Hot Pot in Melbourne

I know it has been a very long time since I last posted. To be honest, I never stopped taking photos of my food either. I just never got around to blogging about it!

I just started working this year, so once I get into the routine of it I'll start posting again.

So as you can see the title of this post is Hot Pot. My dad LOVES eating Hot Pot. So whenever he had the chance, he'd always take us to eat Hot Pot King in Box Hill on Station Street next to Dumpling King. However, when I went to Dumpling King 2 weeks ago... I saw that what used to be Hot Pot King had turned into an ever growing Dumpling King. Now we don't have a place to go to eat Hot Pot King!

A lot of people complained about Hot Pot King not being as clean or sanitary whatsoever, but it seriously had the best soup base and satay sauce. I'm having a hard time trying to find a replacement too.

Now some people will suggest Little Lamb Hot Pot in Box Hill. My parents have been there. They thought service was VERY friendly and they gave you very large servings of meat, but the quality of the meats and the flavouring of the sauce just was not up to par.

I also know a bunch of you will say Hot Pot House in Glen Waverley near the station. I went there today. The place is much cleaner than Hot Pot King, and the quality of the meats are the same. However, the soup base just wasn't as aromatic as the one at Hot Pot King and the satay sauce was such a let down! I want my Hot Pot King back!

If anyone knows what happened to Hot Pot King, or where else there may be good Hot Pot, please comment! I was also thinking of giving the Hot Pot at Dainty Sichuan a go.

Hako

310 Flinders La
Melbourne 3000
VIC Phone: (03) 9620 1881
Website: www.hako.com.au

This week I had lunch with 3 of my friends who I hadn't seen in a while, Chantel, Patches and Madeline. Chantel told me she felt like eating Japanese food, so we decided to go to Hako. I believe Hako has now become the default catch up lunch destination for Chantel and I.

I really like the simplicity of the decor.

The good thing about Hako is that you can trust it for a good solid simple but authentic Japanese meal. I really like the lunch menu they offer as well. It may be a little more pricey than some other Japanese joints in the city, however the food delivers.

Complimentary Edamame (Soybean)

Nabeyaki Udon - tempura, vegetable, egg and noodle soup in a hot pot $15.5

Madeline ordered the udon. The thing that caught my attention was the already soggy tempura. I don't know about other people, but whenever I used to order Nabeyaki Udon, as soon as it arrived I'd take the tempura out and put it on the side to keep it as crisp as possible.

Hako set - six different dishes carefully selected and prepared by the chef served with steamed rice and miso soup, 8 serve per day $30

The only other time I came to Hako, both Chantel and I ordered the Hako set. Because it was so good the first time I had it, I wanted to give it another go. I mean... the individual dishes change!

Miso Soup
I love this. Not all Japanese restaurants here know how to make good miso soup. It had the right amount of ingredients, neither was it overly salty or watered down.

Rice

Deep fried soy marinated chicken with egg salad

Prawn tempura

I had forgotten to tell the staff that I had crustacean allergies. But how can you resist this prawn tempura when it is placed in front of you? So I did the probably not so smart thing and decided to take an allergy tablet and eat it anyway! Was it worth it or what.

Minced Pork and Potato croquette
Probably the most average dish, bar the salad.

Scallop sashimi
Very fresh indeed.

Terriyaki Beef

Salad


salmon - a box with grilled salmon ginger teriyaki and light salad $15.8

Salmon ginger terriyaki

Eggplant

Light Salad

I have yet to go to Hako for dinner, but I think it's one of the great places to go for lunch when you work in the city. Food doesn't take too long to arrive to you, so you can definitely fit it within your 1 hour break.

One of the downsides to Hako I believe is the portions of the meal. The first time I came here I had to have 2 bowls of rice with my Hako set to fill me up and I don't even eat that much in comparison to many other people.

P.S. It is a good idea to make a reservation, the place isn't very big as you can see, and is quite popular among city workers.


Pricing: nothing is over $32

• Entree: $5.8 to $13.8
• Bento: $15.8
• Hako Set: $30
• Lunch Set: $19 to $21
• Main: $12.5 to $20.8
• Sashimi/Sushi: $15.8 to $32

Overall Score - Fine Dining: 14.5/20

• Food: 7/10
  
• Service: 3.5/5
  
• Venue: 4/5
  

Other Useful Information:

• YourRestaurants
  
• Gourmet Traveller
• The Age Good Food Guide 2009 - Score: 14.5/20
  
• The Age Epicure (December 3, 2007)
• Blog Reviews: Spot4Nosh (August 8, 2008)
• Blog Reviews: Off the spork (May 1, 2008)
• Blog Reviews: Melbourne Gastronome (November 21, 2007)

Opening Hours

• Lunch: Monday to Friday - noon to 3pm
• Dinner: Monday to Saturday - 6pm to 10pm

Cumulus Inc

45 Flinders La
Melbourne 3000 VIC
Phone: (03) 9650 1445
Website: www.cumulusinc.com.au

I had actually planned to come to Cumulus Inc a week ago, but instead my friends decided that they wanted to have some Vietnamese rolls from Collingwood instead. Although Cumulus has been around for a while now, I had never gone... even with my friend Tofu constantly raving about it!


My friends and I got there around 12:20pm in attempt to beat the business crowd. Every time I walk past Cumulus at night it's always packed, so I don't know if I would even bother trying to get a seat for dinner. (Yes, I am that impatient) And either way, if I'm not wrong, the menu is the same for both lunch and dinner.

For those who don't know, there is a no booking policy at Cumulus. So if you want a seat, get there earlier! (According to their website however, they do however take reservations of 8 to 12 guests.) The dishes are tapas style too, so you order a few and share between you and your friends.

Trumer Pils on tap 300ml $7.50

XS is a new comer to our weekly lunch gatherings, and he has a thing for trying out different beers no matter where we go. This was definitely one of the better beers he's tried so far. The texture is quite smooth and goes down easily.

Complementary bread & butter

The waiters will gladly offer you more bread once you've finished the first batch.

Scallop wrapped in speck, caper & raisin vinaigrette $5 each

Grilled quail (half) in vine leaf, pistachio & labne $7 each

Kitchen charcuterie selection $23

Baked gnocchi, Jerusalem artichokes, taleggio & truffle $17
Hands down the best dish at Cumulus Inc. I never knew I liked Jerusalem artichokes so much until now. Luckily we ordered 2 of these. I wouldn't mind coming here JUST for this dish. The gnocchi had the right fluffy consistency, the artichokes were crisp on the outside and soft inside but not mushy, the taleggio and truffle perfectly permeated through the whole dish. Absolutely divine.

Choucroute garni - cabbage braised with salt pork belly, smoked Lyonniase sausage & roast pork strap $23
Instead of pork belly, I believe we had pork shoulder instead. The sausages and braised cabbage were really good. I'm starting to believe that crackling just isn't my thing? (at least not the western version)

Spiced cauliflower with goats curd $14
I don't know what spiced cauliflower is supposed to look or taste like. But is it supposed to look and taste like burnt?

Rockdale 240 day grain fed scotch fillet, glazer shallots, nettle & horseradish $38

New potatoes, confit garlic & lemon $9

Perfectly roasted potatoes.

Definitely worth trying out this place. The venue has quite a sleek touch to it, however at the same time you're able to let loose and relax while enjoying the great food that Josh Murphy and his team are cooking up for you.

P.S. If you do go, order the Baked Gnocchi!


Pricing: Overall it came up to $35 per person and we were very satisfied with the meal.

Overall Score - Fine Dining: 16/20

• Food: 8/10
  
• Service: 4/5
  
• Venue: 4/5

Just a comment about the service, one thing that really astounded me was that every time I went to take a sip of water from my glass, it was full again. I don't know about you, but for waiters to constantly top up your water and do it without you noticing most of the time is just amazing. Just one of those little things which makes for better service.

Other Useful Information

• YourRestaurants
• The Age Epicure (August 26, 2008)
• Gourmet Traveller (September, 2008)
  
• Blog Reviews: Melbourne Gastronome (August 20, 2009)
• Blog Reviews: doublecooked (June 19, 2009)
  
• Blog Reviews: Tummy Rumbles (March 11, 2009)

Opening Hours

• Monday to Friday: 7am - 11pm
• Saturday: 8am - 11pm

Shira Nui

247 Springvale Rd
Glen Waverley 3150 VIC
Phone: (03) 9886 7755

A few weeks ago Chloe had asked everyone in our group if we wanted to dine at Shira Nui together. Out of the 10+ people in our circle of friends, it ended up that only 4 of us went. Too bad for the others really, it really was worth the 35 minute drive down to Glen Waverly! (Yeah I know I shouldn't complain, country restaurants are even further away!)

So I picked up Kaelyn on the way and we made our way down to The Glen. So what did we learn tonight... we learnt that we should never trust Chloes directions. We walked a block around The Glen looking for Shira Nui according to what Chloe had told us, only to find the restaurant a few steps from where we had initially parked. Thanks Chloe!

This was my first visit to Shira Nui and my first impression was that the place is tiny - seating no more than 40 people (at least it says 40 according to The Age Good Food Guide, seemed more like 30 max though). The whole night, there were people coming in and out of the door hopeful to grab a seat without a reservation, only to hear that the place was fully booked. Just a heads up, if you want to go to Shira Nui, be sure to make a reservation. They ran 2 shifts last night and both were full!


On the night we decided to order the Omakase which is only available to customers seated along the counter. The menu is left up to the chef who provides you 2 servings of each type. If you have any food allergies (like myself) they are able to tailor your menu towards that. The minimum charge is $30 per person, but you can pretty much eat till you're satisfied or until your time is up. So another warning, if you plan to eat a lot. Make sure all your friends arrive on time, because you're limited to the shift hours.

APPETIZER

Deep Fried Fish with pickled onions, carrots, red and green peppers

OMAKASE

King Dory with Lemon and Salt (no soy needed)

Pan-Fried Salmon medium rare (no soy needed)

Unagi Hako Zushi (no soy needed)
Sadly we didn't get to try this dish, Unagi is one of my favourites though. Next time I'll definitely request it.

Battera marinated fresh mackeral and sweet clear seaweed (with soy)

I thought this was probably one of the more unique pieces that they offered, it was a combination that I hadn't tried before. The sweetness of the seaweed really helped reduce the saltiness of the marinated fresh mackarel and the extra soy sauce. I'd give it 2 thumbs up!

Yaki Niku rare special barbeque beef sushi (no soy needed)
I think the photo pretty much says it all, it made me salivate.

Red Clam (with soy)

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Red Clam nigiri. The texture of the red clam in your mouth was not only silky smooth but also had a nice crispiness when you bit into it.

Maguro Steak rare pan-fried tuna (no soy needed)

Tuna tartare with flying fish roe (with soy)
I told Chloe I'd give her a special mention. Speedy had asked Chloe what this was, and Chloe had described it as "some fish with crab eggs on the top". At least she tried I guess?

King fish belly marinated (no soy needed)

Grilled Oyster in mayonnaise (no soy needed)


COMPLIMENTARY DESSERT

Aoshiso Sorbet
This sorbet, has to be one of the best I've ever had. It was just something new, fresh and was really cleansing for the palette. There were also a few bits of fruit in there which really gave it that extra punch!
Some random facts: Aoshiso (Perilla) is from the mint family, it's actually really good for you. The green leaf that you see very often laid on your sushi plate, yep that's Aoshiso.

All in all, it was an enjoyable meal, next time I know which ones I'm definitely requesting over others, if that is even possible.

Stand outs:

• Battera
• Yaki Niku
• Red Clam

Others worth mentioning but were not as awesome as the others would be, the Pan-Fried Salmon and the Tuna tartare.

Pricing: Our meal came up to a total of $80 each

Overall Score - Fine Dining: 15/20

• Food: 8/10
  
• Service: 4/5
  
• Venue: 3/5
  

Other Useful Information

• Your Restaurants
• The Age Epicure (May 22, 2007)
• The Age Good Food Guide 2009 - Score: 14.5/20
  
• Blog Reviews: Tummy Rumbles (May 17, 2007)
  

Portello Rosso

15 Warburton La
Melbourne 3000 VIC
Phone: (03) 9602 2273
Website: www.portellorosso.com.au

After seeing Claire's Portello Rosso review at Melbourne Gastronome, I just had to go. Especially to try out the chocolate pudding that she raved about!

Upon arrival, I can already sense that I'm going to like this place. The atmosphere of the joint is very laid back and the waiters are very down to earth and friendly. We opted for a seat upstairs.


My friends and I took our time looking at the menu, and after a while we decided that we had no idea what we wanted to order. Instead I asked the waiter if he could design the menu for us within a limit of $25 per person, which he was more than willing to do so. (We also requested to have at least one pizza, no rabbit since my friend refuses to eat it and no crustaceans because of my allergies.) He was just one of those waiters, who really seemed to be in the know - what food is good, what food the diners would like etc. So I felt totally at ease.

On the side note, I forgot to take a photo of the specials board... so the names of the specials may be incorrect etc. You would think that after all these posts I'd learn to do that by now?

Croquette - Ham & Cheese $9.00
This was from the specials menu, I just so happened to zoom into that above photo of the restaurant and spot the price haha. Anyway, back to the food... The croquette was nice, but Chloe and I agreed that Comme's croquette was better.

Duck migas with fresh tomato salad $11.5
Small description of the dish would be, salted duck in warm salad.
Warning: contains coriander!! (Note: Can be easily picked out without ruining the rest of the dish)

I'm sorry I don't remember what this dish was, but it was a special. I should probably email them and ask really.

Catalonian meatballs with warm tomato salsa $10.5

Bravas patatas $9
Mmm, these were so good... very nicely spiced and crisp on the outside

Crumbed lamb cutlets with (almond?) puree
As you can probably guess, this was another special... thus the question mark. XS quite liked this dish because it really kept its lamb flavour and it was also very succulent. The puree complimented the lamb really well (especially if you didn't want the lamb flavour to be so empowering).

Prosciutto pizze
At the beginning of the meal I asked the waiter what we should order, and he said.. "definitely the tapas". His reason was that you could get a pizza anywhere. Still the pizzas were enjoyable :)

Spiced Chocolate Pudding $15
And here it is... THE chocolate pudding. Definitely worth getting. If you enjoy your chili chocolates, this is something you should not pass on!

For less than $25 each for this meal between the 4 of us. I definitely though it was value for money. The service was 10/10 too, a good waiter can really make your meal! And of course, the food was delicious. I can easily say that I walked out of the restaurant completely satisfied and I would recommend anyone to go there.

Other Useful Information:

• The Age Epicure (November 16, 2008)
• Your Restaurants
  
• Blog Review: slicing almonds & zesting lemons (May 28, 2009)
• Blog Review: bellygood (February 22, 2009)
• Blog Review: Melbourne Gastronome (September 14, 2008)

Opening hours
Tuesday - Friday from 7:30am
Saturday from 6pm
Kitchen hours
Tuesday - Friday Lunch 11:30am to 3pm
Dinner from 5:30pm
Saturdays 6pm to late