Shaun Quade's Dessert Evenings at Duchess of Spotswood

Shaun Quade & Duchess of Spotswood

87 Hudsons Road, Spotswood, Victoria, Australia (03) 9391 6016
Monday evenings from 17 September 2012

Egg yolk and ginger, pumpkin and spiced curd.

Coconut and kaffir lime, pineapple and wild fennel.

Banana and malt, warm buckwheat and raw cacao.

Rhubarb and licorice, bitter chocolate and applemint.

Charred sweetcorn butter.

Meal style: 4 Course Dessert Degustation
Cost: $45.00 per person (not including drinks)
Time and date of visit: 7:00pm Monday 24 September 2012

Foodie Sunday Adventures

Coffee from Common Galaxia.

Olive loaf from Sourdough Kitchen.

Freshly shucked oysters from Sea Bounty.

Making pasta ...

... for lasagne!

Mussels from Sea Bounty.

Making the filling ...

... for whoopie pies!

Also used some leftover ingredients to make some delicious honey corn cakes :)

And just before bed, the 'Red Spice Road' pork is prepared for Tuesday night's dinner.

Pho Tam - Footscray, Victoria

Pho Tam

7/9 Leeds Street, Footscray, Victoria, Australia (03) 9687 2680 

Open 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Mixed prawn and pork spring rolls.

Fresh sliced beef with lemon coleslaw.

Fried rice, crispy skin fried chicken, salad and side soup.

Meal style: Dinner of shared dishes
Cost: $35.00 (total including 3 dishes and 2 drinks)
Date and time of visit: 6:45pm Friday 21 September 2012

Weekly Menu, 22 September - 28 September 2012

Saturday 22 September: Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage spicy noodles
Sunday 23 September: Mussels
Monday 24 September: Shaun Quade's Dessert Evening at Duchess of Spotswood 
Tuesday 25 September: Red Spice Road's pork belly with apple slaw and chilli caramel
Wednesday 26 September: Lasagne
Thursday 27 September: Pumpkin curry
Friday 28 September: Japanese curry Pizza

Weekly Menu, 15 September - 21 September 2012

Saturday 15 September: Homemade fish and chips
Sunday 16 September: Sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves
Monday 17 September: Sweetcorn risotto 
Tuesday 18 September: Ham hock and wintermelon soup
Wednesday 19 September: Spicy eggplant and tofu
Thursday 20 September: Laksa Steamed egg with chinese sausage rice
Friday 21 September: Steamed egg with chinese sausage rice Pho Tam

Red Spice Road (Earlybird Banquet) - Melbourne, Victoria

Red Spice Road

27 McKillop Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9603 1601
Open for lunch Monday to Saturday 12pm - 3pm and for dinner Monday to Friday 5pm - late, Saturday 6pm - late.

Driver's Apple and Mint Mule: Fresh lime, mint and ginger shaken with apple juice then charged with ginger beer.

Tom Yum: Hot and Sour Broth with Lemongrass, Coriander and Prawn.

Beef Red Curry with Potatoes, Carrot and Apple Eggplant.

Pork Belly with Apple Slaw, Chilli Caramel and Black Vinegar.

Rice Noodle, Pickled Carrot, Hot Mint, Cucumber, Peanut and Chilli Salad.

Meal style: Earlybird banquet (1 appetiser and 3 shared mains)
Cost: $25.00 (per person not including drinks)
Date and time of visit: 5:30pm Thursday 6 September 2012
Verdict: Great value banquets with the pork belly standing out yet again... one day I will have enough room for the optional dessert, promise!

Weekly Menu, 8 September - 14 September 2012

Saturday 8 September: Ramen
Sunday 9 September: Spicy noodle and greens
Monday 10 September: Minestrone soup 
Tuesday 11 September: Braised beef with vegetables
Wednesday 12 September: Greek lamb with orzo
Thursday 13 September: 3 cup chicken
Friday 14 September: Leftovers

Common Galaxia - Seddon, Victoria

Common Galaxia

Shop 3, 130 Victoria St, Seddon, Victoria, Australia (03) 9689 0309
Open Tuesday to Friday 7.30am - 4pm and Saturday to Sunday 8am - 4pm (kitchen closes at 3pm every day).

Oven baked zucchini fritters w house cured juniper berry salmon, poached egg & lemon creme fraiche.

Meal style: Brunch
Cost: $18.50 (not including drinks)
Date and time of visit: 11:30am Friday 7 September 2012
Verdict: Happy to add this to my list of locals - the flavours and aesthetics brought back super fond memories of København and Stockholm.

Golden Dragon Palace (Yum Cha) - Lower Templestowe, Victoria

Golden Dragon Palace

363 Manningham Road, Lower Templestowe, Victoria, Australia (03) 9852 4087
Open for Yum Cha Mon - Fri 11:30am - 3pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 3pm and for dinner Mon - Sun 6pm - 11pm.

Shark fin dumplings.

Silky egg tofu with seafood.

Tripe.

Steamed prawn noodle.

Turnip cake.

BBQ pork buns.

Lotus seed buns.

Tofu flower pudding.

Egg tarts.

Meal style: Yum cha
Cost: $55.00 total (9 dishes between 2 people)
Verdict: All round favorite for yum cha in Melbourne. Worth the trip, though you might want to visit on the weekend for the freshest dim sum.

Weekly Menu, 1 September - 7 September 2012

Saturday 1 September: The Waiting Room
Sunday 2 September: Thaila Thai
Monday 3 September: Mac and cheese 
Tuesday 4 September: Guilin noodles Ratatouille
Wednesday 5 September: Sweetcorn risotto Guilin noodles
Thursday 6 September: Red Spice Road
Friday 7 September: San Telmo