Huff Bagelry

112 Koornang Rd 

Carnegie, VIC 3163
http://huffbagelry.blogspot.com.au/

No one likes exams, but for me, there was a silver lining. In my uni years, I would take my exams at Caulfield Racecourse, and I would use the excuse of needing extra sustenance to visit the myriad of restaurants in the nearby suburbs of Caulfield and Carnegie. I managed to check out a good few restaurants this way, but before I could try Huff Bagelry, I had completed 4 years worth of exams, and had neither reason nor time to go out to Carnegie on a weekday. 

These days however, I’m practically rolling around in spare time (please hire me), so I took a sunny afternoon to meet up with Ethan for bagels, coffee, and a good gossip. Having heard of the massive 20 minute waits for take-away bagels at peak hour, we opted to visit around 1:30 instead, and whilst it was still busy, we had no trouble finding a seat.

Latte ($4.5, large)/Flat White ($3.5, small)

I often scoff at the American culture of endless cups of weak black coffee, preferring infinitely more the pocket rocket brew of Melbourne in thimble-sized cups. I will admit however that there’s something undeniably comforting about hugging a large, warm beverage, and Huff Bagelry delivered. Ethan’s Latte ($4.5, large) came in a tall ceramic mug, and my Flat White ($3.5, small) was at least the size of a hot chocolate.  Though the flavour profile was uninteresting, the coffee itself was tasty and well-made. For the first time ever, I wanted to order a second coffee simply to prolong the soothing experience. 

Chicken Schnitzel on Onion and Poppy Bagel ($9.5)

We ordered 2 bagels to go halfsies on, and God bless Ethan for always ordering the thing I want, but feel too guilty about to get. Ethan chose to get the Chicken Schnitzel ($9.5) on an Onion and Poppy Bagel, and it came out in a rainbow of colours, pretty as a picture. The schnitzel was thick and meaty, moistened by generous dollops of chunky tomoto relish and a melting slice of cheese. The ubiquitous salad consisted of a fresh handful of arugula, and the onion-studded bagel added a layer of caramelisation to each bite.

Summer Brekky Bagel on Wholemeal Bagel with Seeds ($8.5)

On the lighter end of the spectrum was my Summer Brekky Bagel ($8.5) on a Wholemeal Bagel with Seeds. Here is where the bagel really shined; lightly toasted so that whilst the outside is crunchy, the middle remained soft and yeasty. It was a simple and fresh meal, the bagel sandwiching layers of ham, avocado, and oozy hollandaise sauce.

It took half a dozen different bagels, but I finally get what the big deal is. There really isn’t much not to like about Huff Bagelry, with their simple but deliciously fresh variety of bagels and fillings, huge coffees, cosy ambience, and more than reasonable prices. I enjoyed every bite of bagel, and every sip of coffee.

Rating: 13.5/20 – blows the house down.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Shyun

126 Koornang Rd
Carnegie, VIC 3163

shyun.net.au

Membership Wall

 

The joy of Japanese food, in my opinion, is in its simplicity. A perfect slice of fish draped over a small clump of vinegared rice, quickly dipped in soy; the sweet earthiness of miso in a cloudy soup, with just a couple of scallions floating on the surface. At Shyun, you’ll find a menu that’s elegant in its simplicity, and surroundings with a quiet, Zen-like feel to match.

Interior

Sushi Bar

 

The locals have quickly discovered the delights of this authentic little noshery (hence the membership wall right by the entrance), where regulars are greeted by name, and the banter between the staff is in fluent Japanese. Needless to say, the small front area and the courtyard at the back quickly filled up as dinnertime rolled around. Behind the sushi bar, the head sushi chef methodically sliced up plate upon plate of succulent sashimi, oblivious to the hubbub.

Deluxe Bento ($14)

Teriyaki Chicken

Grilled Miso Salmon

 

There’s a build-your-own-bento option with some tempting offerings, but we eschew that in favour of the Deluxe Bento ($14), which is served with a tempting array of treats. Tender bites of teriyaki chicken drizzled with kewpie mayo; grilled salmon that flaked away at the touch of our chopsticks, topped with a robust, grainy miso paste; a single prawn, its mild sweetness encased in a devastatingly crispy batter. Two salads, one a creamy potato and another a crunchy cabbage with sesame-soy dressing, are no less than addictive.

Sashimi Omakase ($21 for 24 pieces)

 

The Sashimi Omakase ($21 for 24 pieces) is a fascinating exploration of the textures and flavours of different types of fish, not to mention a feast for the eyes.

 

The requisite slices of salmon caress the tongue with its velvet, buttery texture. Planks of tuna reminiscent of Turkish delight in both colour and texture are light and toothsome.

But it’s a mystery fish (bonus points to anyone who can tell me what it is) in a delicate shade of pink that delights the most. Cut into thin slices, it snaps against the teeth as you bite into the fresh morsel, only to melt away and slide down the throat a moment later, leaving nothing but a whisper of the ocean.

Black Sesame Ice Cream ($3.3)

 

Topping off the meal was a simple scoop of Black Sesame Ice Cream ($3.3). A bit too frozen, it was nevertheless delightfully creamy and nutty.

Dinner at Shyun was a relaxing affair, but the food punched well above the standard its casual setting and reasonable prices suggest. Do I even need to say if I liked it or not?

Rating: 14.5/20 – shyun, i not disappoint.

Rewind - Best of 2011

Every single blog I read is doing one of these, and because I love lists and hate missing out, I’m going to do one too!

Best Weekday Lunch Spot: Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe

Tsuke Don ($10.9)

The Tsuke Don was one of the favourite lunches I’ve had this year. Zesty, light, yet filling, it’s a must for all those who love Japanese, and could probably convert most who don’t. For the people who want something heavier, Purple Peanuts also serves a range of traditional Japanese rice and noodle dishes, as well as sushi rolls.

Best Brunch: Axil Coffee Roasters

Breakfast Burrito ($16)

Their baked eggs made my day brighter. But the breakfast burrito turned the wattage up so high that my eyeballs shrivelled. Not a very appealing image I know, but the breakfast burrito was pretty amazing. Hearty yet balanced, you don’t feel bad about eating what’s essentially 3 scrambled eggs and a whole chorizo at breakfast. The fact that Axil is near Swinburne University, and big enough not to need a booking, is a plus.

Best Romantic Dinner: Aspro Ble

Slow Roasted Lamb ($22)

Cozy and dimly lit with its own guitarist, Aspro Ble is the perfect place to take your date without breaking the bank. Gaze into each other’s eyes as you soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere with a glass of wine or two. Make sure you order the slow cooked lamb, though there are plenty of options on the menu for those who want something lighter.

Best Fast Food: Gami’s Chicken and Beer

Original Chicken ($12 for 10 pieces)

KFC is all well and good, just make sure you’re getting Korean Fried Chicken, not the Colonels. I guarantee you, after trying the fried chicken at Gami, you won’t want it from anywhere else. And if the chicken here is Harry Potter, then beer would be its faithful sidekick, Ron Weasley. Bring enough people and you can even order a 4L keg of beer.

Best Noodle Dish: Laksa King

Combination Laksa ($9.2)

I’m acquaintances with laksa on a good day; Chris has never even met laksa, and it usually takes an average of 3 tries for him to decide if he likes a dish or not. Yet we both loved Laksa King to pieces on our first visit. Laksa is what this spot is all about, even if it does offer other traditional Malaysian dishes. A perfect balance of creamy and spicy, you won’t find a finer laksa in Melbourne. Also a special mention to the ramen at DonToo, which only just missed out on getting the top spot.

Best Dumplings: Auntie’s Dumplings

Shanghai Fried Noodles ($8.3)/Boiled Pork Dumplings ($8 for 15)

The younger sister of the now defunct Bob’s Kitchen in Glen Waverley, Auntie’s Dumplings serves up the most delicious rendition of the humble dumpling I’ve ever had. I’d even go as far as to say that they’re better than what mum makes, and that’s a big call. And on those off-days where you don’t feel like dumplings, you can count on almost any other dish on the menu to fill your tummy and leave a smile on your face.

Best Dessert: Maedaya

Maedaya Panna Cotta ($4.5)

If it weren’t for the recommendations of other bloggers, I would never have picked soy milk panna cotta off any menu – it just sounds so bland and boring. But I’m glad that I took a chance and ordered it, because this is by far the most surprising (in a good way) dessert of the year. Looking non-too-different from tofu, this silky smooth panna cotta is just begging to be slowly sucked off the spoon. But I can guarantee that there’s no way you’ll be able to resist scoffing it down after the first bite.

Best Newcomer: Chin Chin

Kingfish Sashimi ($14)

Chin Chin is the restaurant that needs no introduction. I went there for lunch with expectations hyped to the roof, and it delivered an accessible and delicious meal with some bold twists on traditional Asian cooking. There’s no need for me to say more; everyone else has already said it.

 

Best Value: Al Alamy

Foull Medammes Platter ($7)

Hidden away in Coburg, Al Alamy is an Arabic grocer-slash-bakery. Here you can get the Foull Medammes Platter, which consists of a bowl of mashed and spiced beans that doubles as a dip, a generous plate of pickles, and two enormous flatbreads. And the best part? All of the above will leave you with enough change from a tenner to grab yourself a couple of pieces of their very excellent baklava.

What are your favourite eats of 2011?

Auntie's Dumpling

68 Koornang Rd
Carnegie, VIC 3163

It’s as if my long-lost love has come back to life. Two years after the closing of Bob’s Kitchen, I still find myself wistfully thinking back to the good old days, when their dumplings were the best in town, when my family and I could just pack into the car and be tucking into a plate of hand-made noodles within 20 minutes. So you can imagine my delirious happiness when I found out that Bob’s Kitchen has a (supposedly even more delicious) sister restaurant, Auntie’s Dumpling, in Carnegie. And when I saw that the billboard outside used the exact same font as Bob’s Kitchen did, I swear a tear almost came to my eye.

Stepping inside, I found Auntie’s Dumpling to be more spacious, and cleaner, compared to its former brother, and it was nice to see wooden tables as opposed to sticky laminex. The chairs however are still obligatorily minimal and uncomfortable. But the dumplings are what we’re here for. 

Shanghai Fried Noodles ($8.3)

 

Before the dumplings however, I had to have a plate of my favourite Shanghai Fried Noodles ($8.3). Slivers of pork hid amongst knobbly hand-made noodles slathered with sesame oil and sweetened with soy sauce. We continued putting mouthful after mouthful of the slippery strands and crunchy vegetables into our mouths long after we were full.

Boiled Peking Pork Dumplings ($8 for 15)

 

Then came the pièce de résistance, the Boiled Peking Pork Dumplings ($8 for 15). I know most people would rather have these babies fried, but I’ve always preferred the lighter boiled version. These enormous meaty parcels housed a light gingery mince, and breaking with tradition, were encased in a skin that was neither too gluggy nor too thin. I ate these coated in the toasty chilli oil and doused with black vinegar, whilst Chris loved them just the way they are. The bottom line is, these huge juicy (As in, really juicy. Chris couldn’t stop commenting on how juicy they were) dumplings are delicious no matter how you choose to eat them.

Oh and what the heck. Here’s another picture of the Chris' omnipresent hairy arm delicious food.

If you come to Auntie’s dumplings, don’t expect gourmet cookery, because fine dining this ain’t. The food is heavy, and the staff could use a crash course in draining oil from the dishes. But you can’t deny the appeal of a delicious, diet-destroying feast of carbohydrates for just over 15 dollars.

It feels good to love again.  

Rating: 14.5/20 – best dumplings in melbourne