Southern Comfort – Eating My Way Around Melbourne in 36 hours

Australians are more than a little parochial about our cities. I’m from Sydney, and as such I am bred to have a fierce dislike of all things Melbourne – namely AFL. Think of Sydney as Los Angeles and Melbourne as New York. It’s a Sydneysider’s God given right to slag of the Melburnians. And of course we have the better coffee. A good explanation can be found here – Australia’s Greatest Rivalry

But I have a secret – I quite like Melbourne. I enjoy the couple of days I spend there each year as Qatar Airways flight direct there from Doha, I use it as my jet lag buffer before heading to Sydney.

One of the first places I head to is Coda which is located in a laneway close to Grand Hyatt Melbourne where I usually stay.

Coda’s executive chef Adam D’Silva offers up an east west fusion – think Vietnam meets France meets Mod Oz.

The spring rolls are a must order for me – pork, taro and nuoc mam
dipping sauce served Ha Noi style wrapped in a lettuce leaf – every mouthful an explosion of flavor.

I also deviated this visit and tried something a little more hearty – 12 hour beef ribs with radish kimchi – the meat literally falling apart.

For a bit of color and texture, I also tried the Calamari, green papaya and cucumber salad, with nahm jim, peanuts and crispy anchovies which was a riot of color and sweet and savory notes.

My other landmark meal in Melbourne this visit was at Cumulus a busy and welcoming restaurant in Flinders Lane. My partners in crime for this visit were my Melbourne friends James and Lingam who are worthy culinary guides.

It was a mild winter’s day so we opted for the Whole roast lamb shoulder to share. You had me at LAMB.

Our sides ran the gamut of winter goodness.

Great food, great company. That’s all I could ask for.

I kinda like Melbourne – but if you tell anyone I will of course deny it.