The Hangman’s Travel Fare

05/09/2024

Vegan Fine Dining

30/08/2024

Funky Latin Fine Dining (Vegan, majority Gluten Free) at Mona Lisa
Service is impeccable, decor is quirky and a little Andy Warhol backing onto the Ovo Hotel, a chain that owns the Restaurant.
Lighting is low with a relaxed atmosphere and the Tasting Menu $89 pp.
Mutton skewers (mock meat like most if the dishes) were tasty balls of mushrooms, condiments and side dips complemented the food well.
Food presentation had delightful colours, shape and layout.
Huge drinks list and Cocktails also, as with their a la carte menu.
Located in South Yarra, parking means a short walk from the Como or parking in smaller side streets.
A fun, stylish restaurant for couples, occassions or simply ‘a night out’!
The stand outs were the croquettes, mushrooms on a skewer and the pear salad with the sweetest balsamic vinegar.

18/07/2024

Fresh Air & Pancakes is the 3rd Souffle Pancake Mel & I tried and one of the best in town.
Shop 1/233 Elizabeth St, Melbourne CBD to be precise!
Tiny joint with approx 12 seats with no toilet or even rubbish bin.
Waste is requested to be out in council bins a few steps outside.
Prices have been the most reasonable coming in around $20 or just under.

https://www.freshairpancake.com.au/

The edges were a soft & chewy mochi consistency and portions generous also.
Drinks range is better than most in the ‘Souffle Pancake’ space with Boba, Matcha and Hojicha.
Our order was Strawberries and Cream, and one with Matcha.

If you haven’t tried one yet, and are a sweet tooth then add this to your list!

18/07/2024

Melbourne’s Iconic French Bistro ‘Bistrot D’Orsay’ has been serving fine French-Mediterranean food over the last quarter of a century!
Located next to the Athenaeum Theatre at 184 Collins.
Enter via floor to ceiling red velvet curtains, this intimate, cosy bistro with low lighting contributing to the places ambience! It has booth seats, window seats as well as table seating.
Must try the signature Boullibaisse seafood soup jam packed with prawns, scallops, fish and muscles in a saffron, tomato & fennel broth.
Available in entree ($36.95) or main ($44.95)
Beef Bourguignon (not shown on this older menu)and Prawns & Scallops St. Jacques - sauteed prawns in a rich gratinated seafood volute? Desserts and drinks list also available, we ordered the V***e bubbly but no desserts just entrees and main meals.
Keep in mind this place has tableclothes and cost over $100 per person.

03/07/2024

Brunch in Mont Albert at Mister + Miss:

http://www.misterandmiss.com.au/

I have it on good authority that they make a good coffee!
I opted for the ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper, along with black tea leaves, soy / almond / oat milk option ordering a chai.
Which was a little novelty as it was served in a tiny saucepan with a strainer.
The Baked Salmon soaked with lemon butter, fresh salad is one of their most popular dishes and they happened to be booked out for lunch on a Tuesday no less!
Presentation was colourful and creative.
We could hear Mandarin, Italian and obviously English with an older demographic of people who were either working from home or not working during the day.
When quiet I imagine ambience, but this session had a buzz about it and 90% of tables filled with patrons.
My order was fluffy pancakes with fresh blueberries, strawberries and ice cream
The manageress runs a tight ship personally checked most tables to make sure guests felt welcome and orders satisfied.
No wonder they’ve operating for over 9 years and still going strong.
They also have a sister restaurant in Nunawading:

https://www.theurbanlist.com/melbourne/directory/mr-robertson-cafe

Prices were cafe prices but given the size of the premises, ultra-modern decor (exposed brick, heating elements along the roofline and highly attentive and considerable team of staff, overheads would not be cheap!

A quality cafe and I look forward to trying Mr. Robertson and recommend this establishment for a feed.

15/06/2024

Dome Cafe, Perth CBD Northbridge
Large classy upmarket Cafe, with a long corridor of booths and an upstairs section with couch and booth seats also.
Service was almost non-existent being so big and more a ‘help yourself’ establishment with cutlery, serviette’s, condiment, and such.
Prices varied from entree’s at around $15 and mains for $25-$30.
We ordered BLTs, Fish n Chips baskets and their berry and green smoothie also.

14/06/2024

Benesse Cafe Bunbury - Kitchen was closing in 10 minutes with 5 people to feed.
They not only kept the kitchen open to accommodate us, meals came out in under 10 mins!
I ordered the ‘Green with Envy’ Smoothie $9.50 and Beef Cheek Lunch Meal reasonably priced, fresh and tender at $28.90, others ordered the Nasi Goreng $22.90 (see Menu)
Saigon Sticky Beef Salad with service being friensly and snappy fast!

09/06/2024

The Swedish Cafe Fremantle Waffles with Butter and Lumpfish Cavier

19/05/2024

Yoon’s Kitchen - Humble family owned Korean Restaurant off the beaten track, away from the hustle and bustle of now high rise, de-centralized part of Box Hill.
Adjacent RHL Sparks, part of a small group of shops near the corner of Canterbury Rds & Middleborough Roads.
Starters, apart from kimchi and complimentaries, we had were lighty fried tofu salad, with bonito flakes. Rice noodles with Korean frankfurts, sweet chilli sauce and beef Bim Bim Bap (glass noodles) with plenty of flavour, fresh veggies and low oil and generous portions.
Came to a little over fifty bucks, including a Korean soft drink to boot!
Sits 30 or so, plenty of natural light and ambience.

19/05/2024

Adozen Adozen Souffle Pancakes at 188 Queensbury St, Carlton.(Melbourne, Victoria)
Quieter part of town even on a Saturday night.
Open until 11pm. Heavier, and more egg flavour than other establishments serving souffle pancakes.
Some savoury options, but honey, sesame, brûlées and more available.
Takeaway options and $3-$4 less than the usual $20+ charged for souffle pancakes. (Portion size reflected in lower price).
Seating capacity is v.limited inside, and outdoor are only for the brave.

19/05/2024

Shujinko Ramen, browse for locations, CBD and Glen Waverley. Fast, economical brothy ramen.
Authentic Japanese ramen franchise, great service at the Russell St locale!
We opted for Karage Chicken and Takoyaki (octopus noisette’s) Signature and black broth ramens on a chilly Melbourne night in May.
Did NOT dissappoint.
Approx. $20+ per bowl and less than $20 per entree.
This particular one is 24 hours and they use to queue 20-30 people deep out the door!

07/05/2024

07/05/2024

Award winning thin Hakata (Ikkousha) Gensuke Russell Ramen, Russell St CBD Melbourne.
Signature pork broth ramen didn’t dissappoint.
Ramen was thin as some wonton noodles, pork was lean and tender and it lived up to it’s reputation of rich pork soup broth bursting with flavour and kikurage wood ear mushroom, sides of fresh garlic or chilli!
Hits the spot on a chilly Autumn evening, with great company!

03/05/2024

Creme Brulee and Souffle use to be my fave dessert until I discovered Souffle Pancakes!!
We tried Kumo in the Melbourne CBD:

https://www.kumodesserts.com/

Given the current economic climate, pricing was at expected range but the Strawberry Skies and Creme Brulee, large portions and souffle fluffiness was on point and DELIZIOSO!!

28/10/2023

Ginger chicken and fish. Maxim’s Palace Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

28/10/2023

Congee or rice porridge with fried bread and noodles, under AUD$10 in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.

22/10/2023

Rice noodle rolls with curried meat and fish ball skewers…$8 (Hawker street food)

21/10/2023

Goose, Prawns in egg, Lobster noodles, fish and clear noodles. Superb! At Jade Garden Mong Kok