food and wine

HOT: Gastronomica Slow Food Quiz, Collins Quarter, 86A Collins St, Melbourne

February 22, 2010 ⋅ 7 comments

I’m known as a bit of a foodie amongst my friends. However, at food quiz Gastronomica I discovered that my small font of knowledge was nothing compared to the food nerdiness displayed by the rest of Team Phat Preston, including food bloggers Tummyrumbles, Melbourne Gastronome, Tomato, Eating with Jack, Essjay Eats and Eatnik. In fact, [...]

HOT: Chai mamma Giveaway winners!

February 20, 2010 ⋅ One comment

Thank you to everyone for your entries for the Chai mamma giveaway! I’ve dipped into the Kitchenaid of Fortune and here are our seven winners: LizB Mellie (Tummyrumbles) Tom pdids Emily (it pleases us) Jenny Amanda Please send your postal address to joyce@melhotornot.com to collect your prize of 2 x 120g packs of Chai mamma [...]

HOT: Chai mamma giveaway

February 13, 2010 ⋅ 28 comments

I am a big fan of chai but there’s good chai (fragrant and warming) and there’s bad chai (watery and burnt). Having tasted some very bad chai over the years, last year East St Kilda resident Naomi decided to take matters into her own hands and to produce her own chai. Chai mamma is an [...]

How to make dumplings – Gourmet Chick post

February 12, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

While MEL: HOT OR NOT has a strong focus on food and dining out, it’s not strictly a food blog. However, in a brief departure today I’m going to share with you my guest post over at Gourmet Chick with my wonton recipe, just in time for Chinese New Year this Sunday 14 February. These [...]

HOT Spots Summer Edition 2010 and Summer Serve

January 24, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

It’s summer. The sun doesn’t go down till 9pm. Everyone is feeling relaxed and refreshed. So why not spend some time discovering, or rediscovering, the great things Melbourne offers in summer? If browsing through MEL: HOT OR NOT doesn’t provide you with enough inspiration, pick up Hot Spots Summer Edition 2010, a cute booklet produced [...]

HOT: Suzuki Night Market, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

January 13, 2010 ⋅ 12 comments

For me summer in Melbourne heralds long bright evenings, Moonlight Cinema and the Suzuki Night Market at Queen Victoria Market. Evidently I’m not alone as the night market has become a bit of a summer institution for young and old alike and in peak time (between 6-8pm) the crowds swell to almost uncomfortable levels. Nevertheless, [...]

Ask the Doctor: Where to buy Japanese ingredients

January 2, 2010 ⋅ One comment

Help me Doctor!: Do you know where in Melbourne I can buy black sesame paste and matcha powder (green tea in powder form)? I have not noticed them in Asian grocery stores. – Jenny T Your prescription: Perhaps you would have better luck with a Japanese specialist grocery store? Here are a list of Japanese [...]

HOT: In Search of the Perfect Gelato

December 23, 2009 ⋅ 7 comments

Lin Tan and I go hunting for the finest gelato in Melbourne. Joyce: When you think about ‘Italian culture’ in Melbourne, you think Carlton. Hence, the perfect place to start our, ‘In The Search For The Perfect Gelato’? – Lygon Street. So what makes a perfect gelato? In our view – small batches, taste, texture [...]

HOT: In Search of the Perfect Mince Pies

December 22, 2009 ⋅ 5 comments

In our own personal advent calendar, Lin, Billy and I went on a trip around Melbourne’s CBD in search of the perfect mince pie. “On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me….12 mince pies and 2 macarons in a pear tree.” Joyce: We had optimistically planned 12 tastings in keeping with [...]

HOT Alert: Week of 23 November 2009

November 22, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

This coming week is filled with travel, rock, films, shopping, food and parties! Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet, is speaking at The Hive at The Order of Melbourne on Tuesday 24 November. Read my review of a previous The Hive event here; The Rockwiz Christmas special is coming to The Palais, St Kilda, on [...]