restaurants and cafes

HOT: Fatto a Mano, 228 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

April 21, 2011 ⋅ 7 comments

Every year around this time I do a little taste-run of hot cross buns in Melbourne. Ostensibly it’s to provide blog readers with information but really it’s just an excuse to eat a lot of fruity, spicy, sticky bread (I’m a purist – chocolate chips should not be found in hot cross buns!). Sadly this [...]

HOT: YumTable launch, St Jude’s Cellars, 381-391 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

April 11, 2011 ⋅ 5 comments

When you read my ‘About’ page, you’ll find out that amongst other things I like discount coupons :–) In fact, in my social circle I’m well known for whipping out a coupon for every occasion. Might be my Asian upbringing – why pay full price when you can pay half price? That’s why the new [...]

HOT: Sugadeaux Cupcake Tasting, NorthSouth Eatery, 760 Chapel St, South Yarra

April 7, 2011 ⋅ 3 comments

Once again it’s time for one of the highlights of a food blogger’s calendar – the Sugadeaux Cupcake Tasting night! Last time we trialled eight full-sized cupcakes, this time we tried five miniature cupcakes from the newest collection. It’s commendable that a small business like Sugadeaux is constantly innovating with new ingredient combinations and values [...]

NOT: Thanh Nga Nine, 160 Victoria St, Richmond

April 5, 2011 ⋅ 9 comments

*This post has no photos because of a technical glitch with my memory card! If by some miracle I can recover the images I’ll post them. Sorry!* Isn’t it awkward when your friend raves about a restaurant so you go on their recommendation…and then you don’t like it very much? Well, a public apology to [...]

HOT: PM24, 24 Russell St, Melbourne

April 4, 2011 ⋅ 12 comments

Unbeknownst to me, my dinner at The Brasserie at Crown last year was the last hoorah for Philippe Mouchel at the restaurant. Fortunately, he has now moved his talents to a new venue in the city, PM24, backed by his new partners the Press Club Group. Some things have changed and some things have remained [...]

HOT: Sweet Studio Pop Up Store, Careers Australia Building, 196 Flinders Street, Melbourne

March 31, 2011 ⋅ One comment

‘Sweet studio’. For someone with a huge sweet tooth like me, I don’t think there are words more exciting (except maybe ‘all you can eat dessert buffet’). UK expats Ian Burch and Darren Purchese specialise in pastries and desserts and they are opening up a dessert only store in South Yarra in April. While that [...]

HOT: The Farm Cafe, Collingwood Childrens’ Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

March 23, 2011 ⋅ One comment

I believe that everything must taste better when it’s eaten outside. How else to explain the popularity of alfresco dining in the freezing depths of a Melbourne winter? The Farm Cafe is the ultimate location for relaxed open air dining. The sweetly rustic eatery is located in the bucolic surrounds of the Collingwood Childrens’ Farm [...]

HOT: Funerals & Food: Inspired by Tradition, Nelson Bros Funeral Services, 81 Kororoit Creek Rd, Williamstown

March 15, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

http://www.melhotornot.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=9872&message=10 Funerals & Food: Inspired by Tradition is definitely the winner of Most Intriguing Event during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (though technically it’s not part of the festival’s official program). Nelson Bros is Australia’s oldest family owned funeral company and at their historic Williamstown funeral home they hosted an afternoon of panelists exploring [...]

HOT: Forgotten Fruits High Tea, Southpaw Bar, 189 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

March 13, 2011 ⋅ 3 comments

Another one-off (and sold out) event as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, this time the Forgotten Fruits High Tea at Southpaw Bar. It caught my fancy because it sounded like something from Alice in Wonderland! This wasn’t just any high tea, but a high tea full of cakes and pastries made from [...]

HOT: No 35, Sofitel Melbourne, 25 Collins St, Melbourne

March 10, 2011 ⋅ 3 comments

Free yourself! There’s no need to eat a soggy sandwich at your desk this week. As part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, loads of restaurants all around Melbourne and regional Victoria are putting on Restaurant Express – a 2 course lunch, glass of Victorian wine and tea/coffee for $35. As the name suggests, [...]