the other f-word

Without using the f-word (that is, foodie – thanks Gordon Ramsey), I have to admit that one of the greatest pleasures in life for me is good food. Naturally accompanied by great wine.

I don’t have too many vices (I don’t smoke and drugs are a memory best left back in uni days), so I don’t feel too bad about this. And what better place to indulge this vice than Melbourne?

Ok, so I can’t afford to dine at Vue de Monde every week (where is that rich older man when you need one??). But there is some great food to be had around Melbourne without breaking the bank.

For decent coffee and a quirky take on the lunchtime panini (meatballs with napoli sauce is my fav, particularly if needing sustenance after a big night out), you can’t go past Mr Tulk at the State Library. A good friend of mine also pointed out that the Management at Mr Tulk seems to have a policy of only hiring spunky boys, so also a good place to go for a bit of ah, sight seeing…

Every so often the wallet gets a decent airing, especially when you have an excuse like I did last Saturday. My brother is going overseas for an indefinite period, so to celebrate and say goodbye, we went to Maha for dinner. Without any hesitation I can say that this was easily the best meal I have ever had.

Think cardamom, rose, pomegranate and lemon, exotic spices and food so good it’s hard to keep from moaning out loud. Even my fussy friend Mark enjoyed every single thing on the expansive banquet menu.

A quick roll call of other favourites: Illy in Little Lon for the best coffee in Melbourne (with added banter from Brent the Barista free of charge), Chocolate Buddha for noodles and a divine white chocolate rice pudding, Camy dumpling house in China Town for quick and dirty craving fulfillment and Journal Canteen for some rustic down home Italian that satisfies my travel-greedy heart.

This is just the tip of the iceberg and I haven’t even started on the suburbs.

Anyone got any suggestions??