Grill'd Burgers

Long time followers of this blog will know that I have a soft spot for burgers. Grill'd, a burger chain that originated from a corner shop on Glenferrie Road has expanded into something of a phenomenon. It has since grown to be a hugely successful franchise that specialises in well constructed "healthier" burgers which are oh so tasty.

My personal favourite is the Grill'd mustard and pickled... so simple but oh so good. Served with a side of their famous herbed chips and range of dips and aiolis - this is one kick ass burger joint that's well worth the visit.

Oh - and did I mention that they're licensed so you can purchase a cold beer to go with your meal?

www.grilld.com.au

Pearl cafe

Next up - lunch at Pearl cafe... offspring of the upmarket Pearl restaurant which specialises in mod-Asian fare. This casual diner offers a mix of Asian influenced meals (think king prawn mint and glass noodle salad, green chicken curry) as well as hearty cafe type meals.

We opted for two examples of the latter, a duck and chestnut pot pie and an autumn vegetable lasagne. Prices here are extremely reasonable for the generosity of portions and quality of produce. The lasagne whilst plated beautifully lacked seasoning which would have made it a fantastic vegetarian option. The duck pie however was delicious - perfectly braised duck with chestnut topped by a buttery flaky puff pastry. Paired with the caramelised onion jam on the side, this was perfect comfort food for a typical crisp cold Melbourne afternoon.

Pearl Cafe
599 Church Street
Richmond

Porgie & Mrs Jones

Alright - its been a while and its because I have just returned from the magnificent city of Melbourne. As usual, there is always a fantastic list of places that serve brilliant, well cooked food.

First up we have Porgie & Mr Jones, a very cool breakfast spot in Hawthorn that has a laid back warehouse feel to its space. We ordered the poached eggs on toasted grain bread with spinach, red pepper pesto and hazlenut dukkah as well as the smashed avocado with thyme buttered mushrooms, marinated fetta on whole grain toast.

Both were delicious, generous and a great start to our first day in Melbourne.

Porgie & Mrs Jones
291 Auburn Road
Hawthorn