Hong Kong Best Food

Hong Kong Best Food

35 Carrington Rd, Boxhill

(Ph) 9898 6088

Another 茶餐廳 (tea cafe) in Boxhill - we were craving some good Honky food =) We always go to New Age Cafe so this time we decided to try out Hong Kong Best Food. It looks kinda small and dirty from the outside but inside just feels like a typical 茶餐廳 in Hong Kong - felt like we've been transported to HK =)

The manager lady initially seated us at a table seating 4 people, but then 2 minutes later wanted us to move to another table sharing with another couple so they could seat a group of 4 at our initial table =__= bit annoying but not like we could say no

Menu is a bit tacky looking - think they might need to renew them soon =P They have a breakfast menu and an afternoon tea menu which look quite tempting but we were smack bang at lunch time.

They do have some lunch specials - $9 for a dish + coffee/tea. We saw lots of people ordered it and changed the drink to a cold one - it was such a hot day we decided to get a cold milk tea. P saw someone else's fried rice noodles with beef and assumed it was on the specials list - the only one with beef and noodles in it was Spanish style beef on rice or spaghetti so he ordered it.

Woops wasn't quite what he expected it to be... the sauce was kinda like sweet and sour... what is Spanish style anyway?! The beef was quite tender and soft but P was slightly disappointed.

At least the cold milk tea was delicious and thirst quenching =)

P also ordered a Pork Chop Bun $5.50

Why do these 茶餐廳s all like to give us a few Pringles instead of chips?! Like at New Age Cafe. The pork chop was quite small compared to the burger bun and was a little tough. And would have been nicer if they were more generous with the mayo and gave us some lettuce or something.

I couldn't resist getting a baked rice - Baked Portuguese Chicken with Fried Rice $9

I really like the Portuguese sauce.. creamy and coconuty =) They were quite stingy with the vegetables, only 2 pieces of carrots... you'd think vegetables are cheaper than chicken right? =P The so called fried rice was not really fried rice - there were only a few bits of egg in it but nothing else =( The dish was massive, I could only finish half of it so asked for a takeaway box - the waiter wasn't very happy about giving me a takeaway box =/

Food~
5/10 - alright food, very typical Honky =)

Service~
1/5 - the manager lady was yelling at this trainee waiter for doing things wrong and not being efficient etc, felt kinda bad for him =/ And she was eating her bowl of food while working and placed her bowl on the table next to us... was a bit weird and very unprofessional =/

Atmosphere~
1/5 - quite loud with the waiters shouting orders and many families with kids there

C.

xo

Citi Bake

Citi Bake

140 King Street, Melbourne

(Ph) 9621 3000

Lunch with P! We had initially wanted to go to Shanghai Dumplings on King Street but the line was way too long, so we went around the corner to Citi Bake. The pies here have always looked good every time we go past it. 

It's quite a spacious cafe with a cute bookshelf to one side next to some sofas - comfy but not very practical to eat on =P

Their steak pies are meant to be good so we got one each - I got Steak and mushroom, and P got Steak and bacon, $4 each.

Picture inside the Steak and bacon pie - there's not much bacon (or mushroom in the other one). More or less just like a normal steak pie - not bad, but nothing special.

We were still hungry so we went for something sweet. P got a Vanilla Slice $3

and I got a Apple pie $3

The vanilla custard in the Vanilla slice was quite tasty and creamy, but the icing layer was so thick and hard - would have been nicer if there was less icing and more puff pastry.

The Apple pie was similar too - the apple filling was really delicious, but the pastry was a bit too thick. And I normally love shortbread crust, but there was just too much of it =(

Food~
5/10 - not too bad as a bakery, but nothing too special

Atmosphere~
3/5 - quite a big spacious cafe

Service~
2/5 - you order at the counter, so not much of service here, but the waiters are quite friendly

C.
xo

Culumus Inc

Cumulus Inc

45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

(Ph) 9650 1445

I had read a lot of good reviews about Cumulus Inc so thought I should bring my friends here for lunch. We came on a weekday, and lucky, we got a table pretty instantly. Since we were a group of 5, they sat us at this random corner half booth table where 3 of us sat on the semicircle booth, and the other 2 sat on chairs outside. One side of the booth didn't have a cushion so P had to sit on this hard wooden seat =/ pretty strange table. The restaurant is quite small but the open kitchen is in view from our table which was nice.

The waiter told us all their dishes are for sharing, and suggested us to get a few starters, and 2 mains to share but we weren't that hungry so just got one main instead.

They started us off with a mini pan of breads, there was a sour dough and a grain bread. Lucky they kept refilling our bread otherwise we would have starved since the dishes weren't that big =/

We got a few Charcuterie (cured meats) since it seems to be one of their specialities. Pheasant terrine, pickled rhubarb $17

What does pheasant meat taste like? This kinda tasted like spam lol =P was quite tasty though and lucky we got our plate of bread to go with it 'cause 4 tiny pieces of toast is not enough! We actually thought the pickled rhubarb was the pickled ginger you eat with sushi normally =P

The waiter suggested the Wagyu bresaola (40g) with truffle cream & artichoke $19

40g of wagyu is really not much, but this was really delicious with the truffle cream (not that we can taste it is truffle =P) and the chips.

P thought it would be cool to eat elk - one of the largest species of deer in the world so we got the Red elk and rocket salad with cider vinaigrette, candied walnuts $10 The waiter said they were out of rocket and were going to give us cos lettuce instead which we said was alright.

We searched the whole salad for any trace of meat or elk and found nothing. We asked the waiter where the deer meat was and she's like "Wah?" and we said "The elk?". The waiter said red elk is actually the red rocket-like lettuce in the salad omgosh =__________= I just searched "red elk" on Google and there was nothing about the lettuce, all about the deer, until I searched "red elk lettuce" so obviously it's not very common =/ What a disappointment. At least the walnuts were crunchy and honeyed.

Since this was a French restaurant, I decided to get the Fois gras parfait with toasted brioche $17

It's like a pate, and surprisingly went very well with the sultanas. The brioche was delicious, slightly sweet but very fluffy. The parfait is very rich and creamy so need lots of bread to go with it, and lucky our bread plate kept getting refilled =P

The one main dish we got was the Fried soft shell crab, kimchi, lettuce & kewpie $19 which was recommended by the waiter.

You eat it like a wrap, putting some crab in a piece of lettuce, with some kimchi or kewpie sauce. The kimchi was definitely not kimchi, wasn't even spicy at all, and actually was a bit strange with the kewpie - kewpie was delicious with the crab though. The soft shell crab was deliciously fried, few meaty bits and many crunchy legs to go around =)

Food~
6/10 - food was pretty tasty but very small portions and not worth the money =(

Service~
4/5 - quite good, very diligent in their bread refilling =P

Atmosphere~
3/5 - open bright restaurant with high ceilings and open kitchen, too bad we got the random corner table =P

C.
xo

Waffle On

Waffle On

Shop 9, Degraves St, Melbourne

(Ph) 0401 408168

I've always <3 LOVED <3 Belgium waffles, always get waffles at Max Brenner's and I even bought a waffle iron and pearl sugar and make my own waffles, though they're not as tasty =( I was taking my friends around Melbourne and was having a waffle craving. We came to Degraves Street on Sunday and *shock horror* Waffle On is closed on Sundays! =O We didn't feel like Max Brenner's so we just came back later in the week to fulfill my craving - w00t! It's called Waffle on here but they do some good baguettes here too. There are no tables here, it's pretty much takeaway for all, but there is a bar table at the side, normally with 3 stools but the stools weren't here on this day =O

You can get a plain waffle or get toppings with it. Since we were gonna eat at the bar table, I decided to go for the Mikado - waffle with icecream and chocolate sauce $6.50

I don't think the waffles are made on the spot for you as you can see a pile of premade waffles in the kitchen, but I'm pretty sure they're made on the day as they still taste fresh. Crunchy on the outside, doughy inside with little bits of pearl sugar. Delicious with some icecream =) I could really have waffles everyday haha =D

P wanted something savoury so he got a baguette. Le Fermier - chicken, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato $9

Such a simple baguette but so delicious - the bread is so fresh and crispy that it hurts the roof of your mouth after eating it for a while =P Lots of mayo just how I like it =) If I had room I would have so had a baguette too... and another waffle haha =P

Food~
7.5/10 - one of the best takeaway places ever =D <3 waffles!

Atmosphere~
3/5 - the owner(s?) talk French to each other so it's got a very genuine feel, only downside is where are the stools on this morning?!

Service~
there isn't much of service here as it's pretty much takeaway =P

Definitely give it a try if you haven't before!

C.
xo

Giant Steps / Innocent Bystander

Giant Steps / Innocent Bystander

336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

(Ph) 5962 6111

Day trip to Yarra Valley! Our friend told us about Giant Steps / Innocent Bystander and how they do quite a good lunch here =) I got very confused why it's called both Giant Steps and Innocent Bystander - I still don't understand it but I think they're 2 separate wineries' wines sold at this one place. So we got here and I started walking up the stairs but then realise the restaurant is actually on ground level and you don't need to go up the stairs... why call it Giant Steps when you don't have to go up the steps?! But then I find out "Giant Steps" is named after John Coltrane's jazz album hmm lol.

The decor is very unique, an open warehouse with lots of interesting decorations. Very warm atmosphere with the sun shining in =)

Decorations include this stand of shoe moulds with plants growing out of them =P

The kitchen is an open kitchen with a wood fire oven and there is a bakery on site as well - breads smelt delicious =)

There were 5 of us, we decided to share a few pizzas since we know they're good and 'cause they'll be easier to share. This is what it says on the menu regarding the pizzas - we make authentic artisan, wood fired oven pizza, and that means it is all about the base. the toppings are simplebut effective, showing off the very best produce that we can source - items such as san marzano tomatoes and italianbuffalo mozzarella - always using the freshest ingredients including local garlic, seasonal vegetables and herbs grownin wine barrels in our herb garden behind the winery. How gourmet sounding =P

I wanted the roast mushroom, asiago, black truffle oil, garlic and parsley $23

The crusts are puffy yet crispy - delicious! <3 mushrooms =) really couldn't taste the truffle... I don't know what the big dealio with it is even after Vue de Monde lol. If only they were a bit more generous with the cheese...

spicy pork sausage, buffalo mozzarella, san marzano tomato & chilli $22

This one is not as aesthetically appealing, was quite good but a bit too chilli for my liking.

prosciutto, san marzano tomato, cravero parmesan and parsley $24

This one definitely doesn't look great =/ why not spread the proscuitto pieces around instead of having it poke off the pizza? Didn't have as much taste except the saltiness of the proscuitto. Crust was better on this one bit more toasty =)

Last was the pumpkin, spinach, roast garlic, feta & pine nuts $22

This was surprisingly tasty, P who normally doesn't like pumpkin enjoyed this very much. The pumpkin was roasted well, still soft inside and the pine nuts were toasty as well. The only downside was that the toppings were quite loose, especially the spinach and the feta so quite hard to hold and eat. If only they had some mozzarella or something to stick it all together =P

As we left we saw this sign hanging off the ceiling - haha! What a threat =P

Food~
5/10 - food was so so, quite expensive for what you get. and we got a bit sick of pizza after a while, should have tried some of their other menu items

Atmosphere~
4/5 - come here for the atmosphere for sure! we sat at this massive booth, it was so long could have easily sat 5 people on each side =P you can also sit on the couches if you want to come here for a snack =)

Service~
3/5 - quite lacking in staff so took a while taking our orders and for the food to come out =(

Come try here if you haven't been before! Quite unique =)

C.
xo

Q Eleven

Q Eleven

303 Coventry St, South Melbourne

(Ph) 9645 7311

☆☆☆

Another ☆☆☆ recommendation by the Cheap Eats Guide! It's a little cafe right next to the South Melbourne markets - I've walked past it so many times on my shopping trips there but had never stepped inside it before. And I find out my friend works here casually =) 

It's quite small, and you can see inside the kitchen which doesn't look very big with a single chef. P was hungry so he decided to go for the Spicy chicken, toasted ciabatta, mustard aioli, avocado mash, fresh tomato, bacon $14.50

It was delicious! Toasted ciabatta with fresh ingredients and just a touch of spice in the chicken =)

I'm always a sucker for corn fritters - Corn fritters, a poached egg, avocado mash, tomato chutney $13.90

Lately I've been having alot of corn fritters that are pancake like instead of fritter like - but this pancake-like fritter was still crunchy and yummy =) And the tomato chutney went well with the avocado mash - P who normally doesn't like avocado wanted more of my dish =P

Food~
7.5/10 - delicious! Wanna try all the other dishes on the menu

Service~
3/5 - very friendly homely waiters... think they're mainly family members working here

Atmosphere~
4/5 - lovely cosy little cafe =)

Next time will try to come when my friend is working!

C.
xo

Cheeky Monkey

Cheeky Monkey

89 Swan St, Richmond

(Ph) 9428 8833

P and I had a weekday off together - decided to go drive somewhere for brunch. Since my Entertainment book was expiring soon, thought I should find a voucher from there. A buy-1-get-1-free voucher at Cheeky Monkey =)

They do breakfast until 3pm on weekdays =) After my crappy corn fritters at Alcove Cafe at Great Ocean Road, I was craving some tasty crunchy fritters - Jumbo Corn Fritters with Crispy Bacon, Tomato and Avocado Salsa with a Coriander Yoghurt $16.90

The corn fritters were super delicious - super crunchy! =D Not sure about the tomato and avocado salsa - it was more like random tomato and avocado pieces minus the salsa lol =/ Think they need to work on their plating too lol =P I didn't realise the yoghurt was meant to be coriander... at least I couldn't taste it and I'm normally VERY sensitive to coriander... if only they had given some real salsa that would have perfected the dish!

I thought P was going to get the Big Breakfast but he decided to get Calamari - sea salt and cracked pepper floured calamari with a side of crispy cabbage and coriander salad and lemon aioli $16.90 instead.

Looks quite good, the calamari wasn't as chewy as calamari is usually - so strange, is it 'cause it's not fresh or 'cause of the type of calamari? Batter was nice and crunchy and the aioli was delicious =) The cabbage salad wasn't very tasty though - P doesn't like cabbage and I don't like coriander so neither of us liked it very much =P

Since P's calamari didn't come with chips, he ordered a side of chips. It wasn't on the menu but we figured it'd just be a small side - but oh my, it was a massive bowl! Pretty certain the chips weren't housemade 'cause they were all so uniform and super crunchy like when you buy frozen chips lol =P

P also got Caramel Milkshake $4

Super delicious and creamy in such a big metal cup - disappointed it was only half filled =(

Food~
5/10 - not bad given we had half price food!

Service~
3/5 - friendly waiters and food came very promptly

Atmosphere~
3/5 - quite nice on this sunny weekday morning =)

C.
xo

Giraffe Cafe

Giraffe Cafe

302 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne

(Ph) 9640 0889

☆

Had been meaning to come to this cafe for a while - it's in the Cheap Eats Guide rated ☆. It's really in the middle of no where - finally found it, a little cafe with the "C" fallen off their sign =P

The decor here is amazing - brings you back to childhood =) In the middle of the cafe is a wishing tree and a giraffe!

Every corner and wall is filled with toys and giraffes so cute!

All the seats here are random, kinda like Kinfolk - I like =) some even sofa-like chairs for you to enjoy your coffee and cake and chill for hours on end =)

I wonder where they got some of their decorations from - a typewriter?!

And a super small cute chess set!

Bookshelves are filled with all sorts of toys and decorations =)

The wall with the moosehead!

And the pile of old books.

We came at 11am and the cafe was empty - we got a bit concerned but then realised the cafe mainly does lunch and dinner, sure enough at 12 noon it started filling up and there were even tables reserved!

The waiters here are all Asian but they mainly serve Western food and a few random Asian dishes like dumplings and noodles.

There was a special going on - free free tea, coffee or juice with one of the pies or the wraps =)

J ordered a Green Lentil & Feta Wrap + Salad $10

And I got a Homemade chicken and herb pie with salad OR mash potatoes $10

I knew the Shepherd's Pie's meant to be really good here but I didn't feel like potatoes so decided to get the chicken pie instead.

Flavours were quite good but it wasn't really a pie - more like a soup inside! Was so watery! Should have added some gravy or something? =P

J got a Blueberry and Pomegranate juice and I got a Orange Apple and Mango juice - normally $3.50 each!

Their desserts are meant to be delicious here so we decided to share one. Molten centre Callebaut Belgium dark chocolate pudding served hot with vanilla ice-cream $7.90

Callebaut is a Belgium Chocolate company - I wonder if their chocolate is really Callebaut? Sure enough it was super tasty! =D Dark chocolate with a molted centre and delicious icecream - if only they gave more icecream 'cause the chocolate was really sweet =P We were sooo full!

Next time I want to try the Tiramisu - Italian cheese, liquor, and espresso dipped sponge served in a glass ramekin in DIY style =) Or their fondues! Which are only available after 5pm.

Food~
6/10 - desserts are better than the mains here though quite cheap and not too bad =)

Atmosphere~
4/5 - great atmosphere! Could really sit here for hours chilling~

Service~
3/5 - food came very fast! If only they had turned the aircon on when we came in first instead of when the food came =P

C.
xo