Frolic Yoghurt Fitzroy – Dining Review

When the trip to Yo-Chi was too far and the line at N2 was too long, I headed to Frolic Yoghurt Fitzroy for a fro-yo fix on a hot night. Self serve frozen yoghurt bars have recently been popping up across Melbourne like the rising popularity of those brightly coloured clay bead necklaces everyone is suddenly wearing.

Gossip Girl Fro-yo on the Met steps. Image Via.

Gossip Girl Fro-yo on the Met steps. Image Via.

I first came across self serve fro-yo spots in New York and if anyone watched Gossip Girl you’d certainly be familiar with Queen B ordering her mignions to fetch her favourite fro-yo treat. The stores generally follow the same set up, yoghurt is self serve, followed by the opportunity to add your choice of toppings. The price is determined by the weight of your yoghurt creation, where possibilities are only limited by your creativity and your budget. That being said, don’t forget about that last factor before you go crazy with flavours and toppings only to have the cashier hit you with a double digit price, because its not fro-yo etiquette to ask if you can take some yoghurt out! My advice is that if you’re not sure what the price is coming too, you can always start off with less rather than more yoghurt and ask an employee to weigh your cup before returning to add more if you wish.

Frolic Yoghurt Fitzroy is the second Frolic location in Melbourne (the first store is located in Camberwell) and it follows the same traditional setup. The aspect I most liked about Frolic was that while the toppings table included your usual chocolate and nut varietys including chocolate chips, lollies, M&M’s, Reece’s Pieces, almonds, and hot chocolate sauce, (where adding the element of heat makes all the difference) they also added a good dose of fresh fruit amongst their selection.On my visit they had caramelised bananas, rhubarb sauce, strawberries and lychees added in the mix and they didn’t overdose on Popping Boba / Tapioca Pearls / Caviar on steroids / artificial flavour balls I’ve seen at many other fro-yo locations that try to mimic the flavours of a burst of fresh fruit. Frolic had a good flavour selection of yoghurt to choose from, including coconut, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate and vanilla chai, which tasted exactly like a hot cross bun to me, so if you love a punch of cinnamon then you’d enjoy this flavour. I do want to go back and try their salted caramel with figs flavour which sounds delicious! Although at $2.20 per 100 grams, I thought the price was a little steep, considering this selection came to over $10.

My Frolic Creation - Strawberry, Chai and Coconut yoghurt with caramelised bananas , strawberries and hot chocolate sauce

My Frolic Creation – Strawberry, Chai and Coconut yoghurt with caramelised bananas , strawberries and hot chocolate sauce

The interior was bright and youthful and the late night opening hours will be handy for summer, so if you like your frozen yoghurt bars and don’t want to head out too far (or wait too long) than Frolic isn’t a bad choice.

Frolic Interior

Frolic Interior

Toppings Bar at Frolic

Toppings Bar at Frolic

Yoghurt Self Serve at Frolic

Yoghurt Self Serve at Frolic

Frolic Yoghurt Fitzroy on Urbanspoon

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The Lab Nitrogen Gelato – Dining Review

Walking down Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD I had to do a double take when I walked by a store that claimed to serve nitrogen gelato that didn’t appear to be N2. I was surprised to see the presence of nitrogen gelato spots in Melbourne suddenly double before my eyes!

On the surface, The Lab looked to me like a hastily put together rip-off of N2, trying to get in on the sudden trendiness of nitrogen gelato. The Lab featured the same concept as N2, the same science lab set up, staff wearing white lab coats and protective eye wear, and a display of empty glass beakers. The Lab featured the same black walls and uninviting, slightly awkward seating area (though in defence of The Lab, at least they actually had tables and chairs, albeit a limited number of them and there was no AstroTurf in sight.) They were also a little more technologically adoptive with their menu displayed on screens above the counter, but the menu phrasing ’1 scoop = $6, 1 serve = yumminess’ sounded all too familiar. The first time I saw this place I walked past with my nose in the air thinking ‘Ha! Imposter! You are no N2!’ But the second time I walked past a week later I thought, ‘Well until I’ve tried it myself, who am I to judge!?’ It’s only fair.

The Lab Menu

The Lab Menu

The Lab

The Lab

The menu offering was not as exciting as N2. On my visit the flavours on offer included ‘Milky chocolate with homemade brownies, Black Sesame, Salted Caramel Popcorn, Raspberry and Yuzu Sorbet and Ice Lemon Tea Sorbet’. I went with the Salted Caramel Popcorn. There were a handful of people inside the store, staff were friendly and the wait time was not long at all. The ice-cream was presented well, with popcorn dotted on top of the ice-cream and finished off with a swirl of caramel sauce. The taste test was where the Lab could have really made me ‘eat my words’ with my snooty comparisons of it to N2, but unfortunately for The Lab, I stood corrected. The ice-cream had a wonderfully smooth consistency but it lacked flavour and tasted horribly artificial. The cute looking toppings also didn’t help when it came down to the ‘crunch’. The caramel sauce was sickly sweet and overly runny and the popcorn tasted stale and nasty. I felt sympathetic for the guy who ordered before me, as while waiting for our order, he turned to me and said ‘I keep hearing about how good nitrogen ice-cream is, so decided I just had to try it!’ But after I tasted The Lab’s contribution to nitrogen gelato in Melbourne I felt like running back to find that man and reassure him, ‘it’s not all like this, I swear!’

Salted Caramel Popcorn at The Lab

I don’t mean to be too harsh, it’s not the worst ice-cream I’ve ever tasted and if you were like that gentleman in line before me who was new to the concept of nitrogen gelato, you would still find it exciting and intriguing to watch your ice-cream being prepared and suddenly appear out of a cloud of smoke. But just as N2 would not survive long term based solely on the novelty factor of nitrogen gelato, (the difference is their exotic and mostly amazingly delicious flavour combinations like their outstanding Crème Brûlée) once the novelty appeal disappears, The Lab’s ice-cream just does not cut it for me.

However, The Lab’s convenient city location is an advantage and if their menu changes weekly, hopefully they start to serve some more enticing flavours. I’d give it another try in a few months, as I think that would be the true test to see whether they are just trying to cash in on the sudden hype over nitrogen gelato or if they are actually serious about serving good quality ice-cream.

The Lab

188 Bourke Street,
Melbourne

(03) 9077 5354

Open Monday – Sunday, 12pm til late

The Lab Nitrogen Gelato on Urbanspoon

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Trippy Taco – Dining Review

I’ll admit, ever since a first (and hopefully last) visit to Taco Bill a long time ago, I approach ‘cheap Mexican’ food with caution; however Trippy Taco has restored my faith.

Trippy Taco is a popular Vegetarian eatery in Gertrude Street Fitzroy offering Mexican style street food that is cheap and delicious. It’s a small, busy and casual spot that welcomes patrons dining-in as well as takeaway orders. If you are dining in, you order at the counter then help yourself to water, cutlery and the range of hot sauces available for the more daring at the self service area. Staff sometimes don’t seem too focused on going out of their way to provide a high  customer service experience but food arrives very quickly and considering it’s a Vegetarian restaurant, the menu is extensive and the meals are fresh and filling. They also have a variety of Mexican beers available, in addition to Sangrias and Margaritas.

I really enjoyed the Tofu Asada Burrito (flour tortilla wrap filled with spicy chargilled tofu, mozzarella, goat’s cheese, salad, salsa, avacado and fresh lime) and the Special Quesadilla (flour tortilla with melted goat’s cheese, black beans, tasty cheese, salsa and avacado), finding them both to be flavoursome mixtures of tasty ingredients.

Special Quesadilla at Trippy Taco

Special Quesadilla at Trippy Taco

Trippy Taco is not to be compared with the dining experience or ambience you would find at Mexican restaurants like Fonda, Newmarket Hotel, Mamasita or Touche Hombre, however Trippy Taco is an easy choice if you are after a quick, cheap and hearty meal, especially if you are nearby on Smith Street or Brunswick Street.

Trippy Taco Interior

Trippy Taco Interior

Trippy Taco

t234 Gertrude St

Fitzroy, VIC 3065

View Menu online

Trippy Taco on Urbanspoon

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Proud Mary – Dining Review

Proud Mary keep on burning!

Porridge at Proud Mary

Porridge at Proud Mary

 

I was happily impressed with my visit to Proud Mary as I was a bit weary given the high level of hype which for some places can set high expectations but under deliver. However, I can confidently say that it was not the case here.

 

I will admit the first time I attempted to dine here I didn’t even end up setting foot inside. Driving towards Proud Mary on a late Sunday morning, the bustling group of people pouring out of the doors waiting to be seated did not agree with my overly eager and hungry stomach. So treat that as a lesson to anyone else planning to go at a busy time, or at any time for that matter, this is a very busy place (similar to hustle and bustle of Manchester Press) so prepare to wait especially if you plan to dine here on a weekend or at brunch.

 

Latte at Proud Mary

Latte at Proud Mary

When I did return it was a Friday morning, it was still full but we only waited a couple of minutes to be seated and the employees that served us and who we spoke to were very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. The coffee was absolutely wonderful, very smooth. Proud Mary is not only a cafe but a coffee roasting company too and in my experience,  buying a coffee at a café that uses Proud Mary coffee is usually a tell-tale sign that you’re in good hands. That being said, if you feel like being a little adventurous with  your coffee then I suggest not sticking to their standard coffee blend but trying one of their single origin coffee blends, or their blend of the day. I tried their blend of the day which on my visit was the Honeysuckle blend, described as ‘big buttery body, sweet caramels and a crisp red apple acidity’ and it was amazing! I also got to try their cold drip coffee, and for a coffee lover, watching the barista carefully prepare the cold drip coffee was like watching a scientist concoct a winning formula. When I used to think of cold drip coffee, I would immediately think of the uninviting filter coffee served in dodgy diners in American movies. If you make the same association then make sure you do try a cold drip coffee from a quality coffee roaster like Proud Mary and I guarantee you will change your mind set.

 

The wait for food was honestly a little longer than expected but once the large serving of ricotta hotcakes arrived it was definitely worth the extra wait and the extra hungry appetite that ensued as the portion sizes were very generous. The hot cakes were equally as fluffy as they were delicious so what happened next was a very rare occurrence for me. Despite the hotcakes tasting absolutely delicious, I struggled to finish my meal because I was getting so full! Not complaining about though, I just wish I invited another friend to help me finish eating it! The Potato Hash was an interesting and delightful take on a big breakfast and the banana and toffee porridge was delicious, very filling and sweet without being sickly. The café interior had an industrial and funky design, reminiscent of what you would find in the meat packing district of New York, complete with old school Hip Hop music playing in the background which the staff were clearly enjoying as the the barista danced while making the coffees! Well you know what, their awesome coffee makes me want to dance too! So far my visits here have been really enjoyable and I can do recommend this place to coffee lovers and those with big appetites!

Potato Hash at Proud Mary

Potato Hash at Proud Mary

Ricotta Hotcakes at Proud Mary

Ricotta Hotcakes at Proud Mary

 

Proud Mary on Urbanspoon

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Short Round – Dining Review

The name of the café Short Round may have you recalling the pint-sized sidekick character of Indiana Jones, as an employee informs me this character is the café’s namesake. Alternatively, the location of this café may have you recalling visits to the pet and animal supply store that previously occupied the same site, as one former Thornbury resident informs me. Before stepping inside Short Round, I was told of the memories of a former Thornbury resident, visiting the same address with her father in the seventies to purchase chicken manure for their veggie garden. Well, that definitely was hard to picture once I stepped inside, as this place has been completely transformed into a bright, spacious and modern café. The space itself is open and fresh, with tables inside as well as a lovely outside balcony area. I particularly liked that table areas were quite spacious, and chairs and tables were not crammed in together, which is pleasantly appreciated considering this is becoming an increasingly common feature at popular cafes that try to cram in as many patrons as they can.

Short Round Coffee

Short Round Coffee

Between our group of four, I tried the Vanilla Bean Oat Porridge, the Butterscotch house made waffles, the Potato, Chorizo and Manchego Omelette and the Bacon and Cheese Scramble on Brioche Sliders. Honestly, my group shared the same opinion, the food was nice, but there was no real standout. While each dish was cooked well, the dishes just tasted a little blander than expected. The service was attentive and the wait for food was reasonable, but while the food ultimately was true to its menu described, it managed to deliver just a little short. Considering this café is quite new, the potential and quality is definitely there, I would have preferred bolder flavours to make the dishes a little more memorable. The relatively small serving sizes didn’t help either, especially given the price, which is not to say the menu was more expensive than other great cafés around town, but for the simplicity of some of the dishes and smaller serving size, the meals did seem a little overpriced. However, that being said, with meat from local butcher Velimirovic, and Proud Mary coffee, Short Round knows good quality, and the coffee was hands-down fantastic. Many great baristas make good coffee, but tend to prepare it a little on the milkier side, but I loved that the coffee from Short Round was refreshingly stronger than usual, and it was marvelous!

Although I didn’t get to try it, the Bloody Mary’s breakie looked like a standout, and sounded like a more exotic and interesting dish that would be worth a try! The menu is available online, which is always helpful, and I can imagine this would be a new favourite for locals, I know I would come again, just based on the coffee… and maybe to try that Bloody Mary’s breakie!

Butterscotch house made waffles

Butterscotch house made waffles

Vanilla Bean Oat Porridge

Vanilla Bean Oat Porridge

Potato, Chorizo and Manchego Omelette

Potato, Chorizo and Manchego Omelette

Short Round Cafe Interior

Short Round Cafe Interior

 

Short Round

731 High Street,

Thornbury, 3071

Tel: 03 9484 3904

Hours:

7am -4pm Tuesday – Friday
8am – 4pm Saturday -Sunday

Short Round on Urbanspoon

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Chin Chin Restaurant Review

I was so looking forward to this place but unfortunately my visit here was a disappointment. Yes, they have good food but there are other restaurants that offer very similar if not better meals, and I’d prefer my serving of pork belly without the smother of pretentiousness thank you.

I found what really let this place down for me was the attitude of the staff. Making guests feel like they should be lucky to have the privilege of dining here… come on. We went on a Friday night; we put our names down at 6pm and were told there would be a 1.5-2 hour wait. We were prepared to wait for this amount of time. We waited down stairs in the bar and had some drinks although when I wanted to pay for these with cash, I was consistently pushed to leave my credit card with them since ‘that’s how we do things here, and when you’re ready to pay for your meal upstairs we just transfer your card upstairs’ again, I said I did not want to do this but the waiter insisted. Alrighty then…

It was 7.45 when we thought we would see how many people were in front of us waiting to be seated before ordering another round of drinks, but when we politely asked the man taking the bookings he abruptly replied ‘I told you 1.5-2 hours and its only been an hour and forty-five minutes’, Sheesh. However he continued to say there were only three people in front of us and it would only be another 10-15 minutes. So we returned to the bar. It wasn’t until another forty-five minutes later that we were seated. When we were seated, we saw that the tables are pushed together so closely along the side of the wall that the people sitting on either side of us kept apologizing as it was a combined two table effort whenever someone got up from their seat and had to squeeze through between the tables. It was extremely hard to get the attention of wait staff. I understand it is a busy place but when people are waiting two hours just for a seat they shouldn’t need to wait too another ridiculous amount just to be served. When a waiter asks you if you ‘understand the menu’ you would think they would explain things that are not clear on the menu. Though never was it explained that many items on the menu are d.i.y. It’s a shame that the hype of this place did not live up to the actual experience and it seems that this place knows all too well about its hype and as a result has let its service standards fall to the wayside. I would like to return to give this place another go, but not if they don’t pick up their game.

 

My review was based on my experience and as I said, I would consider giving Chin Chin another go but until then, I would suggest if you want to give it a try for yourself, go if you are in the area during a less busier time, say a Weekday lunch (or even dinner) or Sunday lunch and hopefully you won’t have to endure a long wait. The venue itself is funky and exciting and because the food is not your typical High st Chinese cuisine, I would even dare to take a friend here who may not normally like Chinese food, but is up for trying something a little different. Chin Chin would make an impressive weeknight date or a good choice for celebrating a birthday with friends during the week with their small share plates perfect for grazing on in groups, and the best way to try lots of different dishes!

 

Chin Chin on Urbanspoon

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N2 Extreme Gelato

At first, this fun little spot may seem like just a front of smoke and mirrors, which when liquid nitrogen comes in to play when used to churn the ice-cream, is quite literally, but one taste of their incredibly smooth gelato will tell you that is not the case here. I love a good theme, and N2 Extreme Gelato has hit the mark on kooky science lab perfectly. To put the look and feel of this place into perspective for you Melbournians, N2 Extreme Gelato looks like the love child of the Croft Institute and Trampoline. They are genuinely serious about their gelato and it is damn delicious. Don’t be disheartened by their small menu, which changes weekly, although if you’re after your regular order of lemon sorbet and chocolate or Neapolitan, you’ve come to the wrong place. Entering into this gelato laboratory may mean stepping out of your flavour comfort zone, but I believe in doing so you will not be disappointed. The selection of flavours vary from the fresh and fruity offerings such as pomegranate and mango  to the richer more decadent, and sometimes unexpected flavours such as Earl Grey Caramel, Strawberries and Cream, and my personal favourite – Crème brûlée! You’ll find that whatever flavour you choose, the end result is smooth and sumptuously soft without being too heavy or icy, due to the way they create their ice cream by churning their fresh ingredients with liquid nitrogen until frozen.

The fit out can be a little awkward for patrons in larger groups looking for seats as their seated areas simply consist of communal wooden pallets and a bed covered in AstroTurf. Not exactly the most comfortable or inviting seating areas, but I can imagine in the coming months this will be one awesome hangout on summer nights, situated right in the hipster heart of Brunswick street, Fitzroy. That said, it will be interesting to see how this compares to fellow Sydney based gelataria Messina which will also be opening its doors in Fitzroy this Spring. The venue features blackboard walls surfaced with all the information you need, written in their cheeky commentary:

1 scoop – $6

2 scoops – you don’t need it

Happiness – included (just like GST)

Sadness – go elsewhere

Opening Hours – 1pm – 11pm every effing day

The wait for your ice cream is most likely going to be a little longer than your usual ice creamery, but keep in mind this is all a part of the experience of visiting N2, as you get the opportunity to watch the gelato wizards in action, mixing and churning your gelato right in front of you, as each gelato is made to order and the result is fantastically fresh. Their experimental and creative flavour offering will keep you on your toes, so my only word of warning is not to get too emotionally attached to one flavour, as chances are it may not be on offer the next time you visit! However that being said, I say bring on the crazy new flavour experiments!

N2 Extreme Gelato – Creme Brulee

N2 Extreme Gelato on Urbanspoon

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