under $20

HOT: Blok M, 380 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

November 30, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments

I met an Indonesian girl recently at the Social Media Club breakfast and after we talked about her studies and my work, the conversation turned to food. Specifically, where to find authentic Indonesian food in inner-city Melbourne. Sally told me that in fact she eats a lot more Singaporean/Malaysian food in Australia given the paucity [...]

HOT: Coin Laundry, 61 Armadale St, Armadale

November 29, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments

It’s a testament to the power of positive reviews that a small cafe on the opposite side of the river to me, hidden in a residential area, can capture my attention such that I’ll make a special trip there early on a Sunday morning. Such is the pulling power of Coin Laundry. Just like the [...]

HOT: Yong Green Food, 421 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

November 24, 2010 ⋅ 9 comments

What do you eat when Melbourne turns on consecutive days of 30+ temperatures and it’s too hot to cook? Other than icecream, how about trying out some raw food? Raw food is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. We’re not just talking [...]

HOT: Kappaya Japanese Soul Food, The Kitchen Annex, Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

November 23, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments

With the weather firmly in summer temperatures last weekend, I decided to make a visit to Abbotsford Convent for some R&R in the sunshine. What I didn’t realise was that Abbotsford Convent on a weekend is quite manic. The Sunday I visited the Skirt and Shirt Market and Maker’s Market was on as well so [...]

HOT: Napier Hotel, 210 Napier St, Fitzroy

November 22, 2010 ⋅ 8 comments

In a bid to remain semi-healthy in my eating-out diet, once in a while I suggest to RM that we should go eat a vegetarian restaurant. It’s become a running joke that he always counters with ‘well if you’re going to have vegetarian food, I’m going to the Napier to have a Bogan Burger.’ I’ve [...]

HOT: Kim Chi Tray, Shop 2, 294 Flinders St Melbourne

November 16, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments

One of the best things about blogging a lot about food is that’s opened up a whole new social life for me. I’ve met lots of interesting foodies and food bloggers, discovered new places to eat and drink and learnt so much about ingredients, produce and the cuisine of different cultures. I’ve had lunch with [...]

HOT: The Little Mule Company & Cafe, 19 Somerset Place, Melbourne

November 10, 2010 ⋅ 9 comments

Melbourne’s love affair with coffee and bikes continues with the new kid on the (laneway) block, The Little Mule Company & Cafe. The Little Mule Company make colourful custom-made fixies in their small workshop and the bikes also provide eye-catching wall hangings for the airy warehouse aesthetic of their small adjoining cafe. For bike and [...]

HOT: Joy Cupcakes, Shop E7B, Southern Cross Lane, 127 Exhibition St, Melbourne

November 7, 2010 ⋅ One comment

It’s hard to think of something that could be more JOYful for JOYce than Joy Cupcakes. OK. Enough with the JOY puns, let’s cut to the chase. Joy Cupcakes sell some of the best cupcakes I’ve eaten so far from a commercial bakery in Melbourne. And I have pretty high cupcake standards given I have [...]

HOT: Espresso 3121, 98 Balmain St, Richmond

October 28, 2010 ⋅ One comment

Espresso 3121 is a little tucked away cafe in the middle of warehouse-bounded Richmond. It’s not easy to find but it’s testament to its good quality food (and presumably excellent coffee, given its name) that it was a jumping little joint during the weekday lunch hour (note it’s closed weekends). The cafe is housed in [...]

HOT Chat: Owen Thomas of Hipside Guides

October 22, 2010 ⋅ 6 comments

I liked the idea of Hipside Guides as soon as I heard about them – a city guide written by a local to help visitors and locals find the the cool, hidden places of Melbourne. Kind of like MEL: HOT OR NOT, in map form! Today’s HOT Chat is with Owen Thomas of Hipside Guides [...]