Another week in food. Saw Silver Linings Playbook at Jam Factory and went with Japanese food for dinner. Our nefarious plans for getting drunk failed - I’m never touching sherry again.

The following day we lunched at Miss Chu. Gosh they’re pricey.

Toasties from that cafe at the Grattan street end of uni. I’ve no idea what they’re called but the guy who served me was good looking.

Have I told you about my latest, favourite open sandwich topping?

• A layer of peanut butter
• Sour apples
• Currants
• Lots of corn
• Chia Seeds
• Blueberries

Demisoda. Not sure what the other half is, I just like lemon.

O-Week! Carte was exchanging any coupons for a free nutella crepe. Definitely like these ones better than Harajuku Crepes. More crispy and even.

The Little Mule
19 Somerset Place, CBD

Two hours of badminton later (I didn’t even make the entirety of it), we’re hungry, tired and end up at a part-cafe, part-bicycle shop to sate our appetites. There’s two daily specials, tuna salad and a pulled pork burger,and asparagus melt to share between the three of us.

Preserved lemon in the tuna salad provided a nice tang, though it eventually became a bit much for me with the addition of pickled i-can’t-remember-that-vegetable. Would have been better if there was some sweet pumpkin there. I like pumpkin.

Now that I look at the photo, that obscure green object with the burger kinda looks like a leech found its way onto the plate (its a pickle). Plenty of sweet pork and crunchy red cabbage; I enjoyed this one the most.

As for the melt, I’m just not one for too much cheese (it had scamorza as well). 

I was late to a Thursday bakefest, so missed out on making brownies T^T Ever the good friends they were, they opted for watching Merlin until I arrived for shortbread and almond cookies :3

The latter held alot better than the ones I made at home, so I probably added too much oil/not enough flour to my own.

Bar Ampere: That cocktail wasn’t strong; cute cigar box; interesting taps.
Sweatshop: fantastic corn fritter bites with spicy sauce to accompany; had oysters, sao squishy
Shandong Mama: Spring onion pancakes agogo

Alice Nivens
Port Phillip Arcade

Pitstop before the movie (Life of Pi). I keep buying cupcakes but never eating the icing I’m sorry T^T 

I shan’t return until I find a job.

Shandong Mama
Shop 7, 200 Bourke St (Mid City Arcade)

My ignorant pursuit to tick places off my wishlist mean most only get one chance to jump onto the ‘potential returns’ list. The latter is further divided by price, convenience and a stellar menu offering/you-have-piqued-my-curiosity-circuit;Shandong Mama has definitely earned her place in the latter.

Friday lunch. They’re filled but there’s enough space for two until it’s brimmed. Regardless of what else is on the menu, I’ll always try pork dumplings first (they’re like my asian corn fritters). Ah but the call of the sichuan pepper beef is too strong and I submit ^^v

There’s about a 10 minute wait before the food appears before us. The dumplings are delicious. Thin, crispy skins that seem to have absorbed the juices and are flavoursome themselves. I confess that half way through the first one I stopped trying to register the different ingredients and kept a steady flow of food to stomach - ah they were so good!

The large chilies sitting by the side of the beef make it look scarier than it really is. This is great as well, each aromatic bite accompanied by a little spicy poke - I know where I’ll be taking my own Mother to eat at next :)

I’d prefer an option for smaller servings so I can cover more of the menu, but for once, I don’t mind making extra return trips :D