the rest of the dining community. After we seated ourselves on the bar stools next to the window (despite numerous encouragements from the waitress that we could sit at the tables too if we <em>really</em> wanted to), we ordered a skim and a chai latte.<br /><br /><div> </div>In between ordering the coffee and it arriving, we also decided that we should get something to nibble on. The waitress, hearing this as she dispatched our coffees, asked if we would also like to see the menu, in which we responded very much favourably to. After briefly scanning the 2 page menu, we agreed that the only thing worth our attentions was the 'Zucchini & corn fritter topped with a salad of rocket, avocado & smoked salmon dressed with horseradish mayonnaise, beetroot relish and drizzled with lemon oil'. As we weren't having much success in the service category the order was placed via a trip to the counters.<br /><br /><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKMiKHtuI/AAAAAAAAAKU/-_F3x6Jd40Q/s1600-h/DSCN5048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKMiKHtuI/AAAAAAAAAKU/-_F3x6Jd40Q/s320/DSCN5048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321577120135624418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKMS2Q95I/AAAAAAAAAKM/Om6dd1A1iFE/s1600-h/DSCN5044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKMS2Q95I/AAAAAAAAAKM/Om6dd1A1iFE/s320/DSCN5044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321577116025812882" border="0" /></a><br />When our order arrived, we had to literally plough through the salad leaves and salmon pieces to locate the poor excuse of a fritter sitting sorrily beneath. It looked more like a pancake of the more lifeless variety than any fritters I've encountered, it was less than 5mms thick and probably equated to the size of my fist (and I have really small hands).<br /><br /><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKM_4ShYI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Mlys-18w82o/s1600-h/DSCN5057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKM_4ShYI/AAAAAAAAAKc/Mlys-18w82o/s320/DSCN5057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321577128113898882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKNDlkOFI/AAAAAAAAAKk/6wHEaiQduQk/s1600-h/DSCN5059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoKNDlkOFI/AAAAAAAAAKk/6wHEaiQduQk/s320/DSCN5059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321577129109108818" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Maybe it was the nice blend of rocket, lemon oil and mayonnaise, maybe it was the fresh smoked salmon, maybe it was the fact that expectations were so low upon witnessing what was presented to us as the dish we had a totally different image of, the taste wasn't all that bad. Sure, the texture was probably a little dense for a fritter and it was difficult to locate any corn kernals; sure, there were even no detectable traces of zucchini; but the overal taste was actually not that bad.</div><br /><div> </div>As we were lining up to pay, the waitress who served us even stopped and took a second to ask us how the meal went. Perhaps next time they could pay more attention to the customers waiting than the customers who've finished waiting?<br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><em>Food</em>: despite its measely existence, our order actually tasted quite good - 6.5/10</div><em>Coffee</em>: Average, lacking density, lacking aroma, lacking taste, but at least it wasn't the brown muddle of liquid at <a href="http://katkattales.blogspot.com/2009/04/mart-130-107a-canterbury-rd-middle-park.html">Mart 130</a> - a drinkable 4.5/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: it's actually not too bad when you have the attention of your waitress, but getting that attention is an achievement in itself - 4/10</div><em>Value</em>: my 5mm fist-sized fritter came to $16.95, not exactly value for money - 4/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: relaxed and laid-back - 7/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 26/50</span><br /><div><em>Encore</em>: this is our third time back, it's quite a nice little place to just sit and nibble for the afternoon (the waitresses leave you alone)</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div> </div>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-19504147725245022042009-04-05T02:03:00.000-07:002009-04-14T04:12:39.082-07:00Miss Marples Tea Room - 382 Mt. Dandenong Tourist Rd, SassafrasToday saw my much anticipated return to Mt. Dandenong, and Agatha Christie's character inspired Tea Room: Miss Marples Tea Room. The day was planned so that we were to wake early (before 10am) and head out for a breakfast of scones, cream, jam, and sorts.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdipp0CqzCI/AAAAAAAAAH0/9qKXViOImUc/s1600-h/DSCN4992.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321189495547808802" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdipp0CqzCI/AAAAAAAAAH0/9qKXViOImUc/s320/DSCN4992.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321189502597164770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdipqOTXbuI/AAAAAAAAAH8/FyHz-nDCvG8/s320/DSCN4995.JPG" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgAl0V2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/5sRnm-dlM3w/s1600-h/DSCN5039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgAl0V2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/5sRnm-dlM3w/s320/DSCN5039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321574156187490146" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321189506775062818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdipqd3dGSI/AAAAAAAAAIE/uzQtyYPxpNM/s320/DSCN4996.JPG" border="0" /><br />Miss Marples was packed as usual, if not more so. We were told that it would be a 30min wait for a table of 2, which wasn't unusual for a Saturday. Or any day for that matter.<br /><br />After a leisurely stroll to the tea shop next door, we returned to find our table ready for us. A young friendly waitress greeted us as we self-escorted ourselves to "the table under the big oval painting", that Soup of the Day was Pumpkin Soup with a french Crusty Roll, and that Special of the Day was Waffles with jam, cream, and ice-cream.</div><br /><div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgjWmlPI/AAAAAAAAAJc/CscROZwXVrE/s1600-h/DSCN5036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgjWmlPI/AAAAAAAAAJc/CscROZwXVrE/s320/DSCN5036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321574165518914802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHg-A5qYI/AAAAAAAAAJk/CYGvNiEMQBs/s1600-h/DSCN5017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHg-A5qYI/AAAAAAAAAJk/CYGvNiEMQBs/s320/DSCN5017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321574172675647874" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190918805064642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdiq8qFpC8I/AAAAAAAAAIc/bdxBPXRCHag/s320/DSCN5014.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190926053903522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdiq9FF5jKI/AAAAAAAAAIk/un-RQCzi7bQ/s320/DSCN5004.JPG" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgWpgFtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/wwX5l3F_67Q/s1600-h/DSCN5016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHgWpgFtI/AAAAAAAAAJU/wwX5l3F_67Q/s320/DSCN5016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321574162108520146" border="0" /></a><br />After much careful consideration weighing up the pros and cons, I decided to forego the ice-cream for the pumpkin soup. The fact that 2/3 of tables had ordered and it was a much missed rainy cold Autumn day , and of course with the promise to return in a fortnight and have my dessert fare swayed my final decision. So the final order consisted of: Pumpkin Soup, Welsh Rarebit Fingers (Mature English Cheddar, eggs, Guinness, mustard & spices), one of each scones (Plain & Fruit), and a Teapot of Taylors - apparently voted 'best cup of tea in England' by the British Tea Council.<br /><br />Now as I mentioned before, Miss Marples on any given day is understandably busy. Hence I'm usually quite lenient with the service. However. Having said the above, there is this one blond waitress who continuously looks as if someone's substituted every dairy intake of hers with sour cream. We were unfortunate enough to score her as the waitress who took our orders - she walked off mid-order! And when we called her back to finish off our request her impatience was all too willingly displayed across her frowned forehead with the same amount of clarity as suggestions for a prompt personality transplant.<br /><br /><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHfyT54HI/AAAAAAAAAJE/YYAaTmtBnZM/s1600-h/DSCN5033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdoHfyT54HI/AAAAAAAAAJE/YYAaTmtBnZM/s320/DSCN5033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321574152354259058" border="0" /></a><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321190937554702018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdiq9v75zsI/AAAAAAAAAI8/3okRFCrkPFQ/s320/DSCN5029.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Nevertheless, Miss Marples's 'world renowned' Devonshire Scones were definitely, as always, worth the 30min wait on top of the hour plus drive, and even the sour-faced waitress. The mouth-watering ensemble, served together with 'Miss Marple's Own' delicious home-made jam and generous amount of freshly whipped cream is a true 'melter' in the mouth. The Rarebit fingers were surprisingly nice, and the pumpkin soup was well received also.<br /><br /><br /><div><em>Food</em>: Scones - 9.5/10; Fingers - 7.5/10; Pumpkin Soup, 8/10; Overall: 8.5/10<br /></div><em>Coffee</em>: N/A - although the Devonshire tea was superb - 8/10<br /><div><em>Service</em>: It would have originally been an 8, minus 1.5 from the rude waitress - 6.5/10<br /></div><em>Value</em>: The quality and experience is definitely worth the 2 scones (1 of each) with whipped cream and jam for under $8 - 8.5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: English, romantic, unique - 8.5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: 40/50</span><br /><div><em>Encore</em>: an all time favourite, craving-worthy!<br /></div><br /></div>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-43038792797131000842009-04-04T15:03:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:47:43.369-07:00Pancake Parlour - 550 Doncaster Rd, DoncasterWho in their right minds would want to trek all the way out to Doncaster for pancakes on a Saturday night?<br /><br />Actually, as it turns out, quite a lot. As there seemed to be a full house when we pulled up to the brightly lit venue at midnight and struggled to (incredulously) find a park. Once inside, we had to dodge the massive check out queue and spent a very uncomfortable 10min waiting to be seated until a waitress took mercy on us and led us to a booth down the back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdieuVMTjJI/AAAAAAAAAGs/JdnWSWPGeNM/s1600-h/DSCN4970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdieuVMTjJI/AAAAAAAAAGs/JdnWSWPGeNM/s320/DSCN4970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321177478538169490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdieu_N1S3I/AAAAAAAAAG0/SKCOpYnRJkw/s1600-h/DSCN4973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdieu_N1S3I/AAAAAAAAAG0/SKCOpYnRJkw/s320/DSCN4973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321177489818864498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdievDEt1_I/AAAAAAAAAG8/s3JGk2It4Wc/s1600-h/DSCN4976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdievDEt1_I/AAAAAAAAAG8/s3JGk2It4Wc/s320/DSCN4976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321177490854369266" border="0" /></a><br />After scanning through the usual fare, we decided on getting the Barramundi, a Short Stack, and the Chocolate Jubilee (with strawberries).<br /><br />The concept behind Pancake Parlour is a potential recipe for disaster; I mean, pancakes with everything (even steak)?! Albeit surprisingly this Melbourne-based restaurant operation has consistently delivered above average quality food, including the $27.30 Scotch Fillet Steak.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiOb_1LjI/AAAAAAAAAHE/nrnMAZj2km0/s1600-h/DSCN4980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiOb_1LjI/AAAAAAAAAHE/nrnMAZj2km0/s320/DSCN4980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321181328655593010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiOhoCqoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/rY_xMDNdu6s/s1600-h/DSCN4982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiOhoCqoI/AAAAAAAAAHM/rY_xMDNdu6s/s320/DSCN4982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321181330166426242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiPJNxGbI/AAAAAAAAAHc/qJUTQ19-3fU/s1600-h/DSCN4985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdiiPJNxGbI/AAAAAAAAAHc/qJUTQ19-3fU/s320/DSCN4985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321181340793641394" border="0" /></a><br />The food came promptly, even though we had to ask 3 times for our table to be wiped. The food was, as expected, up to standard, although I was pleasantly surprised at the neatness in presentation, as I would've imagined the kitchen to be reasonably under pressure to meet order demands. The 4 pan-fried barramundi fillets lay neatly on top of a soft, fluffy potato pancake, with a side of garden salad on the left and dallops of tartare sauce on the other side. The fillets tasted fresh and were not over cooked, as with the citrusity of the salad - it was not over powering in any sense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdijFCN8ygI/AAAAAAAAAHs/fI3v-yxJjI0/s1600-h/DSCN4991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdijFCN8ygI/AAAAAAAAAHs/fI3v-yxJjI0/s320/DSCN4991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321182266628295170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdijE0-5PCI/AAAAAAAAAHk/v_mM1M72HcM/s1600-h/DSCN4989.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdijE0-5PCI/AAAAAAAAAHk/v_mM1M72HcM/s320/DSCN4989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321182263075486754" border="0" /></a><br />The short stack was a delightful serve of delicious simplicity: the buttermilk pancakes seem to melt into my mouth, and the maple syrup and ice-cream gave it an extra kick (I don't really condone having all three at once as I feel the coolness of the ice-cream has the tendency to corrode the fluffiness of the pancake). The chocolate jubilee was sinful as usual, a chocolate pancake drizzled with hot chocolate fudge and scattered strawberry pieces, with a large scoop of cream and ice-cream on top.<br /><br />Safe to say, I was very well fed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Food</span>: The fatal flaw of abiding within the parameters of a prejudice human existence and my constant expectation (or rather the lack of) of food quality for places such as this saw my rating stand at 8/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Drinks List</span><span>: Not licensed. Average drink list - 5/10<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Service</span>: Tolerable (this I have no expectations of) - 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Value</span>: Fair - 7/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: your usual Family restaurant cross fast food cross TGI Friday experience - 7/10<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: 32/50</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Encore</span>: An all time late night favourite, will endeavour to try the breakfast for my next visit<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdckWOAMU0I/AAAAAAAAAD8/nTn1hm7xjk8/s1600-h/DSCN4947.JPG"><br /></a>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-70780507992186577532009-04-04T01:54:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:45:10.025-07:00Mart 130 - 107a Canterbury Rd, Middle Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdclxfhOm2I/AAAAAAAAAEU/RoAjeSiGOAo/s1600-h/DSCN4945.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdclxfhOm2I/AAAAAAAAAEU/RoAjeSiGOAo/s320/DSCN4945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320763016966216546" border="0" /></a><br />Locating Mart 130 the second time around was on no account easier than the first.<br /><br />The difference this time is that we were armed with determination, as well as the crucial knowledge that the place is not closed as we had thought the first time, and that we had indeed missed its existence.<br /><br />I ended up calling Mart just as I caught a glimpse of the venue as we approached the platform of the tram stop. This place is actually <span style="font-style: italic;">on</span> the platform.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcrPMGIaoI/AAAAAAAAAFs/-qEMaURkluI/s1600-h/DSCN4947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcrPMGIaoI/AAAAAAAAAFs/-qEMaURkluI/s320/DSCN4947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320769024706505346" border="0" /></a><br />Light, airy, totally relaxed. This place would be absolutely amazing in summer; or during the storm as per Melbourne's experience yesterday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdcrf1tlicI/AAAAAAAAAF0/QKBcnw0dFJk/s1600-h/DSCN4953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/Sdcrf1tlicI/AAAAAAAAAF0/QKBcnw0dFJk/s320/DSCN4953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320769310755752386" border="0" /></a><br />We made our decisions quickly as the kitchen was closing in 20mins (at 3pm), we ordered the egg omelet with mushrooms, spinach & pine nuts on toasted dench sourdough (they ran out of pumpkin) and the corn fritters.<br /><br />My skim latte arrived promptly, but looked as though it was hijacked from the yarra. I sent it back (victim of severe burn), the replacement was equally disturbing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcyVUPeldI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VfSlAQripdo/s1600-h/DSCN4961.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcyVUPeldI/AAAAAAAAAGU/VfSlAQripdo/s320/DSCN4961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320776826553800146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdczDEcIxVI/AAAAAAAAAGc/o4IPAXagKfc/s1600-h/DSCN4963.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdczDEcIxVI/AAAAAAAAAGc/o4IPAXagKfc/s320/DSCN4963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320777612585911634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My omelet was average. The eggs lacked fluffiness, and the dench sourdough was over-toasted. The corn fritters on the other hand was simply superb! The corn was sweet and juicy, and the relish completed the dish. Portion was on the small side - I'm seldom still hungry after breakfasts out!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdczowaoytI/AAAAAAAAAGk/nQ1USdnoJpY/s1600-h/DSCN4966.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdczowaoytI/AAAAAAAAAGk/nQ1USdnoJpY/s320/DSCN4966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320778260045941458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The remainder of my impromptu Rhubarb, Pistachio & Choc Chip muffin order</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div>Service was prompt however a little impersonal and abrupt; nice place to spend an afternoon with some reading material...and maybe a Soy Chai.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Food</span>: A little mixed. I'd give the corn fritters 9/10, but the omelet would've only scored 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Coffee</span>: 1/10 - if I wanted chalky, burnt, gross coffee I'll know where to go...how can anyone drink this dark brown liquid?!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Service</span>: Good - 6/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Value</span>: Slightly pricey and smallish portions, our meal came to $45 - 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: bright, airy and homely - 9/10<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: 26/50</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Encore</span>: Definitely for the corn fritters! Might even try the french toast upon the next visit...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdckWOAMU0I/AAAAAAAAAD8/nTn1hm7xjk8/s1600-h/DSCN4947.JPG"><br /></a>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-23675113642731904052009-04-02T02:31:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:43:28.715-07:00Federal Coffee Palace - GPO Shop 23G, 350 Bourke St (Cnr Elizabeth St)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdSGTH6Z9_I/AAAAAAAAADs/V0L3GDYDHAs/s1600-h/02042009301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdSGTH6Z9_I/AAAAAAAAADs/V0L3GDYDHAs/s200/02042009301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320024722931054578" border="0" /></a><br />Discovered a new place for <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent</span> coffee! It matches, and even perhaps, surpasses Mr Tulk!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rating</span>: 9 coffee beans<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Value</span>: my dine in skim latte was $3.50. Slightly on the expensive side, but the coffee quality makes it worthwhile.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Encore</span>: bring it on!Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-76487651178344132042009-03-31T22:37:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:42:52.208-07:00Gattica - 223 Carlisle St, Balaclava<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqHAyjhOI/AAAAAAAAAFE/IoZo0ZIpYKA/s1600-h/DSCN4932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqHAyjhOI/AAAAAAAAAFE/IoZo0ZIpYKA/s200/DSCN4932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320767784721024226" border="0" /></a><br />My experience with Gattica this time around was slightly more extensive than the last, where I stopped to order a takeaway skim latte (a good one at that) on my way back from breakfast at Las Chicas. Upon reading on the popularity of balaclava cafes and the potential bad experience with efficiency/quality, I chose to sample out Gattica during the week.<br /><br />I arrived at just after 11am and was greeted warmly as soon as I stepped into the grungy art-deco venue with a hint of middle-easter/asian flair; I was encouraged to seat myself and the waitress promptly brought over the menus, taking my coffee order at the same time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqX4BhuYI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zFtJGiobVnk/s1600-h/DSCN4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqX4BhuYI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zFtJGiobVnk/s320/DSCN4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320768074425678210" border="0" /></a><br />My skim latte came straight away, it was slightly lacking in density compared to my takeaway last time, but was good nevertheless (I heard a rumour that only a selected few baristas are allowed near the coffee machine). Excellent presentation!<br /><br />I ordered the eggs florentine ($10.90 - two poached eggs on toasted bagle with spinach and hollandaise sauce) with a side of mushrooms ($2.50) and house made hash browns ($3 or $3.50, couldn't remember).<br /><br />The meal arrived, again, promptly; the eggs were almost just r<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqnRc-DnI/AAAAAAAAAFk/9KtEG3p_nyI/s1600-h/DSCN4941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdcqnRc-DnI/AAAAAAAAAFk/9KtEG3p_nyI/s320/DSCN4941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320768338949705330" border="0" /></a>ight, there were still some liquidity at the centre. The mushrooms had a wonderful flavour, and the hashbrowns were simply divine - crunchy on the outside, with just the right balance of potato and herbs. And it wasn't mushy. Simply delicious! Cutlery was also fantastic, I had no trouble cutting through my bagle, or anything else for that matter.<br /><br />The waitress even made time for a little chit-chat, extracting contents from my copy of 'eat pray love' to recommendations on must read literature 'sugar babes', available for purchase at your local Target. The barista was on first name basis with almost everyone, which could seem a little intimidating before I stepped into the venue, however the great service made me feel right at ease.<br /><br />The only thing to be mindful is that there is a min $20 for card transactions.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Food</span>: 8.5/10 - the hashbrowns pushed it up by 0.5<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Coffee</span>: 7/10 (hovers between 7 and 7.5)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Service</span>: Excellent, efficient and friendly - 9/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Value</span>: Good value food at reasonable prices, my meal came to $19.70 - 8/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: upbeat - 7/10<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: 39.5/50</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Encore</span>: Definitely!Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2928930657540831150.post-71387568345425836512009-03-30T01:51:00.000-07:002009-04-07T05:41:26.000-07:00Cafe Panette - 144 Cecil St, South MelbourneI have taken Monday and Tuesday off work due to time in lieu - I've always thought it was ironic that I'm spending more time at work so I could spend less time at work.<br /><br />Anyhow. I have been experiencing symptoms of slight obsession towards food lately, especially breakfasts. Since stumbling upon the Holy Grail of breakfast blogs, <a href="http://thebreakfastblog.blogspot.com/">the breakfast blog</a>, and seeing some of my fav and less than fav restaurants/cafes listed, I thought I might - armed with cheap eats and the good food guide 2009 - embark on a little culinary crusade myself and note down the good, the fantastic, and the downright horrible of my dining experiences.<br /><br />Which brings me to my first <span style="font-style: italic;">blogged </span>experiment: Cafe Panette.<br /><br />I had always been particularly partial to Cafe Sweethearts, so much that I had not ventured out from my scrambled-eggwhite-benedict/la mer/florentine/romano/avocado-bubble for as long as I recall of South Melbourne breakfasts. So it was almost inevitable now that I'm sitting under a 'Cafe Panette' marked umbrella, I'm feeling, and attempting to supress, the tiniest pagnes of guilt.<br /><br />After all, I tell myself, this is for the benefit of the human race, and quests of that scale generally demands a few casualties, not to mention sacrifices.<br /><br />The waiter, a middle-aged man, perhaps the owner, greeted me with less warmth than my skim latte, which arrived within expected time frames, but on a below luke-warm scale. He walked away in the midst of my order and I had to call him back to reiterate my extra side servce of Sauteed Spinach ($3) on my Eggs a La Mer (2 poached eggs with salmon, sauteed champgne mushrooms covered with hollandaise sauce $14.90 - I stuck with the poached eggs).<br /><br />The food arrived promptly, and the waiter seemed to have warmed to me slightly, even calling me 'darl' as he placed the plate down, and low and behold, even offered me cracked pepper.<br /><br />I'm not accustomed to being called 'darl' by members other than my girlfriends, but I was a little overwhelmed by his generosity (the offering of cracked pepper) that the offense didn't register until much later.<br /><br />The muffins were fresh and rightly toasted, the poached eggs however, were on the runny end. The salmon came shredded and enveloped by the mushrooms and the poached egg, which I didn't quite like. The mushrooms were a little tasteless, and the hollanaise sauce likewise. The very generous side serving of spinach redeemed the experience by a fraction, but not enough for me to have deemed it a satisfying meal.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Food</span>: Prompt but lacking in flavour, 5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Coffee</span>: Below luke-warm temperature, 5.5/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Service</span>: Efficient but lacked initial warmth, 6/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Value</span>: Quite competitively priced, although given the quality of the food I would have rather forked out another $3 for Cafe Sweetheart - 6/10<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ambiance</span>: Relaxed and chilled - 5/10<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: 27.5/50</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Encore</span>: same dish - no, although I may try something else on the menu - Maybe<br /><pre><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdCRqR61ZBI/AAAAAAAAADc/3HCimJeWeNM/s1600-h/30032009296.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318911315475260434" style="width: 150px; cursor: pointer; height: 200px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdCRqR61ZBI/AAAAAAAAADc/3HCimJeWeNM/s200/30032009296.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdCRzBPJlZI/AAAAAAAAADk/kYjOouOTGvY/s1600-h/30032009298.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318911465615889810" style="width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rP78wYT59lg/SdCRzBPJlZI/AAAAAAAAADk/kYjOouOTGvY/s200/30032009298.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></pre>Misty Situationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03680490655191658769noreply@blogger.com1