Eat Like Ushi

58% rating? Very funny Dr. Jones! Maybe less comical for the restauranteurs than the little kid in Temple of Doom. Going through the Manuka options in the Entertainment Book even if the food isn't that good (let's be honest - in today's food climate around Australia you have to be of at least some reasonable standard to survive, especially with average ratings, unless your restaurant is a front for drug running etc.), a free main course made it an easy decision to test out.

Excuse the photos - it was a high glare day sitting next to the window.

- Chipotle Chicken Wings (mind boggling chicken wings served with citrus creme fraiche) - tasty crispy, not overly oily. Moderately tender chicken. Didn't seem to have much chipotle/chilli kick;
- special Summer Seafood Paella - not a bad collection of mussels, prawns, squid and fish. Rice was well cooked (not al dente if you prefer that) with what I assume was a chicken stock base;
- Confit Duck (five-spice salted duck legs, ginger & shallot relish, superior soy caramel, nori coated rice cakes, roast baby corn & black sesame bok choy) - really good collection of flavours and textures. Particularly the rice cakes with crispy nori salty coating and chewy vinegar rice. The duck wasn't bad either but could have been more tender.

Overall the food was good with reasonable prices. The Entertainment Book made it excellent value. I'll be back next EB year.

02-2015

I actually tried to have breakfast at Penny University however on a Sunday their kitchen doesn't open until 8am. Considering that would have only given me 10mins to eat, I wandered down the street at found Me & Mrs Jones serving food from 7:30am. Since leaving London, I haven't seen black pudding served anywhere. Fyshwick did have one in a vacuum seal once but I didn't buy it. Hence my surprise when I saw it on the breakfast menu here.

I enquired as to a chai latte and was informed it was a powder that contained "a lot of sugar". Doesn't sound enticing.

- Mixed Berry Smoothie - blended berries, milk and possibly a banana but with way too much honey. It was too sweet;
- The Irish (fried eggs with black pudding, smoked tomatoes and bois boudran on house made potato bread) - reasonable fried eggs, excellent externally-bought black pudding on bread that I couldn't really tell contained potato. What was disappointing was that one potato was undercooked and firm and the tomatoes were burn-smoked and horrible.

I wouldn't come back here for breakfast. If I did maybe the fresh options would be better.

Going through the Entertainment Book, the 64% rated Belluci's in Manuka wouldn't have been my first choice but I'm slowly running out of closeby options. I've often found I don't necessarily agree with low ratings that are often given for service and the 25% discount offered here seemed like as good a reason to try this place.

- Insalata Panzanella (fried sour dough, heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, green olives & roast peppers) - conveniently only a few days before, Jamie's 15min meals had shown me this salad for the first time. It tasted every bit as good as I had imagined whilst waiting Jamie;
- Tortellini all' Anatra (hand made duck parcels with mushrooms, asparagus, pistachio & smoked ricotta) - $30
- Galleto alla Diavola (grilled spatchcock with Calabrian spices, buttermilk slaw & hand cut potatoes) - $36

I must admit from the delicious fresh-tasting salad, to the rich heavy duck pasta and the spiced bird (which needed a little more salt/seasoning for my liking but was still good), that I actually like the food here. I do appreciate that the prices are extremely high for Italian - $30 pasta and $36 poultry. The most expensive Italian places I've eaten are Caffe E Cucina (Melbourne) which is a small step up in price and big in atmosphere, and The River Cafe (London) which is an enormous step up in price and reputation. Given this, it is difficult to justify Belluci's without the Entertainment Book discount.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it difficult to pay high prices for Italian generally (eg. never going to Grossi Fiorentino) unless they have decidedly high world reputation (eg. nearly ended up at Combal.Zero in Turin if it wasn't for the drenching rain).

Finding somewhere open and available to eat near Flemington on Boxing Day dinner was proving to be a last minute debacle. There's the standard (however good quality) options of Chef Lagenda, Laksa King and I Love Dumplings but the day needed a slight change to the cheap heavy Asian flavours in the area. A search on Urbanspoon uncovered Little Africa with its ridiculous 96% rating. A quick phone call confirmed they somehow still had dining vacancy and it was set.

The menu makes it easy to order - individual stew or the vegetarian or meat/seafood combinations of the day. Chai with kamman tasted like a tea with heavy cardamom infusion. I had to add half tsp of sugar for my own palate.

Of the vegetable dishes, my particular favourites were the tumtummo (split lentils stewed in a thick but mild sauce with seasoning) and exceptional fool (fava beans, cooked until tender mashed then mixed with ghee butter and seasoning, lemon juice & cumin topped with green chilli, onions and tomato). The meat and fish curries were also good, particularly the lamb zighini (cubes of lamb slowly cooked in a rich berbere sauce with mixed spices and clarified butter).

Injera had the right mild amount of sour tang which to me is essential in this cuisine. Although I was a little disappointed that an extra injera was listed at $1 each both online and inhouse (which is the retail price in Melbourne - visit Racecourse Road) whereas in the end they told me it was now $2. Not a big deal but unexpected in the end.

It has been a while since I had Ethiopian food last in either Footscray, Flemington, Collingwood or Nairobi. Although slightly more expensive I'd happily come back.

Next time I would order the combination of the day again. Even though I have my favourites, it's the variety of 6 that keeps the meal more interesting.

Back in 2012 at Miami's Ultra Music Festival, Madonna took to the stage during Avicii's set. "How many people in this crowd have seen Molly?" Although she tried to cover her actions by explaining she was referring to the song, it was quite obvious she was talking about this place in Canberra but decided in the end the best course was to keep it hidden.

Molly is difficult to find to the point that the website only gives coordinates (-35° 16' 46.45" S - 149° 7' 35.23" E). To anyone I've ever seen stumbling around town or clubs all over the world looking for Molly, look up those coordinates on Google maps.

This place oozes cool. From the single wooden door with the light globe sitting above it and no sign, walking down the steps feels (what is probably) similar to entering an underground brothel - excitement, trepidation and wonder as to what you'll find around the corner. Luckily what greets you is a classic moodlit bar, the classiest dressing bartenders all skilled to design your cocktail, a piano (although I'm yet to see someone play it) and charcuterie cut to order.

I'm waiting to come on an evening when there is live music and that would complete the excellent experience.

My first trip to Rum Bar last August was the first night out of drinking I'd had in Canberra. Perhaps it was this euphoria and the nice selection of drinks (did not have any food that time) that drove my opinion of this place. In particular the sensational Hot Buttered Rum was a dessert drink of dreams - sweet, warm, soothing, satisfying - and I couldn't help but tell people about it.

When the Facebook page announced a new food menu and a 2-for-1 Tuesday special, there was no better reason to return. I was sad to find the Hot Buttered Rum was only a winter concoction and that they didn't have the equipment to recreate it that evening. Location along the foreshore is as good as it gets in Canberra, and the interior decor is much better than the opposition drinking places in the area.

The drinks on this occasion were much less exciting than previously - it may have been partly due to the high cost of these cocktails (as expected in any higher end bar) but also they seemed relatively weak with the pouring shot glasses not being adequately filled, but I'd recently been to Molly where prices are the same but the drink excitement is better.

- Mini lamb kebab (served with hummus, tabouli, yogurt & harissa)
- Spicy fried school prawns served with aioli
- Flank steak served with potato & horseradish foam, poached egg & potato crisps
- Cheese fondue with grilled seasonal vegetables
- Pork Belly with pumpkin, walnuts & ricotta salata
- Salted cod fish fingers, garlic cream, mint, peas & smoked beetroot
- Octopus with almond gazpacho, olives, compressed cucumber & tomatoes

The food itself was fine without being special. Pork Belly was particularly nice. Overall I think the food prices are quite high given the serving sizes if paying full price. On this evening it did seem to take a very long time to cook (ie. 30mins for the starter and another 30-60 for the remaining), but I assume that was due to one cook and lots of guests taking advantage of the 2-for-1.

I think I'd only come back under two circumstances - Tuesday for 2-for-1 food items with a side drink or in winter if the Hot Buttered Rum makes a return.

One of the things I enjoyed about living in Abbotsford was that after a string of night shifts, I could walk home down Gertrude Street and reward myself with an excellent breakfast at any one of the brilliant cafes - De Clieu, Arcadia, Birdman, takeaway bread from Fatto a Mano, Proud Mary (a short detour) or as close to home as it got at Three Bags Full.

Three Bags Full in particular won me over as all the places serve similarly good and priced food, but they particularly have the gingery chai latte (from Phoenix chai syrup) that slightly burns the throat and makes me feel alive. I haven't had that flavour anywhere else in the world in a chai. I recently discovered a reasonably close cafe along the Kingston foreshore that may soon replace my Melbourne equivalents. Local Press isn't close enough to be overly convenient, but I think it's better than the closer local option of Penny University.

Let's start with the chai - served in a teapot with a warmer jumper, steeped with whole spices and easily avoiding the sweet syrup crap taste that most places have. My only preference would be if it was served with a strainer to prevent floaties in the cup. But I can work around that if the drink is good. Local Press is (probably) alluding to the refreshing juices in jars and there are also smoothies with chia seeds and other super ingredients.

The food is beautifully presented and complements the waterside view (not the best but I'll take it) and general people watching:

- Green Breaky Plate (za'tar coated hard boiled eggs with kale & almonds, avo, asparagus, quinoa tabouleh, fetta & dill yoghurt with smoked salmon) - healthy combination of textures (various seeds & nuts, feta, quinoa, salmon, asparagus, yoghurt...) and flavours including an excellent kale which I don't normally think highly of.

I went back the next month for lunch (woke up too late for breakfast). The dishes are still vibrant and flavoursome and only mildly more expensive:

- Smoked Trout & Quinoa Patty (with green apple, fennel & radish slaw, coriander, candied walnuts, kiwi-yoghurt dressing & sriracha chilli sauce);
- Grasslands' Free-Range Rare Pesto Beef (on Italian-style salad with marinated bocconcini, basil & heirloom tomatoes).

There's plenty of options to try for next time.

03-2015

A late Sunday lunch on a sunny afternoon was as pleasant as can be. The people types ranged from young families with energetic kids, a small mob of Chinese uni students, some early-20s attractive females in tight gym gear and some older couples wearing sunnies.

- Kingfish Sashimi (with pickled ginger, wasabi peas, wasabi mayo, avocado, roasted black sesame, nori sheets & grapefruit) - as usual the vibrant presentation mixing colours and ingredients was matched by the flavours and 6-or-so textures. I have to admit for $24, 5 slices of kingfish seemed a little thrifty but they were excellent quality and complemented best by the small Hershey's shaped wasabi mayo (Kewpie perhaps?). Rocket and firm rice salad added additional elements and made the dish more filling.

This was washed down lovingly with the usual berry & chia seed smoothie. Then it was off to the the gym.

04-2015

Easter Sunday - busy considering it was a Sunday at the best cafe around Kingston and similarly quiet given it was Easter and many were out of town. There was luckily no wait for seats at the communal table, nor were there any shortage of bike shorts and lycra. The beards were less frequent than usual which was great.

Round 2 of chai was served in another cosy teapot with warmer. There are 2.5 cups for the $4.50 (+50c for soy) which makes it an incredible bargain, especially given it's the only drinkable chai I've come across in Canberra. There is a mild sweetness (which can be enhanced at the table by sugar, including coconut sugar ie. palm sugar), a touch of ginger (I'd prefer more but it's acceptable) and is satisfying.

Juice of the day was a pineapple, beetroot, ginger concoction.

- Green Breaky Plate (za'tar coated hard boiled eggs with kale & almonds, avo, asparagus, quinoa tabouleh, fetta & dill yoghurt with ocean trout);
- Green Pea Pancake (with poached eggs, macerated avo, corn salsa, fetta, chilli jam & mint garnish) - another presentation spectacle matched by textures (pea pancake with very mild intrinsic flavour, tomato/peas/corn, smoked salmon, fine feta) and an occasional unexpected chilli after-burn mixed with poached eggs and avocado.

Still my favourite local cafe.

The first time I went to Cupping Room the wait ended up being too long for my stomach to handle. It was an impromptu visit after arriving at the airport that resulted in the second visit in the early afternoon and an immediate seat. Our waitress was a lovely lady whose accent I'm still trying to place - an unusual European or South American perhaps? Maybe I'll ask next time.

The coffee is proudly Ona's and I'm told it's good. I like how the menu espouses the quality of their "local real chai infused with Bonsoy" and I intend to try it one day, as few places make chai lattes with soy which certainly complements the flavour much more than cow's milk. However the barrier to this on both occasions has been this - Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Coconut King Shake. Imagine a cherry ripe blended, chilled and topped with additional desiccated coconut. It is as brilliant as it sounds and a sure fire menu item on my future imaginary cafe.

- Ham Hock, Corn & Potato Fritters (with two poached eggs, 'cuppers hot sauce' & a cress & alfalfa salad);
- Cascara Cured Salmon (with horseradish cream, cress, rye & curroway crutons, pickled fennel, beetroot jelly & a poached egg);
- Asian Honey-Glazed Pork Ribs (with purple slaw & lime) - meaty chewy ribs (rather than bone-slipping) with a reasonable glaze;
- special I can't quite remember with crumbed fish, potatoes and vibrant pickled vegetables.

The food is good, the drinks are great. I'll be back for the King Shake and a side serving of food.

I've previously only eaten in Fyshwick (the real Fyshwick area not the Sunday market) once - it was a surprisingly excellent breakfast at Ona Coffee House. On this occasion I was in the area to grab some padlocks from Bunnings and thought it was a good opportunity to find a quick lunch.

Located conveniently directly across from Ona is Elaine's. It's essentially a small cafe that looks like a milk bar/fish 'n' chip shop. They advertise award winning pies and thankfully the judges knew what they were talking about.

On two occasions I've visited and sampled Pepper Shepherds, (award winning) Beef Stroganoff, the giant vegetable pastie and a sausage roll. The specialty pies (Shepherds or not) seem to have a varying thickness of mash potato on top, a delicious crispy melted cheese coating, and some soft pastry lining the sides. Fillings can be chunky or smooth beef with the relevant pepper, stroganoff or other flavours within. Equally good is the sausage roll with the smoothest mince filling that slides down the throat. Possibly even better compared with the typical competitors is the pastie with a thin crisp pastry enclosing small vegetable chunks held together by mash potato.

The quality is all there as is the flavours. Excellent for a quick meal or takeaway for later in a park or at work.

Ebenezer Place seems to be the current trendy area for Adelaide's coffee and breakfast needs. At 745am, my first target was East End Providore (Urbanspoon 95%) which seems to be one of the newer ones and for that reason (or maybe it's also just plain good) the coolest of the lot. However considering the place didn't open until 8am, the ensuing 10minutes allowed me to read about it - that there is a limited menu (especially for breakfast) and some of the great ratings relate more to the providore/deli side of things. In any case it was more of a time factor that led me elsewhere on this occasion.

Wandering less than a minute in either direction or across the road gives the options of Sad Cafe (91%), Hey Jupiter (84%) and Nano (90%). Sad Cafe wasn't yet open (although already had 3 people waiting outside) and Nano was better rated than Hey Jupiter and seemed to be the oldest institution of the lot making the decision for me.

Clientele was a mixed combination of beards, suits and bike shorts with some random Italian phrases being thrown around too (presumably because the owners are Aussie-Italian). The menu reflects this and it largely Italian bread/pizza based with a slightly disappointing lack of fresher options (only saw one with yoghurt and fruit). In any case the Incarozza caught my eye (holy bread sauteed with egg, crispy pancetta, mozzarella, napoletana sugo) as interesting. It was a quite delicious thick serve of bread seemingly panfried on both sides embedded with fried egg. The topping had (not very crisp) pancetta, some melted cheese and a lovely tomato sugo and a few basil leaves (would definitely have appreciated more). It was reasonably heavy for early breakfast but a satisfying start to the morning.

Given the air was bordering on 30C, ice coffee was a welcome treat. Unlike the typical liquid versions with a token scoop of icecream, this was more of a blended smoothie incorporating coffee, icecream and (probably) ice into a thick smooth whip. It was great.

Next time I would order for lunch and test out some other bread/pizza options. I think for breakfast I'd try one of the other 3 places for something a bit lighter.

Over my last three trips to Adelaide, I've slowly starred more and more places on Google maps to remind myself of things worth trying. The list (admittedly) tends to be Asian focussed. So far the list entails Ricky's Kitchen (for chicken rice) or Warong (for Indo-Malaya laksa) or the nearby non-Asian United Latino Cocina (Mexican, fish tacos) which I discovered are sadly all only lunch options. Then there is Chinatown's Ying Chow (for duck and some kind of beans dish) or Concubine (other Chinese) which were a little too far away to walk to. Lastly near the Royal Adelaide Hospital is Golden Boy (modern Thai) which has a great sounding menu and I was very close to ending up in, but strangely only has average reviews (due to flavours, serving size, price).

In the end it came down to well rated dumplings place called Mandoo. I must admit I don't think I've ever had Korean dumplings, even in Seoul. My staple Korean dishes in Australia tend to be bibimbap and the occasional BBQ. Given the reviews and very high ratings, my curiosity and dumpling-cravings drew me in. Funnily enough just down the road looks like another reasonable Vietnamese-based place called Sit Lo which has the widespread open baos and pho as their specialty. Maybe next time.

Openly on display inside Mandoo is a large number of stacked metal steamers with the large parcels being assembled on a small bench in front. I positioned myself directly in front to watch the skilled action. The namesake dumplings come in two varieties - steamed or fried. From vast experience, I know that steamed are usually the basics and the marker of true greatness whereas my palate prefers the flavour and texture of fried. Luckily since all the servings are in 8, there is an option for half-half for $1 extra.

I ordered steamed kimchi mandoo (for the difference), fried pork mandoo (because fried pork is always the best flavoured) and beef bibimbap to wash it all down. They asked it I was ordering for 2. No, just 1. I smiled.

One of the reviews on Urbanspoon opined the mandoo themselves have little intrinsic flavour and it is the dipping sauce that brings it to life. I have to agree. Firstly the dumplings are huge (compared with typical Chinese or Japanese) each one being having a rounded diameter of 4-5cm. The steamed skins are thin and not too gelatinous which is fine but also means once you bite or dip, the large size is difficult to hold together and the filling comes out. The fried version on the other hand holds much better as expected. Kimchi filling was very very mild compared to usual kimchi vegetables. The pork filling wasn't very seasoned either but was fine. The dipping sauce of vinegar, chilli, sesame gave the dumplings a huge kick of flavour and intensity.

Bibimbap was a well sized bowl of steamed rice, lots of vegetable combinations, flavoursome beef and an excellent gochujang sauce with a perfect amount of chilli. One disappointment was my hope of serving or cooking in a stone pot with the bottom rice becoming crisp and burnt. This is my favourite textural element of bibimbap but didn't detract from the other nice flavours and textures. It also came with a small bowl of nice fish-konbu soup that would otherwise serve the base of their menu udon dish.

Next time I would order the fried chicken mandoo (to see what if they had more intrinsic flavour than the pork) and try either the udon or mandoo dumpling soup. For a one dish dinner, the bibimbap was more satisfying to me than the fried pork mandoo. But ideally try both and prepare to package a bit for takeaway.