The World Loves Melbourne was invited to Benny Burger in Richmond to sample the menu across the range. "The Ethical Burger" is a great thing and Shannon Bennett delivers in terms of sustainable and ethical, as well as taste. The burgers are fresh, delicious, rewarding and interesting, if not innovative. And there's even more to Benny Burger than just burgers - so much to discover.
Merricks Creek offers visitors a fabulous cellar door experience, with a range of wines on tasting, ability to purchase wines, and wines by the glass that can be enjoyed with gourmet share plate dishes. The showcase wine is the Pinot Noir made in the Burgundy style, as well as an Estate Chardonnay. The cellar door experience is bespoke as these wines are not sold anywhere else; only at the cellar door. Merricks Creek is a fabulous cellar door experience also offering a plethora of attractive dining spaces and vineyard setting.
Chef Kenji Ito has opened his first Melbourne restaurant, Wa Kenbo in Fitzroy and The World Loves Melbourne was invited along to experience this already highly acclaimed Japanese restaurant. Chef Kenji, who for the last 11 years ran the award-winning Adelaide restaurant, Kenji Modern Japanese in Adelaide, opened the doors to Wa Kenbo in September 2018.
The eagerly awaited Night Noodle Markets presented by Citi has kicked off with sizzling menus and a feast of signature dishes and innovative tastes from Melbourne and Australia-wide favourites. The bustling Asian street food festival has returned to Birrarung Marr from 8-25 November (18 balmy nights), filling the riverside air with spicy, salty and sweet aromas as over twenty sizzling hawker-style stalls take Melbournians on a vibrant flavour journey through Asia.
Melbourne’s favourite pizza institution, Ladro, is turning 15 and to help celebrate, the team have checked in to Grand Hyatt Melbourne with a short-term residency at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Collins Kitchen.
Sunda Dining restaurant is one of the hottest new restaurants in Melbourne, and recently awarded a hat by Good Food. The World Loves Melbourne had a top notch dining experience at Sunda via the OpenTable app (sponsored by OpenTable). The OpenTable experience is highly recommended.
Hellenic Republic is celebrating it's 10th birthday and The World Loves Melbourne attended the fabulous birthday celebration in Brunswick.
David's Restaurant is an icon in Melbourne and we were invited to attend the Two Decades of Decadence event - a feast for the ages. The World Loves Melbourne indulged with a nine-course set menu complete with matched drinks - a greatest hits menu from the last two decades. For David's Restaurant to dominate the culinary landscape in Melbourne for so long is a huge achievement and they are to be congratulated. It's a great story.
One Plus Piece has been serving up some of the craziest and delicious manga inspired creations to Melbourne eastern suburbs since opening in 2016. Now, just in time for the summer months and just like their interiors, they are taking their offering to a whole new level, with their newly acquired liquor license. The World Loves Melbourne was invited along to check out their latest offerings.
Gaijin Japanese Fusion is an iconic intimate Japanese restaurant in Commercial Road South Yarra that The World Loves Melbourne first visited in 2014. The quality of the food is top notch and Gaijin has been a hugely popular restaurant in Melbourne for a number of years, having built up an enthusiastic following of regulars and new customers. A stone's throw from the Prahran Market, Gaijin offers great value for money as well as quality food offerings.
An epic degustation prepared by Teague Ezard showcasing Clonakilty Australia black pudding held at Gingerboy was a superb event. For black pudding to be showcased with Asian influences was exciting for all. We are seeing a black pudding renaissance in Melbourne, often to be found on Melbourne brunch menus, but now we find consumers are also enjoying black pudding also at home.
Where are the best romantic wineries in Victoria? After hearing of several engagements and the like at Merricks Creek Winery on the Mornington Peninsula I wondered as to where the most romantic winery destinations were in Victoria. I'm thinking some of the criteria would be aesthetics, overall vibe, menu and quality of wine. A romantic visit should include a romantic atmosphere not just in terms of indoor restaurant but also outdoor scenery. Romanticism is a difficult notion to define but here are our favourite romantic wineries in Victoria.
Red Spice QV is a perennial favourite of ours and we visited recently by invitation to sample the new Spring menu. For many including myself I often crave for Asian flavours when in the Melbourne CBD. Red Spice QV delivers the best of Asia consistently right in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. What strikes us is the quality of the food, its freshness, and also big Asian flavours across the dishes. We think the Express menu is perfect for say city workers who have time constraints and want something extra above the norm, and at a reasonable price.
Bistro Morgan is now serving it's stunning world class gourmet doughnuts in Chadstone Shopping Centre. The brainchild of 17 year old Morgan Hipworth, Bistro Morgan is sweeping all before it. With a popular store in Windsor, the Chadstone store is an exciting development for doughnut lovers. The World Loves Melbourne attended the new store launch and enjoyed a fabulous array of amazing doughnuts.