Eat Like Ushi

The night was for celebrating and so an appropriate venue had to be selected. Surprisingly in researching, there were only a few places that seemed to interest me for the occasion. They were Jolley's Boathouse, Concubine and Chianti (and I had already chosen Delicatessen and Press for the previous nights more casual meals). In the end Chianti won due to an exciting take on classic Italian and the locavore mentality. Jolley's had higher ratings but the menu didn't excite and Concubine is unlikely to be much better than all the equivalent Melbourne versions.

For a place with white-table service, the atmosphere in Chianti is surprisingly cosy and homely. I liked the plates decorating the walls with Audrey Hepburn-type faces.

Complementary ciabatta, some mild EVOO and a small amuse bouche of veal with herbs started things off.

- Antipasti Misti (Local artisan cured meats, prosciutto di Parma, arancini, grissini, mozzarella di buffala, local sardines pickled ‘in saor’, baccala mantecato, balsamic marinated mushrooms, marinated zucchini, olives & additional daily appetisers) $38.0 - the proscuitto was very mild flavoured and the softest I've ever tried, arancini crisp with rice that tasted slightly mushroom or truffled, fresh mild mozzarella and two warm meatballs in ragu;
- Girello di Vitello (slow poached veal girello, truffled anchovy mayonnaise, caper leaves & Ortiz anchovies) $24.9 - very nice individual elements (particularly the anchovies) but not so overwhelming overall. I'd probably go for the octopus or lamb brains next time;
- Fiori di Zucchini (zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta & smoked mozzarella, lightly fried in batter, served with capsicum & almond Romesco) $24.5 - large lovely flowers skilfully fried with a nutty red pepper sauce. I wish there were more than 2 flowers.

After a short intermission the mains were brought out in all their glory:

- Fazzoletti con Anguilla (house-made pasta ‘handkerchiefs’, smoked eel, black truffle & walnuts) $35.9 - excellent unusual pasta dish with eel and crunchy textural walnuts. I couldn't detect much black truffle. Note to mix the pasta sheets early as a few stuck together toward the end as the dish cooled down;
- Linguine allo Scoglio (Spencer Gulf king prawns, Coorong pipis, mussels & fish, Frank’s tomato passata, white wine, garlic & olive oil, no shells) $36.9 - beautifully presented seafood in a clean and much milder than expected sauce;
- Arrosto d’Agnello (roasted Pure Suffolk lamb rump, marinated eggplant, roasted garlic & crema di fagioli) $39.5 - a perfectly cooked lamb with nice eggplant and very discernible garlic flavour;
- Coniglio al Forno (Chianti’s traditional slow cooked Adelaide Hills farmed rabbit, pancetta, port & sage) $39.9 - often rabbit is dry and so it was a small risk but with that description, I couldn't avoid it. The rabbit had one tender piece and one slightly drier piece but overall excellent with a meaty pancetta sauce that lifted the insides of the meat.

Insalata di Campo $11.9 was a side of mixed leaves and not much more. I'd probably try the green bean or tomato salad next time. None of the dishes came with vegetable accompaniments so it is a necessary side.

The food and cooking quality is excellent, as expected by this kind of restaurant with the associated prices. Fried lambs brains and the Budino di Cioccolato hot chocolate pudding will be certainties for next time. I could smell the pudding from the surrounding tables but unfortunately didn't have the stomach capacity this time.

The service is overall very good. One thing I would note is that in being friendly, you are occasionally forgotten briefly due to attention and conversation being paid to other customers (and I suppose other customers would feel the same way when I had the attention). For example ordering took a little while, waiting for the dessert menu too (which in the end opted to end the meal rather than wait longer) and paying the bill too. The service still warranted a decent tip (which is very rare for me in Australia) so that still says something.

Everything was booked to precision. Arrival into Adelaide at 9:05pm, taxi to the hotel, then dinner at Delicatessen 10pm. A few days earlier I received an email asking if I could change the booking to 7:30 or 8pm as "it is busy earlier" but obviously couldn't. Then Qantas delayed the flight and arrival at dinner wasn't going to be before about 1030pm. I called up and they said it would be fine, then received a call back a few minutes later saying it was too quiet and they wouldn't stay open for me. DIsappointment.

The complete and utter lack of food venues at 1030pm on a Thursday in Adelaide astounded me. Maybe I just haven't lived somewhere small for a while but surely Adelaide isn't that small? Anyway a walk to about 15 different places I found on Google and Zomato proved fruitless.

Eventually the mother of all late night dining venues came up - kebabs. The Jerusalem Kebab House was on my list but wouldn't be open late enough. So then came Afghan Kebab House, it's closer proximity and slightly later hours.

- Lamb kebab platter with pita bread $22 for 4 skewers - very lovely lamb skewers cooked to order over charcoal and the heavy flavours blended with yoghurt and spicy tomato sauce and vegetables into a make-your-own pita wrap; 
- Qabuli pulao $18 - basmati rice spiced with butter/oil/ghee/something and housing soft, tender and meaty lamb that fell off the bone. A touch of yoghurt sauce and lemon lifted it. A few more currants or some nuts would have made it perfect.

Both were really great. I probably preferred the strong meat flavours of the kebab but I'd be very happy with either (and happier again with both).

There's also chicken biryani and BBQ chicken for next time. Thanks for being open and cooking fresh for me.

Geez Adelaide, you need to do something about your food hours. After noticing how early things close on Thursday evening, seeing that many things are closed on Sunday afternoon is ridiculous. Even places that Zomato and Google state are open weren't. In particular, I really wanted to try Kutchi Deli Parwana (whose own website states open 7 days per week) but the closed door on a Sunday 2pm said otherwise.

After seeing Golden Boy, Mandoo and many others also closed I had to wonder why Sunday lunch is such a desolate field in Adelaide.

Eventually I settled on Happy Bowl, a small Chinese place where I everyone else was a Mandarin-speaking student-aged person.

- Spicy Chicken Noodles $10.8 - the chicken was strongly flavoured, however limited in amount and parts even cold in the middle (obviously precooked and refridgerated). The soup had a bit of spice but lacked actual broth flavour;
- Fried Dumplings in Chicken Juice $10.5 - I'm not sure where the chicken juice is, but these homemade dumplings were fantastic. Good dough, nicely fried bottom, juicy tasty filling that was enhanced by Chinkiang vinegar, and some kind of small tasty brown crisp wisps full flavour.

Next time I would order a whole lot of dumplings and be happy with that meal.

I'm slowly branching out from Footscray's Vietnamese and African places. There seem to be a good number of curry houses and Thai places especially when you include West Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville.

Thai Angels was the first to be tried simply due to an ok Zomato score (3.4) and the Entertainment Book.

- Roti Chanai (crispy and soft bread served with peanut sauce) $5 - roti was thin and quite firm and not chewy nor flaky which is my preferred texture;
- Deep fried quails (with garlic and pepper served on a bed of sautéed vegetables) $23.9 - quite expensive for 2 quails but they were ok;
- Red curry duck (traditional Thai red curry cooked in coconut milk & vegetables) $19.9 - mild curry although very little duck meat unfortunately;
- Thai omelette with prawns (filled with herbs served with dipping sauces) $19.9 - for some reason I expected an omelette similar to Korean or something bound with flour. This was an omelette in the plainest sense of the word and seemed to not have much additional flavour.

Overall I was a bit disappointed by the flavour and quality of the dishes especially as the price point was quite high. I'll probably try somewhere different next time such as the extremely nearby and well reputed Aangan (for Indian food).

I've never really had Vietnamese dishes out in Melbourne. My experience has largely been limited to noodles and banh xeo. Until Pho Phu Quoc in Canberra, I hadn't appreciated the homestyle flavours that probably fill my Luke Nguyen and Andrea Nguyen cookbooks. Now in Footscray I was looking for a good Vietnamese restaurant for dishes. The main contenders seem to be Thien An (a classic favourite apparently) and Sapa Hills (where two independent Vietnamese people who live/work locally have nominated).

3 colour drink was nice but a little too much ice and a bit too thick with the shavings.

- Fried squid with salted duck egg $18.5 - ever since Red Chilli Sichuan's prawns fried with salted duck egg I've been looking for an equally potent alternative. Although less flavoured here, still a decent offering and different to the typical salt & pepper & chilli versions;
- Mom's green papaya slaw with beef jerky $13 - a nice goi salad with the beef jerky adding a meaty flavour and chewy textural element. The halved peanuts do the same;
- Barramundi with soy bean & pepper in claypot $35 - opted for the family size in anticipation of takeaway. Nice soft fish, tofu and a dark savoury sauce. Not as good (and more expensive than) Pho Phu Quoc but still good and fine the next day for lunch.

I also tried the Pho here once which was very good - much less intense and a cleaner beef broth, perhaps reflecting the Northern style.

It's difficult to know whether to stick to the tried and true or venture out to the less popular other competing restaurants surrounding them. Who knows but it's safe to go back here.

With my newfound work residence in Prahran, it's quite surprising I haven't explored much of the cafes in the area. This changed one brunch when my hipster-looking friend from Canberra visited and we came to Tall Timber - a close decent cafe to work and one that I had previously flagged as worth a visit.

- Sauteed cauliflower (kale, feta, pomegranate, beetroot and quinoa superfood salad with poached eggs, sweet potato hummus and tahini yoghurt) $17.5 - an unusual selection by me but an exceptional salad where the charred cauliflower was the star in flavour and well supported by a nice grain salad zested by lime juice and pomegranate. Impressed.

Ordinarily BBQ pork ribs should be an almost automatic choice but I suppose I can leave that for next time when I'm in a more meat-eating mood. I'd definitely be back - it'd be a waste of the area not to.

After owning my first bike (in at least 25 years) I've been looking at trails from Footscray to take advantage of the quickly retreating weather and warmth. One Saturday a trip down south to Williamstown looked like something new. I think I may have been to Anchorage once over 10 years ago and have not otherwise set foot or tire in Williamstown. There were a few places on my list (garnered from the Entertainment Book) and after seeing the view of Shelly's with its outdoor area facing the ocean and semi-protected by the winds (but not the seagulls), a lunch venue was selected.

The service was great by an enthusiastic waiter.

- Smoked eggplant arancini (with house aioli) $15 - very nice crisp arancini but no detected eggplant nor smokiness about it;
- Gnocchi (with prawn ragu, fried vegetables, proscuitto & confit tomato) $29 - a very thick rich creamy cheese sauce with nice gnocchi and an incredibly number of prawns. The proscuitto was very salty (which is expected and fine) but the cheese sliced on top all melted and stuck together (maybe I should just stir faster and more aggressively). A very heavy dish but it was alright;
- Shelly's fish & chips (with tartar and mixed leaves) $26 - a price that reflects the setting as the fish batter was reasonable but the fish itself just seemed to lack some quality. The fillets were very thin and so didn't have the thick juicy flesh I expect, was a grey colour (rather than white) which may reflect a frozen rather than fresh source.

Upon paying the bill, the cashier (likely the owner or manager) looked perplexed at the Entertainment Card. Ah yes, there's one more week to use this, which the now-ex deputy manager had signed up for without informing anyone and thus been sacked because "clearly this is not for us". There was an awkward pause where I was wondering if it was hoped I would offer to forget about it, but not to be. In the end I received 20% instead of the 25%. Oh well I can't imagine going there particularly in the future anyway. The Strand and Sam's Boat Shed are Entertainment Book options left remaining.

After many years of hearing about the queues and a small visit to the basement once for a drink and dessert, I finally avoided my avoiding of Chin Chin. I'm not sure why - I think the thought of queues put me off as well as it being "the place to be seen" with only a moderate-to-good opinion of the food from some friends early on. As much as modern Asian has taken over Melbourne (and most of the white world), how much better could it be than the classics Longrain, Ezard, Coda, Gingerboy, Blue Chillies, Easy Tiger or the (relatively) newer Rice Papr Scrs and Spice Temple? Sure I accept there are different Asian styles to be modern over but still... in the end there seems to be a vast amount of crossover.

In any case I digress. A friend suggested meeting there for lunch one day which I had no qualms over. In fact I was excited to finally try it. After meeting at 11am on a weekday (yes, that early a lunch to get a spot) we were the 5th and 6th people inside to drink shared cocktails and try the food (the long list of mostly great sounding things made simpler by a chef selection option for $69pp). By around 12-1pm almost the whole dining room was full. It was impressive considering a Monday but what was less impressive was the tight squashing of tables together such that eaves-dropping neighbours became a little awkward at times.

But to the food... a nice plate of chilli selection was presented as a DIY heat. I like the concept. I much preferred the various paste versions although none were incredibly hot (which is fine by me).

- Kingfish sashimi (lime, chilli, coconut & Thai basil) - beautiful slices of fish in a balanced zesty dressing;
- Chin Chin pork rollups (red braised suckling pig, pancakes, slaw, Asian herbs) - soft meat, good herbs and strong binding sauce all quite good;
- Laab gai (stirfried spiced chicken mince, lime & roasted rice with lettuce cups) - I'd preferred larb with more herbs and lime from some Thai places. This was fine but nothing I felt was special;
- Twice cooked grass fed great southern pinnacle beef short rib (with coriander & prik nam pla) - beautifully tender beef that I happily swathed through the sweet (palm sugar?) sauce that it floated above;
- BBQ cuttlefish som tum (with green papaya, pickled tomato, burnt green chilli, peanuts & nam jim) - some of the softest cuttlefish I've had without a hint of rubber. Really excellent;
- Butter chicken curry (with yoghurt & green chilli) - by this stage our stomachs were struggling and even though this was nice and creamy, probably made it difficult to appreciate fully. In any case I'm usually more a fan of potent rather than mild flavoured curries;
- Coconut sago (with sweet corn icecream, praline & puffed wild rice) - sweet corn icrecream is new and went well with the coconut cream surrounding it.

I must admit that despite all my reservations given the sheer degree of hype and queuing, the food was very good. Better than Rice Papr Scrs? For quality I'd say yes and definitely quantity although at double the price for 2 people. Better than Longrain? I'm still likely bias toward Boetz but it'll be close. The flavours at Longrain are probably still more potent and other than the sharing tables at Longrain (which are a little too wide to speak to your date easily), the tables at Chin Chin seem mighty packed together for maximal occupancy and minimal privacy.

What can I say - you've impressed me with your food Chin Chin and I'll be back. There's so many dishes to have again.

Next time I would order a la carte. Not that there's anything wrong with the feed-me option but now I know what I like from it. I'd take the cuttlefish som tum and beef rib and could be convinced of the kingfish sashimi and rollups. Otherwise I'd probably skip the little dishes next time other than trying the chilli salt chicken wings. Duck red curry will always be my Thai curry default/favourite but (Wagyu) rendang touches my Malaysian bone. BBQ pork ribs and Issan chicken appeal to me. The sticky pork and roast duck are the alternative mains for the beef rib.

Sun Theatre is fast becoming the local cinema favourite. Although older and less sophisticated looking than the previous Palace Electric, the Monday and Tuesday cheap tickets and lack of children in the crowds seem to suit my taste.

There's a few Yarraville food options on the list - Bopha Devi, Yim Yam and Hello Gelo in particular. Bopha Devi got the nod that night, Hello Gelo closes at 730pm, and Yim Yam can wait for the future. I don't have a lot of experience with Cambodian food and even the trip there in 2007 is difficult to recall (other than the fried tarantula). I do recall thinking it was similar to Thai but less intense in flavour.

Like all things Yarraville (other than the cinema tickets), the prices aren't cheap. But at least it's decent quality.

- Fried platter $10 - prawns skirts (nice juicy deep fried prawn in crispy pastry), crispy pumpkin wonton (a variation not tried before but good and tasted as expected), K'dom chicken & crab meat roll in crispy bread (very satisfying crispy solid roll with more chicken noted than crab);
- Poht char (crunchy corn kernels lightly fried in butter with fresh prawns, spring onion & ground Kampot black pepper) $13.9 - juicy flavoursome corn with 6 bouncy prawns with tails;
- Amok fish curry (traditional curry with coconut cream, lemongrass, turmeric, lime leaves served with cucumber & rice) $23.9 - really nice flavoured mild curry and excellently cooked soft fish pieces. Perhaps a little pricey but at least it is good;
- Char marek (Cambodian stirfry with fresh baby calamari, young Kampot green peppercorn & snow peas) $18.9 - tender calamari in a light savoury sauce.

Overall the cooking and ingredients are great. Food is served very quickly too perhaps reflecting a Tuesday evening and a small dining area. It is a bit on the expensive side but you'll enjoy the food.

Next time I would order an entree of K'dom or try Thlong Bompong (taro spring rolls). I'd happily order a soup to compare to my favourite Tom Kha and as much as I'd be happy trying another Amok, there's so many other worthy sounding dishes.

The other night I found myself at Readings on Lygon Street, then braving the masses at Brunetti. As I walked out I was directed toward the more orderly queue of people across the road. This was the new gelato place started by a producer of Lavazza coffee who had apparently learnt gelato trade in Italy (as most seem to do these days). Unfortunately I was sweeted out for the evening and thought nothing more of it.

A few days later I was near the south end of Chapel Street and unexpectedly came across another Pidapipo. Far away from the crowds due to location and day of the week, the icecream in shiny metal containers (the way it is supposed to be kept for maximal quality as the expense of minimal wow/colour factor) beckoned.

Pistachio was a light shade of beautiful brown, with a good nutty flavour but a little too sweet for my preference. Kudos nonetheless. This was balanced with an excellent coconut dotted with flesh along the way.

Perhaps not my favourite place ever but an excellent quality one.