Leo's fine food - Hartwell

As Melbourne delves further and further into winter, so too have I delved further and further into the warm comforts of home.  Although we have seen the shortest day, and really we are on the way up to Spring, the winter weather still has a long way to go.  As the rain falls and the temperature barely gets to double figures, my mind turns to the favourite winter warmers we love to cook in our home.

A recent trip to Leo's fine foods in Hartwell (near Glen Iris)  saw us stock up on many "essentials" including a favourite Rick Stein ingredient, Spanish pimenton.  Unlike the sweet Hungarian paprika and the heat of the hot chilli paprika, Spanish pimenton has a smoky quality and not a lot of heat.  It is added to almost all Spanish dishes, the most famous being paella.  Rick Stein talks of it being reminiscent of the red in the Spanish flag, the yellow coming from saffron which is also added to most Spanish dishes.

With it's smoky richness this authentic Spanish paprika was well worth the $7 price tag.  It has been utilised several times this week including a successful first attempt seafood paella and a wonderful chorizo pasta.  Having not used this type of paprika in our cooking before, we have been quite impressed with the richness and depth it adds to both Spanish and Italian style dishes.  And I think Rick would have been proud of our efforts too.






Leo's is a foodies heaven.  From the regular to the hard to find ingredients, Leo's is the type of place that could really hurt your hip pocket if you're not careful.  So many yummy things at every turn!  The fromagerie is a highlight, with the ever present expert on hand to offer advice on cheese selections for your next special dinner, or any night of the week really! There is also a liquor department which completes the one stop foodie shop.  A must visit for any dedicated foodie who loves to cook.


Check out their website for location and opening hours (there are also 2 other stores at Kew and Heidelberg).

www.lemaxgroup.com.au

Winter time south of the Yarra - Mr.Burch - again!

I know it has been an extremely long time since my last post, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last 12 months.  I used to laugh when my mum would say "time goes faster as you get older" but now I get it!
So, before any more fast moving time goes by, it's back to the blog.  And what better time to restart than during the deep of winter.  With the Ugg boots on, the heater cranked and the footy on the TV (we are in Melbourne remember) here's what's been happening South of the Yarra this week...........

As the last of the autumn leaves fall and the sky turns grey my mind turns to the warm comfort food of winter.  And for consistently good food and coffee in a cosy environment it comes no better than at  Mr.Burch in McKinnon.  I know, I know, I have reviewed this cafe in McKinnon road before but I just can't go past its ever changing specials board and awesome coffee.  They source their ingredients locally, cook on premises and endeavour to be a sustainable business by recycling and composting.  And for these reasons, I drive across suburbs to reach this cafe.   This week I sampled the baked potato, served with home made baked beans, sour cream and bacon and partnered perfectly with a glass of El Nino Shiraz from the Victorian Pyrenees.  Warming to the soul.
Since my last posting on Mr.Burch they have converted the upstairs area to another dinning room with a fireplace which is great as this cafe continues to become more and more popular.  And be sure to check our their website as they often exhibit artworks by local artists.  All details, including opening hours, menus and current events can be found at (www.mrburch.com.au).

South Island, New Zealand

Well, it has been a little while since I last reviewed the wonders of the suburbs south of the Yarra, but there has been some travelling keeping me from my blog!

And in keeping with the theme of this blog I thought it fitting to mention my recent visit to the South island of New Zealand.

Having never been to NZ before, I was very excited.  And I was even more so when it was realised just how close this wonderful country was (why have we been globe trotting all these years when we could have travelled only 3 hours abroad??)  So, remembering to pack the passport (it seemed like we were going interstate to me!) off we went for 10 days in the south island of NZ.

I could spend a lot of time describing the awesome landscape and the many many outdoorsy things to do in NZ but, seeing this is a blog mainly about food, let's stick to that.

But for those who haven't been to NZ, here's a taste of the scenery.  This was taken from our hotel window in Queenstown.













I didn't really know what to expect from the food in NZ.  I had heard they were very generous with their servings, but did that mean they were compensating for quality?  And being a person that needs their morning coffee and needs it to be good, was I going to struggle to find a good coffee shop?

Do not despair!  Not a bad meal or bad coffee in sight in Queenstown or Wanaka.

One of the highlights of our trip was Vudu Cafe on Rees Street Queenstown, overlooking the water.  This clean open space, with outdoor seating also, was decked out in a clean, industrial style with polished concrete floors, bare light bulbs and old school room chairs.


A small but modest menu offered the regular day to day dishes, with the fridge cabinet offering the daily changing specials.  It was very difficult to look past the Breakfast Burrito on the menu.  Chilli beans, avocado and tomato all wrapped in a lightly toasted tortilla and topped with cheese.  Yummy!
Our second breakfast there revealed the delicious Bacon and Egg butty (lot's of English references around NZ!).

We soon discovered in NZ that all their coffees are served as double shots as standard.  Not a bad thing when you have a day of exploring ahead of you.  And there was a need to specify "small" coffee in the tulip glass.  As people used to smaller Melbourne coffees, the standard large cup in NZ was just not drinkable.

The coffee at Vudu was standout.  Just as I have mentioned in earlier blogs (Mr Burch, McKinnon) a good, traditional Italian cappuccino is quite hard to come by outside of Italy.  Vudu served their cappucinos in slightly smaller "tulip"glasses (traditional) and used freshly grated chocolate for their topping (ok, that bit is not so Italian).  Although we had other great coffees in NZ, this cafe was definately the whole package.  Food, coffee and ambience.... now if only they had wine.

www.vudo.co.nz

Manakish Levantine Bakery, Elsternwick

When I read a review in The Age saying that the owners of the famous Almazett Lebanese restaurant in North Caulfield had another venture opening, I was very keen to try. And although it has taken some time since their opening in October 2010 for me to get there, I was not disappointed.

Manakish refers to the freshly baked flatbread topped with thyme, cheese or ground meat and which is traditionally served for breakfast.  There is a whole page on the menu dedicated to bakery items, including those aforementioned and various types of stuffed pastries.  Today, we tried the Fatayer Sbenegh, a tomato, spinach and Spanish onion filled pastry ($5.60).  Perfectly sized for either a light lunch or a snack to share with friends before the main fare arrives, these pastries pack a zingy punch with lemon and spices keeping things fresh and zesty.

For main course we sampled the special of the day, lamb tagine with root vegetables and cous cous ($14.80).  This was served with a vegetable broth for spooning over the cous cous and a side of zingy Harissa sauce.  There was no skimping on the serve size either, in fact, a walk afterwards was definitely in order.

Also tried was the Djaj shawarma, served open plate style with tahini, flat bread and salad ($14.90).  The chicken tendies were succulent and lightly flavoured with seasoning, the tahini was smooth and velvety and the flat bread was so fluffy it looked like it was going to explode - delicious!



Manakish is fresh and new.  Bi-fold doors allow the large open indoor area to flow onto the side walk where there is enough seating for 12 people and which is dog friendly and water is provided.  After an absolutely beautiful lunch, I will definitely return and I think I might just try their breakfasts.........


Manakish 
480A Glenhuntly Rd
Elsternwick


9078 1974
Open 7am-5pm
Mains $10-16
Snacks/light meals $8-10

Mr. Burch, McKinnon

With Christmas and the New Year now past for another year, it's now back to the regular routine and back to posting about the great things Bayside Melbourne has to offer.  And for something new this year I have decided to award my most loved places with a 5 star rating.

Growing up, the strip of McKinnon road stretching from Jasper Rd to Wheatly Rd didn't have much to offer.  Many shops were vacant and run down, and really only hairdressing salons adorned the sleepy suburb stuck between Ormond and Bentleigh.  Really, it was only ever known for the yearly McKinnon festival which as a kid, from memory, was pretty good.

But over recent years McKinnon has taken off.  Several cafes have opened, there's a 70's retro shop, beauty therapy and a pizza place.  All to complement the already existing pharmacy, newsagent and bakery.  The nature strips have been planted with ornamental pears and in spring, when in full flower, these provide a really nice village feel.

The most recent addition to the cafe culture of McKinnon rd, and quite clearly the stand out in my opinion, is Mr.Burch.
Located at 129 McKinnon Rd, on the corner of Elm Grove (beach side of railway line), this tiny cafe turns out some seriously good coffee and food.

I first discovered Mr.Burch when one of the other cafes was closed.  And boy, I have not looked back.  What strikes me, and that which I love, is the care taken in the coffee making process.  This is not a churn em out cafe.  In fact, if they are busy one might have to wait 5 minutes, but that's ok.  I had long been a latte drinker but Mr.Burch has seen me change to the cappuccino.  Although in Italy they seem to not indulge in the chocolatey sprinkling on top, Mr.Burch's cappuccino is the closest to authentic that I have come across on this side of town. Each sip takes me back to the Cinque Terre, the chocolate dusting lingering in the cup till the very last sip.

This cafe can get pretty packed due to it's small nature and very strong following, but there are also 3 tables on the street offering dog friendly dining, and I do believe they take reservations.

Check out their website for opening hours and phone number
www.mrburch.com.au


Coffee rating *****
Food rating *****
Service and friendliness *****

Landcox Park, East Brighton

My grandparents used to take me to Landcox Park when I was little.  I have fond memories of afternoons spent there, throwing breadcrumbs to the ducks, breadcrumbs which Nanna had specially made from the crusts of bread left over at home.

It wasn't until we got a dog that I have returned to this park, and now make it a regular walk for Mya and I.  The lake in recent years has been fairly empty, but on today's visit after all the rain we have had, it was full to the brim and duck life was plentiful.  It was very much a "wind in the willows" moment!

The duck feeding is now discouraged but there are plenty of other things to do in this park.  Perfect for walking the dog, having a picnic (no BBQs though) or just lazing and reading a book.  There is a great play equipment area for the kids and a huge hill just made for running up and rolling down!  One word of warning for the doggy lover though, BYO bags... Bayside council do not provide poo bags in this park.

Even though Landcox park is so close to Nepean Hwy, barely a breath of traffic can be heard.  It truely is a lovely, peaceful park.

Magic City, Camberwell

Magic City's dining area

The pin ball machines are all gone, but the neon sign outside pays a subtle homage to days gone by. Opening in 2003, Magic City takes its name from the amusement parlour it once was. The conversion to restaurant has seen the original large windows kept, providing a light and airy space and a great view down over the Camberwell shopping precinct.

Upon entry at street level, Magic City has a great bar area, perfect for meeting before dinner or simply to have a drink or a coffee. And in winter, there is a cosy little lounge area in front of a fire place.

Upstairs is the main dining area.  Magic City's dining experience is modern Australian. I find it is one of those few venues where there are many stand out options on the menu, making a decision extremely difficult.  The wine list is solid, and the staff friendly and attentive. Every meal I have had at this restaurant has been exceptional.

My most recent visit to Magic City began with a main of Hapuka fish served with squashed peas and almond sauce with a side of potato and almond croquettes.  The fish was cooked perfectly and the marrying with almond worked well. (Mains $25-$35)

Dessert followed and again with a list of many desirable options, a friend and I decided to share the Salted Caramel Semifreddo with toasted marshmallows and Persian Fairy floss (pictured).

The semifreddo was deliciously smooth but with just enough salting to cut through the sweetness.  The fairy floss added a fun touch and seemed almost reminiscent of the amusement parlour of days past. (Desserts $15-$18)

All in all, another great night at Magic City.

Magic City is open Tuesday-Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
871 Burke Rd
Camberwell  3124
9882 7788

www.magiccity.com.au