Radio Mexico, St Kilda

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11-13 Carlisle Street

http://www.radiomexico.com.au/

To be honest, i had never heard of this place & when i received a phone call inviting me to ‘Radio Mexico’ for a date, I replied with ‘I have no idea what you are talking about but it sounds good!’ You need to take every opportunity life hands you because you will never know the amount of happiness you can gain if you never give it a try.

Welcome to my new favourite Mexican restaurant! This is not your normal sombrero, cacti filled restaurant. It’s cool. It’s hip. It’s vibrant. And it’s definitely the place to go on a Saturday night. My date & I had a 1 hour wait for our table- it would have been shorter, but i insisted we sit inside instead of in the alfresco area.

As neither of us had been here before, our waitress suggested we get an array of different dishes to try & going on her reccomendation, we got the followig: Guacamole dip with hand cut chips, the Ceviche, Rojo Chilaquiles (Nachos) & Pollo (Chicken) Taco. Wash it down with one of the Negra Margherita cocktails~ which has a similar flavour to an Espresso Martini~ it was devine. Very fresh, full flavours.

Unfortunately for me, i didnt have room for dessert, but next time i will make sure i do.

*Note: these guys don’t take bookings. Get there early.

Radio Mexico
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Madame Brussels, Melbourne/City

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Level 3, 59 Bourke Street

http://www.madamebrussels.com/

Stepping inside feels like you have stepped back to the time when your rich Grandparents had garden parties, while watching a tennis tournament, at their fabulous estate just outside of London. This is the modern day version. Minus the tennis court. And instead of tea being served, here you will find jugs full of the sweetest, most decadent cocktails are served by waiters dressed in their best whites. Welcome to Madame Brussels.

I’ve been here more times than I can remember. It’s one of those Melbournian spots that lives off strong support from loyal customers & word of mouth. Social media for Madame Brussels is a necessary evil. The only reason I ever came here the very first time was because someone else told me about it, I had no idea it existed right above my head- literally. The Terrace is the perfect spot on a warm Summery day & gives you lovely views of the city. Grab yourself a lounge & a jug of your favourite cocktail, I recommend the ‘Summer Splendour’ which has Champagne, lemon, raspberries & strawberries. Perfect on a hot day.

If you are feeling like an afternoon pick me up, try one of the Lemon cupcakes with pink icing for something sweet or there is a range of savoury dishes to tempt you. My preferences are the Poached, chicken, chive & mayo toasted sandwiches or the sausage rolls. Trust me, these bad boys will hit the spot nicely.

Having just celebrated their 7th year, it should come as no surprise if you need to line up on a Friday or Saturday night to get in, so don’t be too upset when this happens to you. I guess it just goes to show that you aren’t a regular & you didn’t realise that to snag a cosy spot here, you should’ve been here hours ago.

If you are lucky enough, you can expect to see the likes of Marco Pierre White & Matt Preston enjoying a drink here. I should know~ i spotted Marco here one night. You know it’s an excellent place when award-winning chefs spend their spare time here.

It’s clear that Madame Brussels is ‘Quirky, frivolous & fun’ & this spot wont ‘become stale’ any time soon.

Madame BrusselsMadame Brussels on Urbanspoon

Angelina Tearoom, Paris, France

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226 rue de Rivoli – Paris, France

http://www.angelina-paris.fr/en/

This is the height of decadence! I am lucky enough to be able to say I’ve been here more than a few times in my lifetime! Each time I travel to Paris, I put on my finest clothes & head for Angelina’s. There is always a wait for a table here, especially on a cold wintry day when every second person is hoping to get inside to the warmth that Angelina’s conveys. Half an hour to forty-five minutes is usually the normal wait time but to make it a shorter wait it’s easier to get in if you are by yourself or there are just two people.

My usual antics aside, I always order the same drink when I come here. The ‘African Hot Chocolate.’ Trust me, you will be thinking of this drink over & over for many years to come, I know I do. The hot chocolate is served in a jug~ thick, melted, delicious chocolate accompanied with a bowl of whipped cream to put on top of your drink once your pour it. You can make it as strong or as weak as your taste bud will allow.

You should also have some macarons while you’re here. My all time favourite flavour is ‘Salted Caramel.’ If they’ve sold out, then im sorry, but you missed out! get in quick for these delicate, flavour filled delights. A nice crunch when you bite into it & a chewy ganache’ in the centre. Don’t stop at just one ofcourse, the idea is to sample multiple flavours. Why else would macarons be so little & tempting?

angeilna 1 angeilna 2 angeilna 3

Captains of Industry, Melbourne/City

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Level 1, 2 Somerset Place

http://captainsofindustry.com.au/

I stumbled across Captains of Industry by accident with a friend one day. We were exploring the little laneways that Melbourne is famous for. Theres no big sign yelling out ‘CAFE’ here. If we didn’t actually venture down Somerset Place, we would never know what we could have potentially missed out on. I made a point of wanting to come back here & reviewing it.

The vibe here was welcoming & although the staff are lovely & attentive, you are left to your own accord which, personally, i really like. It meant i was able to sit quietly in my own little world & take in my warehouse like surroundings. There are leather belts, bags & boxing gloves on display here. It’s very much vintage Melbourne. You do get the odd hipster who, after watching Masterchef, think they know all about culinary delights & will use their social media power to diss a place. Generally, it’s a more balanced audience that frequents this spot.

I was very impressed. I got served the most delicious meal & it was exaclty what i needed on a warm autumn day. Beetroot puree, onions which are pickled onsite, sprinklings of chervil, thinly sliced radish, asparagus, Meredith goats cheese & to top it off, 2 of the most perfect slow cooked eggs i have ever had the pleasure of devouring & they were seasoned to perfection. Add a couple of slices of bread to mop it all up & you have a very satisfying, light lunch. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

As i was about to pack up & head home for the day, i was offered to try a ‘Baked Custard Tart.’ I would be a fool to turn that down! The pastry was a little burnt but nonetheless, the custard centre was still very tasty & made up for that. 

Their website claims they want to offer the ‘Good, true & beautiful..’ thats exactly what i got here.
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Balmains Cafe, Brighton

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117 Were St, Brighton

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/1622130/restaurant/Melbourne/Brighton-Hampton/Balmains-Brighton-Brighton

I have nothing but praise for the fabulous staff here at Balmains. They’re truly wonderful, are like their own little family & they know their coffee’s inside out.

Chatting with Zac, the owner, was fantastic. He explained to me the in’s & out’s of how to make fabulous coffee. I tried a couple of different blends while I was here- from Auction Rooms I sampled ‘Candyman.’ It was out of this world & the exact hit that i needed. The flavour was gentle & smooth, nothing too strong or overpowering, which accommodates nicely for the more mature audience that frequents this little corner cafe who aren’t used to big, robust flavours. Unlike most cafes’, the team here serve lattes’ in a small mug as opposed to a glass, which at first I thought was a little strange but i have now come to love.

The barista team here are all on the same level. They prefer ‘palate over skill’ & hope to serve their loyal customers with clean coffee that is not too strong & not too weak. Just well-balanced & this is why they have switched from 22gram brass baskets to 20gram stainless steel ones & cleaning the grinder blades on a daily basis adds to the coffee having a cleaner flavour. Each shot is weighed & timed right down to the second. The younger the coffee is, the more salty it is & that’s why Zac is very much into aging the beans. While I was here, I also tried the ‘Dark Horse’ blend which had ‘big, bold flavours.’

Also be sure to try the chai latte. These can be a bit hit & miss- especially if cafes’ choose to use a flavoured, powdered mix. Balmains on the other hand will serve your chai in a small pot that it has been brewed in just moments before. Pour through a strainer to keep the spices out of your cup & enjoy the most amazing chai you will ever have.

As for the food, the establishment is a humble size & therefore limits what they can do, but sticking to the keep it simple attitude, has paid off. The avocado & meredith goats cheese toast is their signature dish. Mine came accompanied with a delicious, fresh beetroot & hazelnut salad. It was the perfect lunch option & just the right size. They also have a lovely range of cakes, quiches & frittatas that are made on site.

This cafe is an all rounder & as Zac said to me, ‘Have passion & keep the love.’ Which is exactly what he has achieved.

Balmains Brighton on Urbanspoon

Wholefoods Food Store, Brighton

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320 Bay Street (NOTE: Brighton)

http://www.wholefoodsfoodstore.com.au/

As a cafe’ reviewer, i have expectations that need to be met. I have to admit, i have a love/hate relationship with Wholefoods Food Store in Brighton.

The service is consistently slow- averaging 15-20 minutes to make a sandwich & a soy latte. That’s too long especially for someone on a tight timeframe. On the other hand, the soy latte’s here are delicious. I can’t find fault with them.

As for the food, the egg & salad sandwich leaves much to be desired. It’s rather bland & a little on the dry side. It looked more delicious than it actually turned out to be which was very disappointing. The most recent time i was here, i only had half an hour, i settled for an old faithful cheese & tomato toasted sandwich. Even though they got my order wrong- i asked for an ‘open sandwich’ & they served me a closed one- it was still better than anything else i’ve had here. And that took about 20 minutes from ordering it to eating it.

As for the menu, where is it? It’s not readily available on the front counter & it’s not plastered across the wall behind the cash register. Does a menu even exist in this establishment? I for one am not convinced, i’ve never seen one here nor have i ever been offered to look at one.

Let’s hope tomorrows cafe review goes better.

*no urbanspoon link avail*

Chin Chin Restaurant, Melbourne/City

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125 Flinders Lane

http://www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au/

If you are actually lucky enough to get a table at Chin Chin, congratulations! As well as that, you will become the envy of all your friends & people passing by wishing they were inside this coveted restaurant.

I’ve attempted to get into Chin Chin a countless number of times. And finally, FINALLY i got in last night.. after a 1 hour wait. This is one of those ‘hot’ new Melbournian restaurants that don’t actually take bookings, which i personally think adds to the overall excitement & hype of the place~ it’s just sheer luck that will get you in. The key to getting a table is to get there early, put your name on a waiting list & wait for the wonderfully helpful staff to send you a text saying your table is now ready. How do you let the time pass? Well conveniently located downstairs is a fantastic little bar called ‘GoGo.’ Grab yourself a cocktail from the ridiculously hot bartender with a full beard, take a seat & lap up the atmosphere.. and have a little perve while you’re at it.

Once you get into Chin Chin, the menu is expansive & confusing, is there such a thing as too many options? Our waitress was lovely & helpful. She gave us some excellent suggestions. We ended up getting 2 entrée’s & 2 mains to share. They were: Kingfish Sashimi & Pork Roll-ups followed by Crispy Barramundi & Pork Green Apple Salad & the Pumpkin & Tofu Yellow Curry.

The sashimi is to die for. I know that if/when I come back here, I will definitely get the sashimi again. I’ve been to Japan & have eaten the freshest of fresh sashimi straight from a market & I can tell you this was definitely up to standard. Melt in your mouth. The Pork Roll-ups were tasty too but the accompanying Plum sauce was a little too sweet for my liking.

Our mains were also fresh & delicious. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Barramundi but the pork was exquisite. So juicy & very tender. As for the Yellow curry.. I think we had been a little spoilt with our previous dishes & as such, the curry seemed like ‘Just a curry.’ But having said that, is was no less than amazing!

We literally couldn’t stomach dessert because we were full to the brim. Next time!Chin Chin on Urbanspoon

Double Happiness Bar, Melbourne City

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21 Liverpool Street

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760605/restaurant/CBD/Double-Happiness-Bar-Melbourne

Double Happiness is yet another little Melbourne bar hiding down a laneway in the middle of the city. During the day, I am sure most people walk straight passed it & don’t even realise it exists. Blink & you’ll miss it. I’ve walked by that many times & had to backtrack that I’ve lost count! It’s an exclusive, little, intimate bar where you could easily take someone on a casual first date. The background music isn’t overbearing & the lighting is just dim enough to set a romantic mood..

I recommend: Espresso Martini.

As many times as I’ve been here is as many times as I’ve ordered an Espresso Martini. It’s that good. I always come here thinking to myself ‘Try something new, try something new.’ But when I come to ordering my drink I automatically order an ‘Espresso Martini.’ It’s consistently delicious & always gives you a lift! Add to that, the bartenders, who are wonderfully friendly, & it will make you feel right at home. They can mix up a cocktail to your specific taste if so desired. Given it has a long bench seat, little coffee tables & an open fireplace, it almost feels like you’ve stepped into someones lounge room.

Enjoy!

Double Happiness Bar on Urbanspoon

Rococo, St Kilda

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87-91 Acland Street

http://www.rococo.net.au/

My mouth is already watering because of the delicious food im about to tell you all about! This is a favourite of mine. That’s undeniable. Rococo is an Italian restaurant in the heart of bustling St Kilda. I keep coming back here because it keep delivering good food, time after time.

Even if you arrive at 11:55pm, you can still order yourself a steak if your heart so desires~ the kitchen is open until midnight, which is excellent. Or perhaps you’re after a dessert. Try the strawberries & cream: a meringue, fresh strawberries & cream concoction. Trust me when i say this, you will not want to share even a mouthful!

The 2 meals in particular that keep me coming back for more are the: Baked ricotta gnocchi in a tomato sauce with melted cheese on top and the Tasmanian salmon salad. Big chunks of salmon served with a seasonal salad & a zesty mayonnaise dressing. If i could only eat these 2 meals for the rest of my life, there would be no complaints. Every time I’ve had either meal, I’ve always felt very satisfied, it’s just delicious & fresh. 

The last time i was here, i arrived around 10pm & i ordered the Tasmanian salmon salad & a hot chocolate to go with it. For that time of night, it was just right. Not too heavy.

Yummy!

       Rococo St Kilda on Urbanspoon

Hells Kitchen, Melbourne City

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20A Centre Place

 http://hellskitchenmelbourne.com/

Again, this is one of those cool little hipster bars/cafes that has taken over Melbourne. I am definitely not complaining about that either, i love that there are so many dfferent spots where you can meet with friends for after work drinks & snacks. And all at reasonable prices too.

The decor is cool. Think warm, red, earthy tones & paisley patterned walls teamed with floorboards. It’s cosy & you can easily find a little corner to shmooze in. The last time i was here, i was meeting up with some friends & i got there early. I made myself awkwardly comfortable at the bar & tried not to feel too self conscious of the fact i was at a bar alone. The bartenders were really nice & friendly to me which made me feel right at home until my friends arrived.

I can 100% highly reccomend the meatballs & turkish bread with dips & why not accompany all of that with a whisky sour?

Thank me later.

Hell's Kitchen on Urbanspoon