Tag Archives: restaurant

Best Food in Melbourne

Posted on by

Best pastries… Lune Croissanterie – as long as you’re willing to wait (sometimes up to two hours!) you’ll be rewarded with the flakiest croissant, perhaps in the whole of the southern hemisphere. Their perfect pastry recipe was created by a rocket scientist turned chef, which explains the space theme of the bakery.

Runner up: Agathé – typically French, buttery pastries that will melt in your mouth. Pick up a pain au chocolat while strolling around South Melbourne Market.

Best breakfast… Tall Timber – found in the Prahran area, Tall Timber offers great coffee and innovative breakfast recipes. After you’ve had your morning meal wander around the charming independent shops nearby.

Runner up: Cumulus & Co – a favourite with city workers, I’d recommend stopping by to grab a freshly baked lemon curd madeleine to go.

Best brunch… Top Paddock – the perfect weekend hang-out for a leisurely brunch with friends. Don’t miss their famous blueberry and ricotta hotcake with berries, organic maple, seeds and double cream.

Runner up: Seven Seeds – known as much for their exemplary coffee, this hip roastery also serves delicious and hearty morning fare.

Best set lunch… Saint Crispin – I had my favourite Melbourne meal at this modern Australian eatery. Open for lunch Friday to Sunday, you can sample three courses of the chef’s exquisite creations for a fraction of the full dinner price. Before your meal, try the “Snap, crackle and pop”; a magical combination of puffed pork crackling, dashi, brown sugar and white sesame. 

Runner up: Circa – found in the stylish Prince Hotel in St Kilda, this minimalist restaurant offers a reasonably priced In’n’Out lunch menu of 2 courses with a glass of wine for $35. The food is clever and contemporary with imaginative flavour pairings.

Best dinner… Coda – this award-winning basement restaurant is stylish and slick. All the Vietnamese-inspired food is tempting. I suggest ordering half-portions so you can taste a wider variety of dishes, the unique blackened quail is especially good and I loved the fresh and vibrant hanoi roll. 

Runner up: Townmouse – a small, neighbourhood restaurant that is nice for a drink or for dinner. The menu changes regularly depending on seasonal produce. Particularly memorable were the goat’s cheese profiteroles.

Best for sharing… Supernormal – there is often a queue for this popular fusion restaurant. Have a drink at the bar before devouring indulgent dishes such local oysters, roast duck bao and velvety wagyu beef. 

Runner up: Movida – this characterful tapas restaurant has now got several branches. Visit their original venue in the heart of the CBD for a few of their signature small plates. I loved the bocadillo (brioche, duck liver pate and PX foam toasted sandwich).

Best thai… Cookie – those in the know head to the 1st floor of the Curtin House building for the city’s best Thai food. Be sure to order the addictively good betel leaf wrapped pork skewers.

Runner up: ChinChin – be prepared to wait for a table at this lively eatery. The huge menu can be overwhelming so ask your waitress to point out a few favourites. I particularly liked the spicy corn and coriander fritters, with housemade chilli jam.

Best homemade pasta… Tipo 00 – this new pasta bar is thrilling the Melbourne locals, and it’s a struggle to nab a table at the intimate venue. Sit at the bar and enjoy a bowl of the homemade pappardelle with braised rabbit, marjoram & hazelnut.

Best burger… Tuckshop Takeaway – set up by ex-Fat Duck husband and wife team, this cute corner shop serves some of the best burgers I have ever tasted. Everything is homemade, from the bouncy brioche burger buns to the nostalgic sodas and shakes.

Runner up: 8bit – with a new venue in the CBD, it is now easier to get your 8bit fix. The juicy and indulgent burgers are classic and tasty, and there is a retro arcade game to play while you wait for your order.

Best Chinese… Hutong Dumpling Bar – Amid the chaos of Chinatown is this celebrated Chinese eatery. Order a few portions of the wondrous XLB dumplings and pick a local wine from the very reasonably priced list.

Best pizza… Innocent Bystander – A short drive outside the city to the Yarra Valley, Innocent Bystander are known best for making delicious wine. I encourage you to visit at lunchtime for the delicious woodfired sourdough pizza and to take part in a wine tasting.

Best ice-cream… Gelato Messina – the mecca of ice-cream, this much-loved institution has spread across Australia. The Italian-style gelateria makes successfully inventive flavours; salted caramel and white chocolate is the most popular.

More on Melbourne’s best restaurants here.

Sherwood, Queenstown

Posted on by

sherwood

Queenstown is full of touristy hostels and hotels, uninteresting accommodation options for lazy travellers. Those in the know book a room at Sherwood, a new design-conscious place to sleep, eat and drink. The hotel was previously a run down mock-tudor motor inn, until three friends with a creative vision bought the unwanted property and started an exciting transformation.

The newly renovated and revived collection of buildings offers guests and locals a range of activities and dining options. Join one of the early morning yoga classes or rent mountain bikes to explore town. Head to the bar for a cocktail, a meal or even listen to a band in the multi-purpose venue.

During my tour of New Zealand I visited Sherwood for a few nights stay. The retro red and white alpine lodge exteriors are a surprising contrast to the modern minimalist bedrooms. Inside, the stylish but functional furniture and features instantly reminded me of the successful Ace hotel brand. The simple and bold design is appealing and satisfying: exposed light bulbs, utilitarian enamel kitchenware and specially made Sherwood branded blankets on the beds. In the basic bathrooms there are complimentary ‘The Woods’ toiletries for guests to use. From the bedroom windows we were lucky to have views of glorious Lake Wakatipu.

The restaurant at the Sherwood is fast becoming a foodie destination in its own right. Queenstown residents flock to try the delicious weekend brunch dishes, or spend their evenings enjoying cocktails and comfort food. We spent an evening at the chef’s table, and relished the opportunity to question chef Ainsley Thompson about her dishes and the food scene in the area. The food was comforting with a creative twist, accompanied with clever wine pairings. Highlights included the addictive creamy polenta with smoked tomato salsa, sensational crispy pressed pork shoulder with fennel & orange and a subtle elderflower and strawberry jelly for dessert. Also memorable was the beautifully light Tempranillo Rosé from Central Otago, which they buy by the barrel and bottle in house.

Breakfast is very much a casual affair, served in the same dining room, with a gourmet buffet selection during the week and a lavish brunch menu on weekends. Coffee fans will be pleased to discover the ‘Supreme coffee’ shop, where I ordered my daily flat white. Try to visit on a weekend so you can head to an Awakening Power yoga class and then relax afterwards with a Chorizo and green pepper tortilla or French toast with strawberry and red currents.

The Sherwood team continue to explore all the possibilities, so they can make the most of this exciting space. I loved spending a few days exploring and experiencing the Sherwood brand, and I got the feeling that there is much more to come from this brilliant boutique concept.

More information and book a room at Sherwood here.

Things to do in San Francisco

Posted on by

I have always dreamt of visiting San Francisco… and when I did finally get the chance last month it excited but disappointed me simultaneously. The huge metropolis is difficult and frustrating to navigate as a traveller, and many areas are gritty and unkept. As the start up and tech capital of the world; I expected the home of Google, Apple and Uber to be more stylish. However the food scene exceeded all my expectations, delicious and affordable eateries on every corner – there weren’t enough meals in the day to try it all. In between meal times there are some great shops, sights and attractions, if you know where to look.

To Stay

San Remo Hotel – San Francisco is an extremely expensive city to stay in so we were lucky to discover the affordable and characterful San Remo Hotel in the North Beach district of town. This historic hotel is small but welcoming, decorated in a quirky style, with thoughtful details everywhere you look.

To Eat

State Bird Provisions – There is no sign to alert you of this restaurant’s whereabouts, but the constant queue outside is a clue. This modern Michelin-starred venue offers a menu of small plates of rustic American fare, but most come for the dim sum style “provisions”. My highlights included the speciality CA state bird and the pork belly pluot salad.

La Taqueria – This Mexican institution has been awarded the best burrito in America. There are only a few options of tacos and burritos so the queue moves fast as the delicious food is freshly prepared at staggering speed. I tried the flavoursome and tender super pork burrito, washed down with an ice-cold corona.

Rich Table – Don’t miss this informal foodie destination. Set up by chef couple, Evan and Sarah Rich the daily changing menu is always filled with tasty, innovative dishes. The porcini doughnuts with raclette has become a favourite and is always on the menu, a salty cheesy delight. I also enjoyed an expertly mixed ‘Newton’s Law’ Bourbon cocktail and a bowl of wonderfully comforting homemade spaghetti with braised duck, tomato gravy and candied almonds.

Spruce – This smart Michelin starred restaurant is usually unaffordable but on Sundays they offer a reasonable brunch menu. The Spruce burger is absolutely delicious or if you want something more breakfast based opt for the Challah French Toast with apricot jam, almond butter and warm maple syrup. For a naughty addition try the addictively light Beignets with crème anglaise.

To Snack

Mr Holmes Bakehouse – Recognisable on social media from its neon ‘I got baked in San Francisco’ sign, this trendy bakery sells a small selection of fine cookies, cakes and savoury baked delicacies.

Smitten – When it gets hot in San Francisco there is one place the locals flock to get their ice-cream fix. Smitten started as a street wagon and now has numerous locations around the city. The made-to-offer nitrogen ice-cream is blissfully silky and creamy and the flavours are vibrant and rich. My favourite was the TCHO 60.5% chocolate.

Craftsmen and Wolves – A contemporary patisserie in the hip Mission district run by chef William Werner. After staring at the awe-inspiring baked creations in the glass cabinets, I eventually decided on a smoked cheddar, hot pepper gougère, a light cheesy puff with a kick of peppery spice.

To Drink

Sightglass Coffee – There are now three locations though I recommend visiting the flagship café in SoMA. The chic industrial space also houses their roastery and the coffee is smooth and delicious.

Four Barrel Coffee – Well known in San Francisco for their drip coffee, at Four Barrel they source, roast and brew beans ensuring top quality and taste. They don’t offer free wifi or power so guests are forced to relax and concentrate on enjoying the superior cup of coffee in their hand.

Saint Frank – Before visiting this neighbourhood coffee shop I had noticed their brand of beans in a number of other cafes. On a Saturday morning the minimalist venue was jam-packed with fitness fanatics and dog-walkers getting their morning fix. The coffee here is delicious and the croissants were flaky and buttery.

ABV – This walk-in bar in the Mission district serves top cocktails and award-winning food. Sit at the bar and chat to one of the expert mixologists about your preferred spirit or choose from the detailed menu of exciting concoctions.

Trou Normand – A swish bar in the centre of town with craft cocktails and an impressive range of charcuterie. The perfect Friday night spot for a date or to catch up with friends. Behind the bar a giant nude by Ebecho Muslimova adds a striking creative allure.

To Do

Alcatraz – I loved experiencing Alcatraz, a mesmerising piece of American history. Just 10 minutes from the San Francisco port this once maximum security federal penitentiary closed in 1963 and housed many famous criminals including Al Capone. The 45-minute audio tour is a must, detailing the lives of the inmates and officers while walking you round the eerie prison building. Book well ahead, preferably for the first ferry of the day to avoid the crowds. You can also see the retro ‘View Alcatraz’ sign at Pier 41.

Pier 39 – weave your way through the tourist crowds to Pier 39 where a group of seals sunbathe. Watch them as they swim, fight and play with each other, just a few metres out to sea.

Bay City Bike Rentals – rent a tandem from one of their four accessible locations and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Battery Spencer for unrivalled views of the towering red bridge.

Exploratorium – a playful learning laboratory for kids and adults alike, their mission is to change the way the world learns. This interactive museum has an unrivalled range and variety of hands-on experiments and experiences. Entry is free with the San Francisco CityPASS.

Pop Physique – If you’ve got a burst of energy whilst visiting San Fran, push yourself with a high intensity Pop Physique class. The artistic approach to exercise was launched in 2008 in LA by ex-ballet dancer Jennifer Williams. There are now 15 locations in America several of which are found in SF. We visited the Russian Hill studio for a fun but challenging hour long work-out.

To Shop

March – A beautiful store of aesthetic high-quality homeware for the kitchen and pantry and a range of vital cooking ingredients. They also host family style supperclubs.

Levi’s Store – This mega brand was started in San Francisco in 1873. The new Market Street flagship store features their more exclusive lines, including Made & Crafted and Levi’s Vintage. You can also have your favourite jeans or garment personalised with the in house tailor.

City Lights Bookstore – Open since 1953 this iconic independent bookshop made a name for itself publishing the nation’s most daring literature. It is most famous for its large collection of Beat poetry and prose. As many before me have, I purchased a copy of Jack Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’, a very suitable travelling companion.

To Escape

Oakland – This area used to be a dangerous suburb of San Francisco, but is now celebrated as a popular destination with a burgeoning scene of restaurants and creative outlets. Visit Kronnerburger for one of their amazing burgers or enjoy a bowl of warming noodles at Ramen Shop. Coffee lovers will want to visit the first official Blue Bottle Coffee here. For book browsing head to Book/Shop a lovely store that opened in 2013 dedicated to all things literary.

The city is best explored with a CityPASS which offers over 40 % off top attractions plus a 7-day Muni & Cable Car Pass.

Many thanks to the San Francisco Tourist Board for their help with this trip.