Huxtaburger Restaurant

^ Photo credit here by Matt Innes

Going to uni in the city has major pros and cons. A pro, as I have probably mentioned in an earlier post, is having Brunswick Street and Smith Street on either side of our campus. So. Much. Win.

Huxtaburger is a short walk from our uni, so I was grateful to finally give the popular place a visit. Melbourne was blessed with sunny weather today, a rare sight these days. Every one was sitting outside, soaking up the sunshine and patiently waiting for the burgers. Huxtaburger do not use table numbers, instead they call out the order by name. Boost Juice also uses this system, and I hate it when someone calls out my name (as Lisa is so freaking common), and I get my hopes up thinking that my green tea mango mantra is ready, when it is not.

^ playing around with photo booth and the business card

^ uni buddies wearing our sunnies because the weather was hot like a sunrise

I am obviously somewhat retarded and did not make it into the shot. 

^ Bill's Burger ($10.50) with Huxtaburger burger ($8.5) in the background. 

Look at the size difference between the two burgers. The bun was nice and soft, the egg was cooked to perfection, the fries were crisp and judging from my description, let's just say this burger was perfection. The large crinkle cup size wasn't as big as I thought it would be, but at the small price of $3 you really can't complain. This is one of the best burgers that I've ever eaten, and I've eaten A LOT OF BURGERS IN MY LIFE TIME. So the next time you think about going to McDonald's for a burger that is loaded full of crap, take the take and head out to Huxtaburger for a fresh tasting, stomach smiling, tastebud partying type burger.

Fortunately you were not there to witness me eating this bad boy, because it was a big wrestle. Jenny gave me the advice of eating the burger backwards so that the fillings don't fall out. IT WORKS. YOU MUST TRY IT. Also, I probably shouldn't be disclosing this information on my blog, but those who know the area will know that it doesn't populate the most educated and proper citizens of Melbourne. This fair dinkum Aussie couple (I am in no way being racist towards them, but that's what they were) walked past Huxtaburger just YELLING at each other. Well, it was mostly the male yelling at the pregnant female, crudely shouting "You're 6 months pregnant and all you care about is heroin. That's my baby. You don't even care about it, only care about shooting up. Blah blah blah". A wave of shock and :| faces just hit the patrons of Huxtaburger that day. When they walked past, all of us were just laughing in shock at what just happened. I hope that baby will be okay.

Huxtaburger Restaurant

106 Smith Street, Collingwood

03 9417 MEAT (which is 6328)

Animal Orchestra

Animal Orchestra is the title of a little golden book... you might remember the one with a bear on the front cover, playing the cymbals. This little shack (called Animal Orchestra) is located across from Melbourne Uni. From the outside, it looks like a minuscule piece of property that you will overlook as you walk past, but the inside of the cafe boasts a rather flamboyant interior. Today was wonderful; the sun was shining (which is a rare sight for Melbournians), and we were all a bunch of hungry hippos. The waiters were running around like headless chooks. Despite how occupied they were with all the other patrons, they attended to us regularly and didn't stuff up our order. We couldn't get a seat outside in the lovely sunshine, because it was paccccked with indie swag macbook polo chino van wearing Melbourne Uni kids outside, Giraffe being one of them lulz.

As for the food, I ordered baked eggs #3, chorizo, without black pudding. (Black pudding is is a euphemism for blood sausage. Blood sausage, as the name suggests, is dried animal blood. People eat in in Bun Rieu and stuff). The sourdough bread was delicious with melted butter, but it was so chewy and eventually I was too lazy to even chew on it any longer.

Giraffe ordered a tomato panini, which is pretty much a focaccia. He didn't feel like eating meat today, so he ordered something plain instead. I always go for meals with meat. I don't know why, it's an awful habit because I don't try to venture out and try different flavours, unless I've read good reviews about it. Need to start changing my diet!

I also got a soy chai latte, and usually they are served in teeny tiny latte cups. Instead, this was served in a tall glass, which I was extremely happy about. It took a while for the flavour to set in, but when it did, it was DELICIOUS to say the least. I read some reviews about the coffee that Animal Orchestra make, and I can vouch and say that it was perf. Altogether our meal was $26, so this is a cheap eat indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are no paper menus inside. The menu is on a gigantic blackboard.

^ barista play area

^ Soy Chai Latte. 

You can't really tell that this was a tall glass. But it was.

^ When you first walk in.

^ cute little water bottles

Tomato Paninni

Chorizo Baked Eggs, #3

^ BAKED EGGS AND PANINNI

^ nip slip, i dont mind

^ on the walls

^ getting ma nails did at Elegant Tips and Toes, Lygon Street.

French tips for only $13 yay :)

^ Today was a very good day. I was surrounded by people that I love, doing what I love, in good weather which I love. I decided to spoil myself with a manicure and four of my favourite macarons from LuxBite. I was driving past the place on Toorak Road, traffic stopped me right in front of Luxbite, and there was a car spot to pull over and park in. I COULDN'T POSSIBLY RESIST. If you have never been to LuxBite, I have written a post on it here if you would like more information :D

Animal Orchestra

163 Grattan Street  Carlton 3053(Right next to KFC off Swanston and Grattan Street)
(03) 9349 4944

David's Restaurant

I don't enjoy eating at Asian restaurants that have a Westernised spin on it. I feel as though it loses it's sense of originality and culture (if owners do it wrong), but it is a good concept nonetheless. When you think of an Asian restaurant, you think of waitresses that can't speak English properly, but speak Money fluently anddddd you think of fast service, dirty kitchens and cheap menus. True?

Giraffe has been working at David's Restaurant for months, but I was yet to dine in. There had been the occasional visit here and there to see him, but tonight I decided to order something from the menu. It is safe to say, I was not disappointed. Truth be told, I have never been a fan of eating alone. I like to share my food and talk and laugh and talk and eat and talk during a meal. But over time, you appreciate that time alone. Eating and observing your surroundings... it gives you time to read a book or read the news on my iPad. Friday night was spent eating alone, even if Giraffe was working and floating around.

^ the corner of the paper menu, a fish eye effect.

^ DIY Shredded duck salad with four wraps. $14.

I didn't order a lot of food because I had already eaten some nibbles before work. The duck salad had a really strong taste that was too overwhelming. I really enjoyed the concept of making my own wraps, because I love going to peking duck places. At a small price of $14, you get the best of both duck and wrap worlds. I would endeavour to go back, the portion size was fantastic. Apparently they do a really good yumcha on a Sunday as well. The location (Prahran) of this place is a bit out of the way, off Chapel Street near Revolvers, but it's worth the travel. The interior is really nice and the waitresses speak english and are very pleasant people. 

1.2.

^ This is what got me REALLY EXCITED about the dining experience. I love ordering hot beverages with my meals. I'm used to seeing your mediocre white teaset with a boring teacup. But this design really blew my mind. It was a THREE IN ONE PIECE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As you can see from image 2, it is served as a plain teacup. It cost me $5.50 but I got another one for free from a different waiter, so I did not mind paying that price one bit :) When they served it, they mentioned that if I were to take the top piece out, put it back in slowly or else it would overflow. I was sitting around waiting for my teacup... until I started playing around with it. I understood what he meant by overflowing... The leaves are in a separate glass piece, as you can see from the image below. When the tea and hot water have finished infusing, you turn the lid upside down and place the glass piece with the leaves on top. And viola, you drink the tea from the base cup. I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think they sell them at Oriental Teahouse because these restaurants are linked. I should probably go have a browse and get my hands on this versatile piece of genius. 

^ Jasmine and Lychee Tea. The best combination. IT WAS DELICIOUS.

^ERMGAGGHHGHHHEHHHRRRDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

^ Instagram: badasiandriver

^ getting bored and playing around with panorama.

David's Restaurant

4 Cecil Place, Prahan 3181

(03) 9529 5199

The Gables

As you are well aware of, I was born with the curse of an unyielding sweet tooth. Therefore, high tea and me go hand in hand. Yesterday afternoon was spent at The Gables, located in one of the richest streets of Malvern, Finch Street. We drove under avenues where the gorgeous trees were swaying in the wind, and the experience felt so surreal. The sun was shining, I was surrounded by my girls, and the day was just so ideally relaxing. We were initially meant to go to Collin's Kitchen (in the Grand Hyatt), but I received a call from them, two hours before my booking, saying they had double booked me, and offered a weekend session instead for the same price. I was furious, and rejected their offer. I had to call up several different places that were either closed on Wednesdays, or needed 48 hours notice for a booking. FORTUNATELY FOR US, The Gables greeted us with open arms, and allowed a booking an hour and a half before they even open for their second session.

When we arrived, we were surrounded by tables of elderly people, which is the cutest thing to watch. We made a toast with our champagne (that we didn't finish) to stay forever friends until we were of old age and had grey hairs and saggy boobs. Cheers to that!

^ fruit and plain scones. yum yum yum.

They came out nice and warm, and therefore soft!

^ the "ribbon sandwiches" were extremely delicious!

Usually I love salmon, but the flavour of the capers were too strong for my taste buds.

^ mini quiches and mini meat pies.

Wish there were more of the mini quiches, because they were actually SO amazing.
Just melted in your mouth. There was not enough tomato sauce though.

^ assorted desserts, I was expecting macarons and cupcakes, judging from their website.

Some of the cakes were a bit dry, but my favourite was passionfruit.

^ Kimono by Maxwell & Williams.

Gorgeous colours and patterns - can be found at any House or homeware stores

^ can't have high tea without a little french bubbly ;)

So many people have asked me,

"Lisa, what is SOOOOOO good about high tea? You always seem to go, but it's so expensive..." 

I just say no, no,  no. You have got it all wrong. I can't really answer this question for you guys, it's something that you need to experience yourself. It's something to do with the girls, it's a different way of eating, it's a culture, a celebration, an eating foodgasm. And no, high tea is not expensive. It can range from $35-$95. You get what you pay for. The most I've spent on high tea is $70, and that will probably be the first and last time I do something like that. You might also think that it isn't a lot of food, but trust me, it is. 

^ me trying to act like a lady in the bathroom.

I wish I had a bathroom like that, it was absolutely beautiful. Like a model's change room.

^ Instagram: badasiandriver

No, I did not use any frame apps for this, I just took 19 photos, and print screened my camera roll for this effect. Don't you just love watching milk being poured into tea? It's one of my favourite moments.

^ finito

The Gables

11:00am -1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm

$45 on Wednesday, $55 on Sunday

16 Finch Street Malvern

(03) 9571 6631