Tag Archives: pub

Mrs Parmas

3 Nov

Multicultural Cuisine of…

pub life

Mrs Parmas
25 Little Bourke St,
Melbourne
(03) 9639 2269
Visit Website

 

It’s a disgrace that I haven’t been here sooner. Because I absolutely love a good parma. I mean, is there really much better than a bit, fat piece of crumbed chicken, all golden and crunchy, smothered in rich tomato sauce, thick, juicy ham, and perfectly melted cheese, surrounded by golden fried chips??! I didn’t think so. Mrs. Parmas has a reputation in Melbourne of making the best parmas around. They also have a reputation for revolutionising the service of these parmas – the chicken is not plonked unceremoniously on top of the chips, causing them to go soggy, but instead the chips are served in a seperate bowl! Brilliant! Mrs Parmas has been well documented by many other Melbournian bloggers, such as doublecooked, Parma Daze and eat, drink, stagger, and from the photos they produced, I just had to try them for myself, with Sous-Jeff along for the ride – he is a parma connoisseur after all!

We arrive at Mrs Parmas, and Sous-Jeff, true to form, heads straight to the bar. I may have neglected to mention the fact that Mrs Parmas is also very proudly boasting the wares of some of Victoria’s best micro brewers, with somewhere around 2 dozen obscure Aussie brews to choose from. The one thing Sous-Jeff is more passionate about than his parmas, is his beer. He is one excited boy. Eventually, he selects brew #1 (or about 4), and we finally order our parmas. We’re there early, around 6pm, so there isn’t much of a wait…

First up, props for separating the salad from the parma – no one likes their parma going soggy because of the salad. So, points for that!

Second up, the chips. Again, points for not burying them under the parma – soggy chips AND a soggy parma is not cool. Sadly, they weren’t the best chips though, so they do lose a point for them.

First up, Sous-Jeff’s choice, the “parma-geddon.” He was warned by our waitress that this was one hot parma – four different types of chilli/hot sauce, one of which that apparently takes a few days to concoct and brew to it’s full spiciness. Sous-Jeff scoffed at these claims, and ordered it anyway. And he loved it.

He did, however, turn a deep scarlet shade towards the end of the meal, but still claims it was great! My choice was the bolognese parma – your standard parma, but with bolognese sauce instead of regular tomato sauce.

Unfortunately, for a parma I was looking so forward to for so long, I was let down. It wasn’t as crispy as it could have been, and sadly for me, the bolognese sauce was a little spicy, which detracted from the whole experience for me a little (you know how I’m scared of spice and all). It was also a fairly thin piece of chicken, not big and thick like most.

Despite all of this, it actually wasn’t a bad parma – it was certainly big, the melted golden cheese was perfect, and the crumbs on the chicken were actually really nicely flavoured. They were great big meals, good value for money, and they truly did taste good, but not the best I’ve ever had.

 

Would rate it 6 out of 10.

 

 

 

Mrs Parma's on Urbanspoon

Melbourne Foodie Day Part 3: HuTong Dumpling Bar, Bar Americano and Mitre Tavern

11 Aug

 

 Multicultural Cuisine of…

China…

& pub life


Content after our tapas at Movida, but certainly not yet full, we continued on down to our next stop. Neither Sous-Jeff or I are big Chinese food eaters, but I’ve heard only good things about HuTong, and I developed a bit of a crush on dumplings since trying the pork gyoza at Wabi Sabi a while ago. So, we decide it’s probably time for us to give it a try!

HuTong Dumpling Bar
14 – 16 Market Lane,
Melbourne
(03) 9650 8120
Visit Website

We knew Market Lane sounded familiar for a reason, but until we arrived, we couldn’t work out why – because it’s the home of Hofbrauhaus, the German restaurant that was gutted by a fire a little while ago. It’s a family favourite, and I can’t wait to get back in and review their magnificent Schweizer Schnitzel for you guys when they get back up and running! Anyhow, we’re now in recognisable territory, and upon seeing the large amount of people inside, are put a little more at ease going into this very unfamiliar culinary territory.

The first thing we notice as we come in from the bitter Melbourne cold is how warm and cosy it is inside! Lovely! We were immediately asked if we had booked, and we had not. We were told it might be quite a wait, but as luck had it, a table cleared out within a minute of arriving, and it went straight to us! The Universe wanted us to have dumplings, and so we would. It’s also very busy, with an excited, content atmosphere. You can tell by the looks on the faces of HuTong’s customers that they were happy with what was in front of them. I also immediately fell in love with the big window that allowed me to see into the kitchen; it was absolutely mesmerising to see just how quickly the chefs worked, folding each dumpling in a perfectly uniformed manner.


Finally taking my eyes off the fancy finger work in the kitchen, it was time to check out the menu. We’d intended to just grab the one lot of dumplings to share, but upon checking out the menu, we decide to grab two – the boiled spinach dumplings, and the pan fried dumplings.

While waiting for our dumplings to grace our table, we started checking out our condiments…

… and to Sous-Jeff’s delight, uncovered a pot of chilli! Fantastic!

And for me, the slightly plainer and simpler soy sauce. Thank goodness!

Just as I was starting to panic about the fact that I’d never eaten traditional Chinese dumplings before and had absolutely NO idea how to eat them in an appropriate and non-offensive manner, Sous-Jeff passed this to me across the table – a step-by-step guide! Ahhh, relief!

With instructions studied and a vague understanding on what to do, our first lot of dumplings arrive – the boiled spinach dumplings.

Spinach dumplings, $6.80 (6 pieces)

Following my instructions to the letter, I carefully managed to pick up my first dumpling with my chopsticks and dunked it into my little bowl of soy sauce.

Then, onto my little ceramic spoon it went, and down the hatch!

I really loved these dumplings – they were fairly plain and simple, which was probably good for me being a relative dumpling novice. They were certainly packed full of spinach, as promised, and were encased in a nice soft shell.

Next out were the pan fried dumplings, beautifully shaped and presented on… actually, I have no idea what so ever what it was, but it was fried and edible and delicious!

Pan fried dumplings, $12.80 (8 pieces)

Apart from burning off the top layer of my tongue upon biting into a wayyyyy too hot dumpling first up, these were amazing. Absolutely loved them, and want more now that I’m just looking at them. Beautifully balanced mix of pork and ginger, and they had a just crispy bottom from being pan fried. LOVED!

After hearing so much about HuTong and going in as a Chinese food/dumpling virgin, I was not let down. They were delicious and well priced, and I will definitely be returning for more.

Would rate it 8 out of 10.

HuTong Dumpling Bar on Urbanspoon


We left HuTong very content and full and in need of a beverage. So, we decided to check out the relatively new kid on the block, Bar Americano. A little bar occupying the site of the former Pushka bar and the brain child of the gents behind Der Raum, it’s been promised to be the next big thing.

Bar Americano
20 Presgrave Place,
Melbourne
Visit Website

Out around the back of Bar Americano

Frankly, I was very underwhelmed. It wasn’t because of the small, dark space. It was the service and the general atmosphere. I don’t like to generalise, but the crowd really did come across as an uppity bunch. I certainly wasn’t dressed in designer garb, but it seemed to offend the patrons who looked me up and down with upturned noses. The bartender walked over to us, as if not taking us seriously in the slightest (you know that look that teenagers who walk into a pub get? That, “I know you can’t actually afford or legally buy anything in here so I won’t waste my time helping you”? Yeah, that was the look we got), leant a menu up on the bar against the wall and gave us a “these are the cocktails,” before walking back to the bar. We left immediately. The next big thing it may be, but that’s not how we roll.

Would rate it 2 out of 10.

 

Bar Americano on Urbanspoon


Frustrated and in even more need of a drink, we decided to start walking to our final destination of La Belle Miette, and we decided to just walk into the first bar we stumbled across. After a bit of a walk, we stumbled upon another lane way, which seemed to lead to yet another lane way! Not sure why, but I had a feeling we might have a decent find, so off I went, with Sous-Jeff on my tail saying “but do you know what’s down here? Is there anything?” “Dunno, let’s find out!”

And we stumbled upon what Sous-Jeff has dubbed the greatest pub in the Melbourne CBD: The Mitre Tavern.

Mitre Tavern
5 Bank Place,
Melbourne
(03) 9670 5644
Visit Website

A very traditionally English style pub, it popped up at just the right time. It didn’t look like it’d belong – an old pub in the middle of the city, on a Saturday afternoon, and it was dead quiet. There were dozens of tables outside under cover, with those awesome outdoor heaters which was keeping it all toasty warm, even outside as the rain started to fall. Sous-Jeff looked like he’d found the holy grail, after being dragged around all day in search of food. We grabbed some beer and vodka, and sat down to relax and digest.

Looking back up the street, we could see the bright red doors of Cafe Vue on Little Collins St, but we couldn’t believe how well hidden it was! The food menu looked great, and they had a steakhouse attached as well, with some amazing smells wafting out through the windows.

While we didn’t actually eat anything there, it was a fantastic pub, and we can’t wait to get back in for a dinner and a big night with our friends! Based on our beverage experience (without food) alone…

 Would rate it 8 out of 10.

Anyway, it was getting dark, the rain heavier, and our legs tired, so we decided to wrap it up and get those macarons. Unfortunately when we arrived at La Belle Miette, they were sold out. Heartbroken. Luckily for me, I have a wonderful husband who took me back to the train station via Little Cupcakes – yes, I got another two, don’t judge me!

One of my favourite things to do on a day off is to explore the little hidden gems of Melbourne, and today was certainly another win!

Over to you guys – where are your favourite hole-in-the-wall places?!

The Standard Hotel and Max Brenner

21 May

Multicultural Cuisine of…

Australian Pub

The Standard Hotel
293 Fitzroy St,
Fitzroy
(03) 9419 4793
Visit Website

I’m not the only foodie in this household – my lovely husband quite enjoys getting his food on too. One of his new favourite things to do is to get together with his boys club, and sample some of Melbourne’s best chicken parma offerings. Each Wednesday night, the parma boys get together, one of them picks a location, and they all tag along to see what their parma has to offer. A few weeks ago, Sous-Jeff came home, singing the highest praises of that night’s parma, devoured at the Standard Hotel in Fitzroy. Amazing, crunchy, tasty, thick, just really nice, he said. And ever since, he’s been busting to take me there so that I too could appreciate the magnificence of this parma.

So this Friday night, before heading off to see the new Pirates of the Carribean movie, he suggests a parma dinner. Off to The Standard we went.

 

We park in a dark side street, and approach the pub. Doesn’t look all that impressive, I comment. Sous-Jeff suggests I reserve my judgement until I step inside.

 

Inside I step, and much as I hate to admit it, Sous-Jeff is right – I love the place! I’m immediately hit by the smell of the fire place, one of my favourite smells, and am instantly feeling at home in this strange little pub. The lights are dimmed (apologies in advance for the sub-par photos!), and it’s quintessential Brunswick St – the decor is an eclectic fusion of old Fitzroy football paraphernalia, vintage, Victorian-era photos, and randomly placed modern artwork. The other diners are a mix of locals, clad in fashionable double denim, beanies, dreadlocks, and super-colourful tights and cardigans, post-work drinkers in their suits and ties, and others like us, who’ve clearly heard they make a mean parma, as they seem to account for 2 in every 3 meals coming out of the kitchen.

I take a seat at a table set for 6 (almost all the tables are set for larger groups), and Sous-Jeff makes his way to the back of the line at the bar. This line was consistently lengthy from the time we walked in, to the time we left. I was told by Sous-Jeff that I didn’t need a menu, as he was simply ordering 2 parmas. Entree? No, you won’t need one. Can I look at the menu anyway? Sure, but I’m still ordering the parmas.

The entrees look sound delicious, including roasted chat potatoes, trio of dips, grilled saganaki and a cheese plate. Maybe next time. I continue reading, and discover that I’ll be getting the “Chicken Parma Deluxe;” a crumbed chicken breast topped with prosciutto, napoli sauce, tasty cheese, and fetta. Interesting… I feel like a traditional parma, but Sous-Jeff claims this little touch makes it.

We’ve been seated for 5 minutes, and a waitress with a Beatles bowl hair cut, attired in a pleated mini skirt and skivvy, silently lays in front of us 2 plates with a large slice of bread. She smiles and continues on her way. The bread is thick, fresh, soft and fluffy. Now I’m even hungrier!

Chicken Parma Deluxe, $19.00

Thankfully, we only wait another 20 minutes until our parmas arrive. They’re smaller than I expected, but Sous-Jeff assures me they’re also quick thick, which is his mark of a decent parma. Unfortunately, they’ve been unceremoniously plonked on half the salad, which made the bottom of mine soggy. Other than the disappointing lack of crispyness, I couldn’t fault it.

The prosciutto was deliciously salty, and the fetta was a really delicious touch. There wasn’t a heap on there, just enough to inject some great extra flavour. Sous-Jeff’s parma is a little thicker than mine – unfortunately, because of this, he found a nice little chunk of raw chicken in the thickest part of his parma. He was heartbroken – this little pub that he’d been raving on about had not only forgotten the crispiness on that parma, but they’d apparently forgotten to cook it all the way through as well.

Mine, however, was perfectly cooked; just white on the inside, still nice and tender. Could have cooked a little longer, if for no other reason than to get the crispy breadcrumbs, but other than that, I genuinely can’t find any faults; the taste was astonishingly good. The chips are important to me – I’m a big potato fan, and a good chip really enhances a good parma. They were magnificent – crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, with the most incredible chicken salt. Unfortunately, half way through the meal, because of the lack of seating, we got some interesting locals pull up a seat at our table… we ate a little quicker, and left with a touch of indigestion, so wasn’t as enjoyable an end to the meal as I’d have hoped.

Would rate it (parma) a 9 out of 10.


The Standard Hotel on Urbanspoon




But, not to worry. Earlier in the day, a friend of mine sent me a text message, asking for my vote on a good place to go in the Templestowe area for dessert, coffee and cocktails. My vote was the upper level of Doncaster Shoppingtown – Groove Train’s bar makes a pretty decent cocktail, but the real winner was Max Brenner for dessert. We were already heading to Doncaster for our movie, and since we were arriving a little earlier than expected, I suggested a visit to the Bald Man. Two souffles later, we were two very happy, very bloated diners. If you’ve never had the souffle at Max Brenners, shame on you. This is what you’re missing.

Drizzled in smooth milk chocolate, the cakey part is perfectly soft and fluffy, and then all of a sudden, this gooey chocolate comes pouring out. Just wow. I hope this recipe is in the cook book, I comment. Sous-Jeff looks at me quizically… Oh yeah, didn’t I tell you? I ordered it from Amazon. Should arrive within the next couple of weeks. His eyes light up like a small child on Christmas morning, then they start to glaze over as he mentally begins compiling his dessert wish list…

Would rate it (Brenner in general) a 10 out of 10.

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