Category Archives: Places we like to eat at

My camera done died

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For the more than 600 posts on Consider The Sauce, I have uploaded more than 3800 photographs to the wordpress blogging platform.

I’ve had some help in that regard.

But overwhelmingly, the CTS photographs have been taken by the above pictured compact camera.

And those uploaded would, I’m guessing, be less than half of those taken.

I’ve been well pleased with the results and the camera’s ease of use and durability.

But now that durability has reached its limit and my camera has died.

The problem is purely mechanical, which means it’s not worth fixing … as far as I am aware.

That’s OK – I have been thinking of an upgrade anyway.

Anyone got any tips for a classy compact camera under $500?

New Asia option in Williamstown

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Little Asia, Contemporary Kitchen, 124 Douglas Parade, Williamstown. Phone: 9397 8858

This Douglas Parade address was the site of a long-ago, pre-blog family meal – if memory serves, the place was then inhabited by a wine bar or bistro operation.

For the past month or so it has taken on a whole new Asian hue, with the Point Cook owners attempting to gain a foothold in Williamstown.

It’s a nice, cool space on a hot day, with painted brick walls and a pleasantly swish vibe.

We find the service is fine.

In a typically suburban Asian fashion, the menu seems to deliver promise along with a few warning signs.

There’s laksas and wok-fried noodles along with dishes involving black bean, sweet-and-sour and honey sauces.

But you can also opt for a club sandwich or three others of a less complex nature, and get fries with your sanger if you so choose.

And our interest in trying the roti with curry chicken is dampened upon learning the rotis are not made on the premises.

So we get the curry with rice, instead ($10.80, top photograph) – and that makes dad, at least, very happy.

As expected, the spice levels are very muted.

But our curry comes with aromas that denote a real homecooked dish, with curry leaves submerged in the wonderfully sticky gravy.

The tasty thigh pieces are a nice mixture of chewy and tender.

But it’s the pair of spud chunks that really sing – slow-cooking is obvious from the fact our potato pieces are curry-coloured almost right to their very centres.

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Bennie much prefers the “Signature fried egg noodle with shredded chicken, BBQ pork, Chinese sausage and greens” ($12.80).

Once again the seasoning levels are restrained to the point of blandness according to our chilli-hardened taste buds, and the dish is rather oily.

But there’s heaps of the advertised protagonists and Bennie makes quick and appreciative work of his portion.

We’re told the owners are working hard to please the locals, with a letterboxing campaign in the offing and much optimism about their home-delievry service.

A tweak in the direction of a more overtly Asian – and more overtly spicy – approach may eventuate in the new year.

And it turns out the featuring of a club sandwich and its pals, and fries to go with them, is actually more about catering to the tastes and desires of their extended Asian family and friends than it is about second-guessing the likely tastes of the Willy locals!

 

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Superb spicy Chinese

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Hon’s Kitchen, 228 Union Road, Ascot Vale. Phone: 9041 4680

At first blush it would be easy to conclude the arrival of Hon’s Kitchen on Union Road is merely a case of one nondescript, generic noodle bar replacing another.

But a solo visit by yours truly – during which a rather fine beef noodle soup, a bit like pho but without the more pronounced seasoning in the broth, was enjoyed – has us thinking Hon’s Kitchen has hidden depths and riches.

Specifically, we have hunch that while black bean beef or sweet ‘n’ sour whatever may be the stock in trade here, careful menu selection may result in the sort of wonderful, top-class yet affordable Cantonese tucker we get from Dragon Express.

We love following our hunches – especially when they come good as spectacularly as they do tonight.

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Special combination fried rice ($9) is good. But really, considering the richnes of our other choices, we should have gone with the identically-priced vego version or just plain rice.

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Spicy chicken ($12.90) … truly superb!

Unlike versions we’ve had elsewhere that involve ribbettes and their bones, this dish is built around boneless chicken pieces deep-fried, with the resulting globules being delicious and marvellously crisp and dry.

Of course, the real prize here is the spicy, dry jumble of goodies that accompanies.

This includes three types of onion – crunchy brown fried shallots, green onion discs and slivers of fresh white onion.

It also includes two types of chilli – crunchy crushed numbers and evil-looking black-red bullets.

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Spicy eggplant ($12.90) is every bit as good and equally chilli-hit, albeit in quite a different way.

This number gets there through deep-frying the raw eggplant chunks and then whipping them into a sauce with chilli, vinegar and some tofu bits.

This dish was started from scratch for us – we saw the eggplant being peeled and chopped.

That such a fine dish resulted so quickly is some sort of magic, the eggplant itself displaying a deluxe lusciousness that beats even Japanese-style eggplant with miso or the slippery big pieces found in laksas.

Perhaps there’s been a mono-dimensional aspect to our meal – chillies rampant in both dishes, both of which have been deep-fried.

But the spiciness has been by no means close to our outer limits and both dishes have been ungreasy.

And while we suspect our selections are most likely among the least frequently ordered at Hon’s Kitchen, their outright excellence just adds weight to our belief that when it comes to Chinese food, some smart ordering at a humble suburban eatery can deliver eats every bit as great as anything to be found in your high-priced CBD palaces.

 

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REAL old-school in Altona

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Alex Take Away Food, 11 Ford Rd, Altona. Phone: 9398 4267

“If you aren’t paying for a product, you ARE the product.”

Such is the charge often levelled at Facebook

We’re not blind to the creepier aspects of the social media behemoth.

But while keeping them in mind, we find it almost impossible to remain unmoved by the connectedness it can foster.

Take the Altona, I lived there FB page for instance.

In its short life, it has quickly racked up more than 2500 members and become a lively, entertaining focal point for all sorts of stories, photos and reminiscences about Altona.

And it’s how we found out about Alex Take Away Food.

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The address has nothing to do with what most of us non-Altonians think of when we think of Grieve Parade – the freeway exit after the Millers Road one.

Nope, this part of Grieve Parade requires taking the Millers Road exit, heading right down past the refinery, turning right on to Civic Parade and THEN  turning right on to suburban – as opposed to industrial – Grieve Parade.

On the early week night we visit, the place is mad busy.

There’s a heap of customers in-house and there seems to be just as many phone orders coming in.

Everyone but us is a regular. We feel like strangers gatecrashing an intimate gathering of friends and families.

Certainly, the pace is sufficiently frantic to preclude any chit chat and inquiries about just how long this community asset has been doing business right here.

But judging by the funky decor, I’m guessing at least since some time in the 1970s.

We’re in no hurry though, so happily enjoy the vibe until our order is taken.

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There are zero tables or chairs, inside or out.

And unlike almost all the other customers, we can’t simply whisk our goodies home – and even the beach, while reasonably close by, seems a stretch that will ruin our dinner.

So we prop on the footpath right outside the shop, get stuck in and make small talk with some local youngsters while we’re at it.

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Bennie loves his “with the lot” ($7.50).

He’s enough of a burger maven to understand and appreciate that there’s a difference between more American-style burgers and the Aussie variety – and that there’s a time and a place for both.

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My calamari rings ($1) are the of the surimi variety and just OK.

My deep-fried snapper ($7.50) is much better and a real classy piece of work.

The batter is crisp and deep brown, and adheres to the fish pretty good.

The snapper itself is a huge chunk of seafood and has juicy depth of the sort we’ve rarely encountered.

Our chips orders ($4) got lost in the hubbub somewhere, so we end up with some that appear to have been sitting for a while – they’re barely warm and a bit leathery.

But as we saw heaps of chips of what appeared to be excellent quality and appearance be prepared as we waited for our food, we wouldn’t let this minor lapse deter us from returning to this amazing and obviously much-loved neighbourhood joint.

 

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The Consider The Sauce Top 10 for 2013

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The life of Consider The Sauce is so rich and multi-facted that naming a yearly Top 10 in an attempt to choose and rank our best meals, eateries or experiences of 2013 has proven an impossible task – or maybe I’m just a wuss.

So here is a reflection on our 2013 with a selection of wide-ranging highlights:

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1. The Westies: Dishes of Distinction

A year’s planning culminated in an incredibly intense but enjoyable November, which in turn finished in a picnic and awards presentation that were simply brilliant.

So much hard work did we do but it never really seemed arduous.

Thanks to everyone who supported this Consider The Sauce/Footscray Food Blog initiative.

We’ll be back bigger and better next year!

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2. The Consider The Sauce Feasts

This year CTS hosted three feasts – at Hyderabad Inn, Vanakkam and Dragon Express.

We loved meeting so many fellow food hounds and we especially thank the three retaurants involved for being so generous and welcoming.

There will be more of the same in 2014, though the format and other arrangements may well change.

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3. CTS sigmature dish: Biryani

How much do we love this Indian dish of supercharged rice and its bells and whistles?

Very, very much!

We find it impossible to choose beyween the equally fine versions served by the aforementioned Hyderabad Inn and Vanakkam.

Our firm suggestion is you try them both for yourself.

The biryani at Dosa Hut is a blast, too.

West Footscray rules!

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4. CTS signature dish: Burgers

If biryani is the thing for CTS Senior, burgers are it for CTS Junior – and mostly I’m happy to indulge his passion.

The above rendition, eaten at the Spotiswoode Hotel, was pretty good, but Bennie continues to wistfully reminisce about the jalapeno-inflamed beauty we had at Chase Kitchen, also in Spotswood.

We also enjoyed fine or good burgers at Junction Beer Hall and Wine Room in Newport, Sri Murugan in Werribee and Mama Bear in Flemington, and from food trucks Mr Burger and Dude Food Man.

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5. Rickshaw Run

We had an absolute ball volunteering for this tasty, rolling romp around Footscray central.

And we’ll be fronting up for more of the same at next year’s Rickshaw Run, which will be held on February 7, 8, 9 and 10, when for the first time it will be under the management of our wonderful and wise friend Lauren, of Footscray Food Blog fame.

Volunteers will be required, so why don’t you join us?

Lauren’s contact details are here.

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6. Spicy Corner

Sadly, Bennie and I have visited this lovely Tullamarine Sri Lankan joint just once for a sit down meal.

But I am thrilled that Friday takeaway lunches of their simple, always delicious food have become part of the weekly routine for myself and a goodly group of my colleagues at the Airport West office of my current gig in the journalism world.

I am looking forward to a whole new year of weekly curry hits from this place – especially as, if that situation does indeed eventuate, it will mean I am still employed!

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7. Racecourse Road, Flemington

It may not have the same cache as Melbourne’s other, more famed foodie precincts but we love a trip to Racecourse Road.

It’s not a particularly attractive area and the parking can be tricky.

But it packs a surprising punch when it comes to the quality and variety of its offerings.

Our fave remains the lovely welcome and terrific Malaysian-based food to be found at the Grand Tofu – they do a killer laksa!

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8. Longest Lutheran Lunch at St Matthews, West Footscray

This was a wonderful Sunday event at which CTS was made to feel very wlecome.

Bennie’s more formal association with Pastor Cecil has ended, but we certainly hope we “stay in touch”!

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9. Beyond the west

As ever, CTS enjoyed a number of non-westie eating experiences during the year – even if trips to the CBD have become an outright rarity.

Among the more noteworthy were our brekky on opening day at the swish new Brunetti’s in Carlton and a swell Saturday lunch at Weasel’s Garden Cafe in Richmond.

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10. Best decor

Without  a doubt Afghan Master Kebab in Sunshine!

The meat’s a treat, too!

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11. Bennie

The junior but no less important member of the CTS team has finished primary school and embarks on his high school adventures next year. More pertinently to this summary, he continually throws himself into our foodie adventures with gusto and is a top-rate companion in every way.

Thanks, mate!

Don’t Mind Your Wife

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Westie bongo man Ray Pereira has started a blog in which he reflects on his many colourful travels. In this post, he talks of food without getting down to specific things he’s tried – or not tried. But I bet he’s got a gazillion food stories to tell!

Ray Pereira's avatarThere's a bongo man at reception...

I keep strolling through the narrow market streets, past the leopard skin belts, Bob Marley T shirts and even more genuine antiques. Genuine antiques are everywhere.

I’m feeling hungry. I should try some of the street food. Even though I am an experienced traveler, I’m not sure about the food here. Hygiene? Not the best. Not sure about the ingredients either. I am pretty adventurous, but don’t know if I can handle what I see in front of me.

I am at the door of the “Don’t Mind Your Wife” chop bar; next door to the “Dr No Regrets” watch repairers. The Chop bar menu tells me they have the best Banku and Tilapia. It entices me in with the promise of “Madam Moko’s” special Fufu and light soup. Chicken, beef and goat all on the menu. Head, feet, beaks and innards all included.
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I should really try something different…

View original post 225 more words

Old-school F&C

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CK’s Cafe and Chippery, 253A Barkly Street, Footscray. Phone: 9687 4560

The stretch of Barkly Street up towards Victoria Street remains unreconstructed Footscray and is not, it appears, perceived in any way as a food precinct.

Yet while the area is changing in terms of apartments and the like, it already teems with eating activity.

The options range from the new-look Plough Hotel and a couple of famous old-school Chinese places to Lentil As Anything, a growing number of African establishments, a (mostly) late-night pizza joint, a Nanado’s and a pair of cafes.

Chris, the “C” of CK – the other letter is a bloke named Ken – tells us he’s even heard the short-lived Italian buffet-style place across the road from his new cafe is scheduled for a fresh incarnation.

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It could be that the guys’ cafe and chippery may find a handy niche for itself in this mixed environment.

As Chris points out, the area is a lot more residential than it appears from street level.

What they’re offering is a nothing-fancy range of fast-food.

In terms of fish and chips, it would be unfair to compare with the polish of, say, Ebi – but being situated between that Essex Street place and the new food-to-eat-right-away outing at Conway’s, and offering an alternative to what’s around in their immediate vicinity, may do them right.

Certainly we have only the most minor of quibbles regarding a two-man meal that costs us only small change over $15.

(Conway’s, BTW, is where CK’s is sourcing their fish …)

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My blue grenadier ($5) looks a little lonely presented alone but tastes fine. The batter is relatively ungreasy but does come away from the fish.

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Bennie’s burger with the lot ($6.50) appears rather unimpressive when first brought to table, but the boy likes it a lot – as you can see from the photograph, the patty is significantly more beefy than is often found in such places and at such prices.

As he says, it ain’t the Grill’d of which he’s so fond, but it IS less than half the price.

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The chips ($3) are the standout of our meal – lots of ’em, hot, crisp, perfectly cooked.

We’ve even been given a choice of regular or chicken salt.

Chris charges us $2 rather than the listed $3.50 for the coleslaw he’s quickly whipped up for us on account of he thinks it’s rather on the mean side size-wise.

I carelessly neglect to take a picture of it, but it impresses – freshly made cabbage and carrot with just the right, restrained amount of commercial mayo.

Meaning it’s a little on the sticky side – as opposed to the mayo/cabbage soup we are often served elsewhere!

 

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ACCC guidelines

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Some regular readers and followers of CTS may be interested in the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s newly released Online reviews: a guide for business and review platforms.

These address knotty issues of all sorts raised by dodgy behavior by reviewers of various stripes on blogs and at sites such as Urbanspoon, as well as equally dodgy behaviour by business owners in their attempts to manipulate this newish and mostly unregulated media landscape.

You can read an overview here and download the document in pdf form here.

Melbourne Gastronome has done a splendid analysis full of commentary here.

I have yet to read these guidelines line by line.

And smugness is unattractive.

But still, after a cursory reading, I feel CTS has a clean bill of health – or sufficiently so for me anyway!

Vietnamese gumbo?

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Bun Ta, 108 Hopkins Street, Footscray. Phone: 9687 4130

Bun Ta is a brand spanking new Footscray joint.

Sort of … see below.

It has a dish I have never spied on a Vietnamese menu before now.

I know this because, being a fan of almost everything to do with New Orleans and South Louisiana, had I ever before come across something described as “Vietnamese gumbo rice vermicelli soup”, nothing at all could have prevented me from ordering it.

So I pounce on it at Bun Ta, despite eliciting only the most vague descriptions of the dish and its protein protagonists, and a gentle warning that it is of “strong flavour”.

As I soon discover, the “gumbo” is presumably meant to be “jumbo”, as in the fat chopstick-defying noodles.

Oh, how wonderfully Westie – stitched up by a linguistic menu glitch, and ending up with a damn fine lunch anyway!

Such menu snafus are, of course, one of the routine pleasures of eating out in the west.

They’re good fun and I mean no mean-spiritedness in pointing this one out.

But sometimes you just have to laugh and go with the flow.

As it is, I really like my bun mam kho ($10).

It comes across as a Vietnamese take on tom yum – the broth is slightly sweet, slightly sour, slightly spicy and all delicious.

It’s made, I am subsequently told, using fish sauce and lemongrass among other ingredients.

The slithery noodles are joined by pork belly, fish, squid and prawns.

But this is not a meaty affair – these ingredients have a gentleness about them that is in harmony with the whole, which includes some in-bowl greenery and much more on the side.

It’s a real nice alternative to the more familiar (in these parts) pho or hu tieu dishes.

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Bun Ta is actually the much-loved stalwart Huy Huy given a new name and a swish new look.

The ownership, I’m told, is the same, and I’m guessing much else is as was.

But still, this sort of rejuvenation is good for everyone and I suspect Bun Ta will become just as revered at its earlier incarnation.

The new place has four kinds of coleslaw for $12-14 and three kinds of pancake for $13 amid many familiar dishes.

One main that catches my eye is bo ti me – rare beef with tamarind ($15). But it’s only served as a main, so will have to await another visit with a fang friend for company.

I will return soon, as well, for their “7 toppings broken rice”, which is gaining the most raves of the Bun Ta social media action I have seen.

The Bun Ta Facebook page is here.

 

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The Westies winners

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Photograph: MIKE REED

Through stories on two blogs, several newspaper articles, much social media action and speechifying at The Westies reveal, one important aspect of our inaugural award winners escaped mention.

Namely, that all our three chosen dishes clocked in at under $15.

One costs $13, another $10 and another $5.

How good is that?

Such may not be the case in future years … but still, it’s rather remarkable and worthy of celebratory comment.

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Chicken and rice “Regular” from Safari, 159 Union Rd, Ascot Vale. Phone: 9372 7175

This is a dream of a meal at a wonderful Somalian joint in Ascot Vale.

A long, cool drink – sometimes cordial, sometimes freshly squeezed orange juice.

A bowl of fabulous lamb broth – tangy and with a spicy kick, with some onion or carrot pieces hiding in its depths and maybe even some lamb.

Heaps of the most perfect rice – cooked in stock, with some onion making an appearance and, on our most recent visit, also cardamoms.

Some real nice salad.

Beautifully pan-fried onion, carrot and capsicum.

And, finally, delightful marinated chicken with strong lemon and garlic flavours.

(You can have an equally wonderful Regular with lamb or fish, and there are myriad other ways to enjoy the Safari experience in larger groups.)

As Lauren and I were locking in our final list of Westies winners, we ventured to Safari for lunch … just to make sure.

She asked me: “Is it always like this – always the same, always this good?”

The answer on all counts is: “Yes!”

See earlier stories about Safari here and here, and Footscray Food Blog’s outing here.

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Pork and prawn banh cuon from Xuan Banh Cuon, 232 Hampshire Road, Sunshine (near the buses). Phone:  9364 8992

In terms of longevity and consistency, our other two winners have heaps of runs on board.

Xuan Banh Cuon, by contrast, is a newish restaurant.

So what gives?

Well, while this may be a the first restaurant venture for Xuan (mum), Yung (dad) and their family, for that very reason everything they are serving up is from the family’s superb stock of tried and tested home recipes.

Tick!

Again while locking in our winners, Lauren gleefully took me to Xuan Banh Cuon and sat back as she watched me get to grips with her latest love interest.

It was perfect!

What’s more, every time I have been in the place, almost every customer has been eating this same dish.

The welcome and warmth offered by this new Sunshine hot spot makes it very special indeed.

See the Footscray Food Blog story here.

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Macedonian cheese burek from Nada’s Take Away in the food court of Footscray Market

Lauren has been inhaling this treat for her whole life as she’s been living it in the west, so I confess to being a bit late on the scene.

As I have discovered, it’s unreal – home-style nirvana made with love.

And as I’m sure almost all readers of both our blogs will appreciate, it gives us a real zing to award a Westie to such a wonderful treat to be had only from the food court of Footscray Market.

Nada and her hubby, Cane, have been making and selling their bureks for almost 30 years.

Nada makes the pastry at their home while the bureks are finished in the over at their market stall.

They make spinach-and-cheese and meat versions, but we love the simple joy of the buttery pastry and ricotta mix.

Whole bureks can be purchased, already frozen if you so desire, for $20.

The Westies: Dishes of Distinction are a combined initiative of Consider The Sauce and Footscray Food Blog.

We’ve had a fine time bringing them into the world for the first time and are already working on a bigger and better 2014 version – so stay tuned!

Thanks once again to Footscray Life for their generous financial support towards the design and production of our trophies.

 Thanks to Lauren’s dad, Mike Reed, who took fantastic photos, and her sister, Liz Reed, who designed the plates.

The Westies reveal!

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The inaugural Westies: Dishes of Distinction reveal

The Footscray Food Blog/Consider The Sauce Spring Picnic

As with all outdoor events, we were hostage to the Weather Gods – and they smiled upon us.

Bennie and I got antsy at home so drove to Yarraville Gardens quite early.

After our best ever father-and-son frisbee session, in still breezy conditions, the sun came out when people started arriving in numbers and the Westies action got underway.

It was thrilling for us to enjoy the company of so many friends, followers, extended family and more – and to have a nice crowd on hand to generate some well-deserved applause when the Westies recipients were finally announced.

Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles offered some introductory words before Lauren and I took over.

I reckon we did a pretty good job, even though I’m guessing she was as nervous as me and our words were very much off the cuff.

And the winners are (in no particular order) …

* Pork and prawn banh cuon from Xuan Banh Cuon in Sunshine.

* Macedonian cheese burek from Nada’s Take Away in the food court of Footscray Market.

* Chicken and rice “Regular” from Safari in Ascot Vale.

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We were additionally thrilled to have almost the entire extended family from Xuan Banh Cuon on hand, as well as Mohamed and Fatima from Safari.

The Xuan Banh Cuon crew brought along a family meal that doesn’t even feature on their restaurant’s menu – yet!

There was enough of the papaya salad with Viet-style beef jerky for just about everyone to enjoy a sublime, delicious taste.

Not that there was a shortage of food options …

Thanks to Mr Burger, Bennie enjoyed what looked like a real beauty – and certainly a burger more toothsome than I one I wrote about here.

Remi and his team from Happy Camper Pizza were busy, too.

I managed to grab a couple of courtesy slices of a very fine cheesy number adorned with figs, while Bennie and his mum Deb also enjoyed their selections.

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Gloriously, Lauren’s splendid campaign to find us a coffee truck bore terrific fruit on the day before the picnic.

Christine and Kat from Wild Horse Cafe ensured us a duo of vintage caravans, and the ladies’ smiles were wide and their natures gregarious.

Kat’s a Tullamarine lass so we laughed together in mutual appreciation of the lovely neighbourhood Sri Lanakan tucker of Spicy Corner and the industrial estate wonders of Pasta Al Dente and Eiffel Tower.

Their coffee was fantastic and much appreciated.

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After the ceremonial aspects of our happy jamboree were dispensed with, the Xuan Banh Cuon family in turn presented Lauren and I with gorgeous, hand-made “diplomas of appreciation”.

This was quite overwhelming and we both teared up in the sheer happiness of the moment.

I plan on being buried with mine!

Some time in the coming week, I’ll do a story about the three dishes and what I know of their back stories.

In the meantime, read Lauren’s lovely wrap in The Age.

A big “thank you” to Footscray Life for covering our costs in getting the awards produced and to Lauren’s sister, Liz, for the beautiful artwork.

And a special thanks to Nat Stockley for taking over the photographic duties with aplomb when I was otherwise occupied!

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Interesting bits …

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Consider The Sauce’s pals at Raw Materials are throwing open their doors at 148 Cowper St, Footscray, for open days on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, for open days.

Their “shop” will open for business and there will be free tastings, refreshments and a paella for people to sample.

More details here.

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The Fun in the Aussie Sun Festival will celebrate Australian multiculturalism at Flemington Community Centre, 25 Mt Alexander Road, Flemington, on Saturday, 21 December, from 11am 50 3.30pm.

As well as sports and cultural activities, there will be – yes! – food stalls and traditional African coffee.

More details here.

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Some recent online research (meandering) has alerted me to the existence of Anthony Ang’s blog Beautiful Altona

According to this story by my colleague Goya Dmytryshchak, he started his blog as a reaction to a shock jock saying former PM Julia Gillard lived in a “rat hole”.

I have yet to find any foodie coverage on Anthony’s blog, but I did enjoy his post about the pending sale of the former Gillard abode – and particularly his inspired, thoughtful, entrepreneurial but nevertheless slightly whacko list of ideas that could profitaly accompany the real estate action!

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Another of Goya’s stories at the Maribyrnong Hobsons Bay Weekly covers the advent of paid parking at Altona’s new IGA in Pier St, Altona.

As someone who grapples with parking all over the west, this all seems a bit strange to me.

One can sympathise with traders who offer free parking – especially on premises so close to a train station – being frustrated with their spaces being hogged on an all-day basis by non-customers.

But there must surely be a better solution than the one devised here – offering free parking for the first hour but requiring patrons to display tickets – and then slapping them with a fine if they don’t!

***

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One of our favourite westie food haunts, Vanakkam, has a swish new look.

Vanakkam was the subject of a recent and yummy story by our very good pal Lauren of Footscray Food Blog in the Footscray Life “Signature Dishes of Footscray” series.

As well, Vanakkam was the venue of the rice-laden and in every way delicious second Consider The Sauce Feast.

We love the Vanakkam biryanis – and specially the $10 Tuesday nights – but as Lauren’s post indicates, there’s lots more to be had.

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As time rolls by, the amount of spam, promotional offers and emails from publicists CTS receives continue to increase.

But in terms of misreading what we’re about, they do not come any more comical than a recent approach to do an interview with a celeb foodie “seeing as health & beauty and products are topics of interest to you”!

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Meanwhile, in Yarraville …

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… a substantial revamp is underway at Alfa Bakehouse with, according to the sign, the likely result being a much broader approach than has previously been the case.

A Footscray playground

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Khartoum Centre Restaurant & Cafe, 143-145 Nicholson St, Footscray. Phone: 0452 639 329

Sometime soon after an early CTS story on  Khartoum Centre, we stopped considering the place as an eats option.

This was largely due to service that was genial but disconcertingly haphazard and a confusing menu that was difficult to navigate in terms of options and prices.

That’s all changed.

The place has been given a makeover, the food choices and their prices are clearly laid out in a big back-lit menu behind the serving counter, and there is a reassuringly routine process for ordering, receiving and paying.

This is great!

Because while this eatery is nominally Sudanese, the menu ranges across quite a broad spectrum.

This is illustrated by the fact that much of the menu is available in alternates based on injera, Lebanese bread, spaghetti or rice.

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And the super grilled-meat-with-rice dishes are very similar to those to be had at Sunshine’s hot new kebab spot.

This diverse approach and a more user-friendly experience mean CTS is likely to use Kartoum Centre as a playground in coming months.

There’s one dish here that is clearly the most popular – at lunchtime anyway.

Foul is delicious, nutritious, dirt cheap and at Kartoum Centre comes in configurations that range from plain to the more ritzy that include extra vegetables, salad and so on.

A complementary bowl of lamb broth with chunks of aromatics is nice enough but plain as can be and defiantly under-seasoned.

Ordering lamb curry ($12) in African restaurant may appear to be folly.

But I’m so comfortably secure with the level of food here that I’m happy to give it a go – on the basis that it will be good and that this Footscray curry will bear little or no resemblance to a West Footscray curry.

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I’m certainly correct on the latter count – no orthodox curry is this.

The tomato-based gravy seems to be seasoned with little more than salt and pepper. And certainly not with any of the spices we routinely think of as being curry.

But as for being good goes, I’m dead wrong – it’s very, very good!

All is richness and deep flavour, with the lamb pieces – some of them on the bone – ultra-tender and the fat easily discarded.

Forget curry – this is more like a fantastic stew or goulash.

With heaps on injera and good salad bits on the side, it’s a winner.

See our earlier story here and a more recent one at Footscray Food Blog here.

 

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Happy Campers for the Westies

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Happy Camper Pizza is the brainchild of Footscray couple Remi and Sonia.

Their operation is delivered in an outrageously gorgeous vintage Airstream caravan that Remi tells me was customised by US specialists before it was shipped to Australia.

Their official launch was at Post Industrial Design, very soon to be home of  Pod, as part of Big West opening night event.

Look, I know we recently stated that our enthusiasm for food truck had become more restrained.

But with the Happy Camper I’m prepared to be keener.

For starters, they’re the only truck doing vehicular pizzas in the west.

As you can see from a perusal of their website here, they’re preparing Italian-style pizzas at a cost that is actually below or at least comparable to what you’d pay in a restaurant or cafe.

And AFAIK they are the only food truck operating in the west that actually lives in the west.

I didn’t get to try their goodies on their opening night.

But I’m looking forward to trying them very soon – as we’re very excited to announce that the Happy Camper crew will be joining the celebration that will be the Footscray Food Blog/Consider The Sauce Spring Picnic and announcement and presentation of the inaugural Westies: Dishes Of Distinction awards.

They will be joined by the fine folks from Mr Burger.

And there may well be other trucks in attendance, as the picnic site is directly adjacent to what has become Yarraville’s “food truck strip”.

But of course, this IS a picnic, so you’re all very welcome to BYO.

Footscray Food Blog/Consider The Sauce Spring Picnic,

Yarraville Gardens, Somerville Road.

Saturday, November 30, from 11am.

The Westies: Dishes of Distinction winners announced at noon.

Garden delight in Kensington

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White Rabbit Record Bar, 176 Bellair St, Kensington. Phone: 9376 5441

Always been music crazy – and always will be.

But have never been much of a record collector, not really.

Sure, I’ve gone through the occasional phase of accumulating a few originals 45s and 78s along the way.

But for me it’s almost always been about the music, not its format.

Hence these days, in a collection of several thousands CDs, the larger part – and certainly the portion I enjoy with most zeal – comprises releases of music originally released on 45s and 78s and even cylinders anywhere from the 1890s to the 1970s.

It’s all digital but it’s all old, too.

So while being sympathetic, I’ve never a been a member of the cult of vinyl.

Which perhaps explains why early on in our westie life I mentally dismissed White Rabbit as a vinyl hangout that offered nothing much more than a cool space and an option for coffee or wine.

What a surprise then to discover there’s much more to the place – a full kitchen and a lovely back garden setting included – and that that’s been the case for a long while.

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As well, in the process of enjoying a lazy mid-week lunch, we’re delighted to find that among the staff members is gentle pooch of a certain age named Jessie, whom we enjoy getting to know while we await our food.

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From the specials board, Bennie chooses the B.L.A.T. ($12.50).

It has all the appropriate bits and pieces and does good for him, even if it doesn’t have him metaphorically clicking his heels with glee.

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Chosen from a trio of antipasto-style plates, my falafel-based outing ($17.50) has winning points and some that I could happily do without.

The Turkish bread, for instance, is regulation but nicely toasted – making the crackers and wafers a tad superfluous.

The falafel balls are warm and quite good, as are the salad bits and mixed olives.

But the oil-drenched bowl of roast capsicum and cheese distracts.

The best aspect of my lunch are the house-made dips.

The houmus and another based on rocket, coriander, garlic and more are mildly flavoured but very tasty.

I suspect we could’ve chosen our lunches more wisely – perhaps the specials board spinach and fetta borek would’ve wowed us, and we’d for sure be interested in checking out the beef burger with “chunky potatoes” I saw listed a few days prior if the opportunity presents in the future.

But in terms of relaxed vibes, lovely setting and warmth of welcome, we consider our belated discovery of the White Rabbit riches within a fine thing indeed.

White Rabbit Record Bar on Urbanspoon

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Get ready for the Westies!

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It’s Westies time!

Well, almost …

The inaugural winners of the western suburbs’ first food awards have been selected.

All three have been informed – and sworn to secrecy until the big “reveal” at the combined Footscray Food Blog/Consider The Sauce Spring Picnic at Yarraville Gardens on Saturday, November 30 (details below).

The truly lovely award trophies are in the process of being produced.

A big “thank you” to Footscray Life for covering our costs in that regard and to Lauren’s sister, Liz, for the beautiful artwork.

We know of at least one food truck that will be in attendance and we’re working on the coffee angle.

Fingers crossed for a fine day.

Apologies in advance to anyone I’ve met since starting CTS and whose names I may be unable to recall!

See you there, we hope!

Footscray Food Blog/Consider The Sauce Spring Picnic,

Yarraville Gardens, Somerville Road.

Saturday, November 30, from 11am.

The Westies: Dishes of Distinction winners announced at noon.

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Bits and pieces

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So how’s this for an eye-grabbing sign in Racecourse Road, Flemington?

Nope, can’t say I have … tried camel meat, that is.

Right next door, in the Grand Tofu, I ask Suzanne if she has.

Nope.

In fact, she seems surprised there is even such a sign gracing the halal butcher shop right next door.

What the Grand Tofu, Suzanne, Stephen and their crew do do is serve up a sperb chicken laksa.

Look, I’m quite fond of the two more famous Malaysian eateries just around the corner.

But I don’t like queues and they’re always so busy.

The Grand Tofu is frequently busy, too – but the staff always find time for a bit of a chat or at the very least a warm welcome.

Which can’t always be said of the competition.

And then there’s that chicken laksa (oh my!) – and much more besides.

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Providorable is lovely foodie haven in Williamstown – you can read about it here.

Providorable proprietor Kelly recently posted the following on her business’s Fcebook page:

“Good morning everyone, I’m feeling this morning I need to write this post. I think a lot of the local shop keepers this week would say that things are looking brighter for Xmas sales after a very quiet winter. I urge everyone to support local business. Supermarkets are trying to shut down small business, this is where you get the personal service with product knowledge, not in a supermarket. Also, WHY have the council allowed two farmers markets per month in Willy? Do you realise that now there are two it takes business away from your local shops that are the ones that pay the rates & rents to make strip shopping be still available? Have you questioned any of the stall holders at farmers markets about where some of their products come from? There are genuine items being sold but some are not from their own farms being sold direct to public. Yeah, have one a month but why 2 every two weeks … you go and buy fruit and veg, it affects your local fruit shop, same as butcher, dog treats, coffee shop, jams and relishes etc etc. PLEASE SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS. By this market being there every two weeks, you are supporting outsiders who don’t pay the huge rents and rates we pay. OK rant over lol and enjoy your day. Williamstown has wonderful shops and fantastic shopkeepers. Keep us all in willy for years to come please.”

What do you think?

We’re quite fond of visiting farmers markets.

But in truth we rarely buy more than a coffee and maybe a snag or other eat-on-the-spot treat.

Fruit, vegetables and other produce?

Hardly ever.

But we do enthusiastically support and enjoy the hell out of our local shops and delis, be they in Williamstown, Altona, Seddon, Footscray, Sunshine or beyond.

New tastes at a brilliant temple of boganism

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Flying Elephants and B&K Sarajevski Style Chevapi, Rubble & Riches Market, 8-18 Leakes Rd, Laverton

Mexican food at Lavo Market?

With a name like Flying Elephants?

I’m fully expecting a neo-hippie or utterly whitebread take on … someone’s idea of Mexican food.

What I find is quite different – a smallish operation staffed by a friendly crew of three, each and everyone of them boasting Thai ancestry.

How wonderfully westie is that?

In fact, Lavo Market is pretty much that way all round.

Anyone feeling gloomy about the prospects of the west being strangled by yuppifying gentrification should visit this weekend wonder – in its hardcore, unrepentant untrendiness, it will surely give your spirits a lift.

The Flying Elephants sell a compact range of burritos, flautas and tacos.

My chicken taco ($5) is a real nice surprise.

For starters, there’s two of them – bargain!

On to commercial but OK tortillas are piled good chicken, two kinds of cheese, some simple salsa and lettuce. There’s a variety of hot sauces to round things out.

This may not be up to the sort of standard set by La Tortilleria – but I’m not complaining.

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I haven’t been to this market since first writing about it, so I’m delighted to find the Flying Elephants are just one several new food enterprises up and running.

One of them will not be getting my custom or my money.

People with cameras are potential customers, too.

Stallholders not wishing photographs to be taken should erect signs saying just that.

Or simply saying something like, “Please don’t take photographs – but you’re very welcome to try our food” would do nicely.

Death stares and verbal abuse? No thanks.

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I fare much better at another newie – the bright red B&K Sarajevski Style Chevapi.

As with the Flying Elephants, the B&K team have gone that extra mile by providing some tables and chairs – something that can’t be said of many of the market’s food outlets.

They’re selling chevapi and souvlaki in a range of configurations both plated and stuffed in bread of one kind or another.

My plate of five chevapi, two salads and a bread roll is $6.50 – another bargain!

This a Croatian food, so – knowing the Croatian skill with spuds and cabbage – it’s the potato and cabbage salads I am most interested in.

I’m not disappointed.

While the salads have something rather monotone about them, they are both fresh, zingy and delicious.

The chevapi themselves are OK but need more seasoning.

 

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Curry parking

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Curry Truck, Yarraville Gardens

Since the food tuck dam broke about a year ago, CTS has been diligent in checking out and writing about each one that has rolled into our neighbourhood.

With Curry Truck we have – AFAIK – a full house.

I certainly hope so.

Because the truth is, we’re a bit over it.

This is not to single out any individual food truck for negativity.

We’ve not had a bad meal at any of them and have enjoyed many.

Nor has it helped that many of our food truck experiences have not occurred on a warm evenings worthy of a picnic rug and relaxation.

It’s all been rather too brisk and breezy.

Nevertheless, it’s impossible not to make comparisons between what is offered in terms of vehicular tucker and what is available with full table service and eat-in comfort just a few minutes’ drive away.

Perhaps this is a hearty indicator of just how lucky we are in the western suburbs and our ready access to such fabulous foodiness.

And I’m sure the food truck squadron come into its own for such events as festivals and carols by candlelight and so on.

Still, from here on in it’s likely to be a matter of special occasions only.

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I am intrigued, though, to be checking out the Curry Truck line-up, as this is an area of special interest to CTS and one in which the inner west excels.

How will it go for us when there are such wonderful dosas, biryanis, thalis, momos and more available so cheaply on Barkly Street in West Footscray?

As this night’s vegetable curry has already sold out and butter chicken is a no-go area for us, we avoid the $15 twin curry packs with rice, raita and roti, opting instead for a couple of “curry in a hurry” deals with single curry at $10 each.

(To see what is available in $15 thali terms on Barkly Street, see this review of Hyderabad Inn.)

Bennie and I are, in the end, happy to cast our skepticism aside as our curries – beef rendang and chicken tikka masala – are pretty good.

They’re both mildly spiced but evince levels cooking love and devotion that makes them nice curries of the individualistic, homecooked style and a far cry from the sort of curries served up in shopping centre food courts and outfits of the lesser bain marie variety.

Combined with plain white rice, rotis and very good raita, we enjoy them before scurrying home to our living room warmth.

 

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Kebab nirvana in Sunshine

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Afghan Master Kebab, 3/20 Devonshire Road, Sunshine. Phone:  9311 9277

OK, forget your local old-school charcoal chicken, definitely your Nando’s and maybe even your favourite local tandoori chook.

Here’s what you need …

Half a gloriously chargrilled chicken, mouthwateringly juicy and tangily seasoned.

Served with generous portions of freshly baked flatbread that’s nice and chewy and something like a cross between pita and Turkish bread, along with some salty yogurt sauce and a beaut chilli-infused one of sublime mintiness, and some OK salad bits.

It’s a superb meal and at $8 is an instant westie cheap eats classic.

This plate is just one of the highlights of our Cup Day lunch at Afghan Master Kebab, which has recently taken over the Devonshire Road premises from Eat And Love, an Indian joint we never made it to.

The new Afghani crew has bedecked the place out in wonderful, almost psychedelic finery and the prices on the tightly-structured menu are all under $15.

Lauren from Footscray Food Blog has already posted a story about the new enterprise and in the days following I frankly became quite droolingly besotted with the evocative kebab photo she posted.

But she, knowing well my fondness for rice dishes from this broader part of the world, tells me I’m likely to be drawn towards that segment of the menu.

And that is indeed where I head on a first visit, sans son.

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“Zerishk palaw” ($14) comes with the same accessories as the kebab dishes.

Fluffy white rice topped with tangy berberries goes swell with the a side serve of “lamb qorma” of mildly spicy, good tomato-and-onion gravy with two largish chunks of tender but stupendously meaty lamb.

It’s all fine and homely fare, but it does leave me a little like, um, “Is that all?”

So when I return with Bennie we head straight to the kebab action, snagging the aforementioned half-chicken meal and also the mix kebab ($13.99).

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Lamb skewers of the cubed and minced variety are real nice.

But once again it’s the plentiful chicken that really knocks us out.

These cubes are big, succulent and tremendously well seasoned with, we’re pretty sure, cumin and other goodies.

This is breast meat that comprehensively defies the stereotype of this part of the bird being dry and tasteless.

There’s so much of the fantastic bread on our table that we are able to take half of it home to have that evening with spicy chick peas.

Afghan Master Kebab is surely destined to become a magnet for chargrilled meat fans from all over …

 

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