Common Galaxia – Out of this World

Coffee Menu at Common Galaxia

Counter at Common Galaxia

Kitchen at Common Galaxis

Inside Common Galaxia

Coffee Cup at Common Galaxia

Avocado with Blood Orange, Marinated Goat’s Cheese, Basil, Almonds and Radish on Toast with a Poached Egg

Breakkie Board – Museli, Poached Egg with Avocado on Whole Wheaet and Honey Toast, Small Fresh Orange Juice,

Latte at Common Galaxia

Meals at Common Galaxia

Salted Caramel French Toast with Blood Orange Curd, Oreo Crumble and Blueberry Compote

Smoked Salmon on Sourdough with Spicy Avocado Puree, 2 Poached Eggs with Tomato and Herb Salad

I had heard a lot about Common Galaxia and had been wanting to check it out for a while – so when a catchup needed to be organised and J lived nearby – it was the perfect opportunity! Common Galaxia is owned initially by Luke Mutton and Kylie Mackinlay who also own Deadman Espresso in South Melbourne, but now bought by Paul Fox. Common Galaxia is located in Seddon and its main focus is on coffee – with coffee from Seven Seeds and Market Lane. The food though is not just an after thought – there is a huge variety and the dishes we had were scrumptious.

Common Galaxia has a fantastic vibe from the moment you step foot inside – the look is modern, classy and stylish. The furniture and fittings are all custom-made with functionality at the forefront. The interior was built by Fido Projects. One of the stand outs are the cutlery and menu caddies that hang individually from the tables (so that you can help yourself if you need more cutlery or happen to drop your cutlery) as well as the leather and timber chairs – both of which are made my locals LifeSpaceJourney. The coffee machine is Synesso and is the centre piece of the bench which also houses quick take away options such as smorrebrod (Scandinavian open sandwiches). To the right of the main counter is a window which allows you insight to the kitchen and is where all the food comes from. The running theme of the venue is wood with copper pots, terraniums, dark bottles with colourful flowers and funky black light fittings with filament lightbulbs dotted along the way together with the light coming in from the large windows which surround the venue.

There is usually a line to get a table and this morning was no different – but our wait was quite short – about 10 minutes to get a table for four. We started off by ordering coffees whilst we pondered over the menu. My latte was delicious and had a combination of a fruity and nutty taste – a taste that you kept going back more for.

The menu is broken up into Breakfast, Brunch which you can order all day, Lunch as well as options for the kids called “For the littles”. There are also options for Vegetarian and Gluten Free. Drinks compromise of Coffee, Tea, Fresh Juices, Smoothies, Cold Drinks and Milkshakes. The smoothie combinations are intriguing – combinations such as Kale, Parsley, Lemon Zest, Mango, Banana and Coconut Water as well as a Mixed Berry, Coconut water and Honey combination. Fresh juices consist of pre made mixes or you can create your own. There is also an option of having a peanut butter hot chocolate as well as a chocolate brownie milkshake.

Breakfast dishes are what you would usually expect – but with a Common Galaxia twist – adding interesting ingredients to the basics. There are scones, crossiants, toast, fruit toast and Bircher muesli – as well an interesting concept called the Breakkie Board (more on this later). The all day brunch menu consists of scrambled eggs, their version of Egg’s Benedict, Common Galaxia Big Breakfast as well as smoked salmon dish.

It was food decision time and I was tossing up between the French toast and the avocado dish, but J decided to get the French toast so I went with ordering the Avocado with Blood Orange, Marinated Goat’s Cheese, Basil, Almonds and Radish on Toast with a Poached Egg. The dish was plated up well with the toast being at the base of the dish and the avocado mix placed on top and finished with parsley and a poached egg and a wedge of lemon on the side. The avocado combined with the blood orange and goat’s cheese together with the crunchiness of the almonds was tasty. The serving was generous and the poached egg was cooked perfectly. All in all it was a great dish.

G ordered the Smoked Salmon on Sourdough with Spicy Avocado Puree, 2 Poached Eggs with Tomato and Herb Salad. This dish was quite the colourful dish, especially against the black backdrop of the plate. The spicy avocado puree was buttered on the toast with the smoked salmon and tomato and herb salad on top, and the two poached eggs as the final layer. G did enjoy the dish but thought the spicy avocado was an acquired taste, but overall the combination was interesting and worked well together.

B ordered the Breakkie Board – Museli, Poached Egg with Avocado on Whole Wheat and Honey Toast, Small Fresh Orange Juice. I really do like the concepts of Breakkie boards as it comes with a small selection of things that you would want for breakfast such as toast, eggs and muesli. The bonus of freshly squeezed orange juice completes the dish.

As mentioned before J ordered the Salted Caramel French Toast with Blood Orange Curd, Oreo Crumble and Blueberry Compote. When this dish came out it was really impressive – the berry compote was drizzled at the bottom and acted like a soup, with the French Toast on top drizzled with Salted Caramel and finished with the Oreo Crumble. The dish was overly sweet, but the berry compote was a great addition to cut some of this sweetness and add tanginess to it. There was a generous amount of blueberries and salted caramel on the side as well. For anyone that loves French toast this is a dish to try.

Common Galaxia is a fresh, lively and vibrant addition to this area of Seddon that serves great coffee and good food! The interior with its wooden and black tones and accents of plants and flowers is fantastic. The staff are friendly and look like they are enjoying themselves at work which always a great attitude to have. I would highly recommend the trek down to this suburb and whilst you are at it visit nearby Cobb Lane.

Rating : 3.5 Pandas
Price: $$
Menu – Refer to http://commongalaxia.com.au/menu/
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Casual, Chilled out, Modern and Inviting. Such a great place to be on a sunny day especially with the sunlight streaming in through the windows.
Standout Dish: Salted Caramel French Toast with Blood Orange Curd, Oreo Crumble and Blueberry Compote
Service: Friendly and Inviting. The staff look like they really enjoy what they do and are always chirpy and happy.
Online Booking: No
Restaurant Details and Location:
commongalaxia.com.au
Shop 3, 130 Victoria Street, Seddon
Tel No: 9691 3888

Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

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Collective Espresso – Breakkie with a Difference

Collective Espresso

Inside Collective Espresso

Coffee Counter at Collective Espresso

Latte at Collective Espresso

Beetroot and Basil Cured Kingfish, Potato Rosti, Kim Chi, Seasame Fried Egg

Collective Sigh of Relief – Poached Eggs, Spinach and Kale, Thyme Garlic Mushrooms, Toast

Coffee Counter at Collective Espresso

Communal Table at Collective Espresso

Beetroot and Basil Cured Kingfish, Potato Rosti, Kim Chi, Seasame Fried Egg

Menu:

P and I decided to catch up at a place that was central to both of us and that happened to be Collective Espresso located in Camberwell – right opposite the train station. Collective Espresso was opened by a group of friends with business partners Mark Jacobson, Graham Babbs and Duncan McCrane.

Where Collective Espresso resides now used to be a boutique store and the group has done the fitout themselves and the results are impeccable. The space is light, airy, open, inviting and welcoming – the centre piece is the large high wooden communal table which takes up most of the venue space together with quirky art work adding vibrancy and colour. . There are bars seats along the window and near the kitchen. The look is simple yet charming and comfortable.

Collective Espresso is named as such as it was the “collective” experience and knowledge they gained from working at Las Chickas and Galleon café that allowed them to create this café. The menu consists of Breakfast, Lunch as well Rolls and Subs and there are daily specials available as well. The breakfast menu has some really interesting combinations such as grilled zucchini and squash omelette; sesame fried eggs as well as the usuals such as Bircher Muesli and Baked beans and sausages. Their cold drinks menu is varied and interesting – they have slushies as well as white chocolate Tim Tam shakes.

Collective Espresso offers a house espresso blend and a changing daily single-origin coffee. The coffee is from Five Senses and the latte that I ordered was really quite delicious. The flavour was rich and had noes of caramel and paired with the perfectly frothed milk. They really do some of the best coffee.

We were seated at the end of the communal high table – I really do like the high tables at cafes – especially when the space is smaller. It gives a great sense of space and allows you to peer behind the counter if you wish. There was a bit of a mishap with our coffee orders – even though the coffee orders were taken before we ordered food – we only received the coffees after our food.

I ordered the Beetroot and Basil Cured Kingfish, Potato Rosti, Kim Chi and Sesame Fried Eggs. This dish came out on a wooden board, with the components of the dish being centred on the board. I quite liked the fact that normal plates weren’t used – it tied into the surroundings of the place as well as being different. The dish looked like a piece of artwork – with each component displayed artfully. The Sesame Fried Eggs were delicious and the sesame coating on the outside was an interesting addition. The egg was really a poached egg which had been fried and coated in sesame – the poaching was done perfectly and had the gooey yolk. The Beetroot Cured Kingfish was another difference that I haven’t had before and together with the other components really did work well together. The potato rosti was crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. The kim chi added an extra tang and spice for flavour and brought the whole dish together.

P ordered the Collective Sigh of Relief – Poached eggs, Spinach and Kale, Thyme and Garlic Mushrooms, Spiced Beans and Toast minus the Kaiser Fleisch. Her dish came out on a board as well with each ingredient placed in an expressive manner. One thing missing though was the spiced beans from the dish. There was many different parts to this dish and as a result it was quite a large size dish. P did enjoy her food and especially liked the mushrooms.

Collective Espresso serves delicious and simple food with a twist and has great coffee in a convenient and easy to access location especially for people going to the train station. It is welcoming and cosy and you can really spend half your day soaking up the atmosphere.

Rating : 3.5 Pandas
Price: $
Menu – Refer to pictures above
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Casual, Welcoming and Light/Airy – great for a weekend catchup!
Standout Dish:
Service: Overall service was friendly – just a few stuff ups with the coffee coming with our food and missing some ingredients as part of the dish.
Online Booking: No
Restaurant Details and Location:
3 Cookson St, Camberwell
Tel No: 9882 8995

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8:00am to 4:00pm

Nieuw Amsterdam – French Bistro with New York Style

Bread at Nieuw Amsterdam

BBQ Scallops – Mango Gazepacho, Avocado, Chilli

Black Kingfish Ceviche – Daikon, Dashi Dressing, Crunchy Quinoa, Finger Limes

Appetisers at Nieuw Amsterdam

Baked Eggplant – Grilled Tofu, Mushrooms, Spiced Yoghurt

Spiced Lamb Leg – Cauliflower, Pomegranate, Herb Dressing

Red Cabbage and Chilli Slaw

Berry Split – Berry Jelly, White Chocolate Mousse, Cream Cheese Sorbet and Popping Candy

Desserts at Nieuw Amsterdamn

Menu:

Nieuw Amsterdam is a newly opened restaurant / bar in the heart of the city – located in Hardware Street in Melbourne. From the name I assumed that it had a Dutch influence  to the food but stepping inside and looking at the menu I realised I was wrong – there was a strong New York vibe to the venue and even the staff had the same vibe. Nieuw Amsterdamn was actually named after the original Dutch settlement on the island of Manhattan.

As you enter the venue you are greeted by a set of stairs which takes you to the main restaurant area. As you go up the stairs the menu is open space with the bar/kitchen to the left and the seating area all around. There is exposed brick, wooden floors, dark wooden tables and large windows. If you venture down the stairs to the basement area, you will find yourself at the Bar part of Nieuw Amsterdam and it really does feel like you are in downtown New York – dark and mood-lit, with a DJ spinning some tunes. The interior was designed by Eades & Bergman who are also responsible for places such as The Meatball & Wine Bar, Mr Miyagi and Bomba Bar.

Nieuw Amsterdam is owned by Michael Roszbach (ex Cookie) and the chef is Nick Stanton (ex Woods of Windsor) – who brings a French influence to his American style cooking passion. Everything is made in house and is a testament to great food. We are given the most delicious pull apart bread which was warm, fluffy and simply devine to start with! Needless to say it was gone pretty quickly.

The menu is split into 5 sections – Appetisers, Mains, The Pit Grill, Sides and Desserts. There is a focus on meat dishes, but there are actually a variety of vegetarian and seafood dishes as well. The dessert even has a Pumpkin Donut dish served with Kentucky bourbon cream! Appetisers consist of dishes like Chicken Waffles, Cured Meats and BBQ Scallops, Kingfish Ceviche. The Pitt Grill have dishes which have lamb, chicken, beef and pork and the mains consist of two vegetarian dishes, clam chowder and rabbit meatballs. There are 5 sides and 3 desserts to choose from as well. If you don’t want to have to pick your dishes there is the Nieuw Banquet which costs $45 per person to try out the chefs recommendations. Nieuw Amsterdam also does lunch and has offerings such as deli style sandwiches  as well as a BBQ meat tray – where you choose three types of proteins and it comes with a side. Check out the link to their lunch menu below.

There were three of us at dinner so and as most of the dishes could be shared we picked 2 appetiser dishes, 1 main, 1 pit grill and 1 side dish and of course finished it off with a selection of 2 desserts.

The first appetiser we ordered was the Kingfish Ceviche – Daikon, Dashi dressing, Crunchy Quinoa, finger limes, topped with salmon roe. The dish was presented beautifully and was quite colourful. The crunchiness of the quinoa paired with the kingfish coupled with the daikon and dashi dressing was fantastic. All the components together really did enhance the flavour of the fresh kingfish. The additional pop and burst of flavour from the salmon roe was a treat as well.

The next appetiser we got was the BBQ Scallops with Mango Gazpacho, Avocado and Chilli – once again brilliantly plated up and even more colourful than the Kingfish dish – with the bright red of the chilli contrasting against the cream coloured scallops with the hint of brown on the top and the soft green avocado, finished with the bright yellow of the mango gazpacho. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the right amount of smokiness and BBQ flavouring. The combination of the mango, avocado and chilli were truly divine – another must have dish.

Next up were the main dish and the pit grill dish. The main dish we ordered was Baked Eggplant with Grilled Tofu, Mushrooms and Spiced Yoghurt with the pit grill dish being Spiced Lamb Leg with Cauliflower, Pomegranate and Herb Dressing.

The Eggplant dish came with the eggplant at the base with the tofu, mushroom sitting on top with the spiced yoghurt dressing drizzled around it. I am usually not a fan of cooked eggplant like this but this dish I must say was quite good. The rich flavour of the eggplant together with the tofu and mushrooms finished with the tang of the spiced yoghurt did have me going back for more.

The Lamb leg was cooked perfectly and you can see for yourself in the picture – darker on the outside and a light browny pink shade on the inside. The pomegranate and cauliflower combination really did work well with the flavours of the lamb.

For the sides we ordered the Red Cabbage and Chilli Slaw – and was quite a large and generous serving. The bright purple cabbage together with splashings of the red chilli and fried onion was a really great side dish. There was a mixture of crunch, freshness, tang and spice all in the one dish. You could almost just have it on its own.

You cannot end a fantastic meal like we were having without trying at least one thing from the dessert menu. There are only three desserts to select from – we went with the Berry Split – Berry jelly, White Chocolate Mousse, Cream Cheese Sorbet and the The Nieuw Chocolate Bar – Banana, Tonka Bean Ice Cream. The other dessert was the Pumpkin Donuts.

The Berry Split desserts comes in a glass and is a layered dessert almost reminiscent of a trifle – and the best way to enjoy the dish is to make sure you get all the layers in one spoonful. There was an added bonus of popping candy added at the very top for even more excitement. The bottom layer is the white chocolate mousse, next is the berry jelly and the final layers are the cream cheese sorbet and popping candy with fresh berries laced in between and topped with a almond praline crisp. The flavours really work together and are a really fresh and delicious dessert – I couldn’t get enough of it!

The Nieuw Chocolate Bar dessert was a really rich, smooth and chocolaty dessert coupled with the sautéed banana and finished with the vanilla bean ice cream. It was presented beautifully with a taste to match – it really does taste as good as it looks!

The staff are very friendly and helpful in identifying how many dishes will suffice for your table and recommend dishes that they think are great. They really are quite passionate about the food they serve and will let you know when they love a dish – I think this such a great trait – if the staff are excited about the food – you know you are onto a good thing.

Nieuw Amsterdam is a great new venue with a fantastic location and a great vibe! If you have never been to New York or are missing your New York days – check this place out!

Rating : 4.5 Pandas
Price: $$
Menu – Refer to above. Consists of Appetisers, Mains, The Pit Grill, Sides and Desserts. There is also the Nieuw Banquet for $45 per person where the chef picks your dishes.

Lunch Menu:  http://www.nieuwamsterdam.com.au/assets/lunch.pdf
Dinner Menu: http://www.nieuwamsterdam.com.au/assets/dinner.pdf
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Relaxed, Casual and Funky – a little piece of downtown Manhattan right here in the heart of the Melbourne CBD.
Standout Dish: BBQ Scallops with Mango Gazpacho, Avocado and Chilli  AND Berry Split – Berry jelly, White Chocolate Mousse, Cream Cheese Sorbet
Service: Fantastic and Really friendly. Helpful in assisting with the selection of dishes as well.
Online Booking: Yes via website – http://www.nieuwamsterdam.com.au/
Restaurant Details and Location:
http://www.nieuwamsterdam.com.au/
106-122 Hardware Street, Melbourne
Tel No: 9602 2111

Opening Hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 12pm -1am
Thursday & Sunday: 12pm -3am
Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 5am

Little Big Sugar Salt – Best Menu!

River Pig – Le hot-smoked salmon, pea pesto, asparagus, fresh chives, scram and lemon holli

Latte at LBSS

LBSS Menu

Menu:
   

Little Big Sugar Salt (or LBSS) is the first venture from Charl Laubscher, Erika Geraerts, Morgan Green and Adam Houston and is a cute and cosy café located in the hustle and bustle of Victoria Street in Richmond. Only one of the five people have hospitality experience with the others being a copywriter, designer, builder and carpenter but what they have created here at LBSS is fantastic. The idea behind LBSS is to do a few items but to do them really well and this is premise behind their well thought out menu.

LBSS is located in the heart of Vietnamese town yet brings an entirely different vibe to the area. The old façade remains untouched and the inside reminds you of your own house with a cosy feel to it. As you walk into the front room area where the coffee machine and kitchen hidden neatly behind the counter are situated, you then walk through the hallway of unpolished floorboards to 2 separate dining rooms – the first with a tall communal table and the second with low tables and seating. The feel is rustic and hipster with timber and steel tables fitted out with some funky art work and blue neon splashes.

The menu is created by Clint Gresham and is very interestingly delivered. The menu is split into 4 quadrants – little, big, sweet (sugar) or savoury (salt) – as per the name of the place. There are also interesting little quotes placed all around the menu such as “Our kitchen is small, but our chef is clever.” The menu is very clever indeed – as it makes it easier yet almost confusing for the diner to decide what they want to order. In essence they need to decide if they want sweet or savoury, and then whether they want a little or big dish. It really is different and a real talking point of LBSS by taking the choices that is usually found in most cafes.  Even thought there are only 10 main dishes – the flavours, ingredients are combined together to create dishes that will appeal to anyone. In addition to the menu dishes there are delicious sandwiches to choose from as well as a breakfast board called “All the Things” – which consists of terrine, smoked salmon, egg, beetroot and dukkah.

The coffee is from En Zed  coffee house from Wellington and has Angus Gibbs at the helm. I ordered a latte and it was creamy, nutty and smooth – just what you need as your first hit for the morning. The tea menu or HomieT as they call it here at LBSS has interestingly named teas – such as C Lo Green (Green Tea), Wulong (Oolong Tea), Lemonem (Lemon Tea), Minty J Blige (Peppermint) – you get the idea. Have a look at the menu above for the other rapper turned tea names. There are also sodas that can be made freshly just for you with 7 flavours to choose from – such as Cherry and Pomegranate, Saspirilla, Vanilla Cream and Raspberry – all of which come from Six Barrel Soda and are all handmade and natural.

When it came to deciding what food I wanted – I knew that I wanted something Big so that immediately got rid of two quadrants. Then I was left with the Sugar or Salt quadrants – it was a tough decision to make as I was open to either and reading the dishes they all sounded tempting! I settled for the Salt dish – French River Pig.  The River Pig consisted of Hot Smoked Salmon, Pea pesto, Soft boiled Egg, asparagus and Holli on a baguette. The dish comes out beautifully presented on a Japanese style plate with the baguette at the base and the rest of the ingredients placed around. The smoked salmon  was smoked to perfection and there was a generous serving of it. The combination of the pea and asparagus with the soft boiled egg was the perfect addition. The asparagus was cut up into pieces instead of placed whole which I also liked.

LBSS is a great addition to Richmond – great food in a cosy place, and the menu concept is both tongue in cheek and such a great concept. The very back room is great to just chill – even on your own – and there are funky tunes playing as well. I’m excited to see what other dishes they put up in their quadrants and will definitely be back to try out more of their dishes!

Rating : 4 Pandas
Price: $
Menu – Select your food from 4 quadrants – Little, Big, Sugar or Salt – refer to the menu picture above or look at http://www.lbsscafe.com/#menu
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Cosy and Relaxing – Great for a casual catch-up or even to hang out and do work on your own
Standout Dish: French River Pig – Le hot-smoked salmon, pea pesto, asparagus, fresh chives, scram and lemon holli
Service: Friendly and Welcoming
Online Booking: No
Restaurant Details and Location:
www.lbsscafe.com
Corner Victoria & Lithgow Streets, Richmond
Tel No: 9427 8818

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:30 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

BBQ Rib Eating Competition at Third Wave Café

Hi everyone!

Just letting you know about a BBQ Rib Eating competition that has just launched at Third Wave Café. If you love all things BBQ and Ribs then this is for you!

The competition starts on the 24^th of February 2014 and will go for 6 weeks. The contests will be held once each week, with the 6 finalists battling it out for the $1000 cash prize on the 7^th of April 2014.

The competition is simple, eat as many American BBQ Ribs as you can in 35 minutes plus a side of coleslaw (coleslaw must be fully consumed to qualify).

Entry fee is $99 and the winner on each night will get their money fully refunded. Entry into the final is also free.

The ultimate winner will receive $1000 in prize money, an obligatory T-Shirt and their picture on the Wall of Fame.

There is a choice of two venues for your convenience – either Port Melbourne or Prahran, with the final being held at Port Melbourne. Dates and times are posted on their website at the link below.

So if you are interested registrations Registrations to the event are made online at www.thirdwavecafe.com.au/competition.php

Hercules Morse Kitchen and Bar – Intimate, Relaxed and Great Food!

Morse Chip Butty – Roasted Duck Fat Potatoes in a Truffle Buttered Roll

Kitchen at Hercules Morse Kitchen and Bar

Inside Hercules Morse Kitchen and Bar

Inside Hercules Morse Kitchen and Bar

Cauliflower and Cheese Balls with Lemon, Rosemary Salt and a Dijon Dipping Mayo

Table at Hercules Morse Kitchen and Bar

Crispy Skin Snapper, Prawn Brandade, Buttered Asparagus and Roquette Pesto

Slow Braised Beef Cheek Cigars and Salsa Verde

Warmed Barley and Mushroom Risotto with Enoki and Melted Taleggio

Deconstructed Apple Pie – Tarte Tatin Apples, Pecan and Cheddar Crumble

Cocktail List:
      

It was time for another catchup with A and this time my venue selection was at Hercules Morse Kitchen & Bar which is located in South Melbourne. Hercules Morse is the fantastic new venue by Kelly and Ash Cooke, which has been renovated from an old curry serving venue into a stylish and funky one. The name comes from children’s author Lynley Dodd’s series – Hairy Maclary and is the name of an English Mastiff (dog) in the books.

The central focal point is the bar and kitchen which is colourful striped feature. Depending on what you feel like there are high tables with bar stools located at the front and through the walkway of the venue, leading through to a comfortable and cosy back room which houses lower tables and cushion seats. There is also a tree mural and a fireplace to further add warmth. The tables are wooden and the chairs are black which tied in with the black and white circled plates (which I love!). There really was a great first impression!

The menu is created by Brad Cooke (formerly of Chin Chin) and combines a variety of ingredients in a style that is not seen in many places in Melbourne and has a modern twist to the Britannia era. The menu is split into three sections – Snack, Graze and Indulge. The menu is designed to share we are told by the friendly and helpful waiter. Reading the menu you almost want to sample each and every dish. Snacks consists from House Spiced Nuts to Oysters to Fish Fingers and their famous Morse Chip Butty (more on this dish later). Graze dishes are more of your larger dishes and consist of all your main proteins – such as beef, chicken, snapper, scallops, steak tartare and a vegetartian option of warmed barley and mushroom salad – which is a risotto dish. Indulge consists of 4 different desserts – 2 of which are cheese options.

We decided to get one Snack dish and one Graze dish each and share the Warmed Barley and Mushroom Risotto with Enoki and Melted Taleggio dish. A chose the Morse Chip Butty (she loves anything roasted in duck fat – I guess most people do!) as well as the Beef Cigars. I selected the Cheese and Cauliflower Balls as well as the Crispy Skin Snapper. We were seated on bar stools on the high tables near the kitchen so could see into the kitchen as our dishes were being prepared. Our first dish was the Cauliflower and Cheese Balls with Lemon, Rosemary Salt and a Dijon Dipping Mayo. I really loved the combination of the cauliflower and cheese – and I have never seen it done before. The addition of the rosemary salt mixed with the Dijon dipping mayo complemented the dish perfectly.

There was a crisp crunchy coating on the outside with the gooey yuminess on the inside – it really was a great dish! A had the Morse Chip Butty – Roasted Duck Fat Potatoes in a Truffle Buttered Roll and she loved it! It really is a pity I couldn’t try it. It came out in the form of a mini hamburger that was really tall. The potatoes looked crispy and perfectly coloured. For anyone that loves duck fat, potatoes or mini burgers this is a dish for you!

Next up were the larger Graze dishes. The Slow Braised Beef Cheek Cigars and Salsa Verde was visually stunning and vibrant dish and had a taste to match. Once again there was the perfect crispness on the outside to compete with the richness of the beef which paired perfectly with the salsa verde. The Crispy Skin Snapper, Prawn Brandade, Buttered Asparagus and Roquette Pesto was another Graze dish. The snapper was cooked just right with the crispness of the skin added not only texture but additional flavour to the dish. The pesto and asparagus was a great addition to the dish and together every aspect of this dish worked well. I really liked how the snapper was seasoned – so much that you could eat it on its own. A winner of a dish. The last Graze dish was the Warmed Barley and Mushroom Salad with Enoki and Melted Taleggio – which to me was one of their healthier dishes thanks to the barley. Even though the menu calls it a salad it really equated to a mushroom risotto. The barley was cooked well and the Taleggio melted on top added an extra depth to the dish. Yum!

We were both pretty full by this stage but who can say no to dessert right? So we decided to share and A let me decide which dessert to pick – I picked the Deconstructed Apple Pie – Tarte Tatin Apples, Pecan and Cheddar Crumble. This dessert was interesting – as you would expect in an apple pie you have apples and the addition of the pecan was a nice extra – but what threw me was the cheddar crumble. I must admit I wasn’t a big fan of the cheddar crumble and the harshness of this didn’t quite mix so well with me. However hats off for creating a very different apple pie!

There is quite a variety in terms of drinks at Hercules Morse and there are 2 pages of cocktails available as well! They are interestingly named such as XXX Expresso which provides a caffeine hit as well as drinks like Fields of Lavender and Goodie Goodie Gum Drop. Refer to the pictures for what is in each of these drinks.

Hercules Morse is relaxed and intimate restaurant/bar that is great for many occasions – from date night to a casual catch-up with friends. The wait staff are friendly and very helpful in assisting you in dishes and are really knowledgeable about each dish on the menu. It has a great menu which covers a variety of dishes and a fantastic drink menu to match – all in the funky suburb of South Melbourne.

Rating : 4 Pandas
Price: $$
Menu – Refer to http://www.herculesmorse.com.au/files/HM_MENU_2012.pdf for Food Menu. Refer to picture above for Cocktail List.
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Intimate, Cosy and Welcoming. Great for all occasions – from date night to a catch-up with friends or even a celebration!
Standout Dish: Crispy Skin Snapper, Prawn Brandade, Buttered Asparagus and Roquette Pesto AND Morse Chip Butty – Roasted Duck Fat Potatoes in a Truffle Buttered Roll
Service: Friendly, Knowledgeable and Helpful
Online Booking: Yes via website – http://www.herculesmorse.com.au/
Restaurant Details and Location:
http://www.herculesmorse.com.au/
282 Clarendon St, South Melbourne
Tel No: 9690 9402

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm

Tall Timber – Great Courtyard to Enjoy the Sunshine

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Menu:

The guys behind Armadale’s Coin Laundry and Port Melbourne’s Station Street Trading Co. have recently opened Tall Timbers, serving a versatile breakfast and lunch menu sourced with local produce.

As I walked into Tall Timber on this Saturday arvo I was greeted by the sweet smell of coffee together with the sounds of many conversations and laughter – it really seemed like the place to be! The main room is filled with sunlight thanks to the massive windows on two of the walls and the main feature is the back wall which houses timber planter like boxes and shelves which stores things like glasses, jars and teapots– a real rustic feel. The front counter has an array of sweets to choose from as well housing one of the most important pieces of equipment in a café – the coffee machine. The tables are wooden and there is one communal table to the right. The front room was quite full so I was told to venture to the outside sheltered courtyard. The courtyard was a real winner for me – it was a HUGE communal table with umbrellas over the top for protection – from rain or sun. What was the real difference of this table was that in the centre there was a herb garden accentuated with little spades – almost inviting you to pick your own herbs to add to your dishes – not that you need to as the food is delicious all on its own – but more on that later.  This courtyard area is great on a summer’s day – you get to enjoy the sunshine in the surrounds away from the main road – and would suit anyone from mothers with bubs to catch-up’s with friends or even a brunch date.

Breakfast is served all day and there is a lunch menu from 12pm. There are also options available for people who need gluten free or vegetarian options. What caught my eye on the menu was the Breaky Board – which comes with a poached egg on pumpkin loaf with beeroot relish & goat’s chese, muesli with natural yoghurt and fresh berries as well as a small OJ – all for just $14.50. Bargain! Little sets like these I think are a great idea and allow you to experience a bit of variety of what the café has to offer. The Breakfast menu consists of the usual favourites such as selection of toast with jams, bircher muesli, eggs and toast and smashed avocado. There are also other diverse combinations such as smashed peas served with pumpkin loaf as well as sautéed kale, asparagus, beans on a quinoa loaf.

As good as the Breaky Board sounded I couldn’t resist trying the pumpkin fritters (followers will know I do love my corn fritters – so trying a different type of fritters was highly appealing). I also love anything to do with or has pomegranate – it is one of my favourites fruits so when I saw that the fritters came with pomegranate labneh I was sold. Whilst deciding on my food order I ordered a freshly squeezed OJ – which comes with a stripey straw.

The pumpkin fritters formed the base of the dish, avocado on the next layer and lastly the poached egg finished with a dusting of fetta and herbs. The poached egg was cooked perfectly (refer to pick) and had oozing running yellow yolk. The fritters were cooked perfectly showing off the orangey colour of the pumpkin and was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – and flavoured just right. The combination of the four elements – the fritters, egg, avocado and fetta was great – with the fetta adding a texture and sour element to the dish which complemented the sweetness of the pumpkin fritters. Another winner was the pomegranate labneh which was found under the fritters – a hidden treasure almost – which acted like a dressing to the fritters. It was an overall really great dish.

The staff are friendly and helpful and always not without a smile, wearing navy blue and canvas aprons. Despite being really busy they do remember all their customers from the front room to the courtyard. When we were initially seated we were told to take a seat in the courtyard and someone would be us and I was a bit sceptical as they were really busy but low and behold within 5 mins someone was out there.

The coffee is from NIccolo and will be roasted on site. I was tempted by the sweet selection at the counter as I went to pay but resisted – they really do look good and the staff are quite knowledgeable in what everything is.

I love the use of wooden timber furniture and the brightness of Tall Timber – the outside courtyard is fantastic for the summer to bask in the sun and enjoy some really great wholesome and tasty food. Try it out for yourself!

Rating : 4 Pandas
Price: $$
Menu – There is an all day breakfast menu as well as a lunch menu from 12pm. Refer to picture above for breakfast menu.
Fullness: 100%
Atmosphere / Ambience: Casual, Relaxed and Fun! The courtyard out the back is an awesome place to hang out and chat the afternoon away!
Standout Dish: Roast Pumpkin Fritters with Avocado, Pinenut and Cranberry Salsa, Pomegranate Labneh & Poached Egg
Service: Friendly, Funny and Welcoming –  but sometime it is hard to get the attention of staff.
Online Booking: No
Restaurant Details and Location:
60 Commercial Road, Prahran
Tel No: 9676 9333

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm