FIRST COURSE

Well, this has definitely turned out to be a very delayed first course. Since my first post, I have indulged myself in the wonders of evidence law, constitutional law, trusts and intellectual property, just to name a few! Oh, I can feel your excitement from here! Never fear, I remained fed along the way and now find myself with a backlog of amazing restaurants to share with you.

Dhaba at the Mill: Curry House

http://dhaba.com.au/

18 Piper Street

Kyneton, VIC 3444

03 5422 6225

0430 469 716

Dhaba is an amazing curry house situated on Kyneton's Piper Street (a.k.a foodie heaven). The restaurant is within an historic steam mill, making the experience all the more impressive and interesting. I have now been to Dhaba twice and each time we have been greeted with the overwhelming kindness and hospitality of its owners, Jessi and Jennifer (not to mention their ever so cute daughter). The pair came to Australia from San Francisco to start their family and boy are we glad they did! Their personalised service is genuine and like no other. They take time out of their night to introduce themselves to you, make you feel welcome and ensure that you are truly satisfied with all that their restaurant has to offer.

Even their staff exude such happiness and were more than willing to guide us through the sharing menu. On both visits, we've had the papadams (amazing, fresh, hot, delicious - you get the idea) and the samosa plate (two serves of spiced Trentham potatoes & peas wrapped in a crispy pastry served with tamarind & date chutney). The samosas were so unbelievably delicious, especially with the sweet accompanying chutney. The mains alternate depending on availability and season. The butter chicken, literally melts in your mouth and is the best I've ever had. It can, however, be quite rich, on both occasions I've had to stop myself going back for more helpings. The pork vindaloo is hearty and spicy, with the meat so tender. To accompany our mains, the parantha (Indian flat bread) and basmati rice (which had sesame seeds folded through it - it was just delicious) are essential. Because the meals were so rich and had such strong flavours, the smaller portions for dessert are a relief. The gulab jamuns (Indian donuts made of soft cheese & sweet syrup) were very sweet and like the rest of the menu, cheap! The homemade cardamom, honey & pistachio kulfi (Indian ice cream) are a must. Presented on a skewer rolled in baking paper, they are refreshing and not overly sweet. The chopped pistachios throughout offer superb texture.

The metal plates, the Bollywood music videos playing in the background and the jars of spices which line the timber walls all add to the cultural atmosphere that Dhaba offers.

If you aren't lucky enough to get a seat, they offer take-away or even try their food truck in Woodend or their van in Castlemaine - the same menu is offered until they run out.

I cannot recommend this wonderful restaurant enough. Its wonderful service, historic location and amazing food are definitely a winning combination which my family and I will continue to make the 40 minute trip (from Tullamarine Airport) to Kyneton for, over and over again.

STARTER

Progressively, my humble pin board has evolved into what is now a shrine to Melbourne food culture. Displaying business cards from cafes, restaurants and bars from all over postcode 3000, it has come to successfully represent the culinary love affair I have with the wonderful city I call home. It is my hope, through this blog, to circumnavigate my pin board and share with you my own ‘Foodies’ Guide to Melbourne’. For each business card, I hope to reflect on the culinary experience it represents. Through each post, you will be able to experience with me both the triumphs and (sometimes) the tribulations as I relive them and hopefully, be influenced by them in your own dining decisions. With any luck, my pin board will serve a purpose far greater than the Spice Girl collectable photos it was acquired for. So without further ado, let the pin board degustation begin!

Bon appetit, your starter is served: L’uccellino.

20 Ballarat Street Yarraville ph: 9689 9788

www.luccellino.com.au

Having dinner at L’uccellino before seeing a movie at the Sun Theatre in Yarraville has become somewhat of a ritual for my boyfriend and I. With an interior that is simple yet rustic in design, the restaurant is situated on food and night life hot spot – Ballarat Street. L’uccellino offers the kind of pizza that can send you on a mental trip to Italy. The thin crust pizzas boast quality, not quantity – something I value dearly when it comes to pizza.
As a side, we can’t go past the fior di latte, tomato and basil salad, dressed simply with olive oil. While so simple, the salad tastes absolutely magnificent, especially with some pizza crust dipped in the remaining extra virgin olive oil! On our last visit before seeing 127 Hours (an experience worth a blog entry within itself!), we ordered the salad and two pizzas;

• 'Pizza for a friend’ – in bianco, fior di latte, roasted pumpkin, pinenuts, rocket & goats cheese

• 'Salsiccia’ – tomato, fior di latte, salsiccia, peas, red onion & parmigiana

As always, Pizza for a friend didn’t fail to please – the combination of pumpkin and goats cheese always a winner. While Salsiccia was definitely enjoyable, I wouldn’t rate it the best sausage pizza I’ve ever had (did someone say Badabing?). On previous occasions we’ve ordered ‘Alla moda di Guiseppe’, ‘Number 26’ and ‘Romana’ - all highly recommended. The service on our last visit, though present, was not personal. Sitting in the window seat, we were often forgotten. Nevertheless, we will continue to return for that quick trip to Italy before heading to the Sun Theatre for one of those to-die-for home-made choc-tops. While I wouldn’t rate their pizzas as the best in Melbourne, the pizzas at L’uccellino are definitely contenders and a must before seeing a movie in one of the Sun’s art-deco cinemas.