So I finally got sick of Blogger's terrible search functions and clunky post editing software, and Chris has finally gotten off his buttocks to build me a new website.
If you're reading this, you probably haven't been redirected to the new website, in which case, here it is: sweetandsourfork.com. Don't forget to update your bookmarks!
Monday 18 May 2015
Delhi Streets
22 Katherine Place
Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.delhistreets.com.au/
Delhi Streets opened in a little laneway near Southern Cross
Station a month or so back, and I wouldn’t have heard of it at all if it
weren’t for a long overdue catch-up dinner with a couple of lovely
ex-co-workers, Ben and Aisling.
I met up with the lovely duo in the
snug little restaurant a tad past six. The staff were bubbly and welcoming, and
before too long, the small 20 (or so) seater restaurant began filling up with
punters craving an authentic Indian food fix.
Pani Puri ($7, 5pcs) |
The Pani Puri ($7, 5pcs) were toted as a ‘must have’, and they
were indeed one of a kind.
Pani Puri ($7, 5pcs) |
Nested in the hollow lentil puffs
was a mixture of potatoes, onions, chickpeas, and herbs. But wait, there’s
more! To finish it off, you fill the puffs with tangy tamarind water, and shove
it all in your mouth for a crunchy, tangy taste explosion!
Papri Chaat ($7) |
The Papri Chaat ($7) had me at Indian nachos, and the comparison
was indeed apt. Delicate lentil crackers were topped with a sloppy, moreish mix
of yoghurt, mint and tamarind chutneys, and soft potato pieces, and finished
off with fresh coriander. This is one plate of nachos that won’t go to your
thighs.
Dahi Vada ($7, 2pcs) |
Meanwhile, the Dahi Vada ($7, 2pcs) were indeed feather light, the fluffy
dumplings soaking up the mixture of chutneys, yoghurt, and slow-cooked veggies.
Aloo Tikki ($7, 2pcs) |
The unanimous favourite however was
the Aloo Tikki ($7, 2pcs) –
two fat mashed potato dumplings fried to golden perfection, topped once again
with the tangy trio of (everybody together now!) chutneys, yoghurt, and
veggies.
Special Thali ($13) |
For our mains, we had a traditional
Special Thali ($13), which included
3 curries of our choice, along with a large mound of rice, naan, and crisp
pappadums. The butter chicken was golden and creamy, tasting like a warm hug.
Meanwhile the lamb vindaloo was all fire and spice, and the ideal curry to have
with dollops of cool raita. Our only vegetarian choice, the paneer curry, was a
good one, consisting of a warm mix of spices and squeaky cheese.
Tandoori Chicken Pizza Naan ($9.5) |
Of course, we had to try something
from the Pizza and Wraps section as well, and we decided on the Tandoori Chicken Pizza Naan
($9.5). The naan was deliciously flaky and burnished, topped generously with
smoky chunks of chicken, crisp veggies, and cheese that stretched for miles.
Carrot Halwa ($5) |
I hate carrots in every single
incarnation, except as it turns out, the Carrot
Halwa ($5). The mixture of carrots, sugar, and clarified butter was
downright addictive, and I couldn’t keep my spoon away.
Gulab Jamun ($5, 2pcs) |
Gulab Jamun ($5, 2pcs) |
However, that’s not to say that the
Gulab Jamun ($5, 2pcs) wasn’t
a strong contender. These donuts were soaked through with hot syrup, their
sweetness balanced expertly between sinfully indulgent and cloying. They would
be stellar with a cup of strong mint tea.
Going by my relatively limited
experience with Indian food, I would say that Delhi Streets is the real deal, or
at least close to. We feasted like Sultans and Sultanas for just over $20 a
head, and a good time was had by all.
Rating: 13/20 – chickpeas, lentils, and rice.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.
Thursday 14 May 2015
Isabella's at Rochford
878 - 880 Maroondah Hwy
Though
I’ve yet to cultivate an appreciation for the mystery that is wine, I have
always loved the concept of wine tasting. Right now my palate is limited to
sweet dessert wines, and more recently, vermouth. With that said though, I constantly
feel as if understanding is dancing teasingly at the tips of my fingers, and maybe
the mystery of the grape will be laid bare for me with just one more sip!
One
thing I do understand however is food, and although I don’t think drunk-driving
is crash-hot (see what I did there), there were no downsides to a trip out to
the Yarra Valley to sample the autumn menu at Isabella’s at Rochford.
Rochford
is a beautiful country estate nestled amongst acres of vineyards. Though it was
overcast, the panoramic view over the rolling hills was nevertheless
enchanting, especially amidst the tinkling of cutlery in a wood-fire scented
restaurant.
Before
getting to the restaurant however, we walked through the wine tasting bar, as
well as a boutique that sold the best of what the Yarra Valley has to offer.
There was everything from hand-poured candles to fat chunks of nougat, and
cheeky aprons to go with a cheeky bar of chocolate.
Multigrain Sourdough |
The
autumn menu came as a choice of Two
Courses ($65) or Three
Courses ($73) from a set menu, and being the greedy guts that I am, I
insisted on the whole shebang. We whetted our appetites with a slice of warm Multigrain Sourdough, still
steaming from the oven, and a frothy swirl of whipped butter sprinkled with the
unmistakably earthy aroma of truffle.
Crab Toast |
The
Crab Toast was first, a thin
slice of toasted pumpernickel bread topped with shredded crab mixed with mayo
and herbs. Garnished with capers and chopped tomato, it was a light but
indulgent start to the meal.
Panzanella Salad |
Planning
for the long haul, we chose the Panzanella
Salad in favour of the corned beef sirloin, as we had some meat-heavy
mains to come. Though simple, the combination of house-made ricotta, croutons,
and tomatoes made for a surprisingly flavoursome salad.
Panzanella Salad |
The
tomatoes were like multicoloured jewels, ranging in hue from the palest green
to a deep purple. The house-made herbed ricotta was smooth and creamy.
The oomph in the salad came from the petals of pickled onion, and the overall
result was delicate and refreshing.
Monkfish Medallions, Baby Calamari, and Jamon Serrano |
I
have a confession: I only ordered the Monkfish
Medallions, Baby Calamari, and Jamon Serrano because my stomach didn’t
feel up to taking on suckling pig, but it was a good thing that I did. The
monkfish fillets were firm but pearly, contrasting with the wrapper of smoky
jamon, then interrupted again by a smear of sharp lemon puree. The calamari was
similarly well done with a melt-in-the-mouth texture and a peppery batter. It
was all served on a bed of wild rice and crisp broccolini florets, dressed with
just a squeeze of lemon. Though clean and elegant, the jamon and the density of
the fish made it a surprisingly hearty meal – an absolutely delicious
transition from summer to autumn.
Wagyu Wellington |
There
was a $10 surcharge on the Wagyu
Wellington, but if you ask me, it was entirely justified. The medium
rare wagyu was gorgeously succulent, paying the high-grade beef the respect it
deserves. Slathered on top was an indulgent paste of mushroom and pate for an
extra burst of earthy umami. The golden layers of pastry initially flaked, then
melted as it soaked up the juices from the roast beef. It was all extremely
decadent, which made the fruity Pinot Noir jus all the more apt.
Rochford Cappuccino |
It’s
not often that we order two desserts, so I took the chance to order something
Chris doesn’t fancy – the Rochford
Cappuccino. It was a tiramisu served whimsically in a coffee cup,
consisting of layers upon layers of thick custard, whipped cream, and fluffy
sponge, finished off with biscuit crumbs.
Chocolate Brownie |
Meanwhile,
Chris couldn’t stay away from the Chocolate
Brownie, deconstructed and served with freeze-dried berries and chopped
nuts. It was unfortunate that it tasted nowhere as good as it looked, with the
only standout being the invigoratingly summery scoop of strawberry sorbet. Nevertheless,
Chris mopped it all up because hey, warm brownies.
Though
the food at Isabella’s was uninspiring, I still enjoyed the meal very much all
up. Everything was well-cooked, and though there was nothing unexpected,
everything was delicious, and I’m sure it would’ve been even better paired with
a few wines. And if you’re not into wining or dining, you can always take a
guided Segway tour of the vineyards.
Rating: 13.5/20 – the wellington was
delicious, no doubt aboot it!
This rating reflects my personal
experience at the time of visit.
Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest
of Isabella’s at Rochford.
Monday 11 May 2015
Ayam Chef
67-69 Coventry St
When I make my fortune, I am going
to buy a luxurious studio apartment in either South Yarra or Southbank and live
the high life. The apartment will have 5 star hotel-worthy facilities, million
dollar views, and be within walking distance of dozens of good places to eat.
In the meantime, I’ll just settle for sleuthing out nice restaurants, and Ayam Chef makes a good point for
Southbank.
When I think about Southbank,
Malaysian food does not tend to follow. After all, what does the folksy street
food of South East Asia have to do with an illustrious suburb in Melbourne? As
it turns out, Ayam Chef fits right in with its bright and modern interior,
fitted out with lots of sleek dark tables and a tropically-influenced mural.
Though it’s a bit canteen-like, it doesn’t feel tacky at all, and is really
rather welcoming.
Soy Milk ($2.8) |
Like most Asian restaurants, the
menu is designed to share. Whilst I browsed through my choices, I sipped on a
tall, sweet glass of Soy Milk
($2.8).
Crunchy School Prawns and Chives Pancakes ($6, 2pcs) |
In the end, I asked our waitress to
give me a hand, and she suggested that we try the Crunchy School Prawns and Chives Pancakes ($6, 2pcs). This dish
gave a fantastically refined twist to the greasy chive pancakes of my
childhood. Light and golden, they were embedded with crunchy school prawns, and
absolutely mouth-watering when dipped into the sauce of lime and fresh red
chillies.
Lobak ($8, 2pcs) |
Similarly delicious was our snack
of Lobak ($8, 2pcs).
Ensconced in the brittle parchment of fried tofu skin was a moist filling of
minced pork. It was warmly seasoned with the unmistakable aroma of 5-spice
powder, and the addition of finely chopped black fungus gave it an addictive
element of crunch. Have it with or without the plum sauce – it’s all good.
Sambal Eggplant ($17) |
One look at the Sambal Eggplant ($17) and I knew
it was going to be bursting with flavour. The plump strips of eggplant
glistened with oil, and each piece was infused with the briny, exotic flavour
of sambal – chilli, fried shallots, and shrimp.
Sambal Eggplant ($17) |
For a little variance on the
texture, the eggplant was stir-fried with slippery pieces of okra, and beans
that still had their crunch. It was a quintessentially Malaysian dish that was
perfect with rice.
Coconut Butter Prawns ($22) |
The Coconut Butter Prawns ($22) was a more modern take on
Malaysian cuisine. The massive prawns were quickly pan-fried before being
coated with an aromatic buttered coconut crumb. The texture of the prawns was
astounding; it was bouncy and succulent, and the freshness was exquisite. Though
the serving had initially seemed small, the richness actually meant that I needed
way less than I had expected.
Kueh Dada ($7.5) |
Now that Chris has decided that he
does like coconut after all, we have a much easier time choosing dessert at
Asian restaurants. The Kueh Dada ($7.5) was presented
beautifully, the jade-green crepes wrapped around shredded coconut soaked in
palm sugar. On the side were scoops of coconut ice cream, which was studded
with pieces of frozen coconut and finished with a drizzle of chocolate. I felt
that this dish suffered from an identity crisis, as it couldn’t decide if it
wanted to be Asian or Western. However it tasted good enough, and looked lovely
enough, that I couldn’t really bring myself to care.
My meal at Ayam Chef brought to
mind one of the most delicious meals I had in Malaysia at a local seafood
restaurant. It is quite a few steps up from the hawker-styled dishes you’re
likely to find at the Malaysian restaurants around Melbourne, and showcases the
flavours Malaysia has to offer beyond noodles and rice. Though the portions are
slightly on the small side, it is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the
area.
Rating: 13.5/20 – classy malaysia.
This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.
Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of Ayam Chef.
Thursday 7 May 2015
JD's Burgers
85 Willsmere Rd
Kew, VIC 3101
http://jdsburgers.com.au/
What does an 8-layer burger look like?
2kg Legendary Super Saiyan Burger Challenge ($50) |
This.
It looks like this. It looks like regrets
and dreams stacked into a 2kg monstrosity of cholesterol and saturated fats.
Thankfully I wasn’t the one who ordered this.
This guy was the one who ordered it. |
Hidden
away on a suburban shopping strip in Kew is JD’s Burgers, a small take-away burger cafe that is popular
with locals, tradies, and people turning in their dignity for a chance at the
glory of completing the burger
challenge. In comparison, the promise of Asian fusion burgers almost fades into
the background. But I’m a little more conscious about the condition of my
arteries, so instead of unhinging my jaw on the 8-layer monstrosity, I decided to
check out what happens to burgers when east meets west.
JD's Mighty Beef Burger ($12) |
As
great as fusion creations may be, what is a local burger shop if it can’t get
the basics right? I tested JD’s mettle with their signature burger, the JD’s Mighty Beef Burger ($12).
Though thick and juicy, the patty erred towards blandness, and the cheese was
only semi-melted. The rasher of bacon on the other hand was intoxicatingly
smoky, combining well with the glazed brioche bun. Despite its flaws, it was a
satisfyingly sloppy burger that earned itself a generous pass.
Japanese Curry Chicken Burger ($11) |
Of
course, I couldn’t leave without trying something weird and wonderful as well.
Though there are influences from all over Asia, including Korea, Vietnam, and
Hong Kong, I couldn’t resist the Japanese
Chicken Curry Burger ($11),
which combined two things I love to eat. Between the same glossy buns was,
quite literally, a scoop of saucy chicken curry, complete with chunks of
potato. It was accompanied simply by fresh salad and a smear of Kewpie mayo. Even
though it was unusual, it was unexpectedly delicious, even when there was
nothing but sauce and bun left.
Beer Battered Chips with Special Seasoning ($4.5, small)/JD's Homemade Aurora Chip Sauce ($2)/Aioli Dipping Sauce ($2) |
I
have a confession: I only went to the gym that morning so I could have an order
of Beer Battered Fries ($4.5,
small) without feeling guilty. They would’ve been worth it regardless, with
their lightly seasoned exterior and mushy centre. We also sampled the two
dipping sauces on offer – a thick and potent Garlic Aioli ($2) which I loved, and the tangy Aurora Chip Sauce ($2) made with
mayo and a secret ingredient. I thought it tasted like a faintly Asian pickle
relish but alas, my tastebuds weren’t clever enough to work it out.
Despite
the novelty factor of the Legendary Super Saiyan Challenge, JD’s is still a
legitimate place for a decent burger. They have their classics down pat, whilst
offering a wacky range of fusion burgers for the adventurous. There are plenty
of chicken, fish, and vegetarian options, and you can even build your own
sandwich from scratch. Aside from the extremely health-conscious, there’s
likely something for everybody here.
Rating: 13/20 – kamehameha!!
This rating reflects my personal
experience at the time of visit.
Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest
of JD’s Burgers
Monday 4 May 2015
Kao Thai
347 Sydney Rd
Brunswick, VIC 3056
I like relaxing on Friday nights with a good meal, but that’s
often complicated by the need to blog said meal. And that’s why I find myself
foregoing the fancy Friday night date more and more, in lieu of a simple and
companionable dinner. The multi-course tapas blog post can wait for when I’m a
little more awake.
Though my love for authentic Thai food is undying, I have to
admit I’ve developed a bit of a grudging soft spot for its mildly westernised
incarnation. And despite plenty of reviews insisting that Kao Thai is the best and most authentic Thai food in Melbourne,
I was pretty sure that at least the second part of that statement is a bit of a
fib. Still, that doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, and I was happy to
settle for something simple and delicious.
Like most places along Sydney Road, Kao Thai is homely but
incredibly cramped. There is however a quiet and pretty little walkway, which
led to a quaint sheltered courtyard. Though everything was simple, it was all
very welcoming, and none of it was gaudy or overdone.
Thai Milk Tea ($3.5) |
I’m a big lover of Thai
Milk Tea ($3.5), but whilst this had the milky sweetness and enticing
orange colour, it failed to deliver on the actual tea aspect. If you don’t like
tea, you’ll love this tea.
Pad Keemao with Beef ($13.9) |
Our plate of Pad Keemao
with Beef ($13.9) was rather good. Though the wok-smoke and fish sauce
made the rice noodles taste more Malaysian than Thai, the balance was shifted
back by the distinct aroma of Thai basil and a small amount of green
peppercorns. It was actually very tasty,
the mouthfuls of slippery rice noodles going down a treat with the crunch of
vegetables and tender sliced beef.
Red Chicken Curry ($14.9) |
Similarly hearty and delicious was the Red Chicken Curry ($14.9). Despite my initial impression of
‘this is much too sweet!’, the coconut cream actually segued well into a deep,
aromatic richness, with just a hint of spiciness.
Red Chicken Curry ($14.9) |
The gravy was well balanced between the warm and comfort of
cumin and red chillies, and the sharper additions of lemongrass, kaffir lime,
and peppercorns. The chicken was doled out in large chunks, and the vegetables
were once again crisp and fresh. There was way too much curry there for a
single serve of Jasmine Rice
($2.5), no matter how generously we scooped the sauce on, and I was left
dolefully eyeing the remainder.
Despite only being semi-authentic, I liked Kao Thai way more
than I thought I would. The food was unchallenging and delicious, and sometimes
that’s really all I’m after.
Rating: 13.5/20 – easy
blogging.
This rating reflects my
personal experience at the time of visit.
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