Top Paddock

658 Church St 

Richmond, VIC 3121
http://toppaddockcafe.com/

Brunch in Melbourne tends to be associated with the quirky and the cool, and whilst I absolutely adore that, the grass is at least sometimes greener on the other side. So it was refreshing to walk into Top Paddock, the brunch place of the moment, to find a beautifully slick interior to match the beautifully slick South Yarra end of Richmond. 

I was horrendously late for my date with Ethan, as I’ve still yet to get the hang of taking account of parking time into my total commute time. It was lucky that Top Paddock was such a large, sprawling structure, so Ethan could wait with an iced chocolate without daggers being thrown in his direction. That’s not to say the place wasn’t busy though; despite being early Wednesday afternoon, the place was pumping. Maybe it was because of the lovely weather, which combined with the ample amount of glass and greenery, made the restaurant feel more like a greenhouse in a garden. 

Flat White ($3.8)

Whilst perusing the fantastically tantalising menu, which included exotic options such as Gin and Lime Cured Ocean Trout Fillet with Potato Galette, and Sticky Black Gingerbread with Drunken Berries and Chocolate Sauce, I sipped on a Flat White ($3.8). Though Top Paddock isn’t known for its coffee, this cup was smooth and enjoyable, and certainly above par – you can’t get away with less in Melbourne! 

Bircher Muesli with Lemon Curd Labna and Green Tea Poached Pear ($13)

I would normally never order muesli, so I’m glad Ethan did. Because the Bircher Muesli with Lemon Curd Labna and Green Tea Poached Pear ($13) was the most beautiful specimen of its kind I’ve ever seen. Garnished with a bouquet of fresh summer berries and flowers was muesli soaked in citrus, mixed through with plump sultanas and crunchy nuts. The crown jewel however, was the golden poached pear and its syrupy sweetness. I would eat this every morning for the rest of my life...

White Anchovies and Jamon Serrano with Fried Eggs, Padron Peppers, and Manchego on Toast ($18)

... or at least, when I’m not eating the White Anchovies and Jamon Serrano with Fried Eggs, Padron Peppers, and Manchego on Toast ($18). This was a striking Spanish rendition of the big breakfast, generous in both portion and flavour. 

White Anchovies and Jamon Serrano with Fried Eggs, Padron Peppers, and Manchego on Toast ($18)

I couldn’t decide what I liked more, the plump and tangy anchovies, the waxy slices of manchego cheese, or the thickly shaved slices of jamon, ribboned with fat. Even the eggs were top notch, fried so that the whites were pearly, the yolk still gooey, and not a hint of grease to be seen. I had finished this before Ethan was even halfway through his muesli. 

There were at least 4 other things on the menu that I am dying to try, but I could’ve closed my eyes and pointed, and still have been happy with my order. Unemployment still sucks, but if it means having time for brunches like this, maybe it’s not as bad as I thought.

Rating: 15.5/20  - top notch.

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

Kong BBQ

599 Church St 

Richmond, VIC 3121
http://www.kongbbq.com.au/

It was a beautiful day. I had finally finished my pharmacy registration exam, the weather was warm and breezy, and summer was more than just a hint in the clear blue skies. And what’s on the agenda? Food, of course. 

Photo via http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/kong-restaurant-richmond

I remember back when Chin Chin just opened up; I was still in my early days at uni, and thus at perfect liberty to visit booming new restaurants at odd hours in order to avoid the queues. But when Kong BBQ, another venture of Chris Lucas, opened in Richmond earlier this year, I was in a bit of a pickle. Thankfully I had been allotted a morning exam, and Chris was lucky enough to knock off work early that day, and we were left with enough time to arrive at Kong just 20 minutes before the Friday night rush. 

The restaurant seats 60, but it’s a near thing. Though we rocked up early enough to score our choice of tables, those who arrived a little later had to make do with being squeezed onto a bar barely a hand span wide that lined the entryway, putting up with the jostling of the waiting throng at their backs. Both the size and the interior came as something of a surprise; given the success of Chin Chin, I imagine Chris Lucas could’ve afforded to plate his new restaurant in gold leaf. Instead he continued the warehouse trend, settling on a space that’s airy and minimalistic, with lots of light wood. 

Housemade Passionfruit and Lemon Soda ($6)/Coconut Crush ($9)

It ain’t a celebration without drinks, and although I had originally intended on getting one alcomohol, I found myself tempted instead by the Coconut Crush ($9), a slushee of young coconut juice and the fruits of the day – watermelon, apple, and a sprig of mint. This was just my poison, or rather, just my antidote to the stress of exams, the warm weather, and the rather meat-heavy meal we were about to have.

Housemade Passionfruit and Lemon Soda ($6)/Coconut Crush ($9)

Chris on the other hand had the Housemade Passionfruit & Lemon Soda ($6), which was fruity and fresh... and rather alcoholic. Turns out they had inadvertently made this soft drink into a cocktail, so boo to that. 

BBQ Chicken Ssam Roti Roll ($12)

The BBQ Chicken Ssam Roti Roll ($12) came as a big surprise. Held together tenaciously by the crisp roti was a messy mix of smoky chicken from the grill, lashings of kimchi, crunchy slaw, all slathered with spicy, earthy gochujang sauce. 

BBQ Chicken Ssam Roti Roll ($12

I had expected something greasy and over the top indulgent, but the combination of flavours and textures absolutely blew me away with how bright and vivacious they were. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Wood Roasted Pumpkin ($14)

Pumpkin has been cropping up in unexpected and delicious places for me this year, and Kong’s offering was a solid wedge of Wood Roasted Pumpkin ($14), garnished with a tumble of edamame salsa and a gooey ramen egg. The pumpkin was delicious; the skin was burnished to a charred crisp, and the tender sweetness of middle augmented beautifully by the garlic and shallots in the savoury salsa. The ramen egg didn’t really belong anywhere, but the gooey, smoky flavours were so good that they didn’t need to. 

Kong Bossam BBQ Tray ($29)

The Kong Bossam BBQ Tray ($29) is for the people who can’t decide on anything, but want a bit of everything. This platter for two showcases 4 different meats cooked in the wood fire pits, to be mixed and matched to your heart’s content with a selection of pickles and stuffed into a lettuce leaf. Kind of like a gluten-free Korean taco!

Three fat and succulent slabs of pork belly falling apart at the seams, served with an entire tile of crackling on the side.

Saucy pulled chicken coated in an earthy gochujang sauce.

Pulled pork that broke apart as we tried to pick it up with our chopsticks melted in the mouth with a rich meatiness.

And thinly sliced beef brisket, covered in a smoky tomato sauce and tasting strangely Texan.

But this dish is a case where it is more than the sum of its parts. All of the meats were delicious in their own right, but they absolutely sang when paired up with tangy pickles, and wrapped in a vibrantly crunchy lettuce leaf. Add a dollop of the sticky-sweet walnut ssamjung, and you’ve got yourself an opera.

Coconut Sago with Passionfruit and Pineapple Trifle ($12)

And to top our amazing meal off was a dessert of Coconut Sago with Passionfruit and Pineapple Trifle ($12). Even in my full to bursting state, I found room to appreciate the cool layers of cream and summery fruit jelly, and the fluffy bed of sponge hidden at the bottom. I especially loved the contrast between the silken pop of sago and the crunch of passionfruit seeds. 

We enjoyed our meal at a leisurely place, the accommodating staff happy for us to take our time despite the long queues. I left Kong entirely satisfied, but also feeling a little bit bummed; I have hardly ever had such a nice meal, but when on earth am I going to be able to make it back to try the sticky ribs and miso butter corn?

(Note to self: Kong also does take-away.)

Rating: 16/20 – king kong.

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

Tofu Shop

78 Bridge Rd 
Richmond, VIC

I could never be a vegetarian. That said though, I do enjoy my vegetarian food. You’d think being a food blogger would be all about indulgence, and you would be right, but there’s a lot of joy to be found in the humblest of meals too (no, really!). Being along the tram line that I take every day to work, Tofu Shop’s neon signage is no new sight for me.

For the longest time, I couldn’t decide if it was just a run-of-the-mill health restaurant, or if it was something more. But we don’t live in the 21^st century for nothing, so when I finally got around to googling it, I found out that it is actually a very highly rated vegetarian restaurant that has occupied the premise for over 20 years. There isn’t very much to the place – the interior is as humble as the house-made tofu, but they do have dinosaurs. 

Small Bowl ($11.5)

Whilst we spent our time humming and hawing over the half a dozen dishes of the day, the girl behind the counter helpfully suggested that we do what everyone else does – get a bit of everything. So for $11.5, we each got a Small Bowl of everything on offer, with the only difference being that I said yes to the optional pickled ginger on top. 

Small Bowl ($11.5)

Small Bowl ($11.5)

And then we dug into our bowl of vegetarian goodness. There was ginger tofu, curry tofu, soft tofu, hard tofu, and of course a good selection of veggies – raw, roasted, blanched, marinated – piled on top of a bed of brown rice mixed with dahl. Bonus points to the fluffy piece of deep-fried tempeh on the side. It was every vegetable and soy product served every way imaginable, and I have to admit that the result was wholesome and tasty.

I can see how Tofu Shop got the reputation it has. There’s a great variety of vegetarian dishes that all managed to be tasty in their own right, and I imagine finding an interesting and healthy meal as a vegetarian can be an uphill battle sometimes, so Tofu Shop must be very welcome indeed. But as an omnomnomnivore, I left Tofu Shop feeling a little empty, partially due to the small portions, and partially due to the lack of protein. $11.5 for a small-ish bowl of veggies? Pass the steak thanks.

Rating: 11.5/20 – omnomnomnivore.

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

The Piano Restaurant and Bar

18 Bridge Rd 
Richmond, VIC

http://www.thepiano.com.au/

I firmly believe in shopping as a competitive sport. And one of the best places in Melbourne to participate in the noble sport of shopping is Bridge Road, filled with everything from haute couture to vintage bargains. And once hunger from trying on shoes for an entire day has set in, The Piano Restaurant and Bar is there to serve up a delicious Thai meal.

Opened just 7 weeks prior to my visit, Piano Restaurant and Bar offers an up-market take on Thai food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It is an intimate venue with a wooden wall on one side and a piano on the other, and it comes off feeling classy without being stuffy. The kitchen is headed by an ex-chef from Longrain, so I had high expectations.

Chicken Larb Salad ($13)

We started off with a traditional Chicken Larb Salad ($13), and because Chris hates even the tiniest hint of coriander, I got to polish off this exciting beauty all by myself.  It was a tantalising mix of warm chicken mince when a cocktail of spices, including coriander, mint, and Thai basil, finished off with an ample squeeze of lime and a hint of spice. 

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce ($12.5, 5 pieces)

Whilst I was busy monopolising the larb salad, Chris spent his time enjoying the Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce ($12.5, 5 pieces). The tender skewers of chicken were smothered in a decadently sweet and nutty sauce, and the accompany pickles were crisp and refreshing.

Mussaman Curry with Lamb Shank ($20.5)

Mussaman Curry with Lamb Shank ($20.5)

Making the most of what’s hopefully the last of the cold weather, we had a piping-hot bowl of Mussaman Curry with Lamb Shank ($20.5). It was a hearty medley of buttery potatoes and lamb that fell off the bone with the gentlest tug from the fork, drowned in a creamy coconut and peanut sauce. 

Piano Crispy Duck ($22.5)

With neither of us having had duck for a while, we were both excited for Piano’s signature dish – the Piano Crispy Duck ($22.5). Whilst just as tender as the lamb on the inside, the pieces of duck also boasted a crispy skin glazed with sweet soy, and encrusted with the unmistakable buzz of peppercorns. It was a great fanfare of flavours, especially when eaten with the crispy Thai basil scattered on top.

Banana Fritters with Ice Cream ($11.5)

Being as full as we were, we still had room for dessert – the all-time Asian favourite, Banana Fritters with Ice Cream ($11.5). 

Banana Fritters with Ice Cream ($11.5)

Though nothing flashy, banana fritters are an absolute delight when done well, such as in this case. The just-ripe bananas were encased in batter as light and crispy as tempura, served with a generous quenelle of coconut ice cream on the side. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s about as satisfying as dessert gets.

I had been a little apprehensive about eating at Piano Restaurant, fearing another meal of Thai food westernised beyond recognition. And whilst I won’t lie and say the food hasn’t been tweaked a little to suit local palates, it has found the sweet spot that will please the entire spectrum of diners. Even if you’re into hardcore Thai food, it’d be difficult not to be charmed by the sweet melodies of Piano Restaurant and Bar.

Rating: 15/20 – sweet melodies.

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

Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of The Piano Restaurant and Bar.

Super Bowl Pho and Bun Bo Hue

252 Victoria St 
Richmond, VIC 3121

http://superbowlmelbourne.com.au/

I’ve never been into sports. Aside from being rather unfit (though not for lack of trying), I’ve never gotten competitive sporting events either, despite how un-Aussie it is to not care an ounce about the footy. But this is one Super Bowl I can get into – a super big bowl of pho at Super Bowl Pho and Bun Bo Hue.

The recently opened Super Bowl got its name from its supersized pho challenge – 2kg of pho in a basin for anyone brave (or foolish) enough to attempt to conquer. Other than that however, it is set up like your regular pho restaurant, with the chairs too close together, and the air wafting with the scent of beef stock. Unlike most pho restaurants however, it is clean, pretty, and the owner was far from grumpy and monosyllabic, going as far as to even make small-talk with the diners. 

Bun Bo Hue ($8, small)

Bun Bo Hue ($8, small) is a noodle dish that is often overshadowed by the better known pho, but one that I’ve recently found a great liking for. It tastes a bit like pho, but instead of clear and herbal beef stock, it’s made with beef and pork bones instead, flavoured piquantly with lemongrass and chilli oil. Call it pho’s more vivacious cousin if you will. 

Bun Bo Hue ($8, small)

This was a heartily enjoyable bowl of noodles. The soup was deep and fragrant, a very noticeable tang of lemongrass in the spicy beef soup, and the noodles were thick and chewy. Though the beef is quite thick, it is also generously given, and the fried pork balls were something different and entirely scrumptious. The plate of mixed veggies and herbs on the side really lent the noodles freshness and texture. 

Tomato Rice with Crispy Fried Maryland Chicken ($9.5)

Compared to my noodles, Chris’ Tomato Rice with Crispy Fried Maryland Chicken ($9.5) was a bit bland. The chicken was very mildly flavoured, but the skin was fried to a perfect crisp, and I really liked the fragrance the coriander added to the chicken soup. This was a cleaner, more elegant rendition of the traditional meal that didn’t impress, but was a good quality dish.

Super Bowl is a place for a solid bowl of pho, with a couple of features to set itself apart from the crowd. If grotty floors and irritable staff bother you, then this is the place to be, even if the noodles are a dollar or so pricier than its neighbours.  And every pho fanatic has to try the Super Bowl at least once. You just have to.

Rating: 14/20 – super duper bowl.

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

Bendigo Street Milk Bar

37 Bendigo St
Burnley, VIC 3121

Remember the old-fashioned milk bar? They were already a bit of a dying breed when I came to Australia in the late 90s, but having spent the first few years of my life down under in a small country town, I can still remember riding my little pink bike to the milk bar down the road, 70 cents clutched in my fist, ready to turn it into a paper bag full of dangerously pink strawberry clouds.

So a visit to Bendigo Street Milk Bar was one heck of a ride on a little pink bike back into my childhood. There was chunky wooden furniture sitting on faded, threadbare rugs, Fizzer Sticks and Freddo Frogs lined up on the bench, and a decidedly homely quality overall that just screamed (or rather, politely insisted at) nostalgia.

There’s even a courtyard out back, a little dusty and cluttered with fold-out chairs, fenced off with dented corrugated iron. It is absolutely lovely.  

“So why milk bar turned brunch spot?” I asked Di, one of the owners, who was all sorts of welcoming. The answer was a good one.  Di wanted Bendigo Street Milk Bar to be a place for people in the neighbourhood to gather, be it tradies picking up a quick sausage roll, or mothers and children unwinding after school. In short, she wanted to preserve the real community feel, and excellent service, that the milk bars of yore used to offer, but with one key difference – outstanding food.

Iced Coffee/Iced Chocolate

But before we got to the food, we ordered a couple of cold drinks to help us forget the heat. My Iced Coffee was refreshingly robust; God I’ve missed good coffee when I was in Malaysia. Chris’ Iced Chocolate was sweet and creamy, but unfortunately didn’t taste very chocolatey.

Steak Sandwich ($16.5)

Because it’s Chris’ birthday today, I gave him free reign to order whatever he wanted. And predictably enough, he ordered the Steak Sandwich ($16.5) off the specials menu. The bread was pillowy and the steak was tender, and together with the sweetness of the caramelised onions and mayonnaise, it formed a rounded, comforting sandwich that Chris eagerly gobbled down. I adored the crisp side salad, dressed in an ingenious caper (?) dressing that made it the best garden salad I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.

Corn Fritters ($16.5) with Marinated Field Mushrooms ($3.5)

Corn Fritters ($16.5) with Marinated Field Mushrooms ($3.5)

I ordered a serve of the Corn Fritters ($16.9) with an additional Marinated Field Mushroom ($3.5) on the side. The corn fritters were fluffy and the sweet corn kernels practically bursted out of the batter, and who needs meat when you can have a large, juicy mushroom instead? The tangy avocado salsa was a fresh counterpoint to the richness of the fritters and runny eggs, and I had no problems mopping this up, as full as I was by the end.

Did I mention we were both really full by this point? We had unwittingly finished the gargantuan pile of shoestring fries (golden and crispy) that came with the steak sandwich, yet the dessert counter continued to beckon. Muffins, brownies, croissants, banana bread, and lemon cake – how could we say no? And because I was tossing up between two different cakes, I was generously offered a bit of each. A tiny slice of each, I had insisted, and they had nodded understandingly.

Lemon Cake ($5.9)

Orange Blossom and Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing ($5.9)

They Lied. Out came two plates, each one carrying a hefty slab of cake. The Lemon Cake ($5.9) had a refreshingly sour icing that tingled as it went down with the sweet, moist sponge. But as nice as it was, my heart went to the Orange Blossom and Pistachio Cake with Cream Cheese Icing ($5.9). The dense, nutty cake was lifted beyond the realms of your average dessert by the icing, which on first taste doesn’t seem all that remarkable, until several seconds later, when you get the undeniable floral aroma of orange blossom. The cakes were both so delicious, and despite being as full as we were, we had forkful after forkful until a waitress with a lot more common sense than us confiscated them and bagged them for take away.

Bendigo Street Milk Bar is a humble establishment, but you can really feel the warmth emanating from it. Most who visit are known by name, and those who aren’t regulars are treated like regulars until I imagine, inevitably, they become one. And the food is indeed good, but comes as no surprise – Di conspiratorially informed me that their chef is actually from Punch Lane in the city. So... how about opening a branch down my end of town?

Rating: 15/20 – nostalgia trip.

Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of Bendigo Street Milk Bar.