The Press Club ... masterchef... challenge?

We were at The Press Club in recent weeks, it's actually my first visit to this infamous restaurant.

At the same time, it gives me reason to do my blog about my experience, especially after watching tonight's Masterchef. A very different episode it is because George, yes.. Mr Calombaris held the challenge at his very own - The Press Club. The challenge was part of a relaunch with 60 guests in attendance (from celebrity chefs like Jacques Reymond to directors of The Press Club). The guests then award the winning team ie Red or Blue team, made up of challengers from Masterchef.

And boy did George get fired up... Callum was asked to redo the smoked yoghurt soup with chicken oysters dish.. well he stuffed it up the first time, George asked him to redo it again.. but Callum decided to do a refix of the stuffed dish which only wasted time, then off to the shops he went to buy cucumber because emmm no cucumbers left. He does the groceries thing another 2 more times.. since he ran out of yoghurt too and one other item. Heheee the guy must have been losing his head by then! Then one of the chicken dishes was served pink? oh no.

George then said someething along the lines of cleaning up the base of the plates because if the plates are stuck to sh*t, sh*t will be served to the tables and sh*t must never be served to anyone in his restaurant. Yes he used those words including the S word. Heheee it sounded real funny.

It was an entertaining episode. Imagine serving and cooking for celebrities? And if you are in his George's restaurant, if it ain't done right, do it again.

Well, let's go back to my initial opening, yes our dinner at The Press Club, started with lovely bread, dipped to olive oil filled with olives, and complementing black volcanic salt? I'm sure I heard correctly. Now that was good.

The order:

Entree
- Prawns : domatosoupa, kalamata olive sponge, young basil, kefalograviera crisp - the olive sponge was unusual (in a good way) and provided a lovely bouncy texture to the rest of the dish. I loved this dish.. tasty tasty tasty. $30
- Chicken : pastelaki of its wings, kritharaki, mytzithra snow. Very good, mmm the pasta (ie orzo).. mmm the very tender chicken.. mmmmm very very good $23



Main
- Lamb : 'neck', miso mousaka - I only finished half of it.. my least fav dish of the night, the sauce that complemented it was fairly heavy in taste, and I'm not a fan of the sauce. $46
- Kakvakia : salmon dory scallop yabby calamari clams celery yuzu latholemono (2 to share $84)


Sides
- Sweet corn : kalaboki charred, herbed yoghurt cheese, almonds $9.50
- Potatoes : crispy patates, patzari, feta $9.50
There was nothing spectacular about the sweet corn dish, but the potatoes was lovely with the dipping sauce, ie patzari is beetroot roasted in cumin served with yoghurt. Different.



We didn't try the Symposium Degustation at $125 pp for 8 courses, but the table next to us did and with each course that came out also matched a curious look on their faces hehee.

Of course, table service is great.. that's what you'd expect. Compared to Hellenic Republic (George's other restaurant), it's modern crisp and sharp complete with warm wooden panels.. afterall this is George's baby and his first too and reflects a very professional looking restaurant. But... I like Hellenic Republic much much more (read my previous blog in recent days) just because of the wholehearted meals you get in a less formal setting.. comfort food ahh :)

Find The Press Club Restaurant @ 72 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC

Melbourne 2nd most liveable city to NY.. for Men?

Wow, I have just read a recent article last week about Melbourne being rated as the 2nd best city for men to live. So yes my male friends left right and centre... count your blessings if you happen to be in this same city as moi.

Apparently polled by askmen.com and 29 cities around the world were ranked based on
- weather
- cost of living
- professional life
- dating
- night on the town
- day on the town
- fresh air factor
... basically factors relating to living, working and playing... ratio of men to women.. blah blah

These are the top 20:

1. New York City
2. Melbourne
3. Tokyo
4. Madrid
5. London
6. Cape Town
7. Miami
8. Buenos Aires
9. Sydney
10. San Francisco
11. Paris
12. Los Angeles
13. Hong Kong
14. Tel Aviv
15. Barcelona
16. Sao Paulo
17. Berlin
18. Lisbon
19. Beirut
20. Istanbul

But we do have bizarre weather here, and a terrible public transport system, slow planning process on infrastructure, but then again every city has their faults, and overall we do get past these matters for a whole heap of other benefits and pros Melbourne has. Oh yes, we love Melbourne... and love it wholeheartedly too !!!!!!

There are a few of the cities in the top 20 which I think are exciting to live in.. from NY, Madrid, Paris, Miami, Barcelona to Sao Paulo... don't think I can do Cape Town, Sydney, HK or Berlin.

So what about a poll for women? :)

Have you ever really loved..

I thought this duet done by Casey James and Michael Lynche in American Idol of "Have you ever really Loved a Woman" sounds even better than the original from Bryan Adams. Wow.

Yum Cha in Melbourne.. recommended

These are the Yum Cha houses I really like:

1) Kam Fook, Level 2, Westfield Shoppingtown Doncaster VIC
- lovely decor, modern, spacious and airey
- small area where you can seat on long benches, great for a casual sitdown with friends
- seafood is always fresh, quality is spot on
- price average
- tried their dinners too and give it the thumbs up, I like their peking duck, one of few better ones in Melbourne.

2) Wantirna Superstars, 703 Boronia Rd Wantirna VIC
- traditional Chinese atmosphere
- I know, really corny name but they do the steamed dishes very well, not sticky when served and right texture, this is a PLUS
- very fresh seafood
- good variety
- price is average
- con is it's bit of a drive to get there

3) Shark's Fin House, 131 Little Bourke St Melbourne
- just because it's conveniently located in the city, and there aren't that many to choose from in the city that is okay
- like their dinners
- average price
- yum cha isn't as good as Kam Fook or Wantirna Superstars

4) Red Emperor, 3 Southgate Ave Southbank VIC
- it used to be $30 per head, now it's $42 pp Mon-Sat, and $50 pp on Sunday.
- con is that it's pricey
- but it's the views that the other 3 restaurants do not have, ie the Yarra and the city in the backdrop.

Try them if you haven't as yet.

KanZaman for Lebanese food

Like I said in my previous post, it is an experience when you walk into a Lebanese restaurant. The decor in KanZaman is very colorful..lively and friendly. I've just been invited for dinner last night by a friend and since I've done a post on Cafe Zum Zum (albeit weeks late), it's only worthy to have this blog straight after that one.

Ordered:
- Dip Baba Ghannouj - charsmoked eggplant pureed and mixed with tahini, garlic and lemon juice $8.50
- Warak Areesh - Vine leaves filled with rice and minced lamb cooked with lemon juice $9
- Kibbeh - Shell made from minced lamb and borghul filled with diced lamb, pine nuts and halloumi $24
- Shish Tawook - Marinated chicken fillets, bbq and topped with garlic herb and lemon dressing $24

We didn't really like the Kibbeh dish, because of the thick crust shell it came in.. heavy dish to eat and overpowering. Perhaps should have gone with another recommended dish being sultania.

Overall the food was okay, service was fine. The restaurant is large so can cater for large groups. The dish that stood out the most was the chicken dish, extremely tasty and a large serving. Price for 2 at $66.

Then came the belly dancer, and a good belly dancer too who even had some diners up and swinging their hips and bellies. Some men had no idea where to look.. :)

I'm curious to try other dishes on the menu.. so perhaps there may be a return visit.

Find it at 458-460 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC ph 9429 3402

Cafe Zum Zum for comparison to Abla's.. lebanese food

Yes, it is an experience whenever you walk into a Lebanese restaurant.. mostly because of the Banquet menu you get to enjoy slowly, to the Belly dancing on show (read next blog on KanZaman's).

Let's start with Cafe Zum Zum in Carlton and the banquet menu
- Dips
- Tabouleh
- Falafel
- Sambousik
- Lahme B'ajeen
- Morrocan lamb
- Chicken shish tawouk
- Baklava
- Turkish Delight
- Halva
- Lebanese coffee









For $40 per head, it certainly is worth the price for the quality and portion of food you obtain.

I know someone who tried Abla's and done a quick comparison of the two for experience.
- Cafe Zum Zum has male waiters (2 on the night we were there), whilst Abla's has chicks
- Cafe Zum Zum has more dips to start off with
- Zum Zum's chicken is served with sauce all over whilst in Abla's it's a dry version. We agreed it was possibly due to the region to how the dish is prepared that could have made it slightly different.
- Abla's old lady owner comes out and greets all the diners whilst Zum Zum errmm nope.
- At Zum's there a choice of tea, coffee, or lebanese coffee, whereas Abla's doesn't give you that choice. Anyway, I got tea! Lebanese coffee... now if you've never tried this, I heard its super strong.
- Zum Zum does some of the dishes as combined, whilst Abla's does it one by one for each and every item.
- Zum Zum has one extra dessert
- Abla's has the very good bbq chicken wings in its banquet, but Zum's doesn't include it.
- Zum Zum at $40 per head, Abla's I think is slightly more, possibly $50 ph.
- And atmosphere, well Zum Zum is modern with those Shisha pipes on diplay, Abla's is more home style white tableclothed.

The only slight disappointment of the night was the lamb, just a tad dry.

Anyway, thumbs up, service was lovely, atmosphere was busy for a weeknight, my friend said the food is as good as Abla's.

Find it at: 645 Rathdowne St Carlton North VIC ph 9348 0455

Hellenic Republic.... for splendid Greek food

If you want great Greek food, go to Hellenic Republic. This has got to be my fav Greek restaurant in Melbourne. I've been to plenty but this one has been worth recommending for a return visit time and time again.

Service is friendly, personalised... supposedly more like a family restaurant..
Atmosphere warm, relaxed and decor complete with your true Greek touch ie those woven chairs (as my companion promptly told me)...
Price is worth for value, portions and quality..



We paid a total $100 for 2 and, you will walk out of there with a full stomach guaranteed. And a happy stomach too, so here's what we ordered:

Baked feta, chilli and oregano
Fava - split pea dip, olive oil, shallots and vinegar
Cypriot grain salad - freekah, coriander, almonds, raisins and yoghurt
Baby snapper
Lamb




Now I have never eaten anything that's not right on the menu (being a return visitor), everything you order...whatever it is on the menu is consistently done right and delicious.

And every time I walk out of this place I leave the place smiling...

Find it at:
434 Lygon St Brunswick East VIC ph 9381 1222