Australia / VIC

Being a tourist is easy. Trying to be a tourist in your own city is not. This is why I've put together some itinerary suggestions for my neighbouring city (Melbourne), instead of my own (Sydney). I've been meaning to do... Continue reading Itinerary suggestions for a short trip to Melbourne »

Being a Gen Y myself, I know that many of us would choose budget accommodation as a compromise for splurging on other things such as shopping or food. We love our luxuries but are wise with the way we spend... Continue reading The Langham Melbourne Hotel »

Although EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) is one of the most common pantry items in kitchens across the world, I'll admit that I didn't really know much about it at the time I received an invitation from Media Moguls to... Continue reading Cobram Estate's Extra-Virgin Olive Oil »

Izakaya Den is probably the best definition I could give, for what I look for in a restaurant. It is a hidden gem in the basement of a busy city corner and unless you knew what you were looking for,... Continue reading Izakaya Den, Melbourne »

After splurging so much on all these fabulous meals within the first few days of this trip to Melbourne, I thought it was time for a serious cheap eat. Papa Gino's on Lygon Street is a straightforward restaurant at the... Continue reading Papa Gino's on Lygon Street, Carlton, Melbourne »

For those who love suckling pig, I believe I have found the best tasting roast suckling pig on Earth. Imagine a perfect rectangular cut, a glossy thin layer of crackling that is consistently crisp right to the edge and just... Continue reading Cutler & Co »

There's something really likeable about eating lots of small dishes. From Chinese yum cha to Spanish tapas, the experience of sharing small plates of delectable morsels with friends and family is always an enjoyable one. Coda sits at the basement... Continue reading Coda Bar & Restaurant, Melbourne »

Can you imagine the disappointment on my face when I called up MoVida eight weeks in advance to make a reservation and was told they were fully booked? True, it was a busy period with people flocking to Melbourne from... Continue reading MoVida Next Door, Melbourne »

Inbetween the four days where the Australian F1 Grand Prix was on, besides the occasional shopping and time spent at our grandstand seats, Zen and I also took the time to catch up with some familiar faces. One of the... Continue reading Wonton House, Melbourne »

This may sound cliche but I reckon I have the best boyfriend in the world. Upon arriving in Melbourne, he surprised me with a pre-booked lunch on The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Those who 'like' me on Facebook (isn't it confusing... Continue reading The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, Melbourne »

While this Melbourne trip was filled with lots of new foodie discoveries, I kept up my tradition of visiting Madame Sousou every time I'm in town. I haven't written about this favourite in a while so thought I'd share with... Continue reading Madame Sousou, Melbourne (Re-visited) »

Dining at a specialty restaurant that comes with a warning is a lure for foodies like me. There are places like Stra Pocha in Strathfield NSW which warn you their Korean chilli chicken dish is very hot and others like... Continue reading Tempura Hajime »

Here's the first of ten stories about my recent trip to Melbourne. Long time readers will know that this has become a yearly event which of course coincides with the Formula One Grand Prix. In fact, I think this was... Continue reading Claypots Seafood Bar »

While many are drawn to the Crown Complex at Melbourne for its gaming floor, I kept coming back for the food. It was New Years Eve 2008 and amidst the loud crowd building up outside, Sho Noodle Bar was busy... Continue reading Sho Noodle Bar, Melbourne »

Reminder: my Taste Of Sydney double passes giveaway ends tomorrow! Get your entries in now > Tia To is my favourite oriental herb. Also known as Tiet To, Vietnamese Perilla, shiso or Vietnamese Hojiso, this aromatic herb can jazz up... Continue reading Tia To Vietnamese Restaurant, Melbourne »

Despite having dined at Rockpool Bar & Grill at Melbourne more than 2 months ago, I can still recall much of the very memorable meal. The service was immaculate and staff whom were well educated on the menu were keen... Continue reading Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne »

During my trip down to Melbourne late last year, I came across a few remarkable things. The Queen Victoria markets was a dream grocery shopping destination. Luckily I was staying at a serviced apartment which meant I had access to... Continue reading Out and About at Melbourne »

Shopping in Melbourne is sensational... and every time my energy depleted, a San Churro Chocolateria franchise seemed to come to my saviour. They were seriously everywhere! Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Lygon Street, Harbour Town & more. Chocolate tapas, truffles and more,... Continue reading San Churro Chocolateria »

You know you're in Melbourne once you've eaten breakfast or brunch out, more than dinner. Madame Sousou is a Parisian cafe/restaurant on busy Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. They have an amazing breakfast menu which stretches from housemade toasted fruit and nut... Continue reading Madame Sousou, Melbourne »

After being away from home-cooking for over a week, I found myself hunting down a Chinese restaurant. Claypot King sits on Swanston Street and immediately grabbed my attention because... well, how often would you find a Chinese restaurant with alfresco... Continue reading Claypot King, Melbourne »

I've heard many theories as to what shoes hanging on power lines mean. Some believe it means drugs are sold nearby, others have mentioned it defined the boundary of a gang's turf... or maybe it was a harmless schoolkid prank.... Continue reading shoes hanging on power line »

Fifteen Melbourne. It's the restaurant from TV. It's Jamie Oliver's. There's definitely a novelty factor to dining at Fifteen -which explains the set-up of a reservation line and the long waiting list! Two months ago, when Zen and I were planning our next trip down to Melbourne, I persuaded him to make a booking for dinner. And so here we are. It wasn't dinner... but we felt pretty lucky to have scored a table for six for lunch (considering that the weekend coincided with the F1 Grand Prix and the FINA World Championship). Melbourne was busy. Continue reading Fifteen Melbourne Restaurant »

Last post on Melbourne. Here are some night shots I took with my new wide angle lens (10-22mm)... Yarra River & Princes Bridge Yarra River & Melbourne Cityscape Flinders Street Station At the airport... Aboard Qantas... heading back to Sydney!... Continue reading Goodbye Melbourne! »

Scusa Mi was awarded one-hat in 2007's Good Food Guide. They also boast their own lavel of extra-virgin olive oil, breath-taking views of the Yarra River, and a menu which names all the finest ingredients. Continue reading Scusa Mi Ristorante »

The first time I heard about stone-grilling, I was rather turned off... I had pictured a succulent piece of steak on an ordinary slab of rock. How primitive and unhygienic! Stone-grilling is actually an ancient method of cooking, adopted from the Egyptians and Vikings. The stone is heated at 400 degrees celsius, and allows you to quickly seal in all flavours. It provides a standard cooking time of up to 1 hour... Continue reading Ishiya Japanese StoneGrill »

What else could have brought me to Brunswick Street but the Alannah Hill factory outlet! Brunswick Street is probably the King Street (of Newtown) or the Oxford Street in Sydney. So we snagged a seat in the open terrace and watched the Brunswick Street crowds walk on by. Continue reading The Fitz @ Brunswick Street, Fitzroy »

And here we are at the Great Ocean Road! Zen decided that we should opt for the hassle-free solution and booked the one-day tour via Go West. Hooray to no pricey car hiring, no tiring drive and plenty of rejuvenating sleep during the boring and repetitive sections of the road. The Great Ocean Road is divided by three sections. There's the long and windy roads which wrap around the coast, the lush rainforest, and then the massive pastoral scenes. Continue reading The Great Ocean Road »

For the last four days, Zen and I have been hiding out in Melbourne -another of our spontaneous holidays. I love the internet age... we were able to plan and book everything from airfare, accomodation to restaurants, all just a day before flying! Continue reading Royce Hotel, Melbourne »