We’re mainly concerned with Melbourne western suburbs cheap eats … but not exclusively.
There’s many hundreds of food blogs in Australia – and a goodly whack of them are concerned with Melbourne and Victoria. Yet frequently when I and my fellow foot soldier in the pursuit of funky eats, Bennie, discover a new bakery, noodle shop, deli, cafe, gelati joint or market, a simple check online to see what others have to say about them turns up … nothing, or at least not much at all.
So this here site will be a record of our foodie and related explorations of what I consider to be our “neighbourhood”, which roughly stretches from Williamstown to Sunshine to Moonee Ponds and Flemington. We are also known to venture to Brunswick (Sydney Rd, for some reason, has become a Saturday lunch regular), Carlton and Fitzroy, and also are well familiar with the alleyways and back streets of the CBD and Chinatown.
But the other side of the river? Why would we bother?
Click on the pics for a closer look!
Comments and (particularly) hot tips most welcome!
Please subscribe!
Kenny’s oft-spoken rule No.1: “Bennie, tonight we’re gonna go somewhere we’ve never eaten at before and we’re gonna order something we’ve never had before!”
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KENNY WEIR is a journalist/editor/researcher/writer by trade, but food hound and music nutjob are his true callings. He was raised in Dunedin, New Zealand; moved to Melbourne in the mid 1980s; and has lived in Melbourne’s west for a decade. In the ’80s and through the ’90s he was a frequent visitor to New Orleans and the cajun country of South Louisiana, inhaling as much of the food, music, beer and general all-round ambiance as he could suck up. Since then, fatherhood has taken him on a different kind of journey. At home, he cooks mainly Italian and Indian.
His co-conspirator, BENNIE MINTER WEIR, 12 going on 13, sailed though toddlerhood hating tomatoes and potatoes … but loving chips. These days he loves tomatoes and spuds, and has come a long way since the early days of this blog. He evens likes eggplant these days. He has a healthy tolerance for spicy and is mostly happy to go along with another of his dad’s rules: “You don’t have to like it – but you DO have to try it!” His participation in Consider The Sauce is fabbo, and his tastes are growing and developing accordingly.
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We can be contacted at kenny cts blog (all wun word) @ gmail dot com
Where are the reviews of real western suburbs’ eateries? Surely Moonee Ponds and Puckle St are more Greens than Labor, if you get my drift.
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Geez, gimme a break – that just happened to be where I was hanging out last weekend. And don’t bring your smutty political demographics to my brand new blog. Tainted and besmirched already …
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Hi, I loved reading your recommendations – the site looks great.
Love and kisses to Kenny and Bennie.
Judith xoxoxo
home email – judith_weir@yahoo.com.au
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hi Kenny,
I was just trying to subscribe to an rss feed but couldn’t find one on your site. do you do that? thanks kenny, would love to be a regular reader on your site.
thanks
Sandra
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Hi Sandra! Nice meeting you today – and everyone else! Let me work on it. Have added you to my links section anyhow.
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HELLO this is bennie
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i just sent you an email!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from benie
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Hey, hey – my fellow Food Hound! Hey, guess what? You and me are going to be interviewed for a newspaper story next week, munching on empanadas!
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Hi Kenny ! I finally get to go on your food blog. Thanks for the great blog on my “Olive Shop Cafe”. It was really kind of you. Thank you for supporting your local business and I’m pleased that you finally came into the shop/cafe when you ran out of oil and hadn’t just got some from somewhere else. I’m also pleased that you like our coffee. Would you believe it, this is my first blogging experience ever. I’m still getting used to fb and still don’t know how to tweet but I’d love to follow your foodblog. Come and visit again soon and I’ll personally make you an espresso! salam, Nani
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Hi Kenny!
So glad I found your blog, I love it! 🙂 I’m Bendigo based but grew up in Footscray, so I’m no stranger to the west side. I also write a food blog. Thought I’d share a “hot tip” with you – Shebelle on Barkly St has great food, my photos/review here:
http://appetiteaffliction.com/2013/01/20/shebelle-ethiopian-moroccan-restaurant-cafe-bar/
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Hello there! Haven’t made it to that joint yet – your great pics make it look super sexy!
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Your blog makes me want to move to Melbourne.
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MMMMmmm … me too! 🙂
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There are some really good restaurants in Melbourne’s west end and not enough websites promoting them. Well done you two!
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Thanks, Yvonne!
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Hey Kenny! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award in my post today, which you can find here: http://carondann.com/2013/08/10/youve-won/
Cheers!
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Thanks, Caron! I’m hardly Mr Versatility. Happy to share the prize loot with you!
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Hah, the loot. Yes, well. BTW, I think you display a lot of versatility in what you write.
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Thank you for the follow, it’s very encouraging.
Terry
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Thanks for covering the West. We’ve definitely got some awesome brunch places.
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Hello Kenny – love the blog! I’ve been frequenting “Pho Delight” at the Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton the last couple of weeks and their pork belly baguettes/banh mi are awesome. Check them out and let me know what you think.
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Will do!
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Received a leaflet in the mail about Western Fresh n Green, would love to see a review of this on your blog.
http://www.westernfreshngreen.com.au
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Hello Kenny!
There are three new Afghan restaurants in the pipeline in Sunshine – two in Hampshire Rd and one in the Sunshine Plaza next to Big Fields – so obviously the success of Afghan Master kebabs has inspired their countrymen and women! The first to open is Afghan Shaheen on Hampshire Rd near the station – in the spot of the very short lived Sudanese restaurant that never quite opened. It is a restaurant with Afghani and Indian dishes but also a sweet and biscuit shops. The chef makes all the sweet himself and is the loveliest man.
Their address is 231 Hampshire Rd and their number 0449 988 735.
Thanks again for letting people know how exciting the West is!
Sophie D
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Thanks for that, Sophie! I went to Shaheen during the week. Excellent lamb kebabs. Will wait until there are mouths involved to do a story! Saw the one in Big Fields as I was parking!
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Hey mate. Great blog. Got a northern suburbs one for you to try….sorry yes the north, I know you deviate. Try DD’s Grill in Epping. BOOM!
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Great rule. My husband has the same rule. If we travel, we have to eat the country dish and not allow to eat other food.
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Hi,
Nice to find your Blog about Local Cuisine.
Keep up the great work.
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