[LONG POST] Josh Eats Melbourne – Burgers, Beers, and Markets, oh my!

A few weeks ago, I took a short-ish break and decided to explore Melbourne and Sydney. I hadn’t been to Melbourne in just over 2 years, and Sydney in about 11. Having no real plan apart from catching up with friends, exploring the laneways and streets the Southern cities.

But first, let’s talk business

Should you ever have spare $$ around, I recommend trying your luck at bidding for business class on Virgin Australia using the UpgradeMe Premium Bid system. Simply nominate the amount you wish to spend (there is a minimum & maximum spend) and if you’re successful, the money will be deducted from your credit/debit card. The benefits? You get complimentary lounge access, priority boarding, slightly larger seat width & legroom, and get more than just a pack of cheese & biscuits. On flights longer than an hour, being in business class is a real treat. On the shorter hops? Not so much.

Let’s be real. You’ll want this morning tea compared to the cheese & biscuits. Pictued – Bread roll with butter, Ricotta & egg salad, smoked salmon, tomato, mint & capers, Yoghurt, and a chocolate & polenta cake with raspberry icing.

Morning tea on the Melbourne-bound flight – Ricotta & egg salad, smoked salmon, tomato, mint & capers.

Lunch in business class – Bread roll with butter, Cheddar, fig jam & crackers, Seafood pie with puff pastry crust.

A closer look at the chocolate & polenta cake with raspberry icing.

Day 1: PappaRich, Huxtaburger and Brunetti

Dessert for one? Yes.

QV Square’s upper courtyard, dotted with awesome food places.

Nasi Lemak ($15.5) from PappaRich QV

Beer of the Month – Panhead Whitehall WPA from Huxtaburger City

Display cabinet at Brunetti’s flagship store in Carlton.

Clair Burger with a side of Chipotle Fries.

PappaRich QV

Shop 11, Lv 2, QV Building, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

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Opening hours: Su-Th: 1030-2300, Fr-Sa: 1030-2400

After settling in, I ventured into QV and found the first PappaRich store in Australia. The newly opened Wintergarden store here in Brisbane was, in my opinion below average so I wanted to give the original PappaRich a chance to redeem itself. I ordered their Nasi Lemak, and it’s safe to say that their fare is a lot better. I’m still not convinced their above average price point is worth it.

Huxtaburger CBD

Rear 357 Collins St (access from Fulham Place via Flinders Lane), Melbourne

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Opening hours: Mo-Fr: 1100-2200, Sa-Su: 1130-2200

Next stop was the iconic Huxtaburger. It’s a small store, which can make it somewhat busy. I chose their Clair burger (Southern Fried Chicken, slaw, and jalapeno mayo), with some chipotle fries and a Panhead Whitehall WPA. Juicy burger, well spiced fries, and a great beer – great combo.

Brunetti Carlton

380 Lygon Street, Carlton

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Opening hours: Su-Th: 0600-2300, Fr-Sa: 0600-2400

Last stop was Brunetti’s flagship store on Lygon Street (aka ‘Little Italy’) in Carlton. A friend introduced me to Brunetti my first time in Melbourne and I couldn’t wait to go back. The $11.0 Pistachio & Hazelnut Semifreddo was really pushing for value but a $4.9 Rum Baba Crema – a rum-soaked sponge cake with custard filling, glazed with apricot jam, and a rum injectable? YES. EVERY. TIME.

Day 2: South Melbourne Market, Proper & Son, Agathe Patisserie and Seoul Soul

A sign JUST for doughnuts?!

Cabinet of Agathe Patisserie

Chocolate Crackle French Toast )Chocolate puffs and hazelnut spread in a pancake-style French toast topped with vanilla mascarpone, hazelnut, maple syrup, and edible flowers) with a side of thick cut bacon with maple vinaigrette

A good coffee should never do you wrong.

Waking up to some Proper & Son.

Bulgogi Dosirak from Seoul Soul.

South Melbourne Market

322-326 Coventry Street, South Melbourne

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Opening hours: Mo-Tu, Th: Closed; We, Sa-Su: 0800-1600; Fr: 0800-1700

Proper & Son

13/322 Coventry Street, South Melbourne

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Opening hours: Mo-Tu, Th: Closed; We, Sa-Su: 0730-1600; Fr: 0730-1700

Let’s just say this is one of the best breakfasts I’ve had. The French toast was so tasty and having quite a few textures made it a pleasure to eat. And what about that bacon? What if I told you  it was drizzled in maple vinaigrette?

Agathe Patisserie

64/362 Coventry Street, South Melbourne

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Opening hours: Mo-Tu, Th: Closed; We, Fr, Sa-Su: 0800-1600

A true French patisserie in every sense of the word, Agathe makes some interestingly-flavoured croissants and other goodies for you to hand over your money. A great end (or beginning) to your SMM adventures.

Seoul Soul on Victoria Street

323 Victoria Street, Abbotsford/Richmond

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Opening hours: Mo-Su: 1200-1530, 1730-2100

Caught up with an old friend at Seoul Soul, which brings a different take of Korean cuisine. Dosiraks aren’t dosiraks in the usual sense but are marketed as meal buckets – not something you would really want to hear nor traditional but it was very tasty.

Day 3: Prahran Market and Market Lane Coffee

Bircher at Market Lane Coffee

A peek into the busyness of Prahran, which brings together fruit, veg, Mediterranean and Asian foods.

It can be quite far from the city proper but trust me your journey will be worth it.

Market Lane Coffee lives in a corner of Prahran Market and is one of four across the City.

Market Lane Coffee lives in a corner of Prahran Market and is one of four across the City.

Prahran Market

163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

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Opening hours: Mo, We: Closed; Tu, Th-Sa: 0700-1700; Su: 1000-1500

Market Lane Coffee Prahran Market

13/163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

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Opening hours: Mo: 0700-1500 (Wholesale only); Tu, Th-Sa: 0700-1700; We: 0700-1600; Su: 0800-1700

More market adventures, this time in Prahran. Take a walk around and you’ll see Mediterranean and Asian shops sit next to coffee stalls, patisseries, burger bars, and cafes. Market Lane Coffee sits in the far corner of Prahran Market, on the opposite side of Commercial Road. It’s a nice place to take a short break before venturing back into the Markets.

 

And so here we come to the end of Josh Eats Melbourne 2015. Stay tuned for Josh Eats Sydney, coming soon!