The World Loves Melbourne New Post

The Whoopie Pie Bakery is a great place for relaxing with friends for a sweet dessert fix. The whoopie pies are an American craze come to Camberwell. I enjoy the size and the texture of a whoopie pie with its creamy inside. 

The Whoopie Pie Bakery has a great array of whoopie choices behind the large display cabinet. I elected for the Chocolate and salted caramel. After all this has been declared the Year of Salted Caramel.

Blueberry Cafe is a consistently excellent cafe on Swan Street with character and coffee and cuisine with flair. It is one of the standouts in the precinct.

Blueberry has a great retro ambience with brown funky lighting, great use of timbers, a large window with natural light and several communal tables.

Torch is a funky cafe that lights up Swan Street in Richmond. It's one of the standout cafes along Swan Street with its grungy if not quirky design and yellow and charcoal themes. Very Richmond colours.

Ambience is enhanced by the cool modern art wall (including the funky animals), concrete floor, open counter area, yellow stools, retro tables and black communal table and yellow lamps from the ceiling.

Torch serves up great coffee with Genovese blends (one of my favourites as it has a strength I like).

Rhone Wine and Tapas in Albert Park exudes elegance, charm and great cuisine with an emphasis on Mediterranean fare. This restaurant stands out with authenticity, passion and quality in a city that loves all things European. Rhone has a new Chef  in March 2013.

Both times I've visited Rhone I've been highly impressed. For my second visit I rolled up to one of Rhone's Flamenco nights which features a Spanish guitarist and specials on Spanish beer and sangria. The guitarist was on fire and several diners clapped after each song. Were we in Spain?

Rhone filled up and was packed just after 8pm. The place was pumping.

Stockholm in Style held in Somewhere Gallery showcases street fashion at various Fashion Weeks in Europe and is sponsored by Swedish Cider House Rekorderlig. The exhibition runs to October 13th. Just take the stairs next to Cafe E Torta...

Guests at the launch were treated to an awesome exhibition from the collection of Caroline Blomst from Stockholm who blogs about and celebrates streetwear. For years she has photographed fashionable young people of the street and posted the images on her fashion blog.

The blog has taken off and incorporates several European cities. It is famous for unearthing stunning fashion and looks on the street that can itself trend in the fashion world. Caroline now travels the world and has become influential in the fashion scene.

Check out Caroline's site at http://carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle/

Cheerio will have you coming back for the warm and personable service, great use of space, Seven Seeds coffee baby and funky cuisine. Just off Swan Street and on Lennox Street it has quickly attracted a following.  

I'm at first thinking minimalism as the room isn't huge but seems spacious. Cheerio has a great ambience featuring the large window with plenty of natural light, white walls, retro black and white tiled floor, a cool timber work ceiling structure, funky hanging lights, and a timber bench along the wall with chic blue cushions.

Dave Matthews says he likes his toast with coffee and jelly. Methinks Dave Matthews and his band would enjoy Cheeky Monkey with its cool ambience and excellent cuisine (including the toast and coffee). Cheeky Monkey has a great vibe with its dark timber and great use of space. The golden walls with monkeys and palms is awesome. As the light fills the room from the large windows we feel the light of love and darkness falls away (Dave Matthews).

Cheeky Monkey has a great fit out with timber tables, concrete floor, exposed brick wall, naked bulbs over the communal tables, and a counter with red themes. Spot the monkey figurines including on the timber beam above. Monkeys are watching you.

Tree of Us is a cafe/restaurant sensation and a great find in the uber precinct of North Richmond. Being familiar with many of the cafes along Bridge Road and indeed throughout Richmond I am always looking for a cafe that stands out from the pack. I can throw a blanket across several and only a handful rise into the outstanding category. Tree of Us is a breath of fresh air with its understated charm and foodie gourmet excellence.

Started by three friends who went to Primary School on the Mornington Peninsular together, there is a sense of destiny and romance about this place. To be honest I don't even have one friend from Primary School. It was too long ago and I have no idea where they are now. Certainly none of my Primary School friends were ex chefs at Rockpool that I know of. Shaun is a top chef ex Rockpool and brings imagination, flair and skill to the kitchen.

Chin Chin is a Melbourne phenomenon that continues to constantly draw a packed house and is surely among the best dining experiences in this city. It's a restaurant with "wow" factor. This is Asian (Thai, Malay, Chinese) cuisine that is so inventive and multidimensional if not exciting. The noise levels are high, there is movement all around, and the food aromatic and visually appealing. It seems like you're in Asia (which I am most fond of). Surely Chin Chin is one of the best sensory dining experiences around.

Chin Chin is chic. The vibe is sensational with modern chic decor, sexy lighting, a cool bar area where you can perch on a stool, and the hum of the dining area. Getting a table at Chin Chin can be difficult unless you are prepared to wait (you can always visit Go Go Bar in the interim). This can be at least an hour or two. The no booking policy means you take your chances (they only take bookings for groups of 10-12). So it was incredible that we walked in and scored a table to seat 9.

Heirloom exudes class and elegance at every level. It is primarily an izakaya and sake destination of note.

Heirloom loomed as a great breakfast destination for moi. I've been there several times for breakfast. The breakfast scene here is different to the izakaya - and so soon I will visit again for lunch or dinner.

Shanghai Noodle House isn't glamourous but it sure is great value. It's cheap cheap cheap but excellent quality cuisine.

The fit out is not upmarket with colourful plastic cloths on the tables and it's a small restaurant. Students love it here. as I sat and enjoyed lunch I could hear many accents. The restaurnat was loud and busy - how we like to roll.

The noodles were very satisfying and of good portion. Also known for dumplings and soups.

Moet and Chandon has been a drink of choice for fine diners, fashionistas, the upwardly mobile and to celebrate key moments in life. There's been keen debate among my friends as to the pronunciation of Moet.

Growing up in Adelaide I often heard the pronunciation as "Mowee". And so I always referred to this classic champagne as "Mowee". To my chagrin on embarking on a fine dining oddysey of Melbourne in the last couple of years I've often heard the term "Mo'wett".

At a recent event at Vue De Monde hosted by Moet & Hennnesy I asked Mick Formosa the Brand Ambassador about the pronunciation of Moet. He confirmed the correct pronunciation is "Mo'wett". 

Some people try to be French in their pronunciation and pronounce Moet as "Mo'ay" - which is the most amusing pronunciation.

Cafe Alcaston is a hidden gem within the hustle and bustle of Collins Street and Spring Street. Duck in to this charming establishment for a classic Melbourne cafe experience. Unpretentious and consistently good, Cafe Alcaston is popular and a favourite with those that visit.

Cafe Alcaston is famous for its baked pies and great coffee. They use Coffee Supreme and the baristas are skillful. 

The ambience is fabulous in this grand historical building featuring ornate ceilings, dark timber tables and cool cushions, lamps from the ceiling, fleck tiled floor and red ochre walls.

The Fair Trader has made a big impact in a short time with its fabulous coffee, spacious cafe and culinary delights. Having being used to cafes that are small and sometimes cramped, The Fair Trader can cope with hordes of coffee lovers descending from nearby offices.

I wondered whether the name of this cafe had any link to Fair Work Australia next door. Being the genius I am I think so. If the Liberals win the next election will the cafe change its name to "Work Choices"? Sorry, bad joke.

The Fair Trader has a great ambience with concrete polished floor, grungy chairs, retro stools, and naked bulbs. The Fair Trader could also be called The Chic Trader.

Negroni is a classic bar and grill on Collins St that brings a charm of yesteryear and simple tasty cuisine.

Negroni is a grand restaurant/cafe that reminds me of Raffles in Singapore with its grand architecture (although not so opulent). I half expect to see Humphrey Bogart from Casablanca, as it has that feel of yesteryear with cane chairs, large mirrors, chandeliers, flower arrangements and tiled flooring. 

I spotted a dude in the cafe that reminded me of Humphrey Bogart.

Entourage is a cool place to dine with friends and enjoy Balkan influences with wood fire char grill. The theme is European and the owner comes from Montenegro - with proud photos on the wall.

We came here with a group on a Sunday when the restaurant was still hitting their stride in the early days. I always extend grace in such circumstances.

My immediate thought was "dude food" - the menu had healthy options but there is a big meatfest going on here.

My mate raved about the tender juicy Roast of the day - well cooked and generous portion.

Bella Vedere is an iconic restaurant in the heart of the Yarra valley that is well worth the trip for city dwellers. The property oozes rustic charm and you'd think you've just landed in Tuscany.

Bella Vedere prides itself on bringing the kind of food and service you might find at the best dinner party. The menu is ever changing and the freshest ingredients are sourced. Seasonal and regional and full of flair.

This is a foodie haven. Bella Vedere brims with exciting ventures from the restaurant to the bakery, to cooking classes. 

Cafe Bisqui is a fabulous cafe on Flinders Street with flair, great coffee and cool ambience. It's a haven and an oasis where you feel super welcome. I settled in with the morning paper and found it to be that cosy happy place in the hustle and bustle of the CBD.

Cafe Bisqui has a great fit out with plants, mirrors and cool timber tables. We all love an ample communal table and Cafe Bisqui delivers. Ambience is enhanced by the white walls, blackboards, concrete floor and low ceilings.

Woolshed Pub is an excellent option in Docklands. This pub offers one of the best outlooks in the city with the outside area great to enjoy water views. 

Having been there several times I enjoy the rustic and raw feel of Woolshed Pub. I've met there with large groups for a casual drink, as well as elaborate functions. Woolshed Pub does it all well.

The heritage feel is a kind of tribute to its Aussie historical roots as a large warehouse/shed. Woolshed Pub has several intimate and attractive dining spaces and the food here is excellent classic pub fare. Choose from scotch fillets, fish and chips, hand cut chips and daily specials.