Treats - Tawonga South

Atmosphere: ****/5
Food: ***/5
Drinks: **/5
Service: **/5

Being impressed with our dinner at Stockpot on the Kiewa Valley Highway the night before, we decided to make our morning walk back towards the restaurant.  Stockpot was closed, however we made our way across the road to the aptly named Bogong Ski Hire and Treats cafe.

A bit of a hidden gem we originally planned to pop our head in and move on to another bruch venue as the exterior is deceiving with the ski hire dominating the view from the highway, we were pleasantly surprised with their windowed counter showing fresh salads, frittata's wraps, focaccia's and breakfast options.

As we had a wedding that day and we did not want to waste the walk I decided to order the big breakfast. I was so impressed.  The breakfast was fresh and light which is such a hard balance to achieve.  There was home made baked beans and potato side which were wonderful and although there was not much service offered when I asked for tomato sauce it was proudly announced that it was home made!

The back of the cafe overlooks a vacant block with windows lining the back and in this season of April the leaves look so stunning at the base of the surrounding rolling mountains.

I would note that if you are used to the strong coffee of the 'big city', this is defiantly a country town and the coffee resembles that with a cup brimming of milk froth which is quaint and reminds you (and so did the waiter) that the mug is the way to order!

Stockpot - Tawonga South

Atmosphere: **/5
Food: ***/5
Drinks: ***/5
Service: **/5

Mount Beauty, what an unexpected (however short) culinary tour!  Arriving in the area on a late Friday afternoon and news of a Music Festival in the area we rushed to find and book a restaurant and I am very glad we skipped the pub!

Not much to look at Stockpot is located next to a petrol station along the Kiewa Valley Highway as you enter into Mount Beauty from Bright.  The feeling of the peak winter season is all around you in this restaurant with the cosy interior suited to the cool nights of winter with an outdoor area facing onto the highway encouraging you to utilise the inside.

Being a (recent local) South Australian the first thing I recognised was the wine list.  Although many misses the Rockbare Shiraz for $35 impressed my fellow dinners and suited our diverse meal choices.  Although missing out on hearing about their heavy winter options of the gnocchi ragu with Guinness we decided to order tapas and pizza to share aiming to get the most out of our dining experience.

The spring rolls were a treat with duck providing an interesting twist on a seemingly straightforward entrée, although a little oily.  We also ordered dips with a wonderful pesto infused bread which was fresh and the dips tasted as through they were made on site.  I have had better patatas bravas, however it did not matter that much as the salt and pepper squid, spring rolls and dips were an interesting combination to put together. There is a lack of fluidity in the menu as there is no particular theme, this did not seem to be a problem until we got to our 'main' pizza, which was extremely oily.  Our next door neighbours in the cottage we were staying at who had ordered takeaway from the restaurant had also commented on the oiliness of the pizza.

The desserts here were wonderful! We were extremely disappointed that we missed out on the special sticky date pudding, however, being a country restaurant the waiters did not inform us that there were any specials but the relaxed country air had already washed over us by the time we had hit the restaurant and the waiters were so lovely and spent as much time as we needed with us.  The churros and chocolate pudding were so lovely and moist.  We also ordered a pear tart, however, I think with a majority of the table being females the chocolate dishes were always going to be the first to go and a favourite!
      

My friend and I were constantly reminded throughout this trip by the locals that Mt. Beauty and Bright are 'small towns' I don't quite know why the local store-holders were insistent that we remembered this but I think it serves a good place in this blog.  Stockpot was wonderful for a 'small town.'  This restaurant does not need to be compared within a big city context, and was wonderful for where it is and what it has to offer.    

Dumplings R Us - Adelaide

Atmosphere: ***/5
Food: **/5
Drinks: */5
Service: */5

I have come here as an alternative to food court dining in the city with the same price.

Located on Rundle Street, Dumplings R Us provides the diner with a cheap mix of Asian food with a view over the busy street and an option for outdoor seating.  I prefer it to most dumpling places as they have a wide range of non-pork dumplings and the soup options are many.

The days here vary on the quality of the food.  I have been here and walked away feeling good for the rest of the day and others I have had that heavy feeling of eating bad quality food.   I am definitely a fan of the beef and celery dumplings, and will get them whenever I come here.

The soups often contain a lot of noodles and there is no order to how the food is brought out even if you request it.  This is one of those places that you have to take it as it comes.  Sometimes it can take half an hour to receive one meal whilst the other will take 3 minutes to come out.

Order carefully and be in no rush, but the value for money is worth it on most days.

Gin Long Canteen - North Adelaide

Atmosphere: ****/5
Food: ****/5
Drinks: ***/5
Service: ****/5

Wow.  I can not believe it has taken me this long to find Gin Long.  This Asian street food restaurant with Thai influences blew me out of the water.

Situated on O'Connell Street, North Adelaide, Gin Long brings the big city subculture into our humble town of Adelaide.  As we were a booking over five people we ordered the banquet and, by golly, I recommend you do the same!  Dishes categorised as big and small of Asian fusion were served over two courses and not a heavy greasy meal in sight.

The 'make your own' Cold Rolls were an excellent entrée, fire starting lively conversations as debates about rolling techniques and our favourite flavours made for a wonderful start to the night.  The cold rolls were so light and there was plenty of pork and beautifully crispy prawn, fresh food and sauces to accommodate for everyone.  Other finger foods such as Satay Chicken and the best Thai Beef Salad I have ever had accompanied the Cold Roll entrée.        

By the time the mains arrived we were already full,but keen to push through.  After the entrées we did not want to miss a flavour!  The presentation of the foods was wonderful with the fish presented as a whole with fish sticks surrounding.  The duck was served with lychees and pineapple which is one I would have never chosen myself, however, the flavours worked together perfectly and the duck fell away from itself.  The vegetarian stir-fry is one of the heaviest and favourite stir fry I have had!  There are a couple of us that will be experimenting in our own kitchens after some of the meals we had tired!

The hipster subculture of South American and Mexican food and tapa's style dining has taken over the dining world.  Some of it, quite unmemorable, especially paying $10 for a plate that does not fill you up.  However, the value for money here is refreshing.  Compared to banquets in China Town this meal focused on the delicate flavours rather than filling you up.  Between the five of us there was only a small bowl of rice which suited us just fine.

The atmosphere is super trendy, we sat at a large bench, I would definitely book if you are coming here.  There is bar seating in which does not lean towards the most romantic of settings.   I think they played most of my favourite songs while I was there too with trendy house beats and the wine list encouraging you to stay there well past the last bite has been taken!