Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Marmara - Windsor, Victoria
68 Chapel St, Windsor, Victoria, Australia (03) 9510 6944
Open 7 days, 5pm till 11pm
My family has been going to Marmara for about 20 years now. My dad is vaguely Turkish (he left Turkey when he was very young) so Turkish food has always been a destination when we go out for a celebration. My dad found a fondness for Marmara so it became a family favourite. After so many years it is hard to now be objective about its food.
I worked up the scuzzy end of Chapel St when I was 17-18. I basically drank way too much and made some bad life choices for a couple of years. It was a totally great time in my life that will most likely never be equalled. In the late 90’s the pubs in Windsor were dives and frequented almost exclusively by old alcoholics. The restaurants were mainly fish and chips or sandwich places. For a while there was a place that only sold sausages. Now the place is different. The student population has increased the number of bars and cafes and the restaurant menus seem to come pre-printed with the word ‘tapas’ at the top.
Through all of the changes Marmara remains. The menu has changed a little over time but the food has been consistently good. Whether stopping by for a wrap or a banquet it’s a great little restaurant; for me coloured by time and past family outings. Now a meal here and a few beers around the place is a pretty decent way to spend an evening.
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| Sucuklu Pide - Turkish Pepperoni Pide: Slices of Turkish traditional beef pepperoni & egg (free range) |
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| Firinlanmis Patlican (Patlijan) - Baked Eggplant: Slices of eggplant seasoned then baked & finished with our tomato & yoghurt sauce |
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| Iskender Kebab: The Doner Kebab enriched with tomato salcha sauce and yoghurt & served in a sizzling claypot (doesn't come with rice, salad or bread underneath) |
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| Pilav - Pilaf Rice: Long grain white rice mixed with lightly fried risoni & cooked to perfection |
- words by pisso | images by überjoi.
Verdicts? Still a 'family favourite', but pisso is a little bit sad that the rice isn't quite as flavoursome as he remembers it to be...
Meal style: Shared dinner of 4 dishes
Cost: $47.50 total (between 2 people, not including drinks)
ime and date of visit: 7:00pm Friday 22 January 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Café Vue - February Mixology (Cocktail Degustation), The Swinging Seventies
Café Vue
Normanby Chambers, 430 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9691 3899
Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm
Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm
"Puberty Blues" - The Swinging Seventies
Van McCoy - The Hustle
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| Vue Coast Cooler |
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| Samboy Chips |
Kool and the Gang - Hollywood Swinging
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| Wizz Fizz Colada Cone |
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| French onion dip & veggie sticks |
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
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| Shandy |
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| Dim Sims |
Herbie Hancock - Butterly
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| Fruit Tingle |
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| 20c bag of mixed lollies |
Eric Donaldson - Cherry oh Baby
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| Splice |
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| Cherry Ripe |
Verdicts? A super fun and cheeky evening full of sugary surprises!
Meal style: Cocktail degustation (5 courses with matching cocktails)
Cost: $95.00 per person
Time and date of visit: 7:00pm Friday 22 January 2013
Previous editions: November | December | January
Little Africa - North Melbourne, Victoria
358 Victoria St, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9329 8018
Open Tuesday to Sunday 5pm - 10pm
Open Tuesday to Sunday 5pm - 10pm
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| Kulwha (Tibs): Strips of marinated lamb sauteed & cooked with tomato, onions, green pepper and spices; Dorho Zighini: Tender chicken, stewed in a rich berbere sauce with onion & garlic, served with one hard-boiled egg; Potato Salad: A warm potato salad with boiled eggs, tomato & green pepper, along with onion and a house dressing |
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| Potato Salad: A warm potato salad with boiled eggs, tomato & green pepper, along with onion and a house dressing |
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| Dorho Zighini: Tender chicken, stewed in a rich berbere sauce with onion & garlic, served with one hard-boiled egg |
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| Kulwha (Tibs): Strips of marinated lamb sauteed & cooked with tomato, onions, green pepper and spices |
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| Vegetarian combination (for 2 people) |
Verdict? Yummy African dinner shared with friends, especially the vegetarian dishes (though we found the lamb to be a little bit tough).
Meal style: Shared dinner
Cost: $81.00 total (between 5 people, not including drinks)
Time and date of visit: 6:00pm Tuesday 19 February 2013
Weekly Menu, 23 February - 1 March 2013
Saturday 23 February: Kokoro Ramen
Sunday 24 February: Chicken and capsicum pasta salad
Monday 25 February: Pinto and pumpkin casserole #meatfreemondays
Tuesday 26 February: Marmara
Wednesday 27 February: Quinoa salad
Thursday 28 February: Pho Tam
Friday 1 March: Menemen | recipe
Thursday, February 21, 2013
White Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant - West Melbourne, Victoria
185 Victoria St, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9326 6040
Open Thursday to Sunday 6pm - 10pm
Open Thursday to Sunday 6pm - 10pm
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| Eggplant Fritters (slices of eggplant in a light batter served with sweet and sour sauce) |
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| Roast Vegetarian Duck (seasoned and roasted gluten on a bed of snow peas and bean sprouts) |
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| Mah Poh Tofu (spicy Sichuan tofu with capsicum and mushrooms) |
Verdict? A little disappointing to be honest. Have enjoyed far tastier vegetarian and mock-meat food elsewhere.
Meal style: 3 shared dishes
Cost: $40.50 total (between 2 people)
Time and date of visit: 6:15pm Friday 8 February 2013
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