food

I've noticed my credit card has taken the blow for my current frustrations with work and being trained in the school of hard knocks.

I've tried to keep it productive though. I have signed up to a bike race which I am so excited about! Plus I've got myself a new bike seat (I found out my old seat was making me ride like a turtle because it was too wide and padded), and some arm and leg warmers to fight the winter chill.
I've also had the fortune to tick a couple of places off my list of tastebud pleasers
1. Basque - chapel st - recommended by a mexican colleague - it has great tapas - it lives up to the hype. Had the cheesy puffs (good), patatas bravas (much better than expected) and the pork (fatty but yummy). Paella was ok, but I wouldn't order it again. To me, Paella is about the crispy crust at the bottom, and this place doesn't even cook it in the paella pan - they only transfer it into a paella pan for display purposes.
Beverage - The Quilmes here was great - one of the beers I order whenever I see it on the menu - it is becoming more and more prominent - yay!
2. The Argo - Prahran. The place was empty, it was fairly expensive, but is a place I would probably visit again. It doesn't say much, but the most memorable thing I had was part of the duck with parmesan risotto main - the dish had a big flat mushroom on the side. And it happened to be the tastiest mushroom I have ever tasted in my life. And mushrooms aren't even my favourite vegetable. The chocolate fondant wasn't spectacular, but the churros were pretty darn good - even when drenched with the bitter sweet warm chocolate, the slightly crispy yet doughy freshness still shone through - mmmmmmmm. Much better than the "authentic" spanish Churros I ate at Kanela a couple of weeks ago (they were still pretty good). Ranked slighty below the Churros that made me crave and fall in love with Churros - magical filled churros at the Johnston st Spanish festival last year.
Beverage - Chimay to start was spectacular (expected nothing less), and the mornington pinot added a nice touch to the duck
3. The Point - Albert Park. Thanks to Eric Ripert, I have an obsession with tasting how restaurants cook Barramundi. I forwent the eye fillet (I don't even believe I did this), for the Barra. It was a great choice. The crayfish curry like sauce, with the tomato crumbed crust went well with the fish. Didn't blow me off the planet, but was good enough for me to backward rationalise without having to convince myself that I should have gone the steak because "yesterday I had kangaroo for breakfast and for dinner". Dessert was great with a simple brownie with mousse. It was however, the quintessential brownie - crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with the right balance of texture from the nuts. mmmm.
Beverage - Not a big fan of whites, but I was drinking the de bortoli Willowglen Semillon Sauvignon Blanc like it was free. Beautiful fruity tingle on the tongue.