Wayside Inn - New Best Steak In Town!!

As much as I am a sushi freak, I love my steak as well. Not quite as much but it is up there. Heh. Fox and I also quite enjoy trying out new places just to see how it matches to our favourite. And if your faves are the same as mine, I am happy to be your guinea pig! :D

Recently we checked out two places: Komeyui and Wayside Inn. I'll blog about Komeyui soon but I am really excited to share this new restaurant that just got "rebranded" - WAYSIDE INN!

Fox heard of Wayside Inn from his colleague, let's call her T. And when he told me about it, I was super excited to go!

My go to steak is the eye fillet from Squire's Loft in South Yarra and I also quite enjoy the steak with truffle butter over at Meat Wine and Co. It is really hard to find steak places that I like.. Hmm..

Outfit! Follow me on Instagram btw! @uhohdaisy (:

Wayside Inn is a "gastropub" so pub out front, restaurant in the back. When I walked in, I hesitated a little. As I got there a little early, there weren't many patrons in the restaurant yet and the lovely host asked if I would prefer to sit inside or outside. Inside looked more restaurant-y but I was super glad we chose to sit outside.

View from our table. The outside was super chilled out plus we had amazing weather that day. Here is a sneaky photo I took through the leaves. I was trying to be artistic.. also I am still a little shy to take photos in a restaurant. Haha

Hiii from us! I look a bit odd. Got a bit of angle problem. Whatevs.

We started with the Plateau de la mer Wayside Inn. On this platter: Scallops, Blue Swimmer Crab meat, Mussels, half Morton Bay Bug, Pipis, Prawns, Oysters and Calamari. I really enjoyed this super super much. And I am really glad this was recommended to us. Everything was very fresh and sweet.

For a mere ten bucks more, you can get the Plateau de la mer royale which I was told includes half a crayfish and smoked salmon. Super tempting but I was gearing up for an amazing steak.

Again, I was recommended the is the 400g dry ged New York strip. Very nicely charred on the inside and quite tender on the inside. However, for my tastes, it wasn't tender enough as I am used to the eye fillet. My own fault though. Maybe I should have gone for the tenderloin which I saw on someone else's table and I will definitely return to try on a nice day. :D

Fox was going to go for a steak but a quick perusal of the menu revealed that the rotissoire du jour was Pork Belly with Peaches and Kipfler Potatoes. Now how can you go past Pork Belly yes? This changes from day to day and I couldn't find it on website.. This dish is definitely a winner.

After all that, both of us were really stuffed. NOMZZ

The only 'complain' I have was that our cutlery was placed directly on the table which wasn't wiped. Eek. But that is just my inner clean freak talking.

I wish this place was open/rebranded earlier as I used to only live a block away! ):<

Will I be back? DEFINITELY!

Should you go? No! But only because I don't want to wait 2 weeks for a reservation. Just kidding. I am nice and sharing this gem of a place, aren't I?

By the way.. I got this new lens for my iPhone from Fox. Isn't my puppy the cutest thing in the world?

Mamasita

My weekend!

Firstly, congrats to all uni kids who have completed their semester! (: While I feel old in my corner... SIGH it wasn't too long ago I was in Uni.

To celebrate the end of the semester and her birthday, Eef and I brought Shumei to Mamasita the other day. She has since gone back to Singapore and I miss her already.

We had to wait around an hour and a half before we got a call from Mamasita. But it was cool, we hang out at Gin Palace and had a cheese platter while waiting. OH YES! Shumei also got her hair dip dyed! But you can't really see it in that photo.

They squished us three on to a table for 2 but they did ask us if it was all right. It wasn't too bad. But squeezing into the booth was quite awkward. You never know whether to face your bum or front to strangers, you know what I mean?

Because we are alcoholics, we got a jug of Sangria OM NOM NOM.

The very famous Salsa. I didn't have a go. Hot stuff and alcohol just don't mix for me. I saw the table next to me purchase these bottles though. So they are available for sale if you are so inclined!

I did my research thoroughly and I knew I wanted to order these bad boys before I got there. Definitely a must order.

Pulled Pork Tostaditas

Veal Tacos I think? They came with a serving for green salsa. Which was oddly too spicy for me!

Tuna Creviche. I love raw fish. It was a bit too sour but that just made my mouth water and want more!

After this, my dining partners were stuffed. I could have had that creviche all night long to be honest. And we proceed on to dessert.

Sweet corn and popcorn ice cream. Surprisingly good! I don't normally go for desserts/ice cream cos I don't have a sweet tooth but I really enjoyed this!

Apple fritters.

Overall, Mamasita was enjoyable. But I wouldn't crave it. I would go there with friends cos it is light, fun and have a noisy atmosphere so it wouldn't seem out of place to burst out laughing as you often would with my group of friends but I have one gripe...

One thing I really don't understand about the Melbourne restaurant scene is that they seem to all have the need to be 'cool' or seem 'popular' by refusing all reservations - show up and queue if you really want in. Seriously. And it is places like these that I would go once, with the girls and never return again even if the food is good because honestly I just don't have the time to grab a queue number, go for drinks and wait. Because sometimes, when you wait for too long, you just aren't hungry anymore.

But then I suppose that is the sort of clientele they are looking to attract. Not the 'hungry' per se. Well I am just not that interested to be attracted.

Sushi Masa

When Fox and I first started dating, we used to go out on dates pretty often. And he used to take me out at least once a week. Like proper date date. One of our first dates, we went to the Moonlight Cinema where we packed a tub of Spagbol, a couple of beers and it was a great night. Of cos, those were the days before work and 6.45am alarms. SIGH

But we haven't been on one recently... Maybe since August (our anniversary/my birthday). I know we live together and have meals in/out together all the time but it is different ok!

So on Saturday, when he said he would bring me out for dinner, I was rather surprised. Oooo little old me??? Hell yeahhhh!

We rocked up to Sushi Masa at around 9pm that night and it was relatively quiet. We had a nap in the arvo that turned out to be a 5 hour snooze fest. eek. Luckily on Fri and Sat nights, they close at 11pm!

When we sat down, there was a Japanese man sitting to my right who had just finished his meal and was chatting with the Sushi chef. Always a good sign! (:

I saw him pay his bill as well and his bill came up to $100 for the one person. No idea wth he ate to be honest...

For starters, we got the Ox Tongue as well as the Chicken Karaage. You will never go wrong with these two dishes in any Jap restaurant IMHO. Although I can make better Karaage then they did here but I am just being nitpicky.

HELLO!

We quickly ordered a couple of quick dishes and this was the Sashimi Chirashi Don. Full of fresh fish on top of rice. Great for us as there are some types of sashimi I don't entirely love. Mackerel for one.

And to test out the freshness of the fish compared to my other faves, I order my usual: Scallop up top, Uni on the left and Ark Shell on the right. Quality is not great. But comparable to Chuji Izakaya.

Would I come back again? Probably. Cos I am a sashimi/sushi addict.

Price: hm..I actually don't remember. Think about $50 per person?

Highlights: Chirashi Don was great. Definitely recommend it.

Mehs: Chicken Karaage..You can do better at home and it is so easy as well!

The Best Jap in Melbourne: Pink Ginger

In this edition of The Best Jap in Melbourne...I will be introducing the cheaper end of japanese food. Sushi, Inari and Bento boxes!

I count myself one of the lucky ones to be working in Prahran. Shops, food and puppy dogs everywhere! You can always find something yummy to eat near the office. Whether it is KFC (heh), a little cafe like Dukes, or of course from my favourite cuisine in the world, Pink Ginger.

Dave and I stumbled across this place one day when we were walking towards this pasta place near Jam Factory. And since then, he likes to call it his 'Secret Japanese'. Not so secret anymore...Solli boss.

Anyway, it is on Chapel St and it is not too far from our office. Just past Maccas.

Amongst the shop signs is this little hidden gem.

TA DA!!!! It is right outside Fitness First so if it tickles your fancy you can sit there with a book/iPhone/iPad/notes like that lady is doing in the left side of the photo and oogle at hot muscly men all day while munching on sushi or other exciting stuff.

We usually do take away and eat back in the office cos the table are always full of hip cool people. And I am not very cool. The wait time for takeaway is not too bad as well. You can always go across to the market for a wander and come back pick up your food.

Or you can choose one of the sushi/inari on offer and munch till your bento box is done!

They have a great selection. Service is fast and decent. You just got to know what you want then and there. The rice and ingredients are fresh and there are even some brown rice/no mayo selections which I highly recommend.

Cross section of Holly's Tonkatsu Inari (Fried pork schnitzel atop rice wrapped in a sweet beancurd skin)

But the highlight of the whole trip is of course....

CHICKEN KARAAGE BENTO BOX!!!!!

This is the best thing on the menu. I've had this maybe 5 times, tonkatsu bento box once and Dave tried the Yaki Soba (don't try this). I've seen people having Salmon with stir fry veg which looks nice but I can never walk away from fried chicken. #obsessions

You can choose between white or brown rice and the best part is, it comes with seaweed salad, a little egg roll, a normal salad with sesame dressing and more than enough chicken and rice to fill your tum tum all for under $12!

LOVES IT! Definitely definitely try it out if you are in the area for work/shopping/whatever. You will not regret it. But if you are around...remember to call me. If not I will get really angry and sad at the same time.

Price: Under $15 for a main

Highlights: Chicken Karaage, sushi selection

Mehs: Yaki Soba

Not quite an Aussie BBQ

One of the worst parts of being in Melbourne is the fact that this is a transient place for most of us. Over the past year or so, most of my friends have left and it never bothered me much. Until this year where I have started to feel a sharp longing for home and my family. I will eventually go back, I think. But until then, I am here.

So this weekend, King will be leaving. This stings a little as with him, my really good friend, Jo will leave as well. My group of friends will diminish and I am be plunged into depression forever. #justkidding #notreally

I decided to bring everyone together as we haven't all come together as a group in a long time and also surprise King.

I made my signature chicken wings (Ok not mine, Sam's mum's recipe but well...)

We had obligatory bbq sausages (but I really dislike them. don't know why people like them. yucks), mushrooms MMM, corn (wrapped on the bbq/grill), Yeff made chicken satay and honey soy wingettes.

mmm bulgogi beef ribs

The Best Jap in Melbourne: Shira Nui

I love my jap food. There is just something about raw fish and soy sauce that captivates me every time. I also have to get my jap fix at least once a week no matter if it is on the low or the highest end of the price range. I will crave uni and scallops and otoro so much I dream about it.

When I first came to Melbourne, I was super sad cos there weren't readily available sushi bars here like in Singapore where there are places like Sushi Tei, Kuriya and the latest from Hong Kong, Itacho. You will definitely find me lurking in a corner in one of these places whenever I am back in Singapore just for a quick meal or even sushi in between meals. I am that much of a sushi freak.

So I thought I start a The Best Jap in Melbourne where I highlight some of my favourites and I'll be super happy if you try these places out and let me know what you think!

I hated that "sushi" here in Melbourne seem to be cheap, fast and made up of teriyaki chicken and calamari. *shudders (That is until I found MoMo sushi and Pink Ginger another post another time!)

In any case, I am going off on a tangent, I love Shira Nui. Sam first took me here in the early stages of our relationship in 2009. And we've been back over and over and over again since. Personally, I think it is Melbourne's best japanese. I ranked this out of the jap places I've tried like Shoya, Koko, Wabi Sabi, Nobu. Although I have also returned to those restaurants a few times. Shira Nui is still my one true love.

Last year, when my family came down for my graduation, we brought them to meet my baby sushi restaurant. And they fell in love too!

My famz

You can dine at Shira Nui ala carte (which I have done only once) but I definitely recommend the Omokase (chef's selection/degustation). Only thing is that I've noticed the selection to be the same over the four times that I've had it. That's the only reason why I don't go regularly.

You also get to sit on tall chairs and on the counter watching the chefs in action if you get the Omakase. Heehee cheap thrills.

Kingfish belly in my bellehzzz

Unagi

Oyster

Mackerel

Tuna

This was when I was getting stuffed and couldn't eat two of the same sushi anymore but I was still greedy....

Beef. SO GOOD

The two next photos are my absolute FAVE EVER.

Pan seared Salmon

This has got to be Shira Nui's best sushi ever. I've tried pan seared salmon at a couple other places but this has the best melt-in-your-mouth consistency. OM NOM NOM NOM

Uni / Sea Urchin

An acquired taste for some but to me, divine. I once ate four uni nigiris and two uni+ika handrolls at Chuji Izakaya once. Nyummy.

My beautiful mummy.

Shira Nui is, without a doubt, my fave sushi restaurant (not quite sure the message got across in my post. LOL)

Price: around $100-$120 per head. Depending on how much sushi and sake you consume.

Highlights: Every plate is like an explosion of happiness...IN YOUR MOUTH

Mehs: Sometimes you don't get the sushi you want cos it is seasonal. So you get sad sometimes..

OM NOM factor: SO Om Nom-licious