Yim Yam - Yarraville, Victoria

Roti Bread $3.50

Papaya Salad with Salted Crab (som dtum boo) - Shredded green papaya, salted baby crab, cherry tomatoes, beans & peanuts, served with a spicy tart dressing and topped with soft shell crab $15.90

Sticky Rice - The Lao staple rice, chewy in texture and excellent as an accompaniment with warm salads or other dishes $3.50

Yum Yim Yam with Chicken - Yim Yam’s delectable signature dish (warm salad made up of shredded banana plant blossom, young coconut mixed with herbs and coconut cream) served with chicken $13.90

Acqua E Vino

(left) Stormy Seas - A refreshing variation on the popular dark & stormy. Kraken dark spiced rum with a hint of Sailor Jerry, spiced up with ginger, fresh mint and lime and sweetened with a measure of Agave nectar, then all brought to life with a dash of ginger beer 20

(right) Watermelon Julep - A refreshing blend of mint and watermelon muddled together with Henessay VSOP, Havana Club Rum and Cointreau, creating a delicious take on the classic Julep 19

Ice Bear

Time and date of visit: 5:15 pm Friday 31 October 2014 (see our previous visits)

Yim Yam

40a Ballarat St, Yarraville, Victoria, Australia (03) 9687 8585

Open every evening from 5 pm to 10 pm

Weekly Menu, 29 November - 5 December 2014

Saturday 29 November: Broad bean and bacon pasta
Sunday 30 November: Chicken parmigiana 
Monday 1 December: Macaroni and cheese
Tuesday 2 December: Chile con carne
Wednesday 3 December: East
Thursday 4 December: Steamed egg with greens on rice Leftovers
Friday 5 December: Japanese clam rice with tamago and greens

Weekly Menu, Sunday 2 November: Hot pot / steamed boat session

Recipe: Dan Hong's Stoner's Delight

Recipe: Dark gingerbread cake with mandarin compote

China Spice - Melbourne, Victoria

Lebanese Cucumber in Garlic & Vinaigrette $6.8

Spicy Green-Bean Jelly Noodle $6.8

Pork Wonton in Sichuan Spicy Soup (15 pcs) $9.8

Steamed Shanghai Juicy Dumpling (8 pcs) $9.8

Verdict? Our first impression walking through the doors wasn't an entirely positive one. Depending on who you get, the service can be either friendly and accommodating or just plain rude, even scary. Luckily, the food soon chased away our apprehension. The cucumber dish was an instant hit, the jelly noodle was delicious (a little oily), while the xiao long bao were tasty (though the dumpling wrappers weren't as thin as Hutong's). There's also nothing to complain about when it comes to the price!
Time and date of visit: 12:30pm Wednesday 29 October 2014 

China Spice

280 Little Lonsdale Street (corner Sutherland Street), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9600 3989

Open Monday to Saturday 11:30 am - 10:30 pm and Sunday 11:30 am - 10 pm

Weekly Menu, Sunday 9 November: Kimchi tofu stew

The Queensberry Street Pour House - Carlton, Victoria

cafe latte with h/made nut milk (almond + macadamia) and honey

smashed eggs + toast + h/made zucchini relish $9.50

Verdict? Cute corner oasis with delightful coffee, deliciously smashed eggs and friendly staff. You get the feeling that time moves differently here - there's no urgency, there's no rushing... and I'm quite OK with that.
Time and date of visit: 9am Wednesday 29 October 2014 

The Queensberry Street Pour House

210 Queensberry Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia (03) 9347 1277 @queensberryph

Open Tuesday to Friday 7am - 4pm and Saturday to Sunday 8am - 3pm

Weekly Menu, Friday 7 November: Homemade pizza

Weekly Menu, 22 November - 28 November 2014

Saturday 22 November: Spaghetti and meatballs
Sunday 23 November: Mexican corn soup 
Monday 24 November: Chicken and soba noodle salad
Tuesday 25 November: Chicken tortilla soup
Wednesday 26 November: Mapo tofu
Thursday 27 November: Leftovers
Friday 28 November: Po' Boy

Weekly Menu, Monday 3 November: Mushroom omelette with greens

#meatfreemondays

Uncle - St Kilda, Victoria

Exploring Balaclava...

Glick's

Uncle

(clockwise from left) Hey Heyy - Ketel One Citroen, Le Birlou, ginger liqueur, lemon, cane juice, egg white, nutmeg 17.5, Ho Chi Mama - Jasmine infused West Winds Gin, lychee, Creme de Mure, lime, prosecco, bitters 17.5, Mekong Splice - Stolen White Rum, mango sorbet, tea shrub, lime, chili, coconut foam 18.5

Hey Heyy - Ketel One Citroen, Le Birlou, ginger liqueur, lemon, cane juice, egg white, nutmeg 17.5

Lettuce wrap Vietnamese pork meatballs with green mango, fragrant herbs, crushed nuts & sugar cane nouc chum 12

Lettuce wrap Vietnamese pork meatballs with green mango, fragrant herbs, crushed nuts & sugar cane nouc chum 12

Free range chicken slaw, fragrant herbs, bean sprouts, chili 15

Free range chicken slaw, fragrant herbs, bean sprouts, chili 15

Sweet potato fries & black salt 9

Grilled whole fish w/ ginger soy and fragrant herbs 33

Grilled whole fish w/ ginger soy and fragrant herbs 33

Black wild rice, nuts, grains, chili, fragrant herbs w/ panko crumbed hens egg 13

Dessert in St Kilda

7 Apples

Everything Bagel from Glick's

Revisit verdict? Perfect lazy Sunday lunch with the ladies, with cocktails in the sunshine being my personal highlight.
Time and date of visit: 1:15pm Sunday 26 October 2014 (see our previous visit) 

Uncle

188 Carlisle Street, St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia (03) 9041 2668

Open Tuesday - Sunday, 12pm - midnight