For the last few weeks, I’ve been hanging out at my food blog Bowls of Shtoof writing about well, food, as Soph probably best describes it – through experiences not ingredients. Right now, it’s an archive of travel posts and unusual or interesting foods and finds and a smattering of recipes. It’s an exercise in writing often and about something I really love, so let me know what you think.
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Tagged blog, Daily Delicious, Eat me, Photography, Projects, Reviews, Sheena
I love soup. One of my favourite folk tales is Stone Soup, where the travellers trick a whole community into donating ingredients for soup which they all share. Anyway, it’s been raining incessantly and I’ve been thinking about the soup place on Degraves St in Melbourne with the giant vats of the best soups. Anyone who has visited me in my new home knows all I do these days is stay indoors, wear (ugly) floral maxi dresses and cook. I love making things that require only a handful of ingredients, so anything on Martha Stewart is out. I’ve been making up all the recipes. Cooking by intuition. Farfalle with coriander and walnuts, salami sandwiches with avocado and pesto, tumeric and cumin roasted cauliflower. Yesterday I listened to Manu Chao, thought of Rushad and made potato soup. It was pouring outside and my house was so lovely and breezy, that it just seemed apt. I simmered it for a good hour or so but it was so melty and delicious and worth it. It was also really filling. I made up the recipe so I thought I’d type it out so I could remember it for the future. I miss this boy with all my heart.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
5 floury large potatoes
half a cube of chicken or vegetable stock (or make your own)
3 onions
4 garlic cloves
butter or olive oil
cracked pepper
Wash, peel, dice and bring the potatoes to boil covering them with enough water. Peel and add the cloves of garlic.
Saute the onions in butter or oil over medium heat until they soften slightly and even char a wee bit. Add it to the pot and simmer. Add more water if levels get too low. Stir occasionally.
It’s done when it has a creamy consistency. Mash with a fork or potato masher until the soup is as smooth as you’d like. Taste and season.
Stir through more butter, or a spoonful of wasabi, or add tobasco if you’d like. Serve with some crusty bread.
EAT.
LISTEN.
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Tagged Daily Delicious, Eat me, manu chao, Music, Potato soup, recipe, Sheena, soup, Video
I know I haven’t posted a review in about fifty years but that’s all changing now with the very sunny Yellow Tree Cafe that’s opened up the road from me. White washed but far from blah, Soheil and I visited when I was having a pretty horrid day but the cool, breeziness of the cafe’s aquamarine and white wicker decor, coupled with its quirky wall illustrations and great little bar was enough to wash away all gloominess. The paper menu was rife with recommendations but despite the towering burgers that arrived at the next table, we opted for some Italian and it didn’t disappoint. My only qualm was the slow service, our mains taking over forty minutes to arrive and when they did, they came after each other so we were tapping our fingers while the other ate. But my ravioli was perfect and his risotto, hearty and delicious. Peepshow below.
Yellow Tree Cafe, 33rd and Ambedkar Rd Junction, Bandra (W), Mumbai
At Soul Fry.
and Jai Hind. You have to try the ajadina – semi dry coconut clams, Mangalorean recipe. With a plate of neer dosas. Cannot be beat!
With this person. No other person will do.
Adrian <3
The Japanese love their fish! The supermarket has rows and rows of fish and seafood, and this afternoon, I had the best sushi experience of my entire life, and goddamn I’ve eaten a lot of handrolls. I’ve been excited about visiting the world famous Tsukiji Fish Market and on Tuesday morning, we’re going! This trip is turning out to be completely food centric but I am not complaining. If it means I have to ride Jenny’s bicycle a bit more, then so freaking be it. I love food.
And speaking of fish, Jenny showed me this great little shop in the suburb of Shin-tokorozawa that sells fish shaped waffles with all sorts of yummy fillings – custard, cream, chocolate, etc. We shared one filled with mango cream. It was so good.
Meet Jenny.
I am in Tokyo!
After wearing half my wardrobe and I’m talking serious denim on denim here to avoid overweight baggage charges and eating enough valium to immunise me against the billion cranky babies on the 9 hour flight, I arrived in Tokyo happy as a clam last night. Alas, my first twelve hours were no piece of cake. My first FEIL* was changing my money at the airport, I think I got the worst exchange rate ever, then four hours of train rides, the worst sleep, Jehovahs Witnesses at the door, seeing a poor little girl getting her foot stuck in her mum’s bike wheel all equated to frustration. All that aside, I have been reunited with my best friend Jenny and today was remarkably better although I wish I spoke more Japanese. I’m so lost in translation right now.
Today, Jenny’s boyfriend Phil and I went for a walk and explored Nigashi Murayama where I’m staying, about 30 minutes from Shinjuku and I fell a little bit in love with Japan. Everyone rides bicycles! We went on a walk by the river, and discovered all these great tiny bars, and Phil told me stories of how people open these little restaurants in the back of their houses to avoid paying the hefty associated taxes, and it’s just like being a guest in their home, completely authentic and amazing. The shutter was down this afternoon but I’m dying to go have a drink at this little hole in the wall tomorrow night. Shhh.
Also, I went grocery shopping for the first time here. I sort of like this half traveller, half local thing I’m doing. Everything was in Japanese, but through the power of recognition, we returned with a bag of groceries to make ginger chicken udon with vegetables for dinner, plus wasabi chips, a coffee log cake and gyoza. I said iie (no) to a free plastic bag when I was shopping and they actually shaved ¥2 off my bill in good will. I loved that.
Oh and I managed to check off ‘Eat takoyaki’ off my to-do list. We ordered it out on the street, then went into a little indoor seating area and boy oh boy, it was so good, all hot and gooey, with tender chunks of octopus inside and fish flakes fluttering on top and some of that delicious Japanese mayonnaise.
Here are some pictures from my day.
Tempura. Oishii.
Keisei line = oh noes.
Bojangles Music Bar.
Socks and shoes I loved.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from many years’ research of the best bars, bakeries, pie shops, Mexican joints and chocolate cafes in various cities, it’s that sometimes the city’s gems are not within walking distance. Melbourne is the same, and Northcote is one of those completely underrated suburbs brimming with them. This here is a lovely little Northcote blog. The main strip High St teems with cute shops with incredible window displays like The Friendship Tree and In The Woods, lots of little restaurants and a dark and incredibly sexy chocolate bar called Coco Loco.
I went all by myself to Coco Loco after finding one of their postcards in my top drawer. I desperately needed a hot chocolate to cure a serious case of the blahs and was hell bent on going somewhere new. I think I said ‘meh’ no less than 63 times that day and not once after that night. The beautiful walnut bar, low lighting and a very long and engaging conversation with chocolate alchemist Khaled Sherbini himself, had me spending two hours sipping my warm drink and trying the amazing couverture 70% and 55% dark chocolate relishing all that and the jazz on offer. I ordered the Cocolero – a cinnamon hot chocolate with Coco Loco’s specialty, cashew milk, a secret family recipe and a vegan and and gluten free alternative to dairy and soy. It was silky and didn’t interfere with the flavour of the chocolate one bit. Coco Loco has a lovely history with Khaled continuing his grandfather’s legacy, best explained on their website. Feasting at Coco Loco isn’t cheap, but it’s the price you pay for quality, plus it’s certified fair trade and organic and utterly divine.
Definitely worth the tram ride.
Visit their website.
Coco Loco, 219 High St, Northcote, VIC 3070
On the night of the third, my friends and I had dinner at Grumpy’s Green on Smith St in Fitzroy. It’s fun discovering awesome vegetarian cafes in Melbourne with Sarah – I also like Vegie Bar on Brunswick St for woodfired pizza and sangria. Grumpy’s Green is another cosy choice on a parallel street. It’s an eco-friendly lounge bar, that serves a selection of vegetarian snacks and meals, keeping their carbon footprint down by serving locally brewed beer and wine and meals with ingredients that are 100% locally sourced. You can read about all their other lovely initiatives to make Grumpy’s eco-friendly here. I think its neat that they have Earth Hour three times a week and have live acoustic music by (soy) candlelight.
We missed that but our dinner was delicious nonetheless. I ordered the nachos with their chilli bean sauce, sour cream and guacamole. Sarah had the veggie burger, Turkish bread with a chickpea and sunflower seed pattie and lettuce, tomato, onion, roast capsicum, cheese & Grumpy’s mustard mayo; and Mark, a pizza off the Specials board. Their menu has lots of vegan and gluten free options. A great thing about the place is that they offer a vast array of seating choices. Barstools and regular tables and couches to sprawl on. I found it hard to choose between the low table with the massive collection of comfortable cushions by the window and the lovely beer garden at the back, settling for the former on that frosty night.
This is their website.
Grumpy’s Green, 125 Smith St, Fitzroy, VIC
Last week, Hayley, Namila and I had a lovely supper at Dante’s in Fitzroy, then went to Seventh, an art gallery on Gertrude St for a group exhibition followed by real hot chocolate with icecream which is amazing. I hung out with a bunch of international comics afterwards at a rough backpackers gig and it was the best fun I’d had in ages. The whole night reminded me why I love Melbourne. I had forgotten. Apart from the most wonderful company, these were my highlight of the night. Parmesan crumbed eggplant fries with aioli from Dante’s.
Dante’s Fitzroy, 150-156 Gertrude St, Fitzroy 3065
Three days ago, in Melbourne, three friends and one very cute baby dined at The Mess Hall, kinda across from Pellegrinis on Bourke St. One thought the establishment had a great name, that conjured up in her mind paint splatters and half finished projects rather than military imagery and carelessly prepared cafeteria meals. But The Mess Hall is neither. It’s quite complete, a very sophisticated cafe that serves meticulously crafted fare. They have a breakfast menu, a lunch/dinner menu and a sandwich list and the salmon panini was by far the best she’s ever had. The other two immediately regretted ordering the same dish as each other so they wouldn’t have plate envy. And all three couldn’t stop admiring the space and thinking what a beautiful house it would make – big, light and airy with a fancy ceiling and gorgeous staircase.
The Mess Hall is fully licensed and also has a private functions room up the stairs available for bookings day and night. You can see their full menu on their blog.
The Mess Hall, 51 Bourke St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
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Tagged Daily Delicious, Eat me, Melbourne, Photography, Reviews
